99 reasons to exercise (and body image ain’t one)
Most people will experience some form of body insecurity at some point in their lives, and for some, it can run deeper, into patterns like body dysmorphia. So it’s no surprise that exercise often becomes tied to how we look. But if your only reason to exercise is how your body looks, motivation will come and go. But if your reason is: That’s something you can come back to every single day. So here are 99 reasons to exercise… and none of them have anything to do with body image. Why exercise matters more than ever Mental Benefits of Exercise Physical Benefits of Exercise Lifestyle Benefits of Exercise Final thoughts On a personal note, my relationship with exercise hasn’t always been perfect. When I was younger, I was motivated by getting stronger and performing better in sport. As I got older, that shifted, exercise became less about how I felt and more about appearance, which didn’t create a particularly healthy relationship with my body. Over time, I realised how much body weight and appearance can naturally fluctuate, and how unhelpful it was to be hard on myself during those times. It would only affect my mood, my motivation, and ultimately make it harder to stay consistent. When I shifted my focus back to things like strength, mental clarity, and how exercise made me feel day-to-day, it became much easier to build a routine that actually stuck. It took the pressure off, and made movement something I wanted to do, not something I felt I had to do. As a chiropractor, I see this every day. Bodies aren’t designed to sit still. If exercise could be put into a pill, it would be one of the most revolutionary treatments in medicine. The truth is, your GP, chiropractor, or physiotherapist alone can’t replace exercise and the wide range of benefits it provides. Exercise isn’t punishment. It’s one of the best forms of self-care you can give your body. If you feel guilty about how you’ve treated your body, or feel like you’ve neglected it, don’t. Even if you’re in pain, feeling weak, or not where you want to be, your body is still working for you. Your heart is still beating and your lungs are still breathing. It hasn’t given up on you, so don’t give up on it. Start by appreciating what it is doing right now, then gradually begin to challenge it with the right kind of stress through exercise. You may be surprised by what it is capable of when you give it what it needs. At Pittwater Chiro, we help patients across Mona Vale and Balgowlah build stronger, more resilient bodies through movement, chiropractic care and rehabilitation.
