April 28, 2010 (Updated November 10, 2022)

Why Do You Exercise?

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

31 comments

Goooooood morning!

I am currently riding my workout high from LA Boxing this morning! There’s nothing better than a hard, sweaty workout to start your day. Am I right?!

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I’m on week 2 of my LA Boxing workouts, and so far I’m loving it! I’ve been going three times a week and it’s so great to be mixing up my workouts. Honestly, it’s also kind of nice to just get told what to do and not have to worry about coming up with stuff on my own! 🙂

Plus, I made a new friend! I love making friends in workout classes because:

  1. It makes it more fun to have someone to make “I’m Dying” faces at; and
  2. You have someone to hold you accountable! If I know someone will miss me if I don’t show, I’m much more apt to go 🙂

Meet Cat, my new LA Boxing friend!

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Hi Cat 🙂

Cat’s been going to LA Boxing for awhile now, and this morning I asked her — Why do you come to LA Boxing? Here’s what she had to say:

I love boxing because not only is it a great cardio workout, but it’s an AWESOME stress reliever! I also love that unlike most gym cardio kickboxing classes you actually hit bags (instead of the air). It makes it more fun and the hour FLIES by!

It got me thinking about why I exercise. Besides the obvious reasons (looking toned and keeping my body healthy, strong, and fit), I do different types of exercise for different reasons:

As you can tell — my number one reason for exercising is because I love how it makes me feel. I find I’m much more positive and content on days when I’ve gotten in a good workout. Exercise is such a mental release for me — a time for me to forget about whatever is stressing or worrying me, and just focus on the work out at hand! It’s hard to worry about everyday problems when you’re busy powering up a hill or trying to remember kicking combinations 🙂

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Now it’s your turn — Why do YOU exercise? Do you do different types of exercise for different reasons, like I do?

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Stay tuned — I’ll be doing some LA Boxing related giveaways soon, as well as sharing some great new workout moves!

Have a great day!

- anne

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31 comments
  • Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete
    Completely agree with the whole "I like the way it makes me feel." I love pushing my body AND mind to the "next level."
    Reply
  • Ashley
    i like switching it up every once in a while or I get bored. LOVE that you are doing this Anne, I definitely want to try it out. Theres one about 20 mins from my house! :)
    Reply
  • Jessica @ How Sweet
    Totally agree with it being a mental release for me. That is probably the biggest reason I exercise. It just makes me feel good. And more confident!
    Reply
  • K
    Love all these LA Boxing posts- definitely more interested in checking it out since I've seen your reviews! I'm pretty boring with my workouts- usually treadmill with the occasional free yoga class at Lululemon, haha.
    Reply
  • Suzanne
    LA Boxing has been intriguing me for a while... especially since they say you can burn 1,000 calories in an hour! Thems fightin words! Ultimately, I do any excerise because it makes me look and feel better, but I get different things out of every workout. I don't like strength training much, but afterwards I feel a great sense of accomplishment because I pushed through something I wasn't that excited about and feel really powerful. Running helps me clear my head- after a run I feel like I can tackle any problem with a sound mind.
    Reply
  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    oh man, what a loaded question! i guess when it comes down to it exercise because it makes me feel strong and beautiful. i love doing cardio (running, walking, hiking, biking) because i sweat and can tell i'm working hard. i love weight training because it makes me feel strong! and i love yoga because it makes me feel calm, centered, and beautiful :)
    Reply
  • Beth
    I train with kettlebells for strength and health. I practice yoga for sanity.
    Reply
  • alicia
    I agree with you. Kickboxing makes me feel AMAZING. I have so much more energy and it starts my day off right. Of course the exception is today when I missed class because I was waiting for AAA to unlock my car with the keys inside! So funny that you saw me sitting there today. I was so angry at myself. And of course the AAA guy doesn't show up until 6:59! If I'd known that I would have made my kickbxing class. Oh well. See you again soon I'm sure!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      Awww I felt so bad for you!!! I'm glad they finally came. What a bummer to have to miss you workout for such an annoyance! :( See you next time :) xoxo
      Reply
  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
    I exercise largely for stress and anxiety relief! I used to have a lot of trouble falling asleep at night, and once I started exercising regularly those problems went away. Now I never have trouble falling asleep, which is awesome. I've also lost over 50 pounds in the last year, and this wouldn't have been possible without exercising!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      That is so awesome. Congrats on all your hard work!
      Reply
  • Lisa @ lists in my pocket
    That workout looks so fun! I agree with you - different types of exercise are for different things, like yoga for stretching and calm or pilates for an ab workout. I also love to get nature workouts in because it combines being outside with burning calories. But the overall reason is definitely because I feel healthier!
    Reply
  • claire
    I have yet to try boxing! I definitely workout for lots of reasons like you. I love nature so much and running outside and exploring is always fun. I workout for overall health/stress relief/better sleep and to feel strong. I run in general to push myself farther then I thought I could go.
    Reply
  • Heather C
    I mostly just RUn and do a workout video here and there for "strength training" b/c I don't have a gym membership. I do both of those things to stay in shape and challenge myself (i.e. run too many races, but have fun ;) )! Biking will be a new adventure, so, we'll see about that! I'd love to do kickboxing though - this looks fun!
    Reply
  • Haley
    I'm a member of LA Boxing Arlington and joined after I was on a work trip when I was up all night and some woman was on a show called "Last 10 Pounds" and talked about her kickboxing classes. She kept talking them up! Being an athlete, I decided why not challenge myself and try out something new. I pulled out my laptop after seeing that one night - mind you it was about 3am - to check it out, and went in for a free class the following week. I go MWF and I am participating in the Boot Camp on Saturday's. It's a blast. I've made more friends in the Boot Camp only b/c at 6am I'd rather keep to myself lol. Friends and coworkers look at me like I'm nuts when I say I CHOOSE to get up at 5am to go workout, but when you find something you love to do, why wouldn't you want to get up!? It's a great stress reliever and I am normally the most chipper person when I come into work after class.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      That's so awesome! I've been wanting to try the Saturday boot camp - I love those type of workouts. So much fun! I used to do a 6 a.m. outdoor bootcamp thing and my friends thought I was insane, too ;)
      Reply
  • Maggie @ Fit.Fun.Food
    I exercise for confidence and to sort out problems! And yoga helps me slow down and relax!
    Reply
  • Lauren @ A Fit Foodie
    I run (and exercise) because it's like my natural xanax. It keeps me calm, level headed and downright happy. I love those endorphins! They are addicting!
    Reply
  • Johanna B
    Right now I'm loving the functional ways exercise is helping me in life. Moving better, having better balance, being better able to do my job, shelving books on the top shelf without feeling like my shoulder is going to fall off my body and stuff like that.
    Reply
  • amanda
    I do exercise for many of the typical reasons: makes me feel good, keeps the weight off, and helps relieve stress. I am currently an LA boxing member too and I love it. There is nothing like beating the crap out of the bag when you are stressed out or just plain mad. ha ha However, when I run I do a lot of thinking about life. Which can be a good and bad thing too.
    Reply
  • Katharine
    Back in high school/beginning of college I definitely exercsied to get "skinny." But ever since I've starting to take having CF seriously, I do it for my actual health. Two words, lung function, make it impossible for me to excuse myself from a session at the gym. :)
    Reply
  • Lisa @ bakebikeblog
    What a great question. Exercise is my comfort and my calm. It is the one thing in my life that I do just for me. No pressure, no deadlines. LOVE IT :)
    Reply
    • Anne P
      Love this comment! Well said :)
      Reply
  • Desiree
    I exercise because after sitting in class and the library all day, I need to move!! I also do it to release stress/frustration, and to do something mindless (boot camps and running at a non-competitive pace). I would love to try LA Boxing - they need one in the Philadelphia area!
    Reply
  • Sarah
    I exercise because I feel strong and badass :) The endorphins are a plus too! In the wise words of Elle Woods "Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't kill their husbands. They just don't." And currently I don't have a husband but I'm sure the endorphins would keep me from killing him!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      YESSSSSS Elle Woods!!! I love that line, haha. Sooo true ;)
      Reply
  • Lee
    I like the way it makes me feel. But I'm not going to lie, I also exercise so I can maintain my weight.
    Reply
  • Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
    I'll be honest, sometimes I'd rather go to happy hour with my friends everyday than workout, but exercise just makes you feel so much better. I am also not very good at sitting still or hanging out by myself, so if there is nothing going on, it's much easier for me to go for a run or than watch tv. But the main reason I workout is to maintain a healthy body and healthy weight and know I'm doing good things for my heart and lungs. Everyone in my family lives forever, so if that's the case, I want to do so in my best possible health.
    Reply
  • Gracie @ Girl Meets Health
    You know, I'm currently going through the process of figuring out exactly why it is that I exercise. For the longest time...years, actually, I exercised because I felt like I had to (subconsciously, of course). Sure, most of the time I truly wanted to exercise, but there were times were I pushed my body when it didn't want to be pushed, if that makes sense. I'm finally learning to use exercise to HONOR my body rather than ease my sense of obligation. So as of late, that means a lot of yoga and pilates. I may or may not incorporate more vigorous exercise again in the future, but right now I'm focusing on making exercise something that ADDS to my quality of life rather than takes away from it.
    Reply
  • Gabriela @ Fro-Yo Lover
    Awww - amazing post, girl! I used to wonder why did I exercise... And that´s why I decided to stop for a while. I did it just for the calories, and it never made me feel good! Just exhausted. I´m taking a break and trying to find a workout that suits me, like a jump class or something... An exercise without any "calories burned" calculator. So I can have fun! :D Have a great day, Anne! Brazilian XOXO´s, Gabriela
    Reply