I think a lot of people look to exercise to help them lose weight, and when they don’t lose weight immediately with exercise, they quit. They return to the couch, and they basically never move again. What is lost in that is that fitness is almost certainly more important than fatness. […]
If someone starts an exercise program and improves his fitness, even if he doesn’t lose an ounce, he will generally have a longer life and a much healthier life. It would be nice if people would look at exercise as a way to make themselves feel better and live longer and not necessarily as a way to make themselves skinnier.
— Gretchen Reynolds discussing her book, The First 20 Minutes
(emphasis added)
I bolded what I did for a reason. Like many who grew up fat, I was nagged to exercise with an emphasis on taking all the fun AND usefulness out of it. I don’t blame anyone who doesn’t want to exercise. But I also think facts are useful.
Exercise doesn’t have to suck. It doesn’t have to be an obligation. Ideally it’s a choice made from facts not hatred and rebellion. It seriously pissed my mother off when, as a child, I played soccer and had fun and felt great and didn’t lose weight. She’s dead now. But somehow I think she’s still pissed off when I exercise for my own selfish reasons that have nothing to do with becoming “more beautiful” or “a better person” or “a thinner person“ or making her happy. And that’s fine.
Living ~400lbs 
Leave a Reply