As children, we viewed "exercise", as a form of "fun". In our later years, "fun" became "sports" or "winning" for many of us. As we age, we have to give up the fun (and therefore sports, exercise, and other activities), in order to focus on our family, work, or study. We also do the exact opposite of what sport teaches us, we give up.

Why do we stop exercising?

There are other things that you can do with your time.

Competition, losing, etc. It's no fun anymore.

We stop exercising because it is no longer fun. We usually only start exercising when we see our weight increase and how unfit we are.

I find it interesting that when people decide to get in healthy body shape again, they don't go back to their youthful enthusiasm. Instead, they do the things they think they "should" be doing, such as lifting weights, running on a treadmill, or swimming. Although I don't deny that these activities are great, have you ever thought about why we choose to try something new?

Advertising is partially to blame, in my opinion. Advertising is constantly "advising" us what to do. Health clubs are a multi-billion dollar industry, making it seem like people use gyms to get healthier. Interesting to note is that many people stop using their health club memberships within a few weeks! It seems logical to me. After New Year, we've seen the rush of people making resolutions. As the weeks and months pass, the numbers start to diminish. These memberships are often purchased to improve health and appearance. However, many people drop out when they find the workouts boring.

The "exercise", too, is done for as little time as possible. We would want to enjoy something for as long as possible, wouldn't we? Exercise is boring. But as we have all seen and experienced, it doesn't last. We'll stop exercising as time goes on and exercise doesn't feel enjoyable.

Exercise is the most horrific way that I have seen people punish themselves for eating. A common example is, "I shouldn't have eaten the pumpkin pie at lunchtime." "I'll have to do an extra 30 minutes of exercise in order to make up for the loss." No wonder people dislike exercise.

What is the answer?

It's important to have fun! We must have fun! We can only continue doing something if we enjoy it. Here are a few suggestions to get you started and keep working.

Exercise is a great way to stay fit. Many people are physically unable to exercise on treadmills. Start by being grateful and revising your thoughts. The Wings for Life World Run is a great race. Around the globe, runners sprint, walk, kick or roll to try to beat the Catcher car. You are eliminated from the race if the car catches up to you after you have a headstart. This event was created to raise money for spinal cord injury research and those who cannot compete.

Don't "exercise" - train! As an example, consider running. Running for 30-60 minutes every day is not something I would do. It's torture. The thought of preparing for the race or another distance keeps me motivated and helps me get in shape to try to improve my performance. Although I know that I will never win a race, I can still push myself to achieve a new personal record (PB) or PR.

Join the right group to be social. Cycling groups, running club, boot camp, regular tennis, cardio-tennis, pickleball, and yes, Crossfit. This is just one example of how exercising with others can be fun. When I was a kid, I didn't like skiing with people that were slower or more experienced than me. In the past, I would charge them to ski with me. You can't enjoy a great run without someone to share it with. Social connections can be beneficial to your health, but they can also reduce the intensity of your workout. This can also help to create a sense responsibility, which will keep you on track. In this respect, team sports are better. Not only do you have to play together but also train together. You can eat, travel and become friends with someone you've never met before. Bill Curry is an ex-NFL player who wrote a powerful speech about team members, not just the teamwork part, entitled "The Huddle". It's a great example of what I mean.

It is in this manner that magic happens. Men who were taught to avoid each other's sympathy become friends. I've seen racists change. I've seen some bizarre embraces following victories or losses. I've seen inner-city kids invite their country counterparts up to the mountains for Thanksgiving dinner so they can bring them home. I've seen invitations accepted and received, which changed the lives of many parents. We have made the players into brothers for life. "It's what America can and should be, and it may even be our biggest dreams."

It's true. In terms of my co-workers, I have never met anyone who is as positive and excited about their accomplishments. You are not the only one who matters, but your team and all of them.

Recreation or recreation? Exercise is often viewed as a means to lose weight and get thinner. In reality, we are altering the molecular structure of our bodies. You can change which genes are translated to proteins by changing the food you eat or what you do. Exercise tells the muscle cells to produce more RNA into proteins, which are muscle. Recreational exercising/playing/having fun is, in fact, rebuilding yourself into something stronger and better!

Start small and you will be better off. Recent research shows that running continuously for 10 minutes will improve your fitness and cardiovascular health. Walking for 15 consecutive minutes reduces your death rate. Walking or exercising at weekends is more beneficial than doing nothing. Start small and monitor your progress. I told a patient to walk to see how it felt. The patient gradually increased the distance he walked. He was so happy that he increased the distance. He walked over 1,000 miles in the past year! This year he walked more than 1,000 miles. He feels great. All of it was from walking.

Focus on the feelings you will have after your workout. The majority of people prefer to remain in bed. The first mile. The first mile is always most difficult. It's still a great feeling to complete it. To be able accomplish difficult tasks is a wonderful and unforgettable feeling. Then, hit the bag with force. Exercise is the most effective but least used therapy for boosting mood, increasing energy and fighting depression. Do you wonder how they can exercise so frequently? Exercise is "addicted to" by the feeling you get after working out!

Continue to do what you love. You will be glad you did it.