Motivation Monday- 5 Reasons to Workout!

It’s Motivation Monday and time to talk working out. I have been in a workout slump lately. Ever since we ran our half marathon, I’ve struggled with getting back in the groove of things again, and being sick for the past week hasn’t helped anything either! So to motivate myself and y’all I decided to do some research on the benefits of working out. After reading around, I came up with my favorite five reasons we should workout.
Which is your favorite?

1. To Honor God

This was the reason I decided to start changing my diet and exercise habits years ago. I realized that I was caught up in a crazy cycle of eating whatever I wanted and not getting out and being active. I was focused on myself. But then I read this in 1 Corinthians:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)

I realized I was not glorifying God with my body. I was hating it, feeding it with trash and being lazy. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and, as John Piper says, “Your body is a precious gift from God. And the Bible is clear about its highest purpose: To make God look good.” So I workout because through it I want to glorify God and reflect how he changed me on the inside.

2. Being active energizes you

Wait, what? But aren’t you using energy when you workout? As strange as it sounds, it’s totally true. When you workout, your heart rate increases and your body delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. Your cardiovascular system is in high gear and as a result you have more energy to go about your life. So next time you get back from work feeling tired and exhausted, go on a run or do some jumping jacks and push ups instead of taking a nap. You’ll wake up and you will be able to use your time more efficiently!

3. Exercising helps you sleep better

There’s no better feeling than climbing in bed after a long day and knowing you got your workout in. Exercising tires your muscles out, and your body uses your sleeping time to recover and rejuvenate for the next day. When you workout, you sleep more soundly and wake up less often.

4. You can reduce your stress!

This is a HUGE motivator for me! I struggle with stress and there have been many days where my anxiety was so high it was hard for me to get any work done. So the first thing I do on days like that is go on a run. That’s because when you workout, your body releases a chemical called norepinephrine, which can moderate the brain’s response to stress. Your body also releases endorphins, which boosts your mood and makes you happier. So get out and get sweaty! You’ll not only reduce your overall stress, but you’ll also be able to deal with whatever’s on your mind at the time.

5. Working out helps you feel better

I can attest that when you workout, you just feel better. Your self-esteem is higher, you are more motivated throughout the day, your mood is improved and your body is stronger. When you set goals and accomplish them, you feel successful and determined to keep going. Who doesn’t want that?

You don’t have to spend hours every day in a gym in order to enjoy the benefits of working out. Just simply going on a walk, doing some light exercises or a quick run can do wonders. There is really no excuse. Now go lace up your tennis shoes and get your sweat on!