Exercise for your health, not your appearance

We live in a world where body image is king – at least that’s what the media and other publications want us all to think. And with that mindset, so many people take on the challenge of exercising, with the hopes of achieving their perfect body to impress friends, family and strangers alike.

However, while society tends to put an emphasis on the outward benefits of exercising, it is so much more important to focus on the inward benefits of exercising, which is mainly for your physical health. This is very important for everyone who may be looking into starting their own fitness journey, but even more so for plus-sized women in particular.

If you are plus-sized, then odds are that your consideration into a fitness program is largely driven by your desire to get thinner and look better as a result. And while this can definitely be a worthwhile goal, it puts way too much emphasis on something that really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, that being your physical appearance. In reality, it is a totally superficial measurement of your standing as a human being, and one that frankly should be de-emphasized across the country.

For argument’s sake, if your goal really is to just look better physically, a much more effective alternative would be to get liposuction, in addition to all sorts of other surgeries that make you more “objectively beautiful”.

So with that in mind, consider what exercise really does for you, and understand that the benefits go well beyond any marginal physical improvements. Exercising makes you a much healthier person and can greatly increase your life expectancy if done diligently. If you want to be around for a long time for your friends and family, then exercise is a great way of making that happen. In short, if you really value what makes life important (i.e. living life to the fullest and for as long as possible rather than physical beauty), then exercise should be about your health first and foremost.

Now that is not to say that you can’t look forward to the added benefits that come with exercising in the form of improved outward physical appearance, because we would be lying if we said that such a benefit wasn’t legitimate. But as much as possible, you need to recognize and focus on the true benefit of exercising and that is your overall health, while relegating the improved physical appearance as a side benefit that simply comes with the territory.

Exercising is something that all people should be open to partaking in. But this sort of lifestyle choice should be largely driven by a desire to live out a healthier life. People who only exercise with the goal of losing weight are simply not seeing the bigger picture, which might be harmless at first, but could lead to more harmful lifestyle choices that prioritize physical attractiveness over everything else. As long as you view exercise as for your health first, and for your physical appearance second, you will have your priorities straight and will be firmly on the path to both a healthy and a happy lifestyle.