Hi fitness friends,

If you would have told me 20 years ago that I’m still exercising regularly, but with no intention of losing weight or changing the shape of my body, a singular thought would’ve crossed my mind:

“Then what’s the point?”

Back then, I thought exercise was a tool for fat loss. If I hadn’t been constantly striving to be a smaller and more shredded version of myself, there’s little chance I would have engaged with it at all.

Now that I’m older and wiser, I know that regular exercise has so many benefits beyond aesthetics. People exercise to:

✅ support mental health

✅ improve bone density and/or cardiovascular fitness

✅ improve cognitive abilities as they age

✅ increase quality of life

✅ meet a performance goal

✅ increase self-esteem and confidence

✅ have fun, make friends, and connect with others

Physique goals aren’t inherently problematic. Gaining muscle and/or losing fat can be really motivating and meaningful objectives for the right people.

But it’s important to remember that there are so many reasons to exercise that have nothing to do with changing the way your body looks.

I personally exercise to stay strong, strength my bones, and maintain my independence as I age. I also rely on it as a healthy outlet to release stress and improve my mood (which has been essential with our crazy busy life). 🤪

If you’re in a rut with exercise, this is your sign to get back in touch with your “why.” Are you really just hitting the gym to lose fat? Or are you after something more meaningful, like more positive body image, increased strength and resilience, or a growth mindset?

Think about your core values – what you care about most in life – and use them as a compass to recalibrate your deeper reasons for exercising.

You can still pursue body composition changes, but this is the first step towards true inner peace, both in and out of the gym.

Your Coach Toni