The other night, I was channel surfing and I came across the season premier of the Biggest Loser. I’m an on again, off again fan of the show, and I hadn’t realized the new season had started.
In the scene I caught, Jillian is working out her team and reminds them to remember their WHY.
My first thought was, I guess the fitness community has finally discovered Simon Sinek.
But my second thought turned to my own fitness habits.
Because this year, my exercise regimen has been as on again, off again as my Biggest Loser fandom. And this despite my goal to bike a century this year. (Clearly, that isn’t happening.)
My fitful relationship with exercise this year has included a brief stint riding my bike inside on the trainer (derailed by boredom), a run/walk program this spring (sidelined by a hip injury), and a few solid weeks of swimming laps (interrupted by my travel schedule.)
But this week, I made a new commitment with myself.
I am going to WALK.
Five days a week, for at least thirty minutes.
And I think this one might stick.
Why? Because, without realizing it at first (but made super clear thanks to Jillian), my walking plan is fueled by a strong WHY.
You see, I’ve decided to make walking a regular part of my routine to make it easier to do what I really love.
Which is traveling.
And more specifically, city traveling.
Making a commitment to walking isn’t about losing weight or training for a specific event.
It’s about building city stamina.
(Something that is rather difficult to maintain when you live in the country, believe it or not.)
Perhaps it’s because I’m a city mouse who lives in the country, but I’m happy whenever I’m in a city, regardless of whether it’s one I’ve been to a million times or one I’m exploring for the first time.
But I know I could be happier.
Whether it’s trucking through the airport to catch a flight, exploring a new city, browsing a museum, or just walking my favorite city, I want to have the energy and stamina to enjoy myself to the fullest.
So when my alarm goes off to remind me to go for a walk each day (yes, I set an alarm in my phone to remind me to stop walking and go for a walk) I’ll picture Manhattan. Or Paris. Or that weird tunnel at the Detroit airport that I have to walk through to make my connection.
And I’ll happily head out the door.
Because now my workout has a purpose that completely aligns with my priorities in life.
And that’s a pretty powerful motivator.
What about you? Does your workout have a WHY?
I’m one of those insane, exercise junkies. My mother taught me when I was a teenager that you need to exercise 6 days a week to stay healthy and happy. I ran for a while till I realized biking meant I could go much, much further. My WHY for exercising is partly based on the fear of putting on weight but also based on the desire to do whatever I want. I’m not one to back down from a challenge and whenever someone tells me I can’t do something, you can bet I’m going to push myself to the limits to prove them wrong. Now, when I ride my steel frame bike and leave carbon fibers in the dust, I can’t help but do a fist pump.