Exercise is More Than a Weight Loss

I consider myself to be a relatively fit person with a healthy body size. Everyone has their own idea of ‘what’s healthy’ and I am not going to go into that right now because today’s post is not about healthy or unhealthy body size. I have been meaning to talk about ‘all things exercise’ for a long time because I want to get few things off my chest + talk about why I exercise. Over the years, my relationship with exercise has changed – from someone who worked out primarily to lose weight into a person who now works out because movement feels good.

Exercise has been a part of my life for almost a decade now and to be honest, it all started because I wanted to lose weight during college. I religiously went to the gym (hello elliptical machine!), kinda watched what I ate and the weight fell off. Before college, I was not into exercise (or any sports) but seeing my body transform + compliments from everyone gave me all the feels, so I made exercise a part of my lifestyle.

My relationship with exercise started at the college gym but over the years, I have explored running (4 half-marathons + several smaller races), yoga (my current fav is hot yoga), kick-boxing, strength-training, Zumba, and so on. I am not nearly as active as I used to be and have easily gained 10+ lbs but how I view exercise + why I exercise has changed completely.

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I exercise for reasons beyond weight loss! I have had several people (esp. close family and friends) ask me why do I need to exercise because “I look fit/ I am in good shape/ I am not fat”. I don’t blame them completely either because a lot of us exercise with an intention to lose weight. I was one of them but not anymore because I have realized that “exercise is more than a weight loss”.

I exercise because some days all I need is a good stretch for my lower back and legs or simply a quiet meditating time to de-stress. Exercise doesn’t always have to focus on burning calories or spending hours at the gym. Instead of getting so hung up on numbers, we should channel our energy into listening to our body and do what feels good internally as well.

I exercise because of the community like Dallas Fitness Ambassadors! They are always hosting fitness events, which means you get to hang out with your friends, break a sweat, and almost always end the sweat party with bites and drinks. Also, if you are looking to meet new people or need an accountability partner, community-based workouts are great for that.

I exercise because I learn so much about my body – what it can do & cannot do. I thought I wouldn’t survive a hot yoga session but I survived it and went back for some more. On the other hand, I suck at tricep pushups. It’s a good opportunity to find out what needs a little bit more attention in your body.

I exercise because it’s good for my heart, sleep cycle, mood, and general well-being of everyone else around me. No matter how small or intense the workout is, it always gives me that boost of endorphins, which means happy Dixya!

I exercise because it teaches me about me. I would be lying if I said I never compare myself to others at the gym, trail, or on social media. I have days where I don’t feel 100%  great about myself but having a well-functioning body parts is a blessing and I am super grateful for that.

No matter how many pimples I have on my face, why I can never get crow pose correctly or the fact that I love working on my biceps is all about me discovering, accepting, and being comfortable for who I am and I am 100% okay with that.

Thank you prAna for dressing me up! I am wearing Parker Sweater + Chetan Capri, both of which are super comfortable for stretching, lounging around, for a quick coffee run,walk/light jog, groceries or if you are anything like me who wears yoga outfit outside the hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, you are going to love what prAna has to offer. Use the code MHMS17DB to receive 15% discount until May 19!

Their mission is to inspire healthy, active, and free-spirit living via creating versatile, stylish, and sustainable clothing. They focus on sustainable farming, recycling & fair trade practice, and constantly partners with farmers in making organic cotton and hemp items. They also prioritize in giving back to communities around the world.

If sustainability & mindful living is something you are interested in, you might like this:

I received prAna’s clothing as a part of Spring campaign but I was not compensated to write this post. All opinions are 100% mine as usual.