Thank you for bearing with me through this 5-part series. I try to keep my posts fairly short and there was just too much to say on this topic. Here are the 2 final points that I want to share with you.
As Americans, we focus WAY TOO MUCH on calories, weight, and physique. I believe it is a good thing to view exercise as a hobby--not simply as something you have to do to lose weight or look good. What is the purpose of a hobby? A hobby is something you enjoy -- it rejuvenates you, it challenges you, and relaxes you. Consider that it might be time to either change the way you think of your current exercise routine or change your routine to be something active that you enjoy. If you currently don't exercise much, find an active hobby. If you are spending a lot of time exercising, it should be something you enjoy, right?
All exercise does not need to be for fitness. However, when you do exercise for fitness, think quality over quantity. You need not spend hours at the gym every day to be fit, but consider how you exercise and how hard you are exercising. A book came out earlier this year by Jonathan Bailor called
The Calorie Myth: How to Eat More, Exercise Less, Lose Weight, and Live Better. That title alone should pique your interest, but if you are afraid it's just another fad diet and exercise plan than I understandably say to you that it is worth the read. It is loaded with scientific information about why a calorie-obsessed culture is way off the mark, and how being off the mark has affected our health.
Bottom line: rethink your exercise and focus on quality over quantity. Stop thinking about calories, start finding a hobby that gets you moving.
