Fitness: It’s not just about losing weight

Inspired by the glorious Bangs and a Bun. She recently wrote a piece entitled Women, Fitness and the Myth which touches on how women usually only begin running to lose weight. So when they don’t lose weight they give up.

I agree with everything Bangs has to say in that piece. Women aren’t told about the other benefits to running and working out. It’s all about losing weight. I think the weight loss is a huge motivator but running can plateau you as you begin to lose fat and gain muscle. Women see their efforts as useless and go back to some fad diet.

If you run, mix up your routine, eat well and add in some strength training then you will lose fat. And it’s likely to be the sort that stays off.

It’ll be difficult at first, you’ll worry about what people think of you, it might take a while to find a comfortable speed and breathing can be dificult. You’ll ache, you’ll worry about getting injured and you’ll be all sweaty.

Then you’ll hit a point when you realise that those five flights of stairs you climbed in the multi-storey car park haven’t left you puffing, your jeans will fit better and people will comment on how good you look.

You’ll run again and you’ll realise how free you feel. How much fitter you are than all the people slowly plodding along as you whizz by them. Then you’ll ache but you’ll feel strong and you will get that runners high and it will be the best fucking feeling in the whole world.

With fitness comes power. You’ll feel like you can do anything. You’ll look great, feel great and will have so much more confidence. Everyone will be jealous. Even if you start by going for a walk, just do it. Getting out of the door is the hardest part.

Now, go for a run.

Related posts:

1. Eating more and losing weight
2. Things I’ve learned from losing weight
3. Reasons I am losing weight