I have never had an athletic bone in my body. I’m the stay-at-home type, sitting on the couch watching films or reading books. Any extreme physical activity would just leave me so exhausted that I steered clear as much as I could. So how did I, the stereotypical homebody finally get active? It definitely took more than one reason for me to get off the couch and start exercising on the treadmill.

Fear

Through the years, I’ve observed people — from family to friends. Those with unhealthy lifestyle habits — no exercise, bad diets, smoking, etc. — just seemed to get more set in their ways as the years went by. They made excuses like “It’s too late for me to exercise” or “That’s just not me”, while continuing to gorge themselves on junk or just binge-watching the next mainstream series. Of course, this would, if not already, lead to body damage and illnesses. No, I didn’t want to reach that point of no return, when it would take a gargantuan effort just to get myself off the couch and on the treadmill. I wanted to start the habit of exercising now, while I was still young.

man eating junk food
I don’t want to end up like this in the future. Sorry, Homer.

The Myriad of Benefits

There are hundreds of research affirming that exercise can do you a world of good: better skin, longer life, and improved mental health. I also wrote about the benefits of exercise, showing how it leads to a balanced life. These are things anyone would want for themselves. However, utter the word “exercise” and most will be running to find easier alternatives — from health shakes to fancy devices — or just give up. Seriously, you have to put in the work to reap the benefits. With regular exercise, the benefits are a lifetime of better health and well-being. How can I not endure just a few sweaty sessions a week in exchange for all this?

Fitness Buzz

More and more people are jumping on the fitness bandwagon. Everyday, new devices, programs, and gear are developed to make exercise easier. Think of smartwatches, fitness trackers & apps, 5-minute workouts, resistance bands, etc. Even companies are encouraging their employees to stay fit, offering fitness & wellness plans like discounted gym memberships. We are living in a good period to start working on our bodies to be in better health.

barbie workout center
Heck, even Barbie has her own gym.

Good Influences

Before I moved, my partner already started training to run a marathon and signed up for swimming classes. He was building endurance and strength, his muscles getting more toned by the week. When I arrived in Canada, I watched my sister-in-law run and exercise everyday except for one rest day. Despite her busy schedule (work, house chores, etc.), she still managed to squeeze in an hour or so of exercise. Meanwhile, here I was, with cheeks starting to get rounder, a sweet tooth, and a family history of hypertension and diabetes. I had all the reasons to start and not a single, valid one not to. So I took it as a challenge and vowed to my partner to have abs like him.

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The End of Excuses

In the end, my laziness and mountain of excuses finally caved in. I made it a personal goal to exercise. I bought a few sports bras, workout clothes, a yoga mat, and a pair of good running shoes. After that, I started running and working out weekly. Of course every now and then I falter, but I always try to get back on track. Whenever those times came, I would think of ways to overcome those excuses.

Get your bum from the couch to the treadmill

Breaking up a sweat is not always so appealing, but the more you do it, the easier it really becomes. Plus, that feeling of fulfillment every time you finish a workout is really a reward in itself. With that being said, I hope that you overcome any excuse to your own lifelong fitness journey as well. At the end of the day, you will always thank yourself for getting off that couch and on the treadmill and started exercising.

Photo of me in a gym after I started exercising
After a successful run!

If you liked this and started your fitness journey, read Start Exercising And Stick To It: 10 Tips for Beginners!

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