What’s The Point of Exercise If It Doesn’t Lead to Weight Loss?

WHAT'S THE POINT OF EXERCISE IF YOU DON'T DO IT FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

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Yesterday, someone told me: I can't find the purpose of exercise if it doesn't lead to weight loss.

Of course, it’s not the first time I’ve heard it.

Weight Loss Alone Is a Bad Reason for Exercising

The thing is, exercise for weight loss alone is much more likely to make you feel like crap, because it's more likely done obsessively and from the place of dissatisfaction with yourself.

I'm not saying that everyone who uses exercise to help weight loss, is obsessed, but I was… maybe that's you too?

Here's What I Did When I Worked Out To Lose Weight…

Here's what my health, my mindset and my life looked like when I was working out in order to lose weight.

When I was running 1-3 hours a day, my legs felt crazy heavy and painful every night I went to sleep. They felt like steel — not because they felt super strong, but because they were super heavy.

Later when I did HIT + running 6x/week, I was so exhausted that I wasn't able to move my arm after I had worked out. This was not a great feeling. I was always tired, every minute of the day.

I had to lay down and rest for a few hours after, I was so tired. I didn't have energy for anything else because I was so overtrained.

My brain was so foggy from overtraining and insomnia and the rollercoaster of cravings.

I was wired and tired because I tried to bandaid everything with strong Americanos. That was the only way to keep me going after my workouts in the morning.

All that happened because I had the wrong reason for working out — I was obsessed with my weight, size and shape. I didn't plain hate my body, no. I know a lot of us do. It wasn't like this for me, but I was still checking every bite I put in my mouth and was always thinking how I could move more.

I No Longer Work Out to Lose Weight

I don't do any of that anymore. I don't look the same, but I don't have ANY of these problems anymore. I work out on average 4 days a week (and sometimes 2, or take a full week off if that's what feels right), and I actually recover.

Other stuff that needs to be done, actually gets done because my brain is not fried 24/7. I don't rely on coffee but only have occasional decaf. I also have my period back which I didn't have for 10 years.

All that is possible because my mindset is different now and I don't work out to LOSE WEIGHT. Note: I don't think it's a bad thing to use exercise to help achieve physique goals, but pay attention so you realize when you get obsessive with it!

I Gained Weight.

Yes, I gained weight to recover from hypothalamic amenorrhea. But those ~15lbs that is the difference between left and right picture above? I take these any time over constantly feeling like I being hit by a bus which is how I felt most of the time when I was overtraining and always trying to lose more weight.

On the scale of 1 to 10, how good do your workouts feel most of the time?