I can post article after article on the benefits of fitness. I can post endless workout videos. I can host workouts until the end of time. But if you don’t have a goal to reach and a reason to reach it, then you are not going to make the effort, endure the discomfort, and stay the course.

It may seem a little Machiavellian, but whatever non-community standards violating goal you have for yourself is good. Honestly, whatever it takes! If it’s good enough to get you started, then it is good enough.

Vanity–Works for me. If your goal is to look good/better, welcome to the club. Lots of very fit people are motivated by appearance. They are no less fit because of it. The guys on the set of 300 trained to look good. They ended up in amazing condition. Embrace your goal–chase your goal–look great naked. Remember…train to look good….don’t starve yourself to look good. Hey, it’s cheaper and safer than surgery.

Self-Confidence/Ego–Got a Napoleon thing going on? So did Napoleon, and he conquered most of Europe. Got a chip on your shoulder….work it out. Got something to prove…prove it. Whatever it takes is good enough. Fit people are more self-confident. You may find that you need a new reason once you achieve your goal, but by the time you get there, you’ll have developed a healthy set of habits and a fresh perspective.

Mid-Life Crisis–Heck yea! There’s no time like the present, and if you decide that mid-life is the time to get into, or back into, peak condition….good on ya. Let’s get you there. People in their 40s, 50s, and beyond benefit greatly from training and gain all sorts of health benefits. It’s cheaper than a sports car!!

Decreased Snoring–Losing weight is a great way to reduce snoring, sleep apnea, and getting elbowed in the ribs by a frustrated partner. It beats the heck out of wearing a breathing mask at night.

Oh, there are a bunch of other reasons to train like your life depends upon it:

• Improved Blood Pressure
• Cardiovascular Health
• Increased Endurance
• Longevity
• Bone Density
• Injury Prevention
• And so many more.

The long and the short of it is…whatever goal motivates you to get started and to stay with it for a while is good enough. Getting started and staying with it is how you get to be the best and healthiest version of yourself. The goal that you have in the beginning may not sustain you for a lifetime, but few goals do. If you can stay with it long enough to turn fitness into a habit, then you win! Moving forward…let there be no shame in your game.

Your reasons are yours and yours alone…let them propel you to becoming a better version of you.