Weight Loss Requires Joy

Pursue it. Leave calories and steps behind.

Photo by Rodion Kutsaiev on Unsplash

Here’s a thing most people don’t know: workouts don’t lead to weight loss (it’s true), but moving all day does. This means that if you’re going to do a beneficial action day in and day out, it has to be something you like.

Even more, it ought to bring some joy into your life.

The problem with the mindset of limiting exercise to a place (like the gym) or to a particular workout is that it encourages people to feel and behave like no other movement is of value. If you ‘worked out’, then it’s fine to sit all day and conversely if you don’t get to the gym then anything else is pointless.

I’m not against working out. It has real usefulness for strength and general well-being. But, people starting on the road to a balanced, healthy life often assume that step one is to put their heads down and go to a gym. This is what defeats even the most solemn vows to do better.

Step one is finding movement you enjoy and then doing it on repeat. Build it into every aspect of your life.

I schedule time with friends and my boyfriend to walk together. I make a point to live near trails. I walk long distances without any hesitation or ambivalence. I walk in the cold. I walk to dinner and the grocery store. I’ve even written…