By Joe DiAngelo
Personal Trainer, Manhattan - New York
20 February 2003
Feeling Fit
How do you feel? Are you as strong and energetic as you could be? Do you move painlessly? Do you move with grace?
Most people look at fitness purely from a perspective of weight loss or achieving the "perfect" body. While it is important to work toward your ideal weight - based on your terms or your doctor's, not charts or magazines - the most significant outcome of an exercise program should be how you feel.
The best part of focusing on your body and how much better you feel is that this is an immediate reward. Exercise releases endorphins which create a euphoric feeling. Test this: Go for a brisk walk or run (depending on your current fitness level). Note how you feel. You feel lighter. Your joints are moving more freely. Your muscles feel invigorated. You feel energized. This is not just physical. Notice what direction your thoughts are going. Do your goals seem more attainable? Do all the miscellaneous daily tasks ahead of you seem to have an order? Are your thoughts more optimistic?
As you progress with a well-balanced workout program, you will continually feel stronger and have more endurance for you daily activities. With proper weight training trchnique, you will also develop better posture and more grace in your movement. If this doesn't sound important, start watching people at work or while you're shopping. Who stands out? Is it the people with the skinniest waistline or the perfect nose or the most expensive dress (or suit)? Not usually. It is the people with the people with the best posture and the most ease of movement that seem the most secure and attractive.
The goal of a fitness program should be to find an exercise program to help you look and feel more confident and energetic.
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