Let’s Discuss: Why Do You Work Out?

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Yesterday, I read a really interesting piece on Well + Good titled “What You Can Learn About Fitness and Body Image from the Girls of Girls.” As it turns out, the reasons the girl from Girls work out don’t have all that much to do with how they look on television. As Jemima Kirke, who plays Jessa, said, she works out because it makes her strong, and she needs to be strong to keep up with her kids. A practical answer if we’ve ever heard one. And Lena Dunham recently posted an Instagram photo of herself decked out in workout clothes, with a lengthy caption about how exercising has helped her with her anxiety, the most quotable portion of it being, “It ain’t about the ass, it’s about the brain.” Well said, right?

And it’s not just the girls from Girls: Be Well Philly contributor, Lauren Napolitano has echoed this statement in the past, saying CrossFit helped her to become a more sane parent, albeit more because of the community bonding than the burpees.

The point? Even though most fitness headlines, especially around this time of year, have something to do with how one looks in a bikini, it seems like, much of the time, the driving motivation behind staying fit might not be how we look at all. A good chunk of the time, the reasons we exercise — whether it’s running, doing CrossFit, or sweating it out in a Bikram class — have nothing to do with slimming down. Often they have more to do with staying sane, or just staying strong enough to chase a two-year-old through the park without getting winded.

So, with that said, we’re asking you guys: Why do you work out? Maybe it isn’t about the brain and it’s all about the ass, and there’s no shame in that game. But we’re just curious to see your answers. Sound off in the comments section below.

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