5 Reasons to Exercise that are not about Losing Weight!

I work out a lot. This is not to brag; this is just fact. I love working out. I enjoy burning up a sweat and maxing out my muscle endurance and pushing myself to the brink. I love pretty much any type of exercise. I think it’s fun and I love how I feel afterward so I’m gonna keep doing it until I’m so old I fart dust and I can’t anymore.

Except running. I HATE running.

So, I don’t. Why?

Because why would I do something that I hate doing even if it’s good for me? I won’t enjoy it, so I won’t stick with it plus its Florida and it’s goddamn HOT so no, I’m not fucking doing it.

A lot of people are on the other end of the spectrum. They hate working out in any form. They don’t want to do it for a lot of reasons…. It’s not fun, they don’t know what they are doing, they don’t have the time, etc.…. but many fall in the middle and do it begrudgingly because they feel like they have too…. More on that…

During Quarantine, I started leading a group of women in Zoom workouts. It started out small, just a few of us. I was already working out and a few of them wanted to join in so we just started doing it together. Then, it really blew up. Word caught on that this was a thing and other women wanted to join. So, we formed the “Badass Bitches Boot Camp” and met up on zoom 6 days a week. Some participated more than others, but it was, and still is, an all are welcome join when you can type of environment. It eventually got too big for me to manage on my own and as I do not yet have my personal training certification, I invited my dear friend, Christina Groom, a certified personal trainer to join us. She is now an integral part of the group. She gives us tips on form, she gets some practice leading workouts (quarantine began LITERALLY as soon as she got her first job as a trainer in a gym) and she creates personalized workouts for us at least once a week. She is my go-to for fitness advice as she loves working out as much as I do and is a marathon runner (because she is NUTS). You can follow her and her adorable Yorkie, Fizgig, at @groomic_fitness on Instagram!

Here’s the thing… The intention was always simply to get our bodies moving, find a way to channel that anxiety from COVID into something else, and take a least a half an hour to ourselves every day that didn’t involve watching the news, cooking AGAIN, taking care of the kids, or cleaning the house AGAIN. Some ladies planned on using this as an opportunity to “lose weight”. They became hyper-focused on the weight loss and the working out became less about enjoying the time we had together as girlfriends, and the mental health break it gave us, and more about burning calories and blasting fat. And that, is what this post is about.

So many of us have been conditioned to believe that “weight loss” is the ultimate goal when partaking in fitness and nutrition regiments. We have been taught to believe that we must always be working to shrink our bodies, especially those of us in the entertainment business, and then we wonder why so many of us have eating disorders!? Talking about our latest diets and exercise programs almost become bonding rituals. But exercise and nutrition are so much more than just getting "skinny". Skinny does not = healthy. Skinny does not = confident. Skinny does not = self worth.

Here are 5 reasons why I work out that have NOTHING To do with losing weight, and ideas about what you can eat to help fuel your chosen activity, too!

Reason #5: Exercise improves mood!

I always say that there’s no bad mood a good workout can’t fix, and this is especially true during a pandemic. You’ve been stuck inside with the SAME PEOPLE for months. You’re probably a bit more than perturbed at them all the time for simple things that normally wouldn’t bother you. I can tell you that I thought of about 4 different ways to hide my boyfriend’s body during a particularly stressful day early on. Elle Woods says, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't.”

Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier, more relaxed and less anxious. But here is the thing, if you’re not a fitness junkie, that’s OK! You don’t have to do a lot to get the benefits of a mood-boosting workout. A simple walk is enough. Put on some sunblock, grab your mask (yes, you should have one with you all the time, and wear it around other people, and no this is not up for debate on my site), lace up your sneakers, play some music and just… walk. Sometimes I’ll listen to meditations while walking. I promise you’ll come back feeling calmer (or at least less stabby). Anxiety is high these days… you are allowed to take time for yourself.

What to eat to energize your walk: A bowl of granola or muesli with some pumpkin seeds and raisins or some whole wheat toast with nut butter and a banana. Hearty, simple to digest carbs with a little protein boost to boot.

Reason #4: Exercise can help with your sex life!

*sings* Bow chika bow wow! We are adults here, yes? Good. Yes, sex IS a workout in and of itself. It’s great cardio, but what if you just don’t feel like doing it. Here are the Mayo Clinics reasons why you should: “Regular physical activity can improve energy levels and increase your confidence about your physical appearance, which may boost your sex life. But there's even more to it than that. Regular physical activity may enhance arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.” And, since lots of us still pretty much have nowhere else to be right now, a little bonding time with your partner isn’t the worst thing you could be doing. Just be responsible, use protection (unless you’re trying to make a baby then why are you reading this? Get to work and let me know where to send the gift) and remember that it is 1000% OK NOT to want to get intimate. These are stressful fucking times (pun intended).

But if you do, what to eat to get you through your mattress cardio: Keep it light. A bowl of fruit and some wheat crackers. You need those carbs. 😉 After: Split a big ass bowl of pasta. You’ve earned those carbs too, baby, yeah! (Double points if you read that like Austin Powers because I totally wrote it that way).

Reason # 3: Exercise can help you sleep better!

Not a single one of us is nailing this sleep thing... Or maybe you were a sleeping champion during quarantine. Either way, odds are your sleeping patterns are off. Sleep is my favorite thing, next to eating. I used to be in bed by 9 if I wasn’t working on a show because I love sleep that much. Now, I barely manage to get in bed before midnight and I sometimes struggle staying asleep. Anxiety will do that. (Hello… pandemic insomnia and my 5th episode of SVU at 2 am) But sleep is SO important for mental and physical wellness. This is where exercise can help. The physical exertion you engage in during the day helps your body’s circadian rhythm keep in tune. Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster, and get a more restful sleep, which is great because the muscles need sleep to recover from that physical activity so it’s a perfect little recovery cycle all wrapped up in a comforter. Some experts say that you should avoid working out close to bedtime as it can boost your energy which obviously defeats the purpose but you do you. If you find that it actually relaxes you, go for it. Just remember to stretch and re-hydrate afterward. Night night.

What to eat to aid in muscle recovery: A good combo of carbs, protein, and fat at breakfast and an easy to digest carb like a banana at least an hour prior and aim to eat a good source of lean protein at least an hour AFTER the workout if you’re able. Exercise causes micro-tears in muscle fibers, which leads to sore muscles. The branch chain amino acids (BCAAs) in whey protein helps your body build and repair muscle tissues. If you can invest in a good protein shake, please do so. Look for one with leucine, a key amino acid you can only get from food – it’s the star player in muscle recovery. If you can’t though, a good, clean lean protein like chicken breast or tofu is a good choice. Chocolate milk is also a great option. Milk proteins are super effective, it can help replenish glycogen stores that were lost, and it’s cheap. Don’t go spending money on products you can’t afford though... We are all doing the best we can right now. Always remember to hydrate well, regardless.

Reason #2: Exercise can help reduce blood pressure, help manage diabetes and inflammation, and help combat other chronic issues that can cause heart disease.

Admit it. You’re probably not eating well and are maybe imbibing more than usual. This is not a statement of judgment. I put away more rose rosé (because I’m basic) during Quarantine than I ever did at any brunch I ever attended before. This, in addition to the stress, lack of sleep, and financial insecurity can increase your blood pressure, and exasperate other underlying health issues that you might have. Regular physical activity can help in this area too. From Psychology Today: “No matter what your current weight is, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol, and it decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases.” Basically, your weight is not the problem, and anyone who tells you otherwise can shove it. If you can move, you can work out and if you can work out, you can positively impact your cardiovascular health at any size. Even if it’s simply taking a brisk walk like stated above… just get that blood flowing. My limited mobility friends, you can ABSOLUTELY benefit too. If your doctor says its ok, grab some light dumbbells and get those biceps BUILT. Hulk arms, anyone? Can you swim? Jump in the pool and do some laps. Swimming is a super easy, low impact way to get some exercise without really doing much else. (Then dry off and show off those sweet tan lines to your hot next-door neighbor.) In short - Do what you can. Any movement is better than none.

What to eat to help with inflammation and blood pressure: A cup of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with some fresh fruit or some sliced veggies and hummus or guacamole. Or, if you’re a seafood lover, try some fresh poached salmon and asparagus with lots of garlic. Or, try some turmeric tea with some honey and a squeeze of lemon with a delicious broth-based soup. (My minestrone or butternut squash soup is a good option! Full of anti-inflammatory ingredients and fiber which also keeps things moving if you know what I mean.)

Reason #1: Exercise can help improve mental health.

This is probably the most important reason we should all be doing some sort of movement in my opinion. Regular physical activity can reduce anxiety, and increase endorphins, but it can also combat depression, anxiety, and help reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation that were likely exasperated by quarantine. Humans are social creatures; We are not meant to be alone all the time. But, since social distancing and staying home whenever possible are still the best solutions to combating COVID right now, it’s still the norm to do most things virtually. Exercise can be social (and FUN!) even in the virtual world. I started doing my workouts at home more because it became impossible for me to go to the gym. (Germs were a problem PRE-COVID, no way in hell am I risking it now.) But having those women to lead and motivate every day, quite possibly prevented me from falling into the pit of despair and depression. Each day in the beginning, I reminded them that our purposes were not to “lose weight” (although bodies will naturally change when doing any regular physical activity) but to get a mental health break every day. Now, we just enjoy the process of getting a good sweat. We laugh when one of us falls over (usually me), and we celebrate each other’s growth and successes. We motivate and encourage each other. And, even though we can’t touch each other, seeing their faces got me through a lot of hard days. I bonded more with my girlfriends during our workouts than I could have possibly imagined. Watching the transformations they’ve made, and having them support ME in my journey has been lifesaving during this.

What to eat for mental health: Whatever the fuck you want. Just put food in your body and get moving.

Don’t let the words “exercise” and “work out” intimidate you. You don’t need to buy a bow flex (unless you want too) or invest in a lot of weights and resistance bands. (again, unless you want to). There are a lot of free online programs you can do from the comfort of your home if you can’t afford to get a subscription to one. Hell… You don’t even need a strict daily regimen to get results. Put the Netflix down. It’ll be there in a half an hour. Get movin’. Gotta do that housework? (I’m still waiting for that Jetson's house to be a thing… sign me UP for my own Rosie!) Put on some music and dance while vacuuming in your living room. Hell, just dance anyway, even if you have two left feet. Grab your partner and dance together. (Don’t leave room for Jesus like in Middle school… Roaming hands are TOTALLY appropriate here… reason #4!) Grab the dog and throw a ball. Get your kids involved. Go for a bike ride together. Play Hopscotch in the driveway. Get some hula hoops and have a competition to see who can do the most without dropping it. Put on your swimsuits and run around in the sprinklers with your kids if you have a yard. Move, in whatever way you can find joy in, and fuel your body for the adventure… and finally, HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE.

You got this. Rock on, badasses.