I have always wondered why surfers run to the water. You never see them moseying across the beach. It’s always an all out sprint from their cars, across the sand and straight into the waves, board in tow. Is it because the sand is hot? Do they want to warm up their muscles before they start their shredding sessions? Maybe. But I think it is because surfers absolutely love what they do. Surfing is in their souls and the thought of missing one perfect wave sends them into a tailspin. So they run.
It’s the passion they have for the waves and the ocean that makes them die hards for years. Surfers seem to surf forever. Rarely do you meet one who is burned out, who finds catching waves boring after a season or two. Not like those of us who have ever started and exercise routine and then quit after only a few weeks or months. It is the surfer’s passion and love for their sport that each of us must find in order to stick with it and truly live a fit and healthy lifestyle. If you hate doing cardio you aren’t going to commit yourself to doing it multiple times a week! And what’s more, Dr. Elizabeth Lyster OB/Gyn (www.drlyster.com) says that the enjoyment you get while exercising is what leads to the release of the beneficial hormones that cause you to feel good. If you hate your cardio routine, those feel good hormones are not released and you aren’t going to get the added benefits.
So the moral of the story: find an activity you love to do. If you hate the treadmill, don’t suffer through hours of jogging on one. There are loads of other cardio activities that you might find more fun. Enjoyment is the true secret to a long lasting fitness routine.
