There's something magical about that moment when you look in the mirror, and love the what you see smiling back at you in the reflection. Not because of vanity, but because of pride. Pride in the progress you've made in your fitness journey! This feeling of satisfaction is wonderful, it's a signal that your body is thriving and your hard work has paid off.

Extra life may not seem like such a big deal right now, but think about what those extra years mean. Living an extra decade will probably mean the difference between seeing your grandchildren graduate middle school vs watching them walk down the aisle. The difference between having 70 years vs 85 is a very big deal. When we talk about fitness, we're not just talking about looking good (although that is a huge bonus lol) we're talking about extending your life and improving your quality of life.

Since we're on the topic of quality of life, lets break that down. You may not notice it now but i promise you will start to feel the consequences of inaction ten or twenty years from now. Like Neuton's first law of motion, a body in motion tends to stay in motion." and conversely, "a body at rest tends to stay at rest." The longer you wait to start your fitness journey, the harder it will be to get started! And if you wait too long and start to feel the consequences of inaction, you will just have one more excuse to not start. Fitness is a long-term investment in you. Start putting in workouts now and you will reap the benefits later. Don't let yourself get stuck in a rocking chair waiting watching the days go by, start fitness now and allow yourself to enjoy the ride!

The Compound Effect of Fitness

One of the most fascinating things I have noticed about human physiology is how our bodies tend to compound. They will compound in either direction; good or bad. Depending on how we invest our time into them. If you put in consistent effort in you workouts and nutrition you will find that it becomes easier to do those things. Conversely, if you neglect your body and eat junk food, having an active and quality life will become harder and harder. Thus the compounding effect of fitness is a double-edged sword, either your life becomes exponentially better or exponentially worse. This compounding effect is what makes fitness such a powerful tool that you can use to transform your life!

When you work out regularly and eat nutritious foods, your body begins to function better on multiple levels:

• Your self-confidence builds up
• Your will have more respect for yourself and so will others
• Your movements become easier and more efficient
• Your internal organs operate more effectively
• Your breathing becomes easier and deeper
• Your hormones achieve better balance
• Your endorphin production increases
• Your body will be in a state of balance and optimization

All these improvements make your life progressively easier. It will be easier to continue working out and eating healthy. It will be easier to move around or to pick up your kids. It's a virtuous cycle that builds upon itself, creating exponential benefits over time.

Fitness Is Our Natural State

For thousands of years, humans constantly moved their bodies and consumed natural foods. Out of sheer necessity. This active lifestyle is encoded in our DNA. Fitness is our baseline. Fitness is not meant to be an aspirational goal or a hobby. What we call "fitness" today is simply returning to how our bodies evolved to function.

Everything below that baseline is risky behavior. When we live sedentary lives and consume processed foods, we're essentially swimming against the current of our own DNA. No wonder so many people feel tired, achy, and uncomfortable in their own skin. Modern, sedentary life has only been around for a few hundred years, a blink of an eye in comparison to the total amount of time it took our bodies to adapt to this world. We are in uncharted territory, and so far the outlook of sedentary life isn't good.

By starting your fitness journey, you're doing something amazing! Your also doing something that is a baseline requirement. . You're giving your body the environment it has always needed. Your body will thank you with better health, improved mood, and enhanced longevity.

The Mental Health Connection

One of the most underappreciated benefits of fitness is its impact on mental health. Countless people I've encountered along their fitness journey have experienced a significant drop in feelings of sadness and anxiety simply by incorporating regular exercise into their routines.

Research consistently shows that exercise can be effective for helping with mild to moderate depression. Physical activity stimulates the production of endorphins, your body's natural mood elevators. Also it aids in reducing the production of stress hormones like cortisol.

Beyond the chemical and body composition effects of health and fitness, there's something empowering about setting goals and achieving them. Each workout completed is a promise kept to yourself. As you complete these self-promises you are building self-confidence and resilience that extends to all areas of life.

Form or Function: The False Dichotomy

Some say fitness is merely superficial, a pursuit driven by vanity. This perspective creates a false comparison between looking good and being functional. The truth is that form and function are intimately connected.

Studies have shown that people who are satisfied with their appearance tend to live longer. That feeling of pride when you look in the mirror isn't shallow, it's your body's way of rewarding healthy behaviors. The endorphins released when you're happy with yourself reinforce the very activities that promote longevity. When your body is telling you something, it's wise to listen.

So even if you consider yourself a true functionalist, understand that when it comes to your body, there is function in your form. The visible changes that occur with fitness are external manifestations of internal improvements.