To prevent man boobs, sleep better, maintain ability to stand from the toilet...Why do you exercise?

It all began at JD Gym...

I was absentmindedly making my way out into a cold wet November evening, when I happened to linger at the personal trainer pictures. I was not looking for a personal trainer, I was just avoiding the rain. Before I knew it though my thoughts were interrupted by a muscular bearded man, asking me my fitness goals. It transpires that he was trying to sell his services (he specialised in power lifting!). I mumbled something about not wanting to fall over and still being able to climb stairs when I got to seventy. This didn't seem to put him off his sales pitch, although it did lack focus.

Once I had made it outside, I started thinking about the reasons we exercise, or at least try to. We can end up investing much of our time and money into exercise, but do our reasons make sense. Does what we are doing in terms of strengthening and cardiovascular activity help us meet our aims? Is it effective?

Here are my reasons for exercising (they are not that different to what I told the powerlifter!)

1. I want to age well. I want to live the majority of my life being as healthy and active as I can be. This includes avoiding fractures as much as possible and reducing my risk of falling over, as well as maintaining my ability to climb hills without feeling too puffed out.

2. I do not want to diet. It's just not fun. So, if possible, I would prefer to run a few times a week and drink that glass of wine, or eat the chocolate, rather than restrict myself too much.

3. I enjoy it. Once I am outside in my trainers, I am glad to be running. Being outside is lovely, even in the cold (although I usually find it an effort to get out there). I get real joy from feeling my body work as it should. I know it won't always be that way, so I enjoy it now.

4. I like rules. Public Health England tells me the exercise recommendations, and I pretty much stick to them...not to would feel wrong!

Why do you exercise?