The Best Workout on Earth

What’s the best workout you can possibly do?

It’s a good question. Exercise comes with myriad benefits and many people want them.

Even though it’s a good question, it’s a question I never answer.

I ask questions back. The first question I always ask is:

What kinds of movement do you enjoy?

It’s the most important consideration.

The best exercise is exercise you’ll consistently do. The exercise you’ll consistently do is exercise you enjoy.

If you absolutely hate something, you probably aren’t going to consistently do it. If you aren’t going to consistently do it, you aren’t going to get the benefits of it.

Next question:

When you were a kid, what kinds of movement did you enjoy?

Maybe you spent many days skateboarding until it got dark. Maybe you played a lot of capture-the-flag with your friends.

Next question:

What kinds of movement have you discovered as an adult that you enjoy?

Maybe you started hiking when you were on vacation in Colorado. Maybe a friend recently introduced you to strength training.

Next question:

What kinds of movement would you like to try?

What are you curious about? What has always looked like fun to you?

It’s not about me telling you what to do; it’s about you telling me how you enjoy moving your body.

Exercise you enjoy sticks because you get the long-term benefits, and the workouts themselves are a highlight for you. You win later, and you win now.

People who exercise merely for the possibility of future benefits generally aren’t very consistent. They tend to exercise in fits and starts.

I invite you to run an experiment.

First, identify some people fond of saying, “No pain, no gain.”

Watch them over the long run. Are they still at it three months from now? Six months from now? Three years from now?

Second, identify some people who say things like:

1. “I love swimming.”
2. “I love running.
3. “I love yoga.”

Watch them over the long run. Are they still at it three months from now? Six months from now? Three years from now?

If you follow them long enough, I’m confident you’ll discover that most of the former have burnt out and quit and most of the latter are still at it—and still smiling.

What most aspiring exercisers don’t realize is most people who consistently exercise almost always absolutely love their workouts. It takes no them no willpower—zero, zilch, nil, nada—to get themselves to exercise. In fact, you’d have to work very hard to keep them from exercising.

Sitting within 25 feet of me are two colleagues of mine who are perfect examples. One man absolutely loves mountain biking. Time and time again, he tells me about his adventures. The other man absolutely loves lifting weights. He loves how it feels in his body. He loves the challenge. He loves everything about it. When he’s about to leave work to go to the gym, he’s always beaming. Both of these men have consistently exercised for years, and I have no doubt they’ll continue to do so. Because they enjoy what they’re doing.

That’s why when someone asks me what kinds of exercise I recommend, I always ask back:

What kinds of movement do you enjoy?

Not everyone jumps out of their seat to tell me what they love to do. In fact, many people start with what they hate:

“I hate running. I’ve never liked lifting weights. I swam in high school. That was fun.”

This person is starting to hone in on a good workout for them. It’s not running or lifting weights. There’s no sense in forcing yourself to do something you despise.

And they remembered that swimming was fun for them. A good next step for them might be to try some swimming and see how they like it these days.

Of course, if you haven’t exercised in a long time, no matter what you’re doing, it’ll probably be hard in some ways at first. That’s okay as long as there’s some enjoyment there too. When you’re getting back to exercise for the first time in a while, enjoying what you’re doing will help you cope with the fatigue and soreness that comes with starting out. If you like what you’re doing, it’s easier to cope with that stuff. As you get more adept at your activity of choice, it can, and often does, turn into pure enjoyment.

Take a moment and imagine doing a workout you absolutely love.

That’s the best workout on earth—for you.

I’m all about helping my clients cultivate sustainable exercise practices. That’s why I often ask them additional questions:

1. Do you prefer to exercise outdoors or indoors?
2. Do you prefer to exercise by yourself or with others?
3. What times of the day does exercise feel best to you?

For example, if you prefer exercising outdoors, lifting weights in a gym probably isn’t the best workout for you. It might make more sense for you to take your strength workouts outside with some modifications and/or do some hiking.

For example, if you prefer exercising with others, swimming by yourself probably isn’t the best workout for you. It might make more sense for you to do group swims and/or other group workouts.

For example, if you’re not a morning person, running before the sun comes up probably isn’t the best workout for you. It might make more sense for you to carve out some time to run during the workday or to run after work.

As you reflect on these questions, put out of your mind what workouts you think you should be doing. Put out of your mind what “everyone else” is doing on Fakebook and Instasham.

Reflect on what you really enjoy. Allow yourself to embrace, “No pain, all gain.” Embrace the fact that you can do workouts you absolutely love and be taking great care of yourself.

I know a woman who does a big hike each and every month in the mountain range near her. And loves it!

I know a woman who is at the rock gym most evenings throughout the winter. And loves it!

I know a woman who’s done yoga at every studio in her city and is consistently on her mat several days a week! And loves it!

That can be you!

What’s your jam? What makes you smile? What makes you feel alive?

That’s the best workout on Earth—for you.

About Jason Gootman
Jason Gootman is a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach as well as a certified nutritionist and certified exercise physiologist. Jason helps people reverse and prevent type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other ailments with evidence-based approaches to nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, holistic wellness, and, most importantly, lasting behavior improvement and positive habit formation. As part of this work, Jason often helps people lose weight and keep it off, in part by helping them overcome the common challenges of yo-yo dieting and emotional eating. Jason helps people go from knowing what to do and having good intentions to consistently taking great care of themselves in ways that help them add years to their lives and life to their years.