What Highly Active People Do Differently

Amy Taylor May 13, 2014

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Physical activity is as important as proper diet when it comes to health and wellness. A large body of research shows that exercise is crucial in reducing the risk of life-threatening diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and heart disease. But just like maintaining a healthy diet, keeping up with regular exercise can just be as problematic.

Some people need an extra push to get off the couch, whilst for others – a day is incomplete without getting their dose of sweat. If you always find yourself lacking in motivation to get more active, or you can’t seem to find the balance between too much and too little exercise, maybe you can learn from the things that highly active people do differently.

They don’t exercise to eat. They eat to exercise.

A lot of people spend countless hours in the gym so not to feel guilty when they eat a little more. The truth is that our bodies require minimum amount of calories to survive. Rather than exercising to eat, highly active people eat to exercise. That is, they practise smart food choices. They carefully select what foods to consume in order to sustain their physical activity levels. This doesn’t mean we should forget brownies, cakes or ice creams completely. Occasional indulgence to these calorie-dense foods is okay.

They know the difference between a good burn and true pain.

When it comes to exercise, a lot of people say “no pain no gain”. Experiencing physical pain after a workout session is normal. You might feel a little soreness here and there but that’s alright. That only means your muscles got really involved in your exercise. You may even enjoy that sting in your muscles the next day.  But feeling discomfort in joints, or too much exhaustion that you think you could drop off the floor in any moment is not normal. Pushing through could cause worse injury.

They understand its mental health benefits.

Highly active people know that exercise doesn’t only make them physically fitter but mentally sharper too. A large body of research highlights the wide-ranging mental health benefits of exercise, such as better mood, lower risk of depression and anxiety disorder, stronger memory and so on.

They can be flexible.

Highly active people stick to their daily habit of exercising, but are able to go with the flow. That is, they won’t panic if their day-to-day routine is a little off. They don’t skip out on important events or exciting moments or wake up drastically early just to fit in a workout. On those days where a regular workout gets bumped from the schedule, they focus on other ways where they can be physically active. For instance, they opt to take the stairs than ride the elevator, or bike (or walk) their way to the office than commute.

They know what they like.

If you’re doing something that you hate, you are not going to keep doing it. Highly active people know what types of exercise they most like, so they don’t get bored doing it. Don’t be afraid to try different kinds of workout to see which one fits you best. Some people like aerobic exercises whilst others find thrill and fun from high intensity workouts.

They exercise on their terms.

Along with finding a fitness plan they enjoy, people with a healthy relationship with exercise also work out when and where they like. It’s true that there are a lot of benefits from morning workouts but it all boils down to personal preferences. Find a schedule when you feel most active and willing to exercise.

They seek support.

Many health experts agree that having a workout buddy is one of the most effective ways to sustain exercise. It can be helpful as well to consult your doctor or dietician first before starting a workout plan. This is to ensure that you are using the exercise programme that best suits your needs.

They take rest days.

Lastly, highly active people know the importance of proper rest. They know when to push through and when to skip a workout session to allow their worn out muscles to recuperate. No matter how much you love to work out, there’s is such a thing as too much exercise. Taking at least a day at least once a week is recommended.

By incorporating these habits in your daily workout routine, you are more likely to sustain your physical activity needs and become fitter and healthier than ever!