“Can we go for a run tomorrow, Dad?”
That was the question one of my children asked me recently.
“Sure,” I replied, assuming they meant after school.
“Great. I’ll get you up at 6:45 so we can go before school.”
Fantastic, I thought.
A 6:45am run on a Monday morning?
There’s no way this is happening.
I figured the dark and the cold would put them off.
But the next morning there they were.
Ready and waiting.
So off we went.
The rest of the family came too. They headed off for a walk while we went for our run.
We headed down towards Tamaki Drive as the sun was coming up.
The city was quiet.
The water was calm.
And for a while, it felt like we had the place to ourselves.
I got to spend quality time with my family before work.
It was a pretty good way to start the day.
And it reminded me of something important.
This is one of the reasons I keep fit.
Not to have visible abs.
Not to hit a certain number on the scales.
Not because my watch tells me I should.
I do it because I want to be able to say yes when moments like this come along.
Most People Start For One Reason And Stay For Another
Most people start exercising because they want to lose weight.
That’s completely understandable.
Weight loss is one of the most common reasons people contact us at Imagine Fitness in Auckland CBD.
But something interesting often happens.
Once people start exercising consistently, they realise the biggest benefits have nothing to do with weight loss.
They sleep better.
They have more energy.
They feel stronger.
Their confidence improves.
Their stress levels become easier to manage.
And perhaps most importantly, they become more capable.
Capable of doing the things they want to do.
If weight loss is your goal, you may also find this useful: How To Lose Weight After 40 Without Extreme Diets.
Fitness Gives You Options
When you’re fit and healthy, life becomes easier.
You have more options.
You can go for a run with your kids.
You can kick a ball around at the park.
You can spend a day walking around on holiday without needing to sit down every twenty minutes.
You can carry luggage up stairs.
You can help friends move house.
You can join in.
These things don’t sound particularly exciting.
Until you can’t do them.
Then they become incredibly important.
The Real Benefits Happen Outside The Gym
Nobody remembers a random workout they did three years ago.
What people remember are experiences.
The family holiday.
The hike.
The bike ride.
The sports game.
The morning run.
The weekend adventure.
The moments where they felt healthy enough to fully participate.
That’s where exercise pays you back.
Not when you’re training.
When you’re living.
Many people think of exercise as something that takes time away from their life.
I see it differently.
I think exercise gives you more life.
Your Kids Are Watching
Whether we realise it or not, our children notice what we do.
They notice whether we exercise.
They notice whether we prioritise our health.
They notice whether we look after ourselves.
They notice whether movement is normal.
That doesn’t mean we need to be perfect.
Far from it.
But setting a good example matters.
If our children grow up believing that exercise is just a normal part of life, that’s a pretty good outcome.
The Cost Of Waiting
One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming they’ll get around to their health later.
When work settles down.
When the kids get older.
When things become less busy.
The problem is that life rarely becomes less busy.
There is always another project.
Another deadline.
Another responsibility.
Another reason to put yourself last.
I’ve worked with enough people over the years to know that health doesn’t usually improve by accident.
It improves when you decide to make it a priority.
This is something I wrote about in Why Smart Professionals Struggle To Stay Healthy.
One Day They’ll Stop Asking
This is the thought that hit me afterwards.
There will come a day when your children stop asking you to play.
Stop asking you to kick a ball around.
Stop asking you to go for a bike ride.
Stop asking you to go for a run.
They’ll have their own friends.
Their own interests.
Their own lives.
The opportunities to create these moments are limited.
Which is exactly what makes them valuable.
And I want to be fit enough to enjoy as many of them as possible.
A Question Worth Asking Yourself
Could you go for a run with your kids?
Could you ride a bike with them?
Could you spend an active morning together?
If the answer is yes, brilliant.
Enjoy it.
If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to start prioritising your health and fitness.
Not just so you can live longer.
Not just so you can lose weight.
So you can create more moments like this.
Because one day they’ll stop asking.
Ready To Prioritise Your Health?
At Imagine Fitness, we help career-driven professionals over 40 improve their health, fitness and energy through personal training and small group training in Auckland CBD.
Our focus is simple.
Helping you build habits that fit around work, family and real life.
No extreme diets.
No unrealistic plans.
Just practical coaching that helps you stay consistent.
Learn more about our personal training and small group training services.
You can also view our current timetable or read our client success stories.