What if?

Thought experiments are a fun way to figure out why we do what we do. In Thought experiment about physical activity I asked, “Suppose that Crossfit/rowing/cycling/Aikido etc had no impact on the rest of my life, no effects at all, would I still do it? Let’s remove all instrumental benefits and ask if without them, I’d still work out the way that I do.”

Over at Fit and Feminist Caitlin posed a different question, “If You Could Have Good Health From A Pill Would You Still Exercise?”

This Matrix cat asks the same question about exercising for weight loss. It makes me realize how little I even think about that question. That’s a good thing because I exercise a lot and hardly ever lose any weight.

I worry that exercising for weight loss puts many people off physical activity. Why? Suppose you exercise and don’t lose weight. What then? Do you quit? Many do and then they lose all the tremendous benefits of physical activity. I worry too that thin people are hurt by this myth because they think they don’t need to work out. See How equating being fat with being out of shape hurts thin people too.

I’m not sure where this version of the Matrix cat meme came from. I’d be happy to give credit if I did. He showed up in my newsfeed day reposted by a friend.