More Than Muscle: Exploring Our Motivation Behind Fitness

Victoria Gwilt, LMCHCA

Earlier this month, Ian and I had the opportunity to partner with Mentally Shredded, a company committed to integrating fitness and mental health. As former college athletes, we were thrilled to team up with an organization that understands the value of both physical strength and emotional resilience.

After a grueling workout (that admittedly took me more days than I care to admit to recover from), we led a post-sweat discussion with the participants. It became a space to reflect—on how and why we show up in our day-to-day lives, and where fitness fits into that bigger picture.

What stuck with me most from that conversation was this: fitness means different things to different people. So when we ask ourselves, “Why am I working out today?” the answers can vary wildly—and that’s worth exploring.

We all know the benefits of exercise: it’s good for our bodies, and it boosts our mental health with a surge of endorphins. But sometimes, that’s not the whole story. Sometimes, the reason we show up at the gym or on the mat runs deeper.

Are we working out to better ourselves—or to control something that feels out of our hands? Are we using exercise to process emotions—or to avoid them? Are we training for a goal—or for approval?

The idea of motivation in fitness isn’t new. It takes grit to finish a tough workout. But how often do we actually stop and ask: What’s really driving me today?

Getting curious about our motivation doesn’t take away from the effort—it adds meaning to it. And in the end, understanding what drives us helps us show up more fully, more honestly, and more compassionately—for ourselves.