Which documentaries or videos helped motivate you greatly in taking health/fitness seriously?

[mahitis]

@savedsue

This one speech by Arnold Schwarzenegger did it for me. Have changed my habits since then. Made me definitely change my mind set too.

 

[dawn16]

@mahitis Arnold is eternally motivating! I'm a woman and will never look as buff as he did (nor am I trying to lol) but he's so good at making you feel like fitness is a wonderful & fun lifestyle everyone should participate in.

 

[nataliemurphy1007]

@savedsue My list:

Brittany Runs a Marathon
From Fat to Finish Line
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
Alfie’s Angels
Once Is Enough
That Sugar Film
Run for Your Life

 

[bellacone]

@nataliemurphy1007 I tried to search for Alfie's Angels, and found a children's book? I'm compiling the recommendations into a list and wanted to be sure.

 

[nataliemurphy1007]

@bellacone Oh no it’s a series.

 

[bellacone]

@nataliemurphy1007 Thank you!! I was waaaaay off lol

 

[savedsue]

@nataliemurphy1007 You know when I was scrolling through this subreddit’s search looking for docs to watch, I’d say that Brittany doc got recommended and upvoted the most in comments. I think I’ll watch it this week now. Thank you for sharing so much!

 

[ariaspen]

@savedsue Quick point, Brittany Runs a Marathon isn't a documentary. I found it motivational, and its a good watch, but definitely fictional.

However, if you do end up watching it and liking it, Run Fatboy Run with Simon Pegg is a slightly similar premise and also funny as heck

I'll throw in another vote for That Sugar Film, though. That one was great.

 

[phouglas]

@ariaspen Brittany Runs a Marathon is based on real life!

 

[abim]

@savedsue From fit to fat to fit really lit a fire under my ass. Its on youtube.

 

[jcsga]

@savedsue Tbh MTV’s The Challenge. There are so many women with a wide variety of body types and they’re all STRONG. And there is a huge emphasis on strength and capability.

 

[dawn16]

@jcsga I used to love that show! Is it still on? I'm a sucker for physical challenge/obstacle course shows AND trashy reality drama shows, so it scratches two itches at once for me lol

 

[chrisfollowerofchrist]

@jcsga I was going to recommend this! I like to imagine how I'd do on challenges and sometimes plan out how I would specifically train for the show haha.

 

[thebadcatholic]

@chrisfollowerofchrist I know I would at least destroy at the spelling bee challenge. Always the most entertaining episode!

 

[chrisfollowerofchrist]

@thebadcatholic The delight in TJ's eyes every time he announces spelling and/or trivia as the challenge is a joy to behold.

 

[villa143love]

@savedsue Being in medical school and seeing the wide variety of chronic health problems that can take so much from people has been enough for me. Seeing how many terrible things are associated with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other largely avoidable health problems is enough. Reading about Korsakoff syndrome is enough to make me never want to drink again. I wondered at first why medical students all seemed to be in really great shape despite having so little time for themselves, and now I know. Facing the reality of what could happen to you one day, every day makes you want to do everything you can to protect your body while you can.

 

[isoter]

@villa143love I work in disability and it’s a great motivator for me. I don’t want my problems list to take up a full page. All my Covid claimants who had long Covid issues or died also had very large BMIs.

 

[antuan33]

@villa143love Second this. Working in medicine always reminds me how just eating healthier and exercise, even minimally, can help treat so many commonly seen issues.

 

[dawn16]

@savedsue I remember the clip of the fat vs muscle and think of it often!

Also, the MRI comparison of the legs of a 40 yo triathlete, a 70 yo triathlete, and a 70 yo sedentary person lives rent-free in my brain.

https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/w0c3wm/mri_cross_sections_of_upper_legs_showing_the

I was sedentary for a long time and I think (fear) I have some catching up to do.

 

[jlvansuch]

@dawn16 I’ve always been an active person, but I’m getting old, and my body has been through two pregnancies that did some damage. So, I’m just always in pain now.

This week, we went to the grotto - a place on Georgian bay shoreline that’s quite rocky. I swam in the wavy, dangerous lake, and was shaking after, but figured, it’s a hard swim, and the waves were pushing me around quite a bit.

Then, we climbed around to see the actual cave part. And I had to pull myself up a rock ledge. And I was struggling. It felt like all my muscles were tiny strings encased in fat.

Bit of a wake-up call. If I want to be active with my kids, I gotta do something. Now.