I think fitness is one of the most sort out topics in the United States. Matter of fact, according to www.washingtonpost.com, about 45 million Americans try to lose weight every year. Many doctors are even rating exercise now as the "Cure All" drug. For example, Dr. Jordan Metzel along with other doctors claim that exercise is not only a form recreation, but also a solution to all health problems. He goes on to say that exercise can be used to boost health, treat complex diseases and to enhance the skin. This article made me realize that fitness is the cheapest and least expensive medicine. So why? Why are we so adamant to doing it? Why are so many people not taking action to live a healthier life?
Why are people not taking advantage of exercise?
A few months ago, I had an epiphany which was highly influenced by my physics class. Newton’s Law of Motion : “An object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force." In terms of fitness, this means that the human body will most likely remain at rest and stay at rest unless a force is applied to it. So the only way we can keep going back to the gym is to constantly force and reset our minds. By doing so, we condition our bodies to generate a natural response to working out. This concept is known as positive reinforcement in psychology.
Most common reasons why people do not workout or stay consistent:
1. Fear (including fear of success)
2. Low self-esteem
3. Quick fix, quick results
4. Busy schedule
5. Family burdens
6. Low finances or change in jobs
7. Environment and culture
8. Genetic excuses
9. Don’t know where to start
10. Procrastination
Fear
Fear is an innate response that triggers our sympathetic nervous system and initiates a fight or flight response. Subconsciously we tend to be afraid of what people think about us and how we are perceived by others. I often hear women say that they are too fat to workout and sometimes, I hear people say that they fear that others will look or stare at them. First of all, the gym is not or should not be a place for people who look good already. It is a place where you should go to clear your mind and exercise in order to look and feel better. Yes, there are people there who have trained for quite some time, but believe me, most people in the gym go there to work on something. Remember that nobody is perfect and if people stare at you, they probably are worrying about what you are also thinking about them as well.
Low Self-Esteem: Low self-esteem has so much to do with fear, but in this context, it has to do with self love. When you love someone, you give them your time, your energy, and your attention. Unfortunately, I've noticed that we tend to love others more than we love ourselves. For this reason, we lack the confidence to trust ourselves. In order to take our workouts to the next level or simply make this a habit, we need to be able to trust ourselves and everything we do- both in the gym and in the kitchen. Just know that you are giving your body the best care that it needs to get right and that’s it!!
Busy Schedule:
Now, sometimes we really cannot control this! One of the complaints I have heard in my years of coaching is the fact that one’s schedule does not allow for a healthy life style. I definitely understand this, but a wise man once said to me that you make time for what or who you find important. (Honestly, I think I picked from a casual conversation.) Here are some tips that can help:
1. Workout early: Working out early before your day begins will make the day go smoother, but also helps with keeping fit- especially when you are extremely busy. Also, the gym is not very packed around this time since everyone is busy sleeping.
2. Planning ahead: This is a very important part of life especially in fitness. You need to plan the days and times you will be at the gym, when you will meal prep, and how much time you plan on spending at the gym. Also, planning your meals ahead of time will save you from making poor eating decisions.
3. Cut your workout time and days: Many people think that in order to lose weight, they need to spend hours at the gym, but that’s not true! Your body can only hold roughly an hour of intense training and after that, you are merely wasting time, so planning what you will do helps your workout flow smoothly and helps you not to waste too much time. Additionally, allowing time to do other things outside of the gym is very important. Skip the gym a day or two during the week to rest up, prepare your meals and plan your days ahead.
4. Short talks: I am not asking you to be anti-social, but if you know that your schedule does not allow you much time, be mindful about how many short talks you have at the gym. You will be shocked about how that time can add up. (It is not surprising why people can spend three hours in the gym.)
Family, Friends, and Other Obligations:
Usually people tell me that they are not able to spend time with spouses or kids. I think communication is key here and maybe working out together can create another level of intimacy. Additionally, most gyms now have a day care in the gym. (Gold's Gym in Bowie, MD and Ritchie Station do an amazing job with this!)
Low Finance and Change In Jobs
It is very difficult to workout when your finances are not right! What you can do is try relaxing exercises that allow you to free your mind while applying for work or trying to figure out your next move. Light runs, yoga, meditation, being in the sauna, and stretching can be very helpful.
Environment and Culture: Your environment and culture can influence your perspective on fitness so do not allow it to stop you from embarking on a wonderful journey. People around you add to the environment, so it is important to talk to them about your desire to work out and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You might even get a friend or two to join you.
"I Will Look Like A Man" : I want to start this by saying that women can never look like a man no matter how hard she tries! The body will not allow! Note that working out does not make you manly. It enhances your curves, but I will leave this discussion for another day.
Genetics: “I am not cut out or built for fitness.” Hmm...that’s a myth!
"I Don’t Know Where To Start!" : It can be very difficult to start, especially when you have never worked out before or if it's been a while. Most people usually don’t know what to do or where to start. If you have never trained before, it might be helpful to contact a personal trainer or fitness coach in your area. YouTube is another great resource. Additionally, I have added a new page on FMC called FitTube. This page is designed for people to share their workout videos to this community. Click here for more. FMC also has a 24/7 Community where you can now network and maybe meet other people online who can give you advice on what to do. Check it out.
Procrastination: This is another reason why most of us do not work out or eat healthy. Mel Robins talks about procrastination in her 5 Second Rule Book. I have been able to use this rule to accomplish many goals in my life, one being creating this website. Watch it here.
I can go on and on about the reasons why people do not exercise. There will always be reasons why you shouldn't workout, but do not let those reasons discourage you from taking advantage of this free universal pill.
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