The Scariest Word in Fitness
November 28th 2006 10:55
You go to the gym and "haul the big iron" or you run several miles or you go through a one hour yoga session. You grab your stuff and leave the gym. That's when the reality of life hits you. If you remember that you have half a pizza at home and think you can finish it off or if you stop off for a couple of beers before home then you are at war with yourself. If you stay up late too many nights and skip the gym because you are too tired then you are at war with yourself. Or should I say your desires are at war with each other.
The way you live when you are not in the gym(or on the track etc.) is as important for your fitness as the time you spend exercising. If you do either improperly you can bet that you will never get the most out of either. So, what's the most terrifying word in fitness? Lifestyle.
If you are an exerciser and you still like to engage in the lifestyle of your inert friends, you are working at cross purposes. People who are working at cross purposes are doomed to be dissatisfied. If you don't integrate your life better you are going to feel like you have wasted your exercise time and missed out other fun things you could have done while you were wasting all that time exercising. People who try to exercise and still face the temptations of having a good time with food, drink and late nights can descend into a funk into which the lazy and happy-to-be-flabby just don't fall. Is there an answer? Yes,but you probably won't like it.
A couple of weeks ago I ran into an article by a man who is super rich from writing ad copy. He has taken on some would-be writers as their mentor. One of these novices complained to him that he was not progressing as he thought he should be. The master writer responded by somewhat paradoxically suggesting that the beginner was trying to do too many things well to be superior at any one of them. Good point.The master told his apprentice to set aside the next couple of weeks and immerse himself in studying techniques and more writing.
What was the essence of this advice? Hierarchy. If you do not seriously sit yourself down and decide what it is that you want the most, the desire machine in your head will pump out things by the minute you will want to eventuate. Some of these will be perfectly valid and some will border on the licentious -eat, drink and be merry. Some will be long term and some short term. For sure, they will all be swirling around the decision making center in your head and will win a certain amount of your volitional battles. If they win too many, you will become a battleground of conflicting desires none of which will be satisfyingly fulfilled. With hierarchy you prime yourself to pay heed to the most important at least most of the time. Rember my axiom:"You are your lifestyle".
The toughest thing in the world is too prioritize your desires, but I believe that that process is the key to having your endeavors come out as you wish. If getting into better shape is a chief objective, admit it and put it on the top of your hierarchy. Your servant, as always.
The way you live when you are not in the gym(or on the track etc.) is as important for your fitness as the time you spend exercising. If you do either improperly you can bet that you will never get the most out of either. So, what's the most terrifying word in fitness? Lifestyle.
A couple of weeks ago I ran into an article by a man who is super rich from writing ad copy. He has taken on some would-be writers as their mentor. One of these novices complained to him that he was not progressing as he thought he should be. The master writer responded by somewhat paradoxically suggesting that the beginner was trying to do too many things well to be superior at any one of them. Good point.The master told his apprentice to set aside the next couple of weeks and immerse himself in studying techniques and more writing.
The toughest thing in the world is too prioritize your desires, but I believe that that process is the key to having your endeavors come out as you wish. If getting into better shape is a chief objective, admit it and put it on the top of your hierarchy. Your servant, as always.
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