Admist the noise of yesterday this really got me thinking yesterday.
So much so that i sat back with a large brandy and an even bigger cigar.
I spoke with a new client over the phone and she was unsure about how her first training session would go. This is very common by the way.
We have a population that is either too scared to exercise, too tired, unsure and full of excuses of why not to do it that the statistics are becoming very scary.
1 in 4 of us will be obese shortly.
She was actually SCARED. Petrified in fact. Here previous experiences with health and fitness had been met with frustration, confusion and procrastination. The weight had crept on.
Imagine that though for one second.
SCARED to exercise
SCARED of what folks would think of her
SCARED of how she would do.
SCARED of the fitness levels of ‘the others’
SCARED of the ‘cliques’
My response…
‘I get it’
Of course you would be scared. Why wouldn’t you?
My first day at school I was frickin petrified.
Public speaking – new underpants please.
And this is not uncommon by the way. When I first review a client there is literally a sigh of relief and a feeling of ‘that wasn’t so bad’.
You see the fitness industry, I hate to admit, has done an incredible job of actually PUTTING PEOPLE OFF.
Which is madness. We are at the coalface of actually being in a position to do something about it.
Think for a minute.
Motivational graphics all over social media with ‘work till you puke’ doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in Mary who hasn’t worked out in years or Bob who hates his belly but has finally conjured the courage to start.
That puts me off. The last thing I want to do is workout till I puke. I will save that to the time I was up at pre-season.
Or how about ‘start here with our gut wrenching high intensity work till you drop routine’. How about a walk? That works. Less stressful too.
Or what about chicken, broccoli and dried herbs for EVERY single meal?
I admire the mental fortitude of those who can stick to this. But that is the exception rather than the rule.
I don’t know about you but there is a better way to eat that doesn’t require trappist monk like tendencies and still get you in that calorific deficit.
Then there are the elitist crew pouring scorn on ‘fattie’ in the corner.
‘They just don’t move and are lazy’
Well unfortunately it isn’t quite as simple as that and now we learn that socio-economic factors literally mould your waistline more so than anything.
Obesity is rife in poorer communities.
Want change? Change your environment – learn to cook, shop and care.
Anyhow back to this lady…she was scared.
Why?
Because it was different. Out of the box. Out of the comfort zone.
But it doesn’t have to be like that…
Of course it is perfectly normal to be scared when you start something new.
But then that little bit of discomfort is YOU becoming a better version of yourself – GROWING in
…confidence
…self esteem
…awesomeness
And yes it is a little bit uncomfortable but nothing happens without it. Growing pains so to speak.
There is that little bit of discomfort as you set about change. New habits are formed. Folks will question you. Your nearest and dearest will sabotage you (or help you – I have seen both). A community will appear that wants you to succeed.
But those growing pains come at a point that you need it the most.
Set yourself up to succeed when it comes to transforming your mind and body. Start slowly. Find your supporters ad cheerleaders and be with them.
Being scared is great. But focus that energy into making the big step (no matter how small). You will be glad you did.
John Lark is owner of Sphere Fitness http://spherefitness.ie
