Maybe you want to lose weight or just unleash a new healthier and lighter you. Whatever your reasons the why has to be strong.
There is little wonder however that this becomes a little unnerving when I read in this papers and official publications that gardening and housework is somehow classed as exercise. Maybe it is – if you are 80 something.
I mean come on!
Why do we have an incessant urge to sugar coat everything?
One client who was looking for a serious body transformation was asked about her exercise habits.
I asked a client once
“‘What exercise do you do on a weekly basis”
My client replied “gardening and housework at least 3 hours a week – this keeps me fit”
Now don’t get me wrong that is great if you are physically impaired and not in a position to exercise. Movement is better than no movement.
However, my years of experience training and coaching individuals to reach their health and fitness goals I can firmly say that the tendency to sugar coat what they deem as exercise is still going strong.
Golf? One step up from the arm chair – particularly if you insist on going round in a buggy and are 35 years of age (I kid you not).
Even our safe haven of the health and fitness world the gym is laden with Machines geared towards sitting on for the ride and providing about as much exercise as lying down.
So, no, reading a magazine whilst cranking out a set of leg presses is not a good idea.
We are designed to move and function like our hunter gatherer ancestors. Indeed according to Dr. Loren Cordain, an expert on Paleo (Caveman) Nutrition our genetic make-up is still 99.9% the same.
In ancient times we ran, sprinted, carried and lifted heavy carcasses. Our movements were determined by the need to build, hunt, scavenge, and catch. This is not to say we should sport our finest leopard skin briefs and pop down to the local supermarket, spear in hand, to hunt for wild boar. It was tough living back then!
But being honest in our efforts to build up a bit of a sweat on most days of the week is crucial to achieving your health and fitness goals.
And it goes back to our attitude –the quick fix, sugar coated mentality.
The mentality that drives us mad if the lift doors don’t close quick enough. The mentality that drives us crazy crossing the road. I bet you press the button to make it go faster?
Why does everything have to be so easy? It is tough reaching your goals. It is hard work training and eating right. It is hard sacrificing sweet foods for veggies and lean protein. It is hard cutting back on the booze.
But that is where the reward lies. If climbing Everest was easy we would all be booking our seats at the Table Top Restaurant to admire the view. The truth is there is no table top restaurant because only the strongest, most determined and most prepared climbers ever make the summit.
I get tired of trying to make exercise out to be ‘easy’ and ‘fun’ with all the smiles and pearly whites seen on a Jane Fonda or the latest pathetic ‘before and after’ videos from our celebrities.
The truth is it isn’t.
I train people who want results and want them pretty fast. This comes at a price. You have to put the work in. There is no easy way round it. There is no sugar coating the gardening and dressing it up as exercise. And believe it or not the hardest work comes not in the gym or on the field or ‘in your mind’ but in the kitchen and the shopping aisles.
Now rant over – cup of green tea anyone?
John Lark is a fat loss specialist combining exercise, nutrition and lifestyle strategies. He is based at The Sphere Fitness Studio ,Leinster Clinic, Maynooth. Download your ‘5 Top Fat Loss Methods’ report at www.spherefitnesstudio.com
