Good morning
Sometime ago I read a science finding about how our brains function when faced with the choice of exercise versus not exercising. Unfortunately, if we give our brain a choice, it will choose “not” to exercise. To make it more challenging, our brain will provide reasons (excuses) or rationalization to avoid the choice of exercise.
This past week I worked out ONE time.
Every time I considered working out, I thought it out and gave in to various reasons such as not feeling good, tired, cold, I’ll do it later and so on…. Essentially, giving my brain a choice led to exactly what science found would happen.
So, I can blame a horrible week of exercise (and eating) on simple science.
As fitness driven as I am, I can easily fall pray to letting “life,” emotions and even laziness derail my desire for fitness. I know a few people who are obsessed with working out and I do not fall into that category. I could debate the healthiness of such an obsession, but not today. Instead, I want to be real about the challenges of getting fit or maintaining fitness.
Life is coming at us fast and furious. One day we are in our 20's feeling like we can do anything and in the blink of an eye, we are staring down (in my case) 57. Finding (or making) time to exercise is hard as heck at times, despite knowing its value.
A certain big box gym offers membership for around 10 bucks. The behavioral science is brilliant! Four million people sign up in January with the intentions of getting in shape. By February, less than 10 percent are going to the gym. The 90 percent will keep their membership, not because they do not care about the 10 bucks, but because it is message to themselves that they will get back there. Month after month passes and by keeping the membership, the intention pacifies our brain. Brilliant business model, but not so much for helping people.
Overcoming Myself
Knowing how I am wired I do much better writing down my workout plan just as we do for our clients. I am fortunate in that I have a gym, so there is one less excuse. Believe it or not, it is easy for me to find reasons to skip working out, so I know I must plan and not allow myself to debate it when the time comes.
I hope by sharing my challenges and understanding it encourages others to move from the intention stage to the start down the path. I get that it is not easy, but the reward is life changing!
I hope you have an awesome week. I am excited about turning 57 on Wednesday, as it is going to be my best year ever!
God Bless!
Mike
Faith over Fear
