If you’ve got a trainer that prescribes to the idea that you need to push yourself to total exhaustion in order to reach your goals, it’s time to fire his or her ass.
We are led to believe that if we aren’t sweating or dying or fainting or puking, the exercise or movement we’re doing isn’t good enough. I call bullsh*t.
This myth can lead to two dangerous behaviour patterns: one, pushing way too hard at the gym leading to burnout and/or unsatisfactory results (which both end in quitting altogether most often), or two, the attitude of “well, since I’ll never be able to maintain that level of intensity, why bother moving at all?” Neither of these conclusions are helping anyone. Except of course the people who take your money knowing that after a few sessions you’ll never be back.
The truth is that if you are living a mostly sedentary life right now, ANY sort of purposeful movement is going to help you feel better in a short amount of time. Pick a small goal: 10 minutes of walking a day, parking in the furthest spot at the store every time you go, an extra lap or two around the inside of the grocery store before you shop, 5 minutes of stretching in the morning, calf raises while you brush your teeth, 5 toe touches after you use the bathroom every time, standing up and walking a lap around your office every hour at work, etc. I call these “move more” goals. The best thing about them is that anyone can do them and you can make them fit into your life easily, no puking or bleeding or fainting required.
Choose one small goal and commit it to it for a week. Set a reminder in your phone or calendar to check in next week with how it’s going. Did you remember to do it every day? How did it make you feel? If you forgot most days or it didn’t work for your life, choose another small goal to try for the next week. If you got in your extra movement every day and are feeling good about it and ready, maybe add a few minutes to your walk, another lap around the store, a new creative way to get the blood flow moving a bit more.
Add a little bit more movement each week that you feel up to it, checking in often with how you are doing and being honest about whether or not it’s right for you. Is it a good fit? Does it feel natural? Is it enjoyable? If the answer is yes at the end of each week, perfect. You’ve found a sustainable way to move your body that will improve your life and wellbeing immensely if you just keep going. Congratulations! THAT is the secret to improved health and longevity: actually enjoying the ways you choose to move your body, despite what the program marketers and predatory trainer and the Biggest Loser will have you believe.
Admittedly, this is not the sexiest, quickest, most hardcore way to a tighter core/bigger thigh gap/beach body/whateverthefudge the latest and greatest scam is hocking, but it is a consistent, manageable way to improve your health over the long term. Which is good and achievable for everyone, no matter where you are starting from.
The stuff they are selling stinks, but you don’t have to buy it. #partofthesolution
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