To get fit and healthy, we often look in the most obvious places.
Them being nutrition, exercise and lifestyle.
However, beneath this is what I consider to be a component of a successful programme and that is fun.
- What do you enjoy?
- What makes you happy?
- What makes you feel good?
You see, without an element of fun or enjoyment the time will come when motivation drops and there will be times when you measure the cost-benefit analysis and in the moment you decide ‘not today’.
I wish I could say to you that once you are motivated, you will stay motivated.
Unfortunately I can’t do that, and for good reason.
In my 20+ years of working with people, I have never once seen anyone who is motivated all the time.
Never.
Doing something enjoyable makes it much more likely that you will do it.
All too often, I see and speak to people who believe that getting fit and healthy should feel like some kind of punishment.
It should be hard, right?
Exercise or training should be painful.
Eating food should not be enjoyable.
I say bullshit to both of those ideas.
I just does not have to be like that.
Don’t get me wrong here, it’s highly unlikely you can just do what you want, when you want and for that to be ok.
We still require a high degree of discipline.
But we also need an element of fun or enjoyment along the way.
Enjoyment can come in a variety of forms, be that from exercise or from food.
- If you love playing tennis but hate going for a run, play tennis.
- If you hate eating a certain food, don’t eat it.
It really is simple here.
There are so many ways for you to improve your health and fitness that it can often be overwhelming.
It’s best not to over complicate things.
Let me give you an example in terms of your nutrition…
If you want a chocolate bar, have a chocolate bar.
It’s probably just not a good idea to have multiple or a family sized one.
I say to my clients that they can eat and/or drink anything they want.
They likely just can’t have as much of it as they like.
There’s always trade-offs to be had, you can’t have everything.
Step forward our old friend discipline again.
If you really enjoy socialising with friends but your plan to get fit and healthy doesn’t allow this – i’d argue it’s missing the point.
You want a glass of wine, go for it.
Just don’t let a glass turn into a few bottles.
When you embark on your health and fitness journey you usually have a couple of options:
1 – Go hard, go fast, eliminate what you consider to be bad – i.e alcohol, bread, etc.
2 – Play the long game, eliminate nothing, build a sustainable lifestyle.
If I can give you some unsolicited advise it would be to choose option 2, otherwise you are going to keep going around in circles with option 1.
Just look at any mainstream ‘diet’ for unequivocal proof.
Thanks for reading, have a great day.
Craig
Do you need confidential help with your health, fitness or nutrition? I have a range of services available, with Personal Training in my Private Gym in Manchester, also at your home or workplace in the surrounding areas. For clients further afield, I provide Online Personal Training, Nutritional Consultancy & Private Fitness Holidays.
