New Year’s Eve and summer vacation are two big catalysts of change, especially for fitness related changes. You’re full of motivation to get into shape and become that person you know you are.
With all this new-found energy you hit the gym or the tracks harder than ever and start eating veggies you’re not even sure how to spell. You’re on your way and you’re going there fast!
Unfortunately, this motivation of yours will wane. It’s in its nature – if something goes up, it also goes down. But luckily it’s not motivation you need.
Your mirror: What you see is what you get?
You see, your body and physical prowess is a reflection of your lifestyle. It shows who you are and how you live your life.
If you live like an athlete, you’ll look like an athlete. If you live like a bum you’ll look like one.
This is why fad diets can never work – your body will adapt to your change in lifestyle but once you “go back to normal” it’ll change right back with you. The real problem is your definition of normal.
What you need is to actually change your lifestyle. If you want to look and feel good for the rest of your life, you will have to live your life accordingly.
(Want a blueprint to leading an awesome life? Check out the book Whole Life Fitness Manifesto)
Your lifestyle: It’s a choice
Changing one’s lifestyle is hard though. It requires making tough choices, day after day, until they’re not as tough anymore. Until that’s who you are.
Some aspects of changing your lifestyle are easy, like ordering new sports clothes, reading up on a training program, looking a motivational YouTube videos, etc. Which is why that’s what most people do. But that’s not what’s going to change you.
Change comes from doing what’s hard.
I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph. — Theodore Roosevelt
Things are hard because we perceive them as such. That’s why every time you do something hard, you prove to yourself that you can overcome hardship. And you change a little.
Eventually, what used to be hard becomes routine.
You no longer have to debate with yourself whether to go to the gym or not, you just go. You automatically pick the espresso instead of the sugar-loaded frappuccino, without even thinking. You don’t feel bad anymore after indulging in a weekend of crappy food, because you simply don’t eat that anymore.
This is the great divide between the fitness models you see online, posting yet another smiley, post-gym selfie, when you just skipped another day yourself. For you it’s hard but for them it’s easy, because they’ve made it so.
Your hardship: Don’t wish life to be easy
Thankfully, you can make it easy too! You just have to first pay all the small installments to get there and the currency will be your effort.
Next time some challenge comes up, think of it as an opportunity to do just this. It’s your chance to make one payment for your future self.
This challenge can be anything. Take the stairs instead of the elevator? Maybe two points. Eat a fruit instead of cake at the café? Four points. Going to the gym after a tough day at work? Ten points.
It’s all relative and what’s easy for someone else can be hard for you. You need to focus on your journey and consider where you are at the moment. Do what’s actually hard for you and challenge yourself.
Every single point you gather will be put into your fitness account. Point by point you’ll get closer to becoming the person you want to be. Who you deserve to be.
And your body will reflect who you become.
Author bio: Tobias Sjosten
Tobias runs Athlegan.com, an online resource for vegan strength and fitness. He’s a CrossFit L1 Trainer, BJJ practitioner, and strength aficionado. Through Athlegan, Tobias helps beginners grow stronger and live greener. Be sure to connect with him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
from Dai Manuel: The Moose is Loose http://ift.tt/2aV3MYC
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