You Need To Find Your “Thing”

One of the most difficult things
about fitness for a lot of people is they don’t have a “thing” that
can be supported and enhanced by their training. What do I mean by
“thing”. Well, it could be anything really; biking, running,
swimming, karate, fencing, hiking, bowling, Obstacle Course Racing (OCR), or
even just lifting weights! But, whatever it is, you need to really enjoy doing
it! Like, you need to fucking look forward to doing it whenever you can! You
dig?
“Jason,” you say, “isn’t that just exercise anyway?”
Ya sort of. I like to categorize physical activities into two categories: Fun
Activities and Training. You see your training will enhance your ability to
perform and enjoy your activities, but it might not be as much fun or even
remotely enjoyable compared to your chosen fun activity. It
doesn’t need to be because you’ve seen how it helps you to perform in whatever
it is you do. That’s not to say you won’t enjoy the training -only that it’s
not necessary because you’ve got a “thing”.
“I don’t get it. I just want to look sexy on the beach.”
Looking sexy on the beach is a mindset in my opinion, but that’s a whole other
topic. Here’s what I’ve found in over 16 years of training people to “get
into shape.” The so called “beach body” and 6 pack abs
that so many people think they want can be motivating. In the short term at
least. Very few people are able to sustain it, and that’s the problem! It takes
a very rigid lifestyle to maintain that physical appearance of perfection. It
requires a great deal of discipline and energy to measure the food,
time it, watch the sodium intake, get the right amount of exercise and sleep.
Ya those sound like the things we should be doing anyway, but your forgetting
that you have an entire life of culture, habits, and lifestyle that probably
isn’t compatible with the extent you need to do in the a fore mentioned list.
I’m not going to get into the physiological and psychological reasons this
fails to be sustainable for most clients, because that’s not the point of this
weeks article. Let’s just say you’re too miserable and isn’t that the point?
Don’t you want to be happy?
This brings me to your “thing”. Having a physical activity that
brings joy into your life is a far more motivating force than the vanity of
impressing people on the beach (for most of us anyway). You might already have
a thing, but you just don’t realize what it is. Think for a moment. Do you have
something remotely active that you want to be able to do better, longer, and
well into your old age? There’s your thing. If you can’t think of one then I
suggest you start experimenting. Schedule time to do shit you’ve never tried
before. Try to get some friends to do it with you! Have fun in your
discovery.
Once you’ve found a thing. You need to start thinking about how your training
can help make it better for you. Training? Ya, that’s the stuff you do in the
gym. Ask a coach or trainer what they think. Even if they don’t have a background
in whatever it is you do, they have a solid understanding of Strength and
Conditioning. They’ll definitely be able to help you find the right stuff to do
in the gym that will both make you stronger and healthier AND help you enjoy
and perform better in your “thing”. Now, get on, and do the damn
thing!