Why Is Commitment Such A Dirty Word?
Commitment: the word that strikes fear in the hearts of men and women when it comes to fitness. Often, we try to pick and choose what part of fitness we want to be dedicated to and what parts we just let slide. So typically, as soon as someone says we should commit to doing this fitness thing forever then…
It's time to stop fooling around and get married to Fitness. When you start to see your fitness routine as a committed relationship instead of something you do like a one-night stand, you will reap the benefits of that relationship over the long haul.
Like any relationship, you only get out of it what you are willing to put into it. Unfortunately, a relationship with fitness is one of those relationships that we want to take away more from it than we want to give. Then we get upset if we don't have the outcome that we were looking for.
When someone starts a fitness routine, they first experience the honeymoon phase: when everything is great, and whatever Fitness asks of you, you do willingly. Eventually, there comes a day when other things in your life feel left out and you haven't made the progress that you thought you would, so you start to sneak around and do other things.
You start to slip back into some of your old ways and habits and then Fitness gets mad and the progress you started to make begins to slip away. You then get discouraged that Fitness isn't very forgiving and at some point you call the relationship off altogether, leaving fitness wondering what it did wrong, why you left, and what it could do to get you back. So, Fitness changes to see if it can make you happy, and get you back, even if it has to compromise on its own values. Suddenly, fitness looks fun again and you go back to it, just to find that at its core it’s really the same.
Like any relationship, there will be times when you don't get along or times when compromises have to be made in order for the relationship to continue. Too often, we end our relationship with Fitness when we are taken out of our comfort zone and face compromise, instead of finding a compromise that works for both.
In addition to making compromises, it’s important to know and understand our partner. Because like with any relationship, sometimes it's work and sometimes it's boring, but at the end of the day if you believe in each other you will find compromises that let you live together and prosper. The better we do this, the better the relationship goes and grows.
A large part of understanding Fitness is actually getting to know our own body and understanding how it interacts with Fitness. Without knowing your body, you will likely end up putting inappropriate demands on it.
As your fitness relationship grows you will better understand what you need to do to be successful. As your understanding of your body grows, so will your ability to overcome obstacles as you grow older. One thing that is for sure is that Fitness will always be trying to change to keep you interested, challenged and inspired, ensuring that your relationship can last a lifetime.
I encourage you to work on your relationship with Fitness and it will reward you in all aspects of your life. Like in any relationship, we may need some help or guidance when things aren't working out. So please get help--don't quit!
I understand that lifestyle change (and relationships) are difficult, and like with anything else in life, without people who have been where you are to help you go forward, it’s almost impossible to make good decisions. So as usual, I’m here to help. Are you ready to commit to a happier, healthier you? Email me at info@successstudiopt.com to get started today.
In Health,
Bill Burnett