Is it really fun to get fit (or fitter), healthy (or healthier), strong (or stronger), disciplined (or disciplined-er)?
It’s not that it’s not NOT fun, it’s just not “fun” in the traditional sense.
So, is it fun?
Honestly, I’d say heck yeah it’s fun, but it ain’t easy.
Fortunately, no one ever said fun equaled easy and vice versa, so we can’t throw anyone under the bus on that one.
You still there? You with me?
To use the tired motivator that’s supposed to whip us all into fifth gear: “if it were easy, everyone would do it,” doesn’t really do much for me. Never did. I won’t go there with you.
Anyway, it’s not so much getting in shape that’s hard (when I say “getting in shape,” I include healthy, fit, disciplined, etc) — although that does have its own (worthwhile) turbulence too — it’s the staying in shape that’s mostly hard.
It’s kind of like money. Anyone can make money, but not many can keep money.
This is why it’s SO important to implement the discipline of exercising early enough in our life. We need to create the lifestyle that just simply has exercise part of it.
Don’t get dismayed! If you’ve just started to implement exercise into your routine or wanting to start, good for you! Implement The 3•5•9 Protocol.
Stick with it and don’t stop until you die from causes outside your control.
I digress…
Here’s why it’s hard: you train, you lift weights, you run, you get strong, you make muscles, you gain athleticism, you’re balanced and coordinated, you lose weight, you look great, you feel great. You’ve put the hard work in. Yay. Then, uh oh, you plateau, you hit a wall, you hit a rut, life slaps you around, you justify careless behavior. Whatever.
Many outcomes take place among these scenarios to “get back into it:” you put it off, you stay at the same level of determination or regress, your intensity wanes, your athleticism becomes a distant memory, you blame getting older, your balance gets wonky, your drive dulls, your motivation gets cloudy, you become counterproductive.
Be strong and courageous.
This enemy is super tough to battle against, but it’s worth the pain and suffering to conquer.
(I’m reminded of the Invictus poem.)
It won’t take long to get back into the swing of things, but it will take time, consistency and discipline.
Be strong and courageous.
So, I think we’ve summed it up pretty well and concluded two things without belaboring: 1) it’s hard to get in shape and 2) it’s worth the work to stay in shape.
