Last Monday, I read this article that I absolutely loved, so with Patrick's permission, I am re-posting it here for you. (Note: If you want to receive these weekly newsletters or get more information about programs at Heart in Sol, email info@heartinsol.com.)
Don't confuse "Active" with Fit
When it comes to excuses for not exercising, I’ve heard them all.
Sometimes the excuse is self-inflicted: I don’t have the time.
Other times the excuse is pure procrastination: I’m going to start as soon as tax season ends.
And then there are excuses that are downright funny: I don’t like to sweat.
As delicately as possible, I point out to these well meaning excuse-makers that, even though they don’t want to do it, exercise is an important part of cultivating a strong, healthy and attractive body.
I tell them that if they would just exercise 2 to 4 times each week they would feel a dramatic improvement in their daily life, starting with renewed energy and strength.
Then I bring up the health benefits and explain how many of their health problems would improve or even disappear. I talk about how great they will feel, and look, dropping those extra pounds and rediscovering a slender figure.
Even with all this experience in excuse squashing, there used to be an excuse that would leave me stumped.
The sneaky excuse of ‘I’m active’: Oh, I don’t need to exercise with a personal trainer—I’m very active. I play golf and tennis and Wii.
Well, that is a good excuse, right? Golf, tennis and Wii are all active sports that burn calories. Maybe you can be fit without doing any other exercise…
And then I started noticing a trend.
The ‘golf’ people couldn’t touch their toes in a simple flexibility test. The ‘tennis players’ couldn’t jump rope for 60 seconds. The ‘Wii players’ needed a week to recover from a one mile jog. The so-called ‘active’ people encountered injury after injury.
And then it hit me.
You can’t become fit simply by being active.
Only by being fit can you become more active.
To be lean and to maintain a level of fitness there is no substitute for a consistent, challenging exercise program. It’s the only way, folks.
To truly be fit is when your body is able to do whatever you ask of it. This comes from a combination of flexibility, strength and endurance.
So, do you exercise?
Or are you fooling yourself with the idea of ‘being active’?
How do you feel about your current level of fitness? Are you able to do each and everything you want? Or do you end up opting out of activities that you know would be too challenging?
If you’ve used the excuse of ‘being active’ in the past, take a minute to reconsider your position.
Don’t bank on your ‘active’ lifestyle with the hope of true results.
Call or email me today to get started on an exercise program that will make you truly fit.
And if you’re furthest from active but simply want to lose those extra inches and pounds, make the decision to contact me today.
As they say…there’s no trial run in the game of life
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