Most people start going to the gym because of what it does for them.
I.e. they want to get leaner/fitter/stronger/whatever because they want to look good, perform well, be healthier, and so on, and so on.
All fine and dandy. Indeed, I’d go so far as to argue this desire is essential – that catalyst that kicks everything into motion.
However, it’s not enough to keep things moving month after month, year after year.
So, what you need to do is understand what purpose training, dieting, and all the rest serve beyond yourself.
I appreciate I’m flirting dangerously close to woo-woo crystal territory here, but the ramifications of not figuring this out are severe. Because, eventually, training for “selfish” reasons becomes unfulfilling, the desire dries up, and you’ll either end up going through the motions or quitting altogether.
For me, my transcendent reason for training is my daughter. I train and do all of the other things for her.
Why?
Because she deserves a dad who can provide for her no matter what.
Materially – because I can’t keep her fed and housed if I’m too sick to work. (And as a self-employed man, if I don’t work we don’t get to eat).
Emotionally – because we all have impulses we don’t like. Regrettably, I suffer with anxiety and can go to pieces over the smallest thing if I’m not careful. Why I’m this way isn’t important. It’s my problem and I have to own it. Part of owning it involves paying a therapist every month. The other part is using training as an outlet for the negative emotion. Basically, training hard benefits my daughter enormously as my pesky emotions don’t cloud my parenting.
Physically – because I’m no good to her in this regard if I’m a lard-arse. Right now she’s three, so this is about being able to run, jump, and play with her instead of being just another fat dad at the park sitting on the sidelines.
So that’s why I train. And believe you me, it makes dragging my backside to the gym and into the great outdoors to sprint and run easy. It’s not even a choice. I do it because I have to. Not for my sake, but for my daughter’s well-being.
Today’s lesson?
Simple. Give some thought to why you want to train hard and eat well. Get your head around this, and rare will be the day you skip the gym because you “don’t feel like it”.
If this resonates then The Phil Tyreman Letter might be right up your street.
Info here:
www.philtyreman.co.uk/information
Phil