Thursday, September 3, 2009

No Commitment

The other day while driving to an appointment, I passed a local franchise gym. The sign out front said...

"NO COMMITMENT
NO KIDDING"

I, of course, knew what they meant but the wording really left a bad taste in my mouth.

One of the main reasons, in fact probably THE main reason, people don't maintain a regular exercise routine is lack of commitment. Too many people want instant results involving the least amount of work possible. If they didn't, most of those late night "fitness" infomercial products would disappear.

Why promote that type of thinking? They could have easily said, "NO CONTRACT."

My next thought about the sign was that it was an unintentional statement about big box gyms and their lack of commitment to their members. Most of them provide little, if any, orientation and instruction to newbies. The vast majority of them don't care if you come in at all as long as they get some money out of you.

If people feel overwhelmed or confused, the chances of them making exercise a habit is slim to none. Obviously, if people don't stick with their exercise program, they don't get results.

And America gets fatter.

Here's the truth...

NO COMMITMENT
NO RESULTS

Newsflash: If you want to get healthier, stronger, more confident and slimmer, you need to make a commitment to a lifestyle of nutritious eating and regular exercise. It won't always be easy, especially in the beginning, but with consistency it will get easier.

Sometimes you'll eat fast food because you didn't plan ahead or because you had a craving. Sometimes you'll skip a workout. It doesn't matter; what matters is what happens next.

No one is perfect and you don't need to be. Those types of slip ups will be minor if you've made a real commitment to getting fit. One missed workout is no big deal; you just do it the next day. You don't let one binge derail you; you just start again the next meal.

Getting healthy and fit doesn't have to overtake your life; baby steps will work but without commitment you will never succeed.

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