Today’s title was inspired by an advertisement for a fitness product (one I actually like). It struck me how unfortunate it is that this is how people view fitness—as something one has to fit into one’s life. Sadly, people who have this view often find it easy to make excuses for why it can’t fit into their lives.
Fitness should not be a piece of the puzzle. Rather, it is the puzzle in which many pieces fit, e.g., Spiritually, Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially. The hour or so of daily exercise and (additional) physical activity are not all there is to being “fit.” Fitness is a life-style and the asymptote of personal growth.
Every choice we make impacts our “fitness”. It isn’t enough to go to the gym three days a week and “eat healthy” (most of the time). Fitness is not a singular activity. Rather, it is the choices in activities (“opportunity costs”).
Last night, my wife commented that I was “the most disciplined person” she knows. I responded that surely this is not the case. I was able to rattle off a list of people who I would consider more disciplined than myself (not surprisingly, they were all wrestlers of notable caliber). I am sure there are countless people (even non wrestlers) I don’t know who are far more disciplined for me. Caused to think about my “discipline”, I see where I have made a more concerted effort to make fitness my life rather than to merely fit fitness into my life.
Fitness is not short-term changes made to achieve a short-term goal. It is a diet rather than dieting. It is habit rather than (short-term) transformation. It is the process of eliminating unhealthy behavior. It is commitment and consistency.
Perhaps, reading this, you are struggling to “fit fitness into your life.” As such, it may be a struggle to schedule regular exercise sessions. You may be looking at which diet is “best” or what exercise program you should do. We have all been there. It is baby steps at first. “Fitting fitness into our lives” is not a singular change. It is many changes made one at a time or a few at a time. Over time, these positive choices crowd out the negative choices. Fitness becomes the lifestyle.
Don’t think of fitness as the gym. Rather think of the gym as a component of fitness. Exercise. Eat right. Maintain a healthy body composition. Establish regular sleeping habits. Journal. Develop a growth plan. Commit time to family and community. Read. Learn. Do all that will make you Spiritually, Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially well-centered. Consider what you do with your time and how it fits into your “fitness”.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!