Happy New Year! Am I ever happy seeing 2016 end. The last half of the year was awful (injuries, illness, depression *really* sidelined me) but I'm finally getting back on the bandwagon and have been going strong for a month or so now. It's amazing how working out makes me feel so much better, and how amazing it is to be UNINJURED! I'll touch base on this later (hoping to be more consistent with updating again).
Today I wanted to touch base on something I've noticed a lot on Facebook. I see a lot of people make comments about how they avoid the gym these first couple of weeks until all the "resolutioners" give up on their New Years resolution to get healthy and go to the gym. I see people make comments or share memes like, "your resolution is my lifestyle." That annoys me. With that argument, your vow to get healthy was someone else's lifestyle until you adopted it. And that someone else did not make you feel like you were going to fail or give up because you're still going for it and therefore have made it a lifestyle. There are a lot of broken people in the fitness world trying to fix themselves for whatever reason - when I started my workout journey, I felt like I was at rock bottom. So be kind. Be less judgmental. Don't just automatically assume that someone is going to give up, try to keep them from giving up! Shoot a smile to the new face at the gym or on the walking path and help them feel welcome.
Today I wanted to touch base on something I've noticed a lot on Facebook. I see a lot of people make comments about how they avoid the gym these first couple of weeks until all the "resolutioners" give up on their New Years resolution to get healthy and go to the gym. I see people make comments or share memes like, "your resolution is my lifestyle." That annoys me. With that argument, your vow to get healthy was someone else's lifestyle until you adopted it. And that someone else did not make you feel like you were going to fail or give up because you're still going for it and therefore have made it a lifestyle. There are a lot of broken people in the fitness world trying to fix themselves for whatever reason - when I started my workout journey, I felt like I was at rock bottom. So be kind. Be less judgmental. Don't just automatically assume that someone is going to give up, try to keep them from giving up! Shoot a smile to the new face at the gym or on the walking path and help them feel welcome.
Another thing I've noticed are people who are so down on others who are looking for what they see as a quick fix, especially if you've succeeded in weight loss. I've succeeded in weight loss at home, doing it on my own. And I know a lot of people could actually benefit from getting off the couch. Myself included. But I also think about my journey as a whole. Would I have been as successful if I had started this journey any other time? Would I have failed and had to do it again? Why did I wait to long to start getting healthy in the first place? When you talk to someone who thinks diet and exercise might be hard, instead of complaining about them on Facebook or thinking about how "lazy" because they apparently want an "easy fix" ask them why they think diet and exercise is so hard. Are they uneducated about nutrition? Are they worried of the expense? Do they think a healthy diet means a life of restriction and saying no all the time? Do they think exercise is physically painful or that they can't do it? Do they not have the support at home? Do they not have support or confidence in themselves? Instead of sitting there judging and making assumptions that they want an easy fix, find out why they're hesitant to start. If they're interested in medication that may aid in weight loss and you think you are above the person because you have your healthy lifestyle and you work hard, ask about their time, and if they can manage a few minutes. Most effective workouts take around 30 minutes a day. A lot of people don't know that! And if they do, don't judge them for their "easy fix" - who knows. Maybe when their "easy fix" starts kicking in, they may gain confidence in themselves to seek other options.
Happy and healthy 2017!
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