Fitspiration Fallout
Go hard or go home.
Winners never quit and quitters never win.
If your legs are screaming, tell them to shut up.
Fitspiration? Far from it.
Admittedly, I used to cheer some of these mantras when I taught my classes as my 'weapon' to motivate the masses into sweat with a slight tinge of nausea. My bad. I fell into the skewed philosophy that fitness is battlefield and I was its warrior.
Truth is, I'll always advocate the 'step out of your comfort zone' philosophy. Often we're far too comfortable and yes, we want to stay there. It's familiar. It's easy. It's...well, comfortable.
But there's a gaping chasm between being challenged to 'step out of comfort' versus being chastised if you stop, pause or simply catch your breath to take a break. The latter, unfortunately is what bombards us in social media these days.
It irks me. Exhausts me. Frustrates me. And it confuses me. I've been in the fitness biz for over 2 decades, but this trend is the worst possible approach to reaching people. Clearly the message of 'go hard or go home' isn't working very well at transforming the average person into an 'athletic' warrior of sorts. Just look around you. Obesity is at its highest. 50% of people who join a gym membership will quit within the first 6 months. Stats speak. We've got to stop and listen.
All or nothing approach gone bad
There are days (which I absolutely love) when I feel like I've got enough energy
to fuel my day with nonstop activity. Those days are bright. I feel strong, energetic, determined. On fire! Ever have those days? When I do I milk every single moment of those 24 hours.
Other days...well, not so much. I'm dragging my butt to get out of bed. I feel sluggish, tired, restless. A bad night's sleep. Hormonal shifts. Digestive issues. A rainy day. Whatever. My 100% is def not the same every single day.
I would argue that you're probably like this too. Somedays you've got a skip in your step. Other days, you're tripping on your own two feet. Motivated one day. Lose your mojo on another.
Sound familiar?
And because of this natural and normal ebb and flow called life, I don't always want to go hard in my training. Period. And that's OK. Period. I shouldn't feel guilty because of it. Being chastised into 'sucking it up' or feeling 'less than' is just plain wrong and perpetuates feelings of inadequacy.
Don't think we need more of those feelings or self-talk, do you?
It's perfectly ok to pull back on your training every now and then. Trust me, you won't suffer dire consequences because of it. Pushing a little less, reducing weights, choosing low-impact cardio or resting a little longer between sets are perfectly valid ways to not 'go hard' while not turning around to go home either.
The 'all or nothing' approach gives very little leeway for those 'in between' days
when just getting in a workout is an accomplishment in itself. Give yourself permission to 'read' your body and tap into how it's feeling and how you can perform on that day. And when you do, don't feel 'less than' or belittled because of that choice.
Tough training...Tough on the body
Yes, in order to see changes in body composition, the body must be challenged. You will sweat. Your muscles will feel a 'burn'. But it should definitely not be a 'do or die' training session. Every workout doesn't need to be this way. In fact, you should not train like this all the time. Eventually, the stress on your body will begin to show with increased cortisol levels, reduced range of motion, fatigue and potential injury. A dead end with nowhere to go but home (excuse the pun).
Instead, choose 3 days or so for an 'intense' training sesh, with the remaining days as 'easier' movement days including walking, yoga or leisure cycling. Ultimately, studies show that movement... daily movement is the key player in sustainable long term weight loss.
Movement not just exercise makes all the difference.
Do you like a tough workout that drives your energy levels, revs your day and releases those addicting endorphins? Me too. But know this, there will be days when you may need to pull back for whatever reason. Rest assured...it's OK! There are plenty of opportunities to embrace fitness through less 'aggressive' means and still reap many health benefits.
Don't fall prey to the 'go hard or go home' mentality. It's a mindset that leads to a dead end for both mind and body. A downward spiral that perpetuates feelings of inadequacy. You don't need to vomit, get bruises, blisters or 'suffer' to be fit.
Your body was created to move. Listen to it. Use it. But by all means, don't abuse it.
Coach Lisa
