How to commit to staying fit

Decide. Choose. Act. These words make it sound so simple — or daunting, depending on what’s going on in your life. They either inspire you or intimidate you. How you feel about the thoughts these words illicit in you can make or break your commitment to getting strong, staying fit, remaining healthy, and healing faster.

People who are really fit make it look easy, don’t they? I promise you it’s not easy for anyone. Nobody puts on whatever clothes they exercise in with excitement every single time. Even rich and famous people with on-site trainers sometimes grumble — even if it’s only between their ears.

I point to my head a lot when I’m training clients. I need to remind them about how important it is for them to think about what they are thinking. I can’t tell you how many times clients resist doing a Pilates move because they think they can’t. I know they can. Their body can do the move because they are strong and have already proven through other similar moves that they can, but their brain gets in the way. Which rattles their confidence.

To be specific, it’s fear that’s in the way. The move I’m having them try when fear freezes them either is new to them or they are healing from an injury. They are afraid, thus unconfident. You might think that this is a form of our human “survival of the fittest” mechanism, but that is overstating what’s happening. If I could put you in my shoes, you’d clearly see that these clients are ready; I’d never ask a client to attempt a move I didn’t think their body was ready to do. My challenge is to help them prepare mentally.

I ask my clients to adjust the position of their feet by as little as a quarter of an inch, or release the tension in their shoulders, or unlock their knees, at least a few times each session. Why? Those tiny adjustments are the difference between moving correctly, without injury, and a pull or strain. It’s my commitment — and responsibility — to help my clients gain strength and confidence, not hurt themselves.

I’m telling you all of this to illustrate my commitment to having you strengthen your body in a way that is not harmful. My blog post about “meeting you where you are” might have you thinking now is the time to start exercising, healing or upping your game. Making a commitment to yourself is as easy as deciding — until all those thoughts about why you can’t right now get in your way.

Here’s what I’d like you to do:

think about how many times you’ve not committed to staying fit;

consider how much time has passed since you were as strong as you’d like to be;

ask yourself what your life would look like and how you’d feel if you were as fit as you want to be.

You might think committing to becoming stronger and staying that way longer is selfish. It sort of is, but the adages about taking care of yourself so you can better care for others is right and true. If you commit to you, there will be days you don’t want to exercise, but I promise that will dissipate within three minutes of your workout. Endorphins will take over. Your body will warm up. You’ll remember why you decided to commit to getting or staying fit.

And the best part? Committing to you will stop feeling selfish.