April 17, 2017

You Get What You Give

Welcome to afitnewyou!  This week I want you to put a little perspective into what you are or are not doing.  Have you ever looked at someone fitter than you with admiration, and maybe some jealousy, and say to yourself “I wish I could look like that”?  Well first I would like to point out if you are asking that question without some self-respect and are referring to more than just their level of fitness that you need to have more confidence and self-love.  Although, in terms of fitness, you can “look like that” and reach the same fitness level.  However, you also have to look at the reality of what got that person there; the time, commitment, energy, dedication, etc.  Working out isn’t easy, and it is even harder to maintain a regular diet and routine.  But to those who put in the energy, they will reap the rewards.  The level of fitness you are in is directly related to what you are doing.  Yes, genetics and other factors come into play, but only slightly.  The truth is, like with many other areas of life, you get out what you put in.
As a fan of the Beatles, I can recite the line “and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”  Furthermore, as a science teacher I can tell you about all of the laws of Conservation, such as the Conservation of Mass and the Conservation of Energy, that state that you cant get something out of nothing.  The same goes for your level of fitness; the more you work on it, the higher it will be.  If you looked into the actual training schedules and diets followed by professional or even semi-pro body builders, fitness competitors and athletes as well, that they follow very demanding routines.  I’m not pointing this out to discourage you; on the other hand I am doing so that you know the journey isn’t easy and will take effort, time, dedication and energy.  It isn’t that you can’t or won’t get there, but that you should know what is required.  I want to dispel the myth that some people are just genetically “gifted” and encourage you if you have been discouraged that you haven’t seen the results you are looking for.
There is a funny saying “The weights aren’t going to push themselves Cupcake!”  In order for you to see a body change, you need to put in the time and effort.  You need to get to the gym, workout, and watch what you are eating.  Your level of health is a result of what you yourself do.  Another cliché, “You are what you eat” is commonly understood that the healthier your food choices are, the healthier you will be.  Eat fatty foods and you will be fat; eat lean and be lean.  And this is true for exercise as well; stated another way, “You are what you push.”  If you “pump iron”, your body will be solid; sit on that soft comfy couch and you will be soft too.
It is important to recognize that in order to achieve a high level of fitness that you need to put in a high level of effort into attaining it.  Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly are part of this.  Although you don’t have to overwhelm yourself with what you need to do today to get to an optimal level of fitness, it important to recognize that the people who have already attained it had to put the work in to get there…it didn’t just come easy. 


You too can get there, but you have to put the energy in like those who are already there.  Start small and work you way up.  As I have written in the past, it’s a process, a journey that starts with just one step.  Your highest level of fitness will not just be handed to you, it has to be earned.  But earning it makes it that much more appreciated.  It is good to know that the energy you put into reaching a higher state of fitness will not be wasted.  Being generous to yourself by giving maximal effort is the most rewarding path to a fit new you!

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