Lifespan and quality of life are predicated upon having a healthy body, a body that is capable, pain free, and not susceptible to illness or disease.
The above statement is something anyone could universally agree upon.
Yet, when the question comes to what someone will actually DO about their health, the mentality goes from serious to laissez faire
“I can do it myself”
or
“I’ll get around to it, eventually”
Why is this? Does it make sense asking someone whether they want to live a long and healthy life is met with yes, yet asking what they intend to DO about creating that is met with disinterest and uncertainty?
I say firmly NO, it does not.
And my solution to such an attitude and such people is not a commandment to go “exercise and eat healthy”.
Rather, an INDIVIDUAL that is a model for health, who can guide you on how to incorporate positive exercise and dietary habits in your life.
In other words, go find a COMPETENT TRAINER.
Why do you need a trainer? For the following reasons actually.
1. You don’t know to exercise correctly, not even a little bit-Ive worked in commercial and private gyms for 7 years, and toured dozens of facilities nationwide. At every gym, I see dedicated people attempting to exercise.
And by attempting, I mean exactly that. 99% of the “form” I see utilized by regular gymgoers is flat out wrong. It doesnt matter what the muscle group is, what the machine is, what the free weight is, what the cardio equipment is; people are expending large amounts of effort, training HARD in fact, but for little to no effect.
Rather than waste time and energy HOPING for something to happen from your hours in the gym, hire an experienced and qualified trainer that can instruct on proper technique and application and DELIVER actual results and changes.
Which goes into the second point
2. You don’t know what you NEED to be doing in the first place-If I was to ask you right now to design a 12 week program that was designed to increase cardiovascular stamina while building muscular hypertrophy, would you be able to detail a plan? IF the answer is NO, (and I know it is), then you need a trainer.
I say this not to make people feel stupid, but the average exercise enthusiast doesn’t actually know what they should be doing or what would be most beneficial to them.
Even with a routine, which many people have, the following is very common,
– setting themselves up for pain due to bad technique
-creating muscular imbalance because of imbalanced training
-Are in pain and don’t know how to work around it
Exercise and working out is not a random subject as I tell people. There is actual SCIENCE that covers exercise, nutrition, health enhancement, and beyond.
Assuming that you don’t need to know any of this and can wing it by finding a routine is akin to believing you can fix your own car without studying how an engine works. You might figure out how to replace a hose or too, but you’ll be at a total loss when an actual repair needs to happen. And maintenance is likely to be hit or miss.
Again, a trainer has the knowledge you need to show you what you NEED to be doing.
3. You think a “routine” will solve all your issues-Would you believe me if I told you that professional athletes follow multiyear training plans, and that physical development of health covers over a dozen different aspects?
If this is baffling to you, do you believe that you, by yourself, are completely qualified to create a program or “routine” that will deliver you long term results?
Rhetorical questions, but I ask these things to deliver the realization that “working out” involves way more than people think.
Within exercise science, there is a concept called “periodization” that refers to creating a plan for a persons training, based on their personal history, abilities, and their current needs state.
A good trainer will be able to accurately assess your current needs, provide feedback, and provide you with a structured starting point and plan of progression.
This periodization is not a “routine” its a long term continuum, in which training is continuously adjusted based upon the clients progression.
This obviously goes beyond a one time “routine”. And goes into what a Trainer can do for you.
4. You think that if you find a perfect “diet” you’ll lose all your bodyfat–
That’s not how the body works. To be succinct, everyone one earth is biochemically different from everyone else. There is no such thing as a “perfect” diet, there is only a diet that works best for an individual.
Diets are pitched constantly as the “answer” to peoples weight loss issues, when in reality they all ignore the most important factor, the individual.
Diet of and in itself is almost a misnomer. The goal for long term health is to find a sustainable WAY of eating that improves your health, recovery, and satisfies your individual nutritional needs.
I’ve personally designed hundreds of diets for people, and I have yet to write the same diet for any two people. While there are certain similarities and basic concepts of nutrition, the implementation is never the same.
Rather than try a poorly designed diet that you wont follow anyways, waste money on books, and buy into pseudoscience reasoning, hire the trainer.
5. You want to change-So give yourself a reason and put some money where your desires are. Hiring someone gives you financial incentive not to waste what you spent and actually follow through on the desire.
A good trainer can cost a few thousand a year, a degenerate disease can cost you quality of life and literal years off it. What’s more important to you?
Relative to the cost of collegiate education and higher learning, hiring a trainer is incredibly cheap. And the benefits are life long.
Talk is cheap, especially when its your own that you don’t follow through on.
Show yourself you are actually serious and GET SERIOUS.
Take the action of placing a burden of responsibility on yourself to check in every week, create structure, and make something happen.
If you want to change, start changing. It only means something if you take action on it.
Thanks to Alexander Juan Antonio Cortes one of the smartest strength and fitness Coaches alive for penning this important piece.
He writes and consults for Mountain Dog and Elite FTS.
To consult with him from anywhere in the world, go here.
Be the BEST YOU EVER!
