I believe in getting better every day. To do so, I believe in the power of coaching and masterminding. Connecting with people ahead of where you are now, people where you are now, and people not yet there all provide the accountability and perspective necessary to take you to where you want to be. So I wanted to share this analogy that I had the other day.
This analogy was about business, which not everyone may understand, so I will adapt it for fitness, which I think everyone can. We want quick results and we want them to be easy. I think fitness is like conducting a train. Trains are heavy. They take lots of power to get up and running, but not so much to keep it going. Just keep the coals burning hot. Stay on the tracks. This is the quick fix.
However, many of us lead complicated lives of work, rest, friends, and family. When we try to add self-care and fitness, we find ourselves conducting a runaway train. We grab a new pair of sneakers or join a new gym. We may even buy a “package of training sessions” or grab a Groupon for a boot camp. These first steps take enormous energy for certain, just like a moving a train. Yet, they often lack the long-term vision and planning it takes to succeed long-term. The train derails at the first sign of challenge. And, life is full of challenge. Maybe an injury from doing too much, too fast. Maybe a week of sick kids. Maybe deadlines at work. Or maybe you did not make it to the grocery store or prepare you meals in advance. Before we know it, derailed.
Instead of a train, let’s build a rocket! I know we all want to lose 20 or more pounds, train for that race, or do a bodyweight pull-up/pull-up. Those are worthy goals! At Focus Fitness, programs are many months and our average member has been here two years… for a reason. We are building a rocket… to put into space! Rockets are feats of engineering. Stage 1 rockets are huge. They hold tons of fuel. Stage 2 rockets are similar. These are the fundamentals, the foundations, necessary to create lasting change. Quality movement, skills, a base of fitness, the routine, sound nutrition habits, the coaching relationship, and the social support. We need these fundamentals to get us into orbit. They take immense vision, planning, and execution at a high level and over a great period of time. We need systems, feedback, and communications protocols. Long-term health and fitness is not a railroad affair. This is the sustainable solution.
However, once we do the work, build the rocket, masterfully calculate it’s trajectory and launch, we shed the Stage 1 and 2 rockets and take our space shuttle into space. Think of the view?! The glory! Think of the effort?! Little thrusters. Minor readjustments. Nothing huge. Much easier. Yet even then, we rely on our team, our fellow astronauts and our support team at home to make sure we stay on course.
So while, ultimately, I believe fitness is a lifelong journey and space is not the final frontier, I do believe that both analogies are applicable. It takes massive energy to decide to change, to reply to the Facebook ad, to make the call, to attend the consultation, signup, and start your workouts. I simply feel that most people take the short-term train approach. What I believe is more important is having the right perspective and vision as well as finding the right team. Accept that sustainable change occurs over time, with a plan, action, and support. Start slow and apply persistent and consistent action. Over time, you will have a rocket to take you into space!
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