How Do I Know Anything About Fitness?
This is a fair question. I am, after all, a stranger on the internet writing about a topic rife with perpetuated myths, fads, and no shortage of absolute nonsense.
Long story short: I graduated with a degree in Exercise Physiology and owing to a complete lack of imagination I got into personal training right after college. I then left personal training and landed in the tech field where I now better understand the challenges of holding down a 9-5 office job and staying in reasonably decent shape.
I now realize that it is all too easy to preach from the pulpit when your paycheck literally comes from dispensing the fitness gospel to newly-minted converts.
It is another thing altogether to be a “civilian” and balance diet and fitness, while living a “normal” life. By normal I mean not going to work in a gym everyday.
Things I now understand better after not being in the fitness game —>
Facts:
• Life gets busy.
• Your time is spoken for more often than you realize or would like.
• You have social obligations and relationships to keep up.
• You also like cheesecake or whatever dessert you would rub all over your body when no one is looking.
• You finish a long day of work and are tempted by the siren song of your couch cushions.
• Said siren song is infinitely more tempting than going anywhere with the explicit purpose of lifting heavy objects because you’re being told it’s good for you.
• You’d rather punch yourself in the face than think about any amount of physical exertion.
• Sometimes you're scraping the bottom of the barrel to find that last f*ck to give.
All of this said, I really think they're two big hurdles that derail people when they're trying to get in shape:
- Not knowing the right things to do.
- How to incorporate the right things into your life without making your entire life revolve around them.
The first point is always a tough one because the answer is going to depend on who you ask.
The second point is tough because depending on who you ask, why wouldn't you devote your entire life to this?
In reality I'm looking at this whole thing as offering advice from the trenches instead of from atop my high horse.
Let's just say I've gone and am still going through the trouble so you don't have to.
Cheers.