Messenger Archives - February 2006
The Cost of Being Fit
- by Peter Shmock
I've always liked the word intention-especially because of its power to create and sustain a healthy life. Intention is a personal aim that affects action or objective. Given this, what I often see in my clients is an incongruity between their good intention to be physically fit and the actions required to guide them toward that goal.
It's important for people to be acutely clear and honest about what they want, in terms of a healthy body, and what they're willing to spend in energy to make it happen.
When I decided years ago to make a run at becoming an Olympian, I had to look at what it would take. How much would I spend in time, energy, and sacrifice? First, I knew I wouldn't be able to work a full-time job. I needed four to five hours each day to train. I couldn't go out partying with friends, needed more sleep, had to clean up my nutrition habits and forgo pleasures like skiing, hiking and wearing size thirty-four jeans. I'd have to resign myself to being sore, tired and feeling physically beat up and yet lift more weights, stretch longer, run harder. This was the cost of attaining that reward-a gold medal (which I didn't achieve). I was realistic, though, and willing to pay it.
As you embark on this year filled with hopeful visions and intentions of moving forward in a body more fit, you might play with thinking about the reward you seek-and what you're willing to pay in time, energy and personal sacrifice.
Last month, a middle-aged man asked me to help create a plan to shed pounds and build his core strength. The reward would be a body that was fit enough to get him up and down mountains-in summer with a backpack and in winter on skis. Measurable goals, indeed. But the cost he was willing to pay-walking or hiking only on weekends-simply would not earn him his reward. My strategy laid out a choice: that he make time for two more days of cardiovascular and strength training each week. Then he'd get his rewards.
For most people in this country, just walking for thirty minutes most days of the week will greatly improve their fitness and decrease odds of developing diseases that tend to plague inactive people. But for those who want to complete a triathlon that formula won't work. The price, in actions, simply won't support the intention.
To know how much is enough to get you moving toward your physical objective takes a little trial and error, along with a smattering of self-education. But the price of reaching your reward is worth it. Every time.
What is it about your fitness or health that you want to change? What effort are you willing to make to reap the rewards? Is it realistic? Just create your intention, pencil out the realistic costs, and then put one foot in front of the other. You can do it. If I can help, please let me know.
© 2006 Belltown Messenger