Let’s face it, exercising on a regular basis and eating healthy is a huge challenge. It’s constantly a struggle to stay in shape because it’s so much easier to take the day off, eat whatever is put in front of you, and sit on the couch instead. This is doubly true if you’re just starting out, because you haven’t had a chance to get good habits in place yet (I’ve heard it takes around 28 days for a new habit to form). What’s worse is if you’re out of shape, you’re probably surrounded by people who are making less healthy choices than you when it comes to a good lifestyle. That’s just how it works; if everybody ate healthy and exercised, then we wouldn’t be in this mess (2/3rds of the country being overweight, and 1/2 of those people being obese. Yikes.)
Working out by yourself is tough because there’s nobody to hold you accountable. It’s even more difficult if you’re surrounded by people who aren’t positive influences, constantly telling you to skip your routine to play Halo, go the the bar instead of going to the gym, or even making fun of you for eating healthily. If you’re in this situation, I’m not going to tell you to change friends – you hang out with them for a reason. Just always remember: you’re the one who will be in shape. You’re the one that will live longer, avoid so many more health risks, you’re the one that will look better and feel better. Let them make their comments – stay strong inside, and then make fun of them for being out of shape when they can’t walk up a flight of stairs.
Now, imagine a reverse situation. You’ve decided to get in shape, and you’ve told all of your friends and co-workers. When you go to the gym, they ask you how it went when you came back. When you come home from the grocery store without any Oreos they don’t get mad at you. They understand when you have to take 2 hours off from playing World of Warcraft to go to the gym. They help you prepare food that is good for you. If it’s their birthday in the office, they don’t get mad when you don’t eat their cake.
Which scenario is going to foster more growth and success?
Tell yourself every day that you’re going down the right path, don’t listen to the haters, and you’ll get it done. Anybody who has played any sort of co-op game knows: having guys on your team that just insult each other can have a negative effect, but playing with a lot of positive people who challenge you to get better can make the experience more enjoyable and more successful.
Form a good group around you, and you’re only going to get better.
-Steve
