The Reason You’re Not In Shape
The Reason You’re Not In Shape
Sometimes the truth hurts.
And the truth is you know why you’re not in shape.
The truth illuminates the lies we tell ourselves. Lies like it’s someone else’s fault, it’s out of our control, it’s not a good time. The truth has a funny way of cutting through our bullshit like a warm knife through butter.
Fitness isn’t some great mystery of the cosmos. You don’t need a doctorate in physiology to understand its principles. Getting in shape requires grit, a little planning and, most importantly, consistency. You don’t start a routine today and see results tomorrow.
You’re not in shape because you’re not following the program you spent hours carefully crafting. You’re not going to bed earlier like you promised. You’re not eliminating those extra snacks you swore you’d stop indulging.
You’re not in shape because you’re not showing up.
Stop selling yourself the lie
“It’s not a lie if you believe it.”
Humans often convince themselves the lies they tell themselves are true. Call it hubris, call it narcissism, call it self-preservation, we’re extremely proficient at warping our reality to meet our needs. Lord knows why, probably something to do with our instinctual lizard brains.
It honestly doesn’t matter. What matters is what’s true in this reality.
The universe isn’t conspiring against you. You’re conspiring against you. You’ve convinced yourself what you’re doing / what you’ve done is enough. And when it’s not, you rationalize your failure six ways to Sunday.
“I don’t have the time.”
“I don’t have the energy.”
“I don’t have the right equipment.”
“It’s too hard.”
“I’m too far behind.”
“I’m too sick.”
“Honestly, it’s not that important.”
Stop it. Just, stop it.
Real progress starts with the truth
Before you say it, I promise I’m not a cold-hearted bastard. I’m not completely unsympathetic to your plight.
I know you’re strapped for time. I know you’re gassed between work and kids and social obligations. I know you’ve been sick. Life is a cluster fuck in many more ways than one. Fitness is the last thing on your mind.
But to blame external factors (mostly) under your control for your shortcomings is lazy and irresponsible. The truth is you and you alone make the decision whether or not to be healthy.
Once you accept the truth, once you’ve made the commitment to get fit, you’ll move heaven and earth to do so. You’ll adjust your schedule. You’ll prioritize sleep (Seriously, I suggest thinking of sleep as a secondary hobby). You’ll scale back your social life. You’ll make better food decisions in the grocery store and at the restaurant.
You can do it, regardless of what prior experience has taught you. It just takes a little hutzpah, a little creativity, and a willingness to stop selling yourself the lie, no matter how much easier that may be.
