The number one reason that people come to our gym is to "try something new" because "I just couldn't go to the gym" Which is weird, because we're a gym too. So what's the difference?
The difference lies within the question: What's your relationship with your workout?
Moreover, what does it mean to you?
If that question just does not compute for you. I already know what's wrong. The fact that you cant comprehend why you should have a workout-relationship is an indication for me that you might be thinking about your routine in the wrong way.
Your workout should have some sort of relationship to you, and your life. Its what keeps you motivated to stick to it and will make you go out of your way to endure the discomfort associated in being in a committed workout-relationship. The question is: which type of workout-relationship are you currently in?
Single:
Look I totally get it, being single is awesome. You get to live how you want. Eat what you want. Sitting on the couch and eating potato chips is always a viable option for an activity. The only problem is that as much as we would love to convince ourselves the couch-potato-chip lifestyle is "living my best life" - Its not. And I don't mean that as my own subjective view of working out, many, many research studies have been done to show the negative side effects of not having an exercise routine.
Beneath all of the posturing we may do to convince our friends (and ourselves) that being "free from the shackles and strictures of modern expectations" is the best path for us, many of us cannot shake the lingering feeling that there might be "the one" out there for us.
To re-frame things: if there was a exercise routine out there that fed you existentially, and was a consistent source of happiness, meaning, and fulfillment. Would you really turn it down? No!
Its time to "get back out there".
Dating:
Within the process of workout dating, you learn just as much about yourself as you do about others. You will be forced to ask: what do I like? What do I want out of a relationship? Do I want a fling? Do I want something that brings me comfort, or do I want something to push me? Answering these questions will bring a new depth to your self-awareness, and it will help you get your priorities together.
I'm certainly not here to tell you what workout-relationship is right for you. You have to walk down this path yourself. What I will always challenge you on is thinking about health and happiness. Does the current workout I am with bring me genuine satisfaction? Or am I forcing it? Does my current workout move me closer to confidence, and self acceptance? Or does it just sneakily amplify my anxiety, leaving it to deepen and become more pervasive. Answering these questions honestly will help you find the right workout-relationship for you and avoid wasting time in a bad relationship. Which brings us to our next workout relationship status:
Its Complicated:
This is what happens when you don't ask these self reflective questions. This is a person in a workout-relationship that doesn't work for them and they don't know why. Some days are good, some days are bad, and they are sort of in the dark as to why either one happens. Left out to be swept along with changing circumstances.
The problem with this is that it doesn't have any of the benefits of the strong workout-relationship. Firstly, you don't see the product of your efforts, because of the "on-off" nature of "its-complicated" workout-relationship statuses, its tough consistently see progress, taking some of the enjoyment out of it. This also leads to a "where am I going?" feeling of being lost which just adds stress to something that should give you the opposite feeling. A sense of purpose. Which leads us to the next workout relationship status:
Exclusive:
Being exclusive in a workout-relationship is all about an entry level understanding the priorities of what you value: Do I value sitting on the couch eating potato chips more than I value the sense of fulfillment I get when I exert myself and accomplish a goal. At this level, it means that I prioritize things that lead me closer to a stronger healthier workout-relationship than things that lead me away from it. Some people call it sacrifice, choosing one priority over another. But is it really a sacrifice if you don't feel like you're losing out on anything?
Some people are threatened by the idea of leaving the safety and certainty of their current lifestyle for the prospect of a healthy and happy workout-relationship on the horizon. But with a high level of self awareness of what you want out of a workout-relationship, it feels less like leaving a lifestyle and more like finding meaning in moving towards a new one. Being exclusive means that you are willing to re-evaluate, and shift your priorities to include another aspect of your life.... your workout-relationship.
Committed:
This is easily the most foreign concept in the "single" or "dating" workout-relationship statuses. That's because its an impossibly huge leap from thinking solely about your immediate self, where you're priorities go unchecked and unmoderated. To sacrificing what you value most right now, in order to give your highly valuable time and attention to something else, let alone a workout routine.
You don't get to a committed healthy workout-relationship overnight for this reason. It takes time, and conscious effort on your part to make the workout-relationship one that brings you closer to living the happy and healthy life that everyone seeks.
This is where most people fall short. Because of the discomfort that comes with the time and effort required to make a lifestyle change. People try to take the shortest path possible, in order to avoid the struggles that come with it. You've all seen it, the friend who falls "Disney Channel" in love with someone they just met. You don't try to be cynical, but every time you ask them about this new workout-relationship, it just sounds a little too good to be true. You mean I can boost my cardio, and melt fat fast, and gain muscle mass, and flatten that belly, in just 7 mins every day?
But that's not the point is it? Someone who is in a committed, healthy, workout-relationship wants to carve out time during the day. That's because the workout brings them happiness and satisfaction, and it not something to be avoided, rather given respect and attention because it brings them fulfillment mean meaning.
This is where most people go wrong in their mindset when thinking about their ideal workout-relationship. You shouldn't feel like you are compromising your values to be with the workout. The time spent on the workout-relationship should make you feel like you are self-actualizing rather than self-sacrificing.
If you've ever wondered why its tough to stick with a workout, it might be because it might not give you that sense at all. Like it is separate from you in some way. If someone feel like they are wasting their time doing something. They will eventually start finding reasons not to be around it. That's why its so important to find meaning in the workout-relationship. It makes you WANT to commit to it. Which makes all the different.
Some workout relationships we stick with because we feel obligated to them. We feel like we HAVE to commit to them rather than intrinsically want to commit to it. Being in a committed workout-relationship is not easy, but nothing worth it ever is. We all want to live a happy and healthy life. It might be time to take some time and reflect on what we value so that we can work towards finding and developing the ideal workout relationships for us.
Lastly, if you're looking for a workout to shake things up from your current workout, we get it! People come to us all the time looking for a more meaningful workout experience. We believe that what we teach in our gym gives people that deep sense of connection they are looking for.
So feel free to check out our programs. We would love to be a part of your workout-relationship process
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