In a world where everything is about instant gratification, it’s hard not to want that with exercise and the desire to get fit. Instant gratification is easy, a no brainer, and just like it sounds, it’s gratifying. We take a picture, boom, we post it. We want to listen to a certain song, click, and it’s on. We need to order something, hey, Amazon. We need to get somewhere quick, Uber pickup please. And if we are having a good day, bad day, or anything in-between, there is nothing more instantly gratifying then food, especially the food that we love.
So what is it with food that keeps us coming back for that gratification? Especially the foods that may not promote a healthy diet. Logically speaking, we are born to eat. And our bodies have a fun little way of telling us when we are hungry (good ole hunger pains), or better yet, that wonderful gift of smell that attracts us to a variety of foods. And of course, the taste. Admittedly, there’s something wonderful about biting into that yummy piece of food and savoring the flavor. But then what? You have eaten your meal or snack, and it’s gone. Did it serve its purpose? How do you feel? More importantly, how will you feel in the next 30 minutes to an hour? Will the food you have eaten fuel your body properly to feel nourished, satisfied and energized throughout the day?
So what about exercise? Furthermore, what about the desire to get fit? Where is the instant gratification in that? Sure I can tell you (as I did in my previous blog) that there is no better feeling than finishing or even performing a great workout, that’s instant, no doubt. Your body releases endorphins, you clear your brain fog, you feel more energized, and feel a great sense of accomplishment. But, what about seeing a physical change? What about the weight loss or muscle gain? What about the increase in flexibility or better balance? What about being bikini ready in three weeks? What about being able to finally do a pull-up? Is this all not instant, or better put, quickly accomplished? Not a chance. Can this be frustrating? You start a new program, workout four days a week and are seemingly eating really well. Two or three weeks pass and you really don’t see any physical appearance results, seriously? Why even continue? Why not go back to what you were doing (or not doing), eat what you want, not really exercise and not worry about it, seems easier. I will say here what I say to my clients. You need to learn to love (or even like/stick with) the process and get rid of the quick fix/instant gratification mentality, or you will be caught up in a continuous cycle of what I call starting and stopping. And it gets you nowhere.
You see fitness is a journey, a life journey. We don’t reach a certain weight or strength ability and then just shout woo hoo, now I can stop. That’s not what being fit is about. Being fit is a decision. It’s making it a priority in your life so that not only do you achieve a body composition that you are comfortable with, but that you continue to live healthy moving forward. Just as we are born to eat, we are born to move. Up, down, back and forth, and every which way in between. When we are younger, physical movement happens more naturally. We play sports, play and run outside (is that even a thing anymore?), and generally just move more. As we age, and priorities set in (this little thing called work and life), we are less likely to be moving freely on a daily basis without structured time set aside. And the moment you stop moving, you start losing your ability to. So while your good friend food is always there, easy to buy, easy to eat, and certainly instantly gratifying, you better make a conscious effort to exercise to ensure as you move forward in life, your body moves with you.
There is a saying that you are most likely to give up right before you succeed. But what does that mean? To me it means that there is a lack of grit, determination and desire to succeed (this could certainly apply to more areas then fitness). It means we want that instant gratification of losing weight right away, or being able to do 10 more pushups immediately, or running 5 miles when we have never ran. It isn’t going to happen. Instead of being so focused on the end result, turn your focus to the process of building a healthy life, and I guarantee you that your attitude will change.
So you see, food and fitness are really one in the same when it comes to gratification. You may feel an instant gratification with both, but neither one will be fulfilling giving the desired results you are looking for if they aren’t managed correctly. Combined properly, you will be amazed that the outcome you are looking for comes quicker then you might think. Remember, the grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s green where you water it.
I have been in the fitness industry for 19 years, and my hope is to inspire as many people as possible to live healthy and fit lives. Check back for my weekly blogs on health, fitness and everything in between.
