We are a society of perfectionists, right? Not only perfectionists, but we want perfection now.
When the average person is inundated while they watch TV with infomercials proclaiming the benefits of the latest miracle product that burns centimetres in only minutes a day, it is little wonder we have confusion in the market with regards to the time required for change and how to set realistic goals.
As a health and fitness professional, I am often asked at barbeques and social events a question about the “perfect fitness plan” and the time required per week to execute this plan. It goes a little something like this:
“So if I want to get in shape, how much time per week is it going to take me? And remember, I just want to get in shape, not be fanatical like you; I still want to enjoy life too.”
The assumption always is because you are in the industry you must be a fanatic! I often surprise people with a return question which is my answer:
“Well, how much time do you have for health and what sort of priority is it in your life right now?”
And the answer? The time the average person requires for fitness relates to the results they desire and the lifestyle they lead.
The “Find your 30” campaign for example looks at finding 30 minutes of activity per day and is a wonderful campaign but for somebody exercising 0 minutes per day right now that goal can look like tackling Mt Everest. Bypass the “perfect plan” right now for the plan you will do; review the plan and revise until we reach the perfect plan for you.
So the answer for the time it takes per week for the average person to get in shape comes from them. If this answer is derived from the person who desires the goals it becomes easier to support that person achieving their goals and also makes the person more accountable to those goals.
Once again, as last week’s post said, it comes down to finding your reason for change.
What does health and fitness mean to you?
This is a fantastic question and one which I encourage my clients and my staff to ask themselves whenever beginning to plan a new program or reviewing an existing one.
The meaning of health to each person is a very unique thing. When asking this question we tend to answer and think from a purely medical perspective including aspects such as weight matters, blood pressure, mental health, cholesterol – the list goes on. While these parts of health are very important, are they the things that stop us from hitting the snooze button at 5:30am to get up for a morning exercise session?
Health to me is being able to do the things I enjoy, with the people closest to me. Health is being able to get the most from myself in each aspect of my life.
Health means being able to walk to the park with my wife and daughter; health means being able to strive for my business goals with boundless energy and drive; health is reaching my sporting goals and being the best I can be.
If I plan and move towards my ideal of health the other parameters of health – the medical ones – will look after themselves and I find the true meaning of health to me, the one that keeps me focused on why I am not hitting that snooze button every morning.
So this week as you really look at what health means to you and you find your reason, please feel free to share in the discussion following and help others with their journey.
Next week, I will take you through an example of how this journey and behaviour change model works in a practical sense.
