A few days ago, I emailed one of my former clients to see how things were going. Today, I received an email from him. His exact words were, “As far as my workouts are going, let’s just say I need to do more of them! 
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Having a scheduled training session every week keeps you accountable to exercise. If you don’t have a training session planned, it’s up to you to motivate yourself to exercise. There are many tips out there. I wanted to share with you one of my favorite tips. I know this one works, because I have done it myself.
I was at an ACSM lecture, in Berkeley, CA. The study presented was a longevity study, consisting of mostly older adults who were in a cardiac rehab program. What I remember the most was one individual never missed a workout in 20 years. The presenter asked the participant, “After so many years how have you managed to not miss a day?”
His answer, was simple. He told people that he had an appointment. That’s it. When I thought about it. It made sense. When you tell someone you are going to workout, they have a hard time accepting this answer. Especially, when they want you to go to dinner or would like you to do something else with them. If you tell someone you’re going to the doctor, no-one asks questions. If you tell someone you have a meeting, they leave you alone. But, if you tell someone your going to workout, they don’t have the same response. There is this underlying taboo about exercise; it’s not that important.
When your life depends on exercise and eating right, as it does with many Cardiac patients, it’s important! The guy in the story knew this, and he had a solution. While he wasn’t honest with his friends, he managed to find a way to make it work for him. To some people exercise is a luxury or an extra ‘thing’ if you have time. Do you think there is peer-pressure, NOT to exercise? I think there is.
I wondered if people really had these perceptions about exercise, so I had to try it myself. For one year, I told people I had an appointment, but I actually was working out. I not only didn’t have any resistance about going to the gym, I had great physical gains in my body. I added 10 pounds of muscle to my body and I felt great. When I was at the fitness center, I worked out hard, and had focus. By telling others I had an appointment – an appointment for me – I took that time as important as any interview or meeting.
My life changed, then I shifted my focus to other things and less on working out. I still continued to workout. During another year of my life, I was telling people I was going to the gym to workout. I noticed I didn’t take things as serious and even sometimes I didn’t go. And, of course, I was talked into going out with my friends on the weekend, instead of working out. All my choices of course, but there was a shift in my experience.
If you want to make health changes in your life and exercise is apart of it. This tip will help you get there. If you want to take this tip, it’s yours. It will work.
