What Does Fitness Mean To You?

The fitness industry has been shaping the way we look at fitness for quite a while now. I remember when Richard Simmons, Jack Lalane and Jane Fonda were fitness icons! Now it seems that if you aren’t ripped to shreds, looking like a superhero, you aren’t deemed to be fit.

​​We are bombarded with images of fit individuals. Well defined muscles, tight fitting athletic clothes, and usually on a magazine or advertisement letting us know what the ideal is. Is this reality for what most of us should strive for? I want to discuss what I think fitness should be, what you should do to become fit for yourself, and how to think of fitness in a way that will improve your life and not hinder it.

So, What Is The Fitness Industry?

​Fitness can be defined in the exercise world as having many qualities. Such qualities of fitness include: muscular endurance, muscular strength, muscular power, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, agility, balance. You get the picture.Here is where the fitness industry comes in and tells you how to achieve these qualities.

Unfortunately, many of the products that you have probably bought are gimmicks. You probably didn’t need that ab device that shocks the crap out of you. Probably didn’t need the shake weight except they make exceptional gifts. Probably didn’t need to buy that program that promises muscle confusion, burning fat like there is no tomorrow, and losing 5 pounds in a day. Like any industry there are trends, my job is to help you see that despite what the fitness industry is selling, you really don’t need any of it.

What Does This Mean For You?

​Now that we know what the fitness industry is, what does that mean for you? Well, for starters let’s talk about what fitness should be more of.

Can you imagine an industry that didn’t market body image as an ideal of what a fit person should look like? Or an industry that didn’t scare you into buying shitty supplements because they tell you that you are “deficient” and have “toxins”? Or an industry that sometimes encourages eating disorders because looking a certain way at a certain weight means you are fit?

This is the industry and philosophy I hope to create that goes against these very things. I want you to know that there are trainers out there that care more about your health from the inside out, rather than the other way around.

There are trainers that understand that pain free movement and improving your blood work is way more important than a marketed image of what you should look like. That a healthy mindset and healthy habits are more important than how many burpees you can do for time, or how much work you can do before you feel like throwing up.

​Fitness should mean fitting daily habits that increase the longevity of your mind and body, and improve your life for the better.

Starting Your Fitness Program

​So how can you start this process now? The new standard of fitness. I have a couple of tips that should work for most anyone.

First off, think of hobbies that require physical activity that you enjoy and start doing them more often. Chances are as a child, you ran around and played all day. As adults, we have more responsibilities so that isn’t as easy to do anymore. Also, our mindset changes of what fitness is and what is fun. So I would put into the calendar every day at certain times is your time. You get to do what you want to do. Whether it be basketball, running, lifting weights, climbing rocks, etc.

Secondly, understand that new habits take time to develop and old habits are hard to forget. Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t staying on track one hundred percent. In most cases, this never happens. Focus on the positive aspects of how you are changing day to day, week to week, month to month. Lastly, playing and moving should be fun. I encourage most people to join softball, soccer, football, basketball leagues. Or whatever you like to do.

​Joining leagues can help you remember how fun play is, and now you can enjoy a beer afterwards and make new friends.

​I think for many of us, fitness should not be an obsession on body image. Fitness should make your life more enjoyable so that you can do what you love to do. Let’s start thinking of fitness in a new way. A healthy relationship with our bodies, our minds, and the food we eat. If you're in the Mission Valley area of San Diego, give me a call or email me! I'm a personal trainer, and I'd love to answer any question you have about fitness and dieting.