If You Want to Get in Better Shape, Stop Lying to Yourself

Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash

“I don’t like working out.”

I oftentimes hear this excuse from friends who constantly ask me for advice to get in better shape. Every time, my answer remains the same…

The principles are super simple:

• Eat healthy, nutritious food.
• Move your body — it could be walking, jogging, weightlifting, swimming, hiking, cycling, HIIT, or anything to stay active.

And I think generally, most of the world understands the basic concept of getting in shape:

Eat better, workout more.

While the idea behind getting in better shape is simple, following the strategy is incredibly difficult for some people.

Whether it’s fear of failure or embarrassment, or general misunderstanding, I constantly hear excuses for why people can’t get in shape.

“I don’t like working out.” is the king-daddy of them all.

I get it. Working out sucks 99% of the time. It’s not something I generally enjoy, but that said, it’s something I do about 12–14 hours a week. The reason being two-fold:

1. I know it’s good for me.
2. I know it will train me for other things in life that I don’t want to do.

Callous Your Mind

As with anything in life, just because you don’t like doing something doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

• I don’t like going to work, does that mean I shouldn’t go?
• I don’t like taking showers and going to the bathroom- should I opt out of those?
• I don’t like making food- should I skip that as well?

There are always going to be things in life that we don’t like to do. Oftentimes, it’s these things we don’t like to do that provide us with the most benefit of all. And working out is no different.

While you may not like to workout, the list of benefits are undeniable:

• Controls weight and strengthens your bones & muscles
• Reduce the risk of diseases and some cancers
• Improved mental health and mood
• Sharpened thinking, learning, and judgment skills
• Improved sleep and sexual health
• Increased odds of living longer

So, while you may not like to work out, it’s something that you should do.

Treat it like a job. Or like a shower. Or treat it like something you have to get in every day (or every other day), regardless of what’s going on in your life.

Whatever the strategy, treat it as it is — something to keep your body and mind running in tip-top shape.

I don’t know many people that go more than a day without showering. So why do we go weeks, sometimes even months, without working out?

Stop making excuses and start doing it. “I don’t like it” is not a good excuse.

I don’t care if you have to force yourself to do it, find an accountability partner, or make a pact with yourself to buy those shoes you’ve been eyeing — you need to work out.

While you may not always like it, the return on your time will be incredible. In addition to the greater physique, you’ll feel better, be more confident, and find greater mental clarity, especially when those pesky “don’t want to’s” arise in your life.

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