“Snake oil…. Quick fixes….” This was the note I wrote to myself to remind about what I wanted to write. To follow up on yesterday’s post, I want to continue a discussion on motivation. Specifically, why it is so hard to get people motivated about fitness.
So, what does snake oil and quick fixes have to do with exercise motivation? I think a lot.
Exercise is hard. At least effective exercise is hard. Unfortunately, many people—too many people—want a short cut. Because we are looking for the easy path, we tend to get sucked in by the clever marketing of empty promises.
I blame my industry. The fitness industry markets gimmicks and gadgets to sell hope. There is hope, but it doesn’t come without sweat. It is commitment and perseverance deliver results.
When the fitness professionals offer the honest route to success, they are met with resistance. They are met with frustration. They are frustrated because, as my friend, Sandi, told me, “you can provide all the help, encouragement, tools and information, but you cannot provide the internal motivation it requires to make those changes take place”. People quit before they start, because success is too hard. Achieving their goals takes work. People don’t want to work.
If we want to achieve our fitness goals—build muscle, lose fat, run a marathon, deadlift twice our body weight, etc.—we have to sacrifice and do the work.
As fitness professionals—reputable fitness professionals—we have to keep educating people against the easy path. Many won’t want to listen, because someone keeps telling them about this supplement or that and this diet or another, but, when they see their friends do the work and get results, they will have to make a decision. They can do the work or not. They can do the work or quick before they start.
Motivation has to come from within. People pay big bucks to hear Tony Robbins motivate them, but the reality is they payed the money because they were motivated to begin with. Mr. Robbins just stokes the flame. The same goes for fitness trainers. They design the program and tell you “how much” and “how many”, but you lift the heavy weights (or not).
So, today, we have a choice: do the work or quit before we start. What’s it gonna be?
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!