...Then Just Stay Fat. by Sorrels Shannon & Horn Joel & Lepp Kevin

Author:Sorrels, Shannon & Horn, Joel & Lepp, Kevin [Sorrels, Shannon & Horn, Joel & Lepp, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Humor, Form, Essays
ISBN: 9781477692332
Amazon: B008XJKQUY
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2012-11-05T06:11:24+00:00

Get Comfortable with Discomfort

Beginning a fitness program, and then maintaining it, is hard for a lot of people. But why? Seriously, why is it so hard?

I realize that might sound like a stupid question, but have you stopped to ponder it? Of all the activities that fill your day, why is fitness so difficult to integrate and maintain?

People who have been exercising and eating healthy their whole lives probably find this line of thought strange or funny. They have never known anything different. But that's not most Americans — seeing how 66 percent of us are overweight or obese. Two-thirds of us need to make some changes, KNOW we need to make some changes, talk about it, think about it... and don't. I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with intelligent, rational people who work hard at their jobs, take good care of their families, pay their bills and even water the dang plants. They admit to health problems or desires to look and feel better. They state they KNOW they need to eat better and exercise… and they don't. It's hugely irrational and hugely fascinating all at the same time.

Why would a grown, intelligent, well-intentioned person avoid the very lifestyle he stated he needs and supposedly wants?

Pain avoidance. The perceived pain/discomfort of the "change" outweighs the perceived pain/discomfort of the current state.

All of us have heard growth only comes through pain — when you are happy and content, there is no growth or even a reason to grow (change). A plant will grow toward the sun and keep going in a single direction unless some outside force causes it to bend in another direction: maybe a tree limb blocks its path, a wind partially snaps it, or a hiking nature-lover steps on it.

Humans aren't much different. If everything in our lives is A-OK, we'll just keep going in the same direction we've been headed. It's usually only when negative, external forces act upon us that we respond and change. And the negative force has to be larger and nastier than our current state of contentment, or we still won't change.

We usually sum up this whole notion into "No pain, no gain" — right? Who hasn't heard that barked from a trainer or a coach as he or she eeked out a final rep, shaking so badly collapse felt imminent? Or recited it in his or her head as he or she walk into a gym for the first time? Tried hard to ignore cake cravings and enjoy a carrot stick, while everyone else in the office sang "Happy Birthday" and cut off an icing-covered slab of sugary goodness?

We've all heard it or recited it. But hearing it or saying it is nothing compared to actually experiencing it, and it often causes people to put forth so little effort that hardly any "growth" occurs — or worse, people just quit. And I already hear you saying, "But if I'm hurting myself, that can't be good!"

So let's talk about that: pain vs.

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