“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle
These words by the Greek philosopher Aristotle more than 2000 years ago still ring true today. It’s an undeniable truth that will remain for as long as humans continue to evolve.
To expand on this statement I will add, “We are what we think about.” Thought is the seed of action, and action yields fruits of joy or pain.
Your current state of health is the result of the countless decisions you have made until this point. Every decision arises from a thought:
You decide what you put into your body.
You decide if you will go to the gym today.
You decide what you buy at the grocery store.
You decide if you will invest your money and time into your health.
These are universal laws that have existed since the dawn of mankind. It’s no different with health and fitness. The laws remain true.
Every decision produces a result that will either move you towards your goals, or away from them—there are no neutral outcomes. You can either push forward, or be pushed around. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. Even the food you eat will either heal you or harm you.
Overcoming the Obstacles
You know you can always eat healthier. You know you can go to the gym more. So why don’t you?
Comfort. It’s comfortable to watch television instead of going to the gym. It’s comfortable to throw a pizza in the oven rather than cook a full meal.
Some people base their entire lives around being comfortable. All the power to them. But if you have a goal, then you’re not one of these people. You have a desire for something more. Something beyond yourself. You want to make a change in your current situation and the only way you can initiate that change is by stepping out of your comfort zone.
What’s stopping you? Fear.
Being uncomfortable is scary…for a few moments, and then you adapt and understand it wasn’t so bad. Think back to the last time you were scared to do something, but once you did, thought to yourself, “I’m really glad I did that.” I’m sure you learned something from that experience. I bet it was easier the next time you went to do it, too.
Getting Started
Making a decision to improve your health and fitness can be daunting. Where do you begin? What is the best path that will lead to your success?
It’s an industry full of different tactics, ideology, and products. Ultimately, there is no “best path.” The best path is the one you will actually take. You simply set a goal and begin taking steps towards it. Everyday make forward progression. If you fall, pick yourself up and get moving again. The only way you can fail is if you give up.To succeed, head back to the starting line.
Starting is the hardest part. Begin with the mindset that this will be a marathon, not a sprint. The goal is to take forward steps every single day. Every step will progress you forward—the forward progression will produce results—the results will motivate you to keep going. Soon enough the starting line is a distant memory that you could not possibly consider turning around and going back to.
Life is in constant motion; time waits for no one. If you don’t act today, then when will you?
All it takes is a decision. A commitment to yourself to just begin.
To help you get started here is a list of steps you can make part of your lifestyle. I recommend starting with only one, then stick with it for at least 30 days before adding the next step. Remember, this is a marathon.
Healthy Habits
- Drink adequate amounts of water daily (women = +2 litres; men = +4 litres).
- Eat a high protein breakfast daily.
- Get into the gym and strength train at least three times per week.
- Go for a 30 minute walk daily.
- Meditate for 20 minutes daily.
- Remove wheat/gluten from your diet for 30 days.
- Prepare lunches for the week every Sunday night.
- Eat 8-10 servings of vegetables daily.
- Cook dinner with a family member every evening.
- Replace conventional produce with organic.
Introducing one of these habits into your lifestyle and implementing it every day over a 30 day period will undoubtedly yield a result that will benefit your health. Over time you can begin adding more steps. Ultimately, these habits will become part of your character, and you will see yourself transforming into the healthier version of yourself that you seek.
If you need support or accountability, contact me at eric@grandpt.com. I will gladly offer my help.
~Eric