The Future You Is Worth It
The Myth
The myth is that staying in shape, visiting a gym, having a trainer is the exclusive domain of those looking to lose weight, and those who intend to spend more time out of their clothes than in them on Instagram.
This is a view that I think quite a few people harbor, and as such may not feel that exercise and in particular any kind of resistance (weight) training is for them. That the only benefits of lifting weights is gaining muscle mass, and only those who are looking to undertake a marathon, would bother with any kind of cardio work, and so I will stay rooted to my couch thankyou very much.
The Reality
We as personal trainer’s are prime examples of this. Sure there are some who seem to live their lives in a very minimal amount of clothing, and are not shy in showing this on their social media platforms. There are those rippling with muscle beneath their clothes who choose to keep it that way. Then there is the vast majority who train to stay strong and keep in shape, to enable them to deal with day to day life, and enable them to stay both mentally and physically sharp, and more importantly to keep it this way for many many years.
That's right, safeguarding our futures is a massive reason to stay fit and active, and retain our strength. This rings true for all ages, and age or ability plays very little part in the drive to acquire the tools needed for an easier and pain free life.
The motivation and need to train in any format is different for everyone, but what will ring true is that the goal is the goal. If you want to train for hypertrophy then that is perfectly fine, this may be for your own wants and desires or maybe for a competition. You may train solely for cardio gains, as you want to be the fittest you can possibly be. These are perfectly worthy causes, but not the only reason to train.
“You can train to feel better about yourself, to stay on top of any potential issues. You can train to beat the onset of sarcopenia. You can train because you love the feeling you get, the release of endorphins, the boost you get to your mental health. You can train because you love to train! ”
You can train because you want to! To regain your old weight, to stay fit so you can be active with the kids or grandchildren. Having a kick around in the garden or park, or playing chase with the kids is so much better and lasts longer, than if you are bent doubled looking for the closest park bench and a bin to vomit in!
In our latter years, it is certainly true that our body needs training, muscle mass and thus strength comes, and then unfortunately goes. Bones weaken, ligaments and tendons strain that bit more easily if left to their own devices. Staying ahead of this will certainly set you up well for later life, but it is also never too late, to include some kind of exercise in your routine.
So you can train to feel better about yourself, to stay on top of any potential issues. You can train to beat the onset of sarcopenia. You can train because you love the feeling you get, the release of endorphins, the boost you get to your mental health. You can train because you love to train! A goal of being able to put my shopping in, and taking it out the boot of the car is just as valid, as a goal of wanting to lose 2 stone. A goal of wanting to feel more sexy and confident, is just as valid as wanting to put on 10 pounds of lean muscle mass.
Of course not all goals are immediately visual. Surely one of the greatest reasons to work out, is to reduce or completely come off medication, or to reduce pain when going through certain movements. People may not comment on your lean physique, but they will be commenting when you are moving easier or looking and feeling better as you are getting more sleep, due to a reduction in pain.
Perhaps, maybe just maybe, you just enjoy moving more and sweating more, and feeling like you have been pushed out of your comfort zone for an hour or two a week. There is no monopoly on who should work out and the reasons for doing so. But the best reason has to be for ensuring you have a happier, fitter, pain free future ahead of you.
Please get in touch to discuss your reasons, and together we can formulate a plan to steer you towards your individual, very personal goal.
Ben Beale is a mobile Personal Trainer living In Paulton, who travels out to clients in the surrounding towns and villages, and cities of Bath and Bristol.