The above photo was taken at a Bodypump training about 5 years ago.  It was one of the toughest trainings I have ever been through and the process of becoming a “Pump” instructor was a challenge but it was well worth it because it made me a much better instructor and coach.

Back in those days (5 years ago) things in fitness were different.  It wasn’t about selfies or any of that nonsense but it was more about community and having a good time in fitness.  Even 1o years ago I can remember traveling around to different gyms for classes with great instructors or attending master classes taught by the rockstar presenters.

Fitness was so much fun back then and I was glad to be a part of it.

Something has changed.  These days I see more people posting daily selfies at the gym and asking us to validate their amazing progress.  Sad thing is…not much has changed from yesterday when you did that exact same pose in the exact same place at the gym.

I started to think to myself:  Has the purpose of working out become to take selfies and that’s why it’s such a turn off?  If I’m getting turned off as a fitness enthusiast and one who does this for a living, then what must other folks be thinking who don’t see fitness as fun?

I’m here to tell you that it ain’t about the selfies and you’re missing out if that’s why you’re working out.

The Real Purpose of Health and Fitness

The Real purpose of Health and Fitness is for you to be able to use your healthy lifestyle and improved fitness level to get what you want out of life such as:

  • having enough energy to get through your day
  • Feeling ALIVE and having that blood pumping through your veins
  • having enough confidence to stand tall with good posture
  • carrying your own groceries and not depending on others
  • Knowing that you can do MORE than you think you can and using that in other areas of life
  • Improving your self image and self esteem
  • Not getting left behind because you’re older but knowing you can keep up and out do the younger crowd
  • Wearing whatever you want and knowing that you look great in it because you take care of yourself
  • Living the life you want with minimal injury and preventable diseases

Not about the selfies

I teach a weekly cycling class here in San Francisco and it’s a blast.  We have so much fun with great music and tough classes.  I don’t allow texting and nobody has the time to take selfies.  It’s about Fitness and focusing on getting better for that hour.

It’s not about the selfies.

In fact I feel sorry for people who only think fitness is about posing daily in the mirror and getting comments on how they look.  They are missing out on the community, the fun, and the payoffs of fitness. I don’t live a heathy lifestyle so I can take pictures in the mirror all day. I don’t have time for that.I have a LIFE to live.

 I have:

  • traveling to do, (I like to explore cities on foot…Seattle is next!)
  • workshops to attend e
  • Exciting people to meet and not tell them how old I really am!  This health and fitness thing works if you want to play younger!  (Sidenote: Ladies creams are great but fresh food, lots of water, strength training, and cardio are the real fountains of confidence and youth) 

I’ve talked about for a while how i was caught up in that stuff and I wasn’t happy.  Posting pictures of boring food to show myself self righteous and for the world to notice my suffering (roll eyes), pictures of myself at the gym so I could get some confirmation and validation from others.

Ultimately I learned that type of lifestyle wasn’t for me.  I would much rather be out living a full life than taking pictures of boring food or of myself at the gym.  Does this mean that I will never take a gym selfie again?  No but it means that I know it’s not the main thing.  My LIFESTYLE is about being at my best health wise and fitness wise so that I can live life with energy, confidence, and have fun doing it.

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

The Main Thing is to use health and fitness to LIVE BETTER so that you can live the life you want to have.  The energetic, active, vital, confident, and not left behind life that you want to live.

 

The Fiercely Fit Lifestyle!