Understanding
The Old Testament has a proverb that says, “Above all, get understanding.” This is especially true when it comes to pursuing a healthy lifestyle. It is essential to learn the skills necessary for fitness. Many people in the fitness industry insist that their product will provide a “world-class body.” Their emphatic claims are that the more expensive your product, the better your results.
For thousands of years, the human body has remained unchanged. Research any century to find great examples of athletic bodies. Would you be satisfied with Michelangelo’s sculptured David as a man? For thousands of years, the principles of muscle development have been known. The development of nutritional supplements, vitamins, and drugs has led to larger and more muscular bodies. However, muscle enhancing drugs won’t work without consistent exercise and a healthy diet.
Maintenance
People seem to have a tendency to get on the “kick” with their fitness at one point or another in their lives. In December and January, most fitness companies sell more products.
Advertisers know this and promise to transform your body in as little time as possible. You will kick Navy Seals butts in as little as six days up to as long as 90 days. It is highly unlikely that this will happen, and the results can fade in as little as a few days. You should not do anything that will disrupt your schedule or body for a period of time. For a “new” body, compact home equipment is a good choice. It is not worth showing off a body that was never in good shape.
I recall talking to a man who was 20 years older than me about his body development. He said something along the lines of “Yes, I had pectoral development similar to you, that fullness with definite separation up to the upper pectorals.” He even had photos, which he often carried but didn’t have at the time. He spoke as if he had lost touch with the present and was now able to speak only in years past. Your body is yours for life! It becomes easy to make daily exercise a routine.
Improvement
My fitness journey began in my 40s. The conventional wisdom said that I would not see much improvement in my fitness, especially when it comes to developing new muscles. This is not the case! Over a decade, I gained muscle and became leaner every year. Continuous improvement is possible by judicious application of proven body building principles and monitoring for tailoreding.
Many popular fitness programs have been tried and tested. These programs appear to produce promising results in just three months. It seems that those who have been following these programs for many years experience little to no improvement year after year. This is not because they don’t put in a lot of effort and time. These programs require a lot of effort and time each day. All this effort seems to be aimed at maintaining the gains made in the initial few months. What if what you’re doing isn’t working? Would you not consider changing it? My belief is that most programs, including expensive memberships to health clubs, are built on flawed premise.
Affordability
This should not be confused with the most expensive product on the market. There is a cost to getting into fitness. Equipment can be rented or purchased. The cost of any piece of equipment that you purchase can vary five times. The equipment must be equal in quality to my personal fitness goals.
I was contacted by a person about buying a new pull-up bar for the doorway. It was for her 6-year old daughter, who just started gymnastics. I explained to her that she wanted a $20.00 pull-up bar from a department store and not the $70.00 one I sell. Although money cannot buy you fitness, the true value of your equipment purchases will reflect your true goals. Do you have the same fitness goals as a 6-year old girl? Or are they those of an athlete looking to make a difference in life? Do you prefer to be satisfied or excel? Purchase the best equipment you can afford.
These are some of the foundations for many programs:
#1 Cheapest in Cost, Always on Sale
#2 Fastest way to achieve results “In just so many days”
#3 Limited scope. “This is all you need. So throw everything else away.”
#4 Low cost, high dollar with little time or physical effort
#5 Low dollar cost, but with high and intense requirements.
#6 Based around an emotional appeal (e.g. Guilt, promise of friendship, a feeling of belonging.
#7 Elite. This foundation sells a high-class, Olympic, or celebrity status.
Pay attention, none of these home exercises will make you a Navy Seal or a celebrity, an Olympic, or world-class athlete. This salesmanship can be expected from companies that spend millions of dollars a month in advertising, but we shouldn’t, dare to lie to ourselves. There are many programs that have merits, but no one program will meet all of our needs.
Keep working!
Get inspired!
The best is yet ahead!
