What is the biggest fitness challenge holding people back from starting or sticking to a program?
Good answers. I agree that one’s perception of time availability is a significant obstacle. Perhaps you can ask your client to record a detailed log of several days’ activities, meetings, meal breaks, etc to see if you can suggest when a 20-30 minute exercise session could be included. As I’m sure you know, there are a multitude of internet, and even IDEA TV, options. Time availability is often as much a perception as it is a reality.
Hello Angie Lee,
Classically, time and motivation stop people from continuing their program, be it fitness or otherwise. When something seems like a chore it is harder to complete. Do what you enjoy and you do not work a day in your life. It is our job to keep people motivated; job security for us, success for the client…we all win.
Take care,
Natalie aka NAPS 2 B Fit.
Human nature. We are programmed for two things to survive. One, eat food when it is available. And two, conserve energy as expending it requires more food.
It hasn’t been that long since we had to forage, fight, hunt, completely prep, defend and repeat for food everyday. The brain has two very strong reward mechanisms. food and love. When we get either, our brain goes “Woo Hoo!”. And with food, the brain also says “more, more, more” for most people. Being able to turn that off is something that can be learned. But it takes a strong focus.
Then there is the conserve energy side. People generally prefer to lounge whenever possible. In times of abundance, people have historically partied. And if food was tough to come by, as soon as a belly was full, laying down to sleep was the next thought. Even mechanically, the brain attempts to get things done with as little energy as possible. There is something to “a body at rest tends to stay at rest” for people as well. But just like not eating everything in sight, we can learn to enjoy activity. But again it takes time to acquire that mindset.
And falling off the horse usually means starting almost from the beginning on either issue. But as both are learn-able habits, repeat attempts usually become easier. As long as there aren’t any major disruptions physically or emotionally.
For our part, we just need to be the stead support and source of information that we dreamed we would be when we became fitness instructors. (And that works for us as well. We could all use a little support, a little faith, and a little success to keep us on the path.)
Hi Angie,
it is often time and knowledge what to do.
I do not dismiss people’s argument that they do not have time to exercise. It is also the perception of what exercise is. For example, somebody who cleans houses for a living has different needs than somebody who sits at the desk all day long.
I am on a mission to bring movement back into people’s regular life rather than setting one hour per day apart of ‘exercise’. Integrating more movement will bring the same if not more benefit.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com