One common phrase I hear often when I speak to people interested in starting training here at Movimento is:
“I am so embarrassed about where I am at with my fitness & health…”
They are embarrassed for letting themselves go…
For not staying consistent with exercising…
For letting so many years go by…
Sure, on the surface fitness seems simple. Workout, eat right, get some sleep – rinse and repeat. As long as you show up and do the work consistently you’ll be fine… Right?
I see images like these shared all the time online and on social media.
I’m sure you’ve seen them too.
Fitness “influencers” and trainers trying to motivate people to stop making excuses by pointing out that you have SO MUCH time to exercise in a week.
And while I agree that we have to make time for fitness and make it a priority…
I don’t like these images because they lack empathy for the realities of life, especially as we get older.
The truth is – while fitness might seem simple > LIFE IS COMPLICATED and spares no one.
Those extra 30 or 40 “extra” hours a week can quickly disappear just like that with life happening:
~ Raising your kids / grandkids
~ Working extra hours or gaining further education to advance your career or build a business
~ Maintaining the relationships in your life
~ Maintaining a home
BUT THEN…
~ Throw in some injuries or health issues for you or your family members.
~ Throw in having to become a caregiver to your aging/sick parents
~ Throw in having children with special needs
~ Throw in a divorce and/or needing to support your grown children.
~ Throw in the death of a spouse, or parents or loved ones.
~ Throw in the loss of your job and/or financial struggles.
~ Throw in [insert your biggest life challenges you’ve faced here]
… And all of the sudden keeping your own health and fitness a priority becomes not so simple.
And it no longer becomes just about the number of hours in the day – but also a question of do you have the mental, spiritual, and physical bandwidth to focus on yourself?
Before you even know what happened… you might just find yourself further off course than you had ever anticipated.
I myself know this challenge too well.
In the last 3 years I lost my mom, my mother in-law and my father in-law, one after another. Never in my life did I think things would happen as they did. It feels like just minutes ago that we were all getting together happy family gatherings.
My wife and I balanced taking care of our little girls and our surviving parents all while mourning. On top of that my wife had a small health scare (we thank God everyday everything turned out fine in our favour)… all while rebuilding our business after Covid… life got complicated.
And yes, even as the owner of a fitness studio, I struggled to stay consistent with my own training.
But my story is not unique nor am I special…
Every single day behind those words I hear from new members “I am so embarrassed about where I am at” there are very real stories of struggles they have faced. And I understand.
If you are reading this today and are hesitant to start exercising because you are embarrassed here is what I want to share:
#1 - Don’t be embarrassed about where you are right now with your health & fitness.
Give yourself some grace for rising to the challenges life has thrown at you. You put your priorities where you needed to and you did the best with the time that you had.
#2 - NO ONE can win in ALL areas of their life at one time
So if you are coming off a season or two (or three!) of life where your fitness was on the back burner – it’s okay.
#3 - You still have lots of time to make lifestyle changes that can dramatically improve your quality of life in the years to come.
Members in our studio are feeling fitter now in their 50s, 60s and 70s than they did in their younger years… this is possible for you too. NEVER feel like it is too late for you. Guess what – it’s never too late!
#4 - You will never be judged for where you are at with your health and fitness within our humble 4 walls
We are a 50+ Personal Training studio and EVERY single member here has their own personal life story… we get it and we are here to help you get started
#5 - Having someone in your corner is REALLY important.
If you are ready to make changes with your health and fitness don’t go it alone. When life gets complicated (and it always does) having coaches you can trust and feel comfortable with in your corner to help you lean into your fitness for stress relief, customize strength training programs around injuries/health issues, and keep you on track can be life changing.
Be proud of everything you have accomplished in your life thus far. If you are ready to make some changes with your health and fitness check out our 6 week new member program by clicking here and we’d love to help.
In your corner,
Juan Medrano
Owner, Movimento Fitness
