How do you know you've fallen into the trap of "exercise comfort zone"? When I asked a young woman at our lunch table if she, like her husband, was doing P90X, her response left me, well, disappointed. "Nah, that's just not my thing. Give me a treadmill, my iPod, and a Pilates class, and I'm good." Now, the first part of that statement wouldn't have bothered me so much, because P90X is NOT for everyone. "Nah, that's just not my thing" was fine; as a coach I love to provide suggestions and assistance to people based on where they are and where they want to go, sometimes with Beachbody and sometimes not.
There are other Beachbody programs that can satisfy just about any exercise appetite or fitness goal. However, P90X is a hard-core, muscle-building, blood-pumping, lung-expanding, cross-training program of muscle confusion.
What really bothered me was the second statement- "Give me a treadmill, my iPod, and a Pilates class, and I'm good." This got me thinking... why would she say this? She and her husband have been exercising for a while and are trying to be fit, and without meaning any disrespect, her method does not appear to be working.
The more I thought about this, the more I drew on my own experience and that of those I've coached. I remembered one important thing- usually when you have the choice between two workouts, the one you select may be the one you "want" to do but it may not be the one you "need" to do or "should" do. In general, we are going to take the path of least resistance, especially when we are just starting to out. When we take the path of least resistance and don't push ourselves, we remain in a comfort zone.
Unfortunately, exercise comfort zones do not get us results- never mind fit. Placing yourself outside your comfort zone is different for different people. For some people, who are just starting out or coming off an injury or just gave birth walking on a treadmill may be pushing far enough. For others, one hour of P90X Plyometrics followed by one hour of One on One Plyo Legs followed by a long bike ride may be pushing far enough. It depends on where you are and where you want to go- where YOU want YOUR body to be a finite period of time from now.
The more I thought about this, the more I drew on my own experience and that of those I've coached. I remembered one important thing- usually when you have the choice between two workouts, the one you select may be the one you "want" to do but it may not be the one you "need" to do or "should" do. In general, we are going to take the path of least resistance, especially when we are just starting to out. When we take the path of least resistance and don't push ourselves, we remain in a comfort zone.
Unfortunately, exercise comfort zones do not get us results- never mind fit. Placing yourself outside your comfort zone is different for different people. For some people, who are just starting out or coming off an injury or just gave birth walking on a treadmill may be pushing far enough. For others, one hour of P90X Plyometrics followed by one hour of One on One Plyo Legs followed by a long bike ride may be pushing far enough. It depends on where you are and where you want to go- where YOU want YOUR body to be a finite period of time from now.
To Achieve our fitness goals we must remove the mental restrictions we place on our bodies and allow our bodies the freedom to develop and to perform.. Select a reasonable amount of time then shave off ten percent- yep, even when you're setting goals, most of us are padding it a bit. It’s natural. Trust your body. It can outperform your predictions if you allow it. Select a reasonable physical fitness goal (e.g., body weight, body fat percentage, inches, jump height, run distance, run time, duration, endurance, etc.) and shave that down or increase that goal (depending on the goal) as well. Your body should be working throughout an entire exercise, and the last part whether it's the last 1/4 mile sprint, the last three reps with good form, the last five minutes of a game, etc. should burn. That burning is your body changing, growing, getting stronger, so that next time you workout your body will take itself even further. Permitting your body to push itself further each time is progress; it's fitness; it's success.
Don’t believe it? That’s why you record it! Reward yourself by recording your progress with each workout, each activity, and each milestone reached. Seeing it on paper will convince your mind that your body is far stronger than you ever thought possible and is motiviation in and of itself, nevermind documentation of your expectations each time you treat your body to a new high!
So, whatever your workout preference just ask yourself, “Who is in charge? your body ? or, your comfort zone?” and then consider the results you may be leaving behind.
Bring it!
Don’t believe it? That’s why you record it! Reward yourself by recording your progress with each workout, each activity, and each milestone reached. Seeing it on paper will convince your mind that your body is far stronger than you ever thought possible and is motiviation in and of itself, nevermind documentation of your expectations each time you treat your body to a new high!
So, whatever your workout preference just ask yourself, “Who is in charge? your body ? or, your comfort zone?” and then consider the results you may be leaving behind.
Bring it!
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