Gone But Not Lost

         Fitness seems to be such a broad term.  Everyone has images that flash through their mind when they are thinking about it.  Some see weight loss, some see weight gain.  Some see iron man or crossfit, while others see a kitchen counter covered in fresh, organic foods.  None of these are wrong and in fact, are all only partially right.  Fitness in itself covers all of these things.  The fact is, people see what they want to see. 
         When you see images of huge bodybuilders such as Kai Greene or Ronnie Coleman, what is the first thought that comes to mind?  Is it steroids?  Or is it the massive amount of dedication and hard work that it takes to attain such a physique?  Everyone sees the size and strength.  They see the speed of track sprinters and the endurance of marathon runners.  We see the perfection all around us in the fitness world but from the outside, there is no comprehension of the amount of work, dedication, and mental strength that it takes to get that perfection.  So today, I want to focus on the mentality of it all.


         It is no secret that everything we do in life is based on choices.  We choose everything from the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep.  Some of those decisions are heavily influenced, such as the time you need to be at work, what it is you will be doing there, what time the kids need to be picked up from school, and so on.  At the very core of it all is one single choice though.  You aren't necessarily required to do any of these things, but you must weigh the consequences against the benefits.  If you don't show up to work on time, there's a chance that you might lose your job.  If you don't pick up your kids, Child Protective Services will eventually do it for you.  I say all of that to drive home my point.  Everything we do is a choice.This applies to our personal fitness too and behind every choice is our own mental attitude and strength. 
          On a day to day basis, the decisions of our life are prioritized.  Most prioritize work over recreation.  There are a few that will quit a job if it interferes with their surfing trip, but most will put work first.  Family is placed over acquaintances.  Our kids have priority over everything.  Subconsciously though, we always manage to forget about placing a priority on our fitness.  People tend to look at it as a recreational activity that will get accomplished once every other aspect of our life has been satisfied.  The first step in any decision is to place a priority on it and don't let it fall into the schedule when it fits.  If there is no set hierarchy of your decisions in life, then everything becomes a convenience and you will miss out on the best things that add richness to your existence. 


Closing point;  With each decision you make, create a ranking for it.  Know where every aspect of your life stands and rank fitness towards the top.  Understand what can be rescheduled or cancelled and what must be done.  Build your mental strength to drive your physical strength forward.