Six Pack Abs are More Important than Fun?!

Fitness Evolved Core Value #3 states:  "Continually Learn and Improve."  We take all of our core values very seriously (that's why they're our core values!) and this one is no exception.  You'll notice that we frequently take time away to continue to learn and bring new ideas and techniques to our training system.  Andy just returned from Phoenix after taking what was one of the most fun and inspiring courses we've been to so far:  Z Health 9S Skill & Style

This course focused on one thing that many of us have left behind as we've entered our adult years:  Play!  Everything we've been doing in our training and at our gym has been for this purpose.  If we're all being honest, very few of us came to Fitness Evolved because we wanted to get better at doing lunges or deadlifts, or burpees... It's ok, you can admit it!  You came because you wanted to find something to make you feel better so you can enjoy life more.  All of those lunges, deadlifts, burpees, weird mobility exercises, vision exercises that make you tired and loopy, and balance exercises are all given with the intent of helping you develop a more athletic body so you can go out and play- do what you want to do and have fun doing it.  This is the pinnacle of why we do what we do.  Our bodies are designed to move; Our brain's crave stimulus and novelty.  Sports provide both!  Whether you're a competitive person or not, playing sports and being active is the key to having a healthy strong body and high quality of life.  It requires you to move as well as challenge your brain to think quickly, accurately, and solve problems in real-time.  Plus, once someone takes the time to teach you the skill required and you have some success, they become fun!  

 

This most impactful quote I heard over the weekend was this:  "Somewhere along the line, somebody somewhere decided that having 6-Pack Abs was more Important than having fun."  And thus, our current fitness culture was created.   Here's the irony-  the people who have the bodies we envy and would like to have are the ones we see on TV playing sports, not in the gym lifting weights!  They spend most of their time playing, and we spend our time trying to achieve what they've achieved by working.  Granted these athletes do work hard, and they do spend time in the gym, but the majority of their time is spent playing.  

The other important concept we discussed was to "Break the Habit of Being You."  What stories have you told yourself about your own athleticism?  Why do we believe ourselves so strongly?  We are who we think we are until we decide to be different.  Many people first lack a skill for something, and then create a narrative around why they don't do it. (i.e. "I don't have time."  "I'm not an athlete."  "I have more important things to do." etc.)  If someone were to take the time to teach you the basic skills of a sport or activity, could you see yourself actually being different than you currently are?  

We chose the word "Evolved" in Fitness Evolved very intentionally.   Over the next few days and weeks, you will see the next evolution of Fitness Evolved- it's a very exciting time!  We strongly believe fitness and exercise should be fun and being able to play is the key to living a long, healthy, and fulfilling life.  

Is there a sport that you love that you'd like to get better at?  Is there a sport or activity you've always wanted to try that you never thought you could do?  Let's do it!  All sports come down to a few very basic movements and skills that can be taught quickly.  What would happen if you found you were actually able to learn to do it?  How many other windows and doors would that open up for you?  We all have to learn to break the habit of being ourselves if we want to be better than we currently are.