The Key to Your Results

​The one key to results is simple: Make it a priority. Behind the absolute “must do’s” like work, raising kids, and bathing, your fitness goals HAVE to be a top priority in order to see results.
 
I had a client once ask me, “How do your busy clients find time to workout?” By busy I mean they have a high stress/high responsibility job, kids, travel, and hobbies. Yet they still exercise 5 times a week. So I asked a client that is truly busy how he manages to exercise often. He quickly replied, “You have to make it a priority.” Ok, so that was obvious to me, but then he added, “You know Jerry, I COULD work more if I wanted to. I could work all through the evening and get home late at night, but then I would not only be skipping my workouts, I would hardly spend time with my family.”

The women in my Boot Camp class are another great example of making fitness a priority. They all have kids, they have jobs or organizations which they belong, and all live very busy lives. Yet they still show up 2-3 times a week to my group classes and workout another few times a week on their own.
 
In these and many more examples, the one key component is that they MAKE time to do it.    ​

Where do you find time to workout?

If you truly don’t have time, then you are going to have to cut time out of something else. Yes, you are going to have to cut time off work, leisure time, or hobbies to make time to workout. The question is do you really HAVE to spend as much time as you do on these things? Do you really have to work as much as you do? Leisure time is obviously the easiest time to cut out for exercise. Hobbies often take up a lot of time for people. Even though you may love your hobbies, you may have to cut time off of them in order to find time to workout in the name of better health. Or better yet, find a hobby that is active.

Excuses

Here’s where I become the tough trainer with no sympathy. All these reasons are really just excuses for not working out. Be honest with yourself and realize that some of these tasks you must get done really could wait. You are simply more comfortable doing them than being physically active. It may be something you know is not important like watching a TV show, or it could be something you think is important like that extra hour of work. But was it really crucial to do?

What I sacrifice to make time

Yes for me it’s easy to say these things. I love to workout, I’m a trainer. But here’s what I give up in order to have 8-12 hours a week spent on my body (and that doesn’t include getting ready before and cleaned up after!):
Work: I could have many more articles, videos, and social media posts a week if I only did the minimum amount of exercise. My business could be MUCH further ahead by spending time on it while only being fit enough. Relationships: I could spend more time with loved ones by spending time with them on my long breaks or time off, but they understand how important my personal fitness is to me.
​Awareness: People often laugh at how I don’t know the details of the latest news. News and politics often go unnoticed to me because I rather spend that time on my body.

You can do it!

Ok, so now to be the encouraging, caring trainer (which I am BTW). You can find time to workout. You just may need to take some time to figure out what needs to done and what can wait. I see people do it everyday and I am truly motived by their dedication. I know people who don’t particularly enjoy the gym, yet they go anyway. Give yourself credit and praise for working out because it does take effort to get started. Also don’t be too hard on yourself. Focus on your success for the week and build on it. If you came up short this week, congratulate yourself for what you did and make it a goal to improve on it. Focusing on what you didn’t do is toxic. Stay in a positive mindset, yet be honest with yourself.
 
So get out there and exercise!
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