I’ve known for a long time that my perspective on fitness and health is different from many other people.
We are all a product of our experiences, and we have all lived through a huge variety of experiences both good and bad, and it is those that shape how we look at life.
I think that I’ve had a very good life, one where I’ve always had a home to live in, food to eat, and where I haven’t had to worry about violence, drug abuse, etc.
What I have experienced is health problems.
By now you all know that I have Fibromyalgia and IBS, some of you might know I also have a lung condition that causes me to get a small hole at the top of my left lung from time to time. Or that at the age of 17 I had a 10+ pound ovary tumour that had to be removed, along with one of my ovaries and fallopian tubes leaving me a hormone imbalance.
It is because of my Fibromyalgia that I chose to become a fitness instructor. Because staying active helped my symptoms so much, but the only way I could be sure that I would get exercise was to make it my job, so that I had to do it.
It is also because of my lung condition that I made a career change. My doctor told me it wasn’t safe for me to fly with that soft spot in my lung. And I really, really, really wanted to go to Disney World. So I figured strengthening my lungs through exercise was my best option. And I’m happy to report that I’ve flown many times since becoming a fitness instructor, and so far have had no issues with my lung.
So as much as I wanted to become a fitness instructor to help other people, I did it to help myself first. Not to look good, not to lose weight, but to become and stay healthy.
My personal experiences aside, I have lived through some other scary health situations. My oldest brother was in a car accident in 1992. His neck was broken, spinal cord severed and as a result is a quadriplegic. He was deemed “super quad” at the rehab because he was able to do so many things so quickly because he was so strong and healthy when he was in his accident.
And my husband has on more than one occasion (last night being the most recent) been taken to the ER with frightening, and life threatening medical problems. Thankfully he is home now, and is doing well but if he had been eating a poor diet and not taking care of himself who knows what would have happened.
I see so many people/bloggers exercising and doing extreme things just to look a certain way. Not to build a better foundation for their body, but so they look a certain way. People who focus so much energy on that stupid “6-pack” which is not going to make them healthier.
People who refuse to eat healthy food because it isn’t part of their “diet”, one that they are following not for health reasons, but because they think a cob of corn is going to make them fat.
When people drag their sorry chest-infected body to the gym to “kill it” because there are “no excuses” when they should be at home with their rear in bed or on the couch I want to yell at them. I understand more than most how important exercise is for your health, but I also understand more than most how much your body needs to rest when its sick/injured.
One day off will not ruin your fitness plan. And if you think it will, you need to reassess your plan/expectations.
You know what else? A whole week off your fitness plan won’t ruin your life either.
What will ruin your life? Not taking care of your body. You literally never know when something is going to happen, or what it is going to be. The only thing you can do is try to build the healthiest body you can. The strongest all over body (which includes cardio, strength and flexibility). The healthiest body by eating a diet full of foods that work for your body. And the happiest body by surrounding yourself with people, things, and hobbies that make you happy.
Because when something does happen, nobody is going to care if you have a visible 6-pack, they aren’t going to give you your fancy protein powders and muscle-building supplements when you are in the hospital.
So I urge you to take a look at your life and make sure you are spending enough of your life doing things that you love, and with people you love.
If you are dragging yourself to the gym to run for an hour everyday but hate it – STOP. Find an exercise you enjoy.
If you are following a certain eating plan because you think it will help you lose weight or gain muscle but you are miserable on it – STOP. Focus on foods that you like and that will nourish your body.
If you are unhappy in your job/relationship take a hard look at why you stay.
Life is much to short to spend anymore energy than you have to on things that don’t make you happy, unnecessarily drain your bank account, and leave you feeling unmotivated and defeated.
xoxo,
Suzi
Running Hutch says
Great post. I fully agree. Partially due to my own family’s health issues and seeing the CrossFit diagram, I see fitness as the highest level of health, as opposed to looking a certain way or even performing a certain way.
I think the “Awesome Ass and Abs” goals of most people who just want to look good and feel great are always going to be the initial motivation to get them into a fitness program, but hopefully good instructors like yourself will be able to shift their perspective toward valuing optimum health a bit more!
Suzi says
Thank you <3
I'm sure I'll never have svelte abs, partly from my abdominal surgery (re: the ovarian cyst) but that doesn't mean I don't have a strong core. I'd much rather know I'm strong, than to be superficially strong looking.
What gets me is the people who have been in the fitness world for a longtime and should know better, but don't.
Amen!! Oh I agree with this post so much!
Honestly, I have spent so much time in and out of the hospital over the past nine years. And I run and workout to keep my body healthy! More than anything I just want to stay as happy and healthy as possible for as long as possible.
It hurts my heart to read some of the crazy things people do and think to be a certain size or to get those abs. Well said
Thanks Krysten! <3 I thought of you many times last night!
It makes me sad that people who have been fortunate enough NOT to have medical problems don't seem to realize what an injustice they are doing to themselves when they train/exercise for aesthetics and not health
Great post!! I love that you became a fitness instructor to improve your own health first!! And, I love your perspective on fitness overall!
Great post! I have been on the road to fining my happy place in the world of health and fitness for many years. In my head I know it isn’t all about what I look like. I still have many areas of improvement, and it can be challenging when I see friends or other gym members who look great but don’t seem to do much in terms of healthy eating/exercise.
My goal has always been to be the best I can be, and I need to remind myself of that.
Thank you!
Esther
Thank you!