My Fitness Philosophy

There is no substitute for hard work. Again, that’s not what most people want to hear, but in the long run that is the only way to safely and permanently change the shape of your body.

True physical fitness is a lifestyle. It's something you do every day, whether you feel like it or not, just like like showering and brushing your teeth. You work out because it's the right thing to do, and because it will result in a longer and healthier life – even if the results are not immediately visible.

If you are relying on pills, fad diets or exercise gizmos to achieve the appearance of physical fitness, eventually you will fail. I say the appearance of physical fitness because you can mask an unhealthy lifestyle with pills and supplements for a period of time. But even if these methods provide a temporary solution, chances are you will quit using them eventually and then you will fall back into the same shape you were in before.

More people are out of shape today than ever before, and it can be traced to two major factors. Either your eating habits are bad or you are not exercising enough – or both. If you want to get to the root of the problem, you must address both of these factors.

I heard somebody use the analogy that it's like dealing with weeds in your yard. The simplest and fastest way to aleviate the problem is to mow over the weeds. At first it may appear as though the problem has been solved, but in a few days you will discover that the weeds are still there. Mowing over them simply provided a temporary solution to the problem.

The other way to get rid of the weeds is to get down on your knees and pull them up by the roots. While this is the more labor-intensive way of dealing with the problem, it is the only way to eliminate the weeds for good.

Similarly, you can deal with your body in one of two ways. You can take a pill or use the “fitness gizmo of the month” to temporarily mask your problem. You will find, however, that any results gained from these methods are only temporary. The real problems – your poor eating and exercise habits – are still there.

Or, you can get to the root of the problem and deal with your eating and exercise habits. While this is the slower and more labor-intensive method, it is the only way to really deal with the problem and gain lasting results.

If you have neglected your fitness program for any length of time, it may appear to be an arduous task. But if you start now, use sound principles and stick with it, results will come. And, more importantly, they will last.