Food for Thought: You don’t need to be a Gym Junkie to enjoy the benefits of training.

In my job as a Physiotherapist and Personal Trainer over the past 10 years I have talked to over 1000 people about their daily habits and total investment needed in the GYM. Research also tells us the margins between living a healthy fulfilled life and struggling with physical limitations in your daily life are really small.

Its actually LESS effort and easier than what you think. After this 10 min read I hope you gain some clarity on why you should invest time to workout, and how much time you need to invest.

Who do you want to be then you grow old?  

A popular thing heard outside the gym:

“I’m just not the type that enjoys training, it’s not me. I don't like to run, do squats, and I HATE burpees!”

I completely agree with you that it isn’t for everyone to turn into a gym-rat and hang out there for hours and hours, and trust me no one really loves burpees.

I understand and respect that you feel that way and won’t necessarily try to change your opinion about the gym. But humour me a little. 

Take a moment and answer this:

Are you the type that would like to,

• not be able to walk around without getting exhausted when you travel and visit a new city?

• go to the bathroom yourself, without problems, when you are 90 years old?

• effortlessly play with your grandchildren on the floor and get up quickly when they run away from you?

• put your own hand-luggage in the overhead compartment when you are traveling?

Training in the gym is not just about fitness. It’s about the freedom to do other things! 

In my experience, most people answer “yes” to the questions above, and with that in mind, I would argue that the gym is indeed for most people. Not because you must enjoy your time at the gym, but more because you want to enjoy other aspects of life.

It’s an investment. The time that you invest in your own fitness, strength training, and practicing athletic movements and flexibility, can literally help you turn back your body clock and feel younger and stronger every day. 

But how much time is enough time?

In terms of investment and time you need to commit to the gym, most people massively overestimate how much they need to train on weekly basis. At the same time, they underestimate the time they need to stay motivated for…

You don’t have to make time every day (unless that’s your choice), but you do need to make time all year round. That is non-negotiable!

If you are starting from absolute zero, even a single 45-60 minute session each week will move you forward, get you fitter and stronger — as long as you continue doing it.

For intermediate or active people, the guideline is that you can MAINTAIN your level by putting in 2x 45-60 min pr week and INCREASE your level by putting in 3x 45-60 min pr week.

Consistency is key when it comes to fitness. Putting in the effort repeatedly will get you much further. That means that 14 training sessions in 2 weeks will give you less results over all, and 14 sessions over a 7 week period, will give you more results in the long run.

I am very passionate about getting the message out:  Make this small investment every week! 

Carving out some time to do purposeful and meaningful exercises, can change your quality of life dramatically. It’s a small investment over all to make, but may change the outcome of your life.

• The choices are yours: I want you to live a long healthy life, not limited by your physical capabilities and more importantly, healthy on the inside, no matter what that looks like on the outside! 

Get moving. Do Something, anything. Big or Small.

Whatever you do, don’t do nothing!

#FitWithEik