Spring has arrived.
It feels like I was writing about winter just a few weeks ago.
It may be spring, but there is still time to do something about the winter lck of motivation.
I recently read that summer bodies are made in winter. It may sound ridiculous, but if we’re going to apply the same timeframe, (now that it’s spring) at least you’ll be happy with your physical self in Autumn.
Really?
Is getting in shape, being lean, strong, flexible, and fit really a seasonal thing?
Let’s use the analogy of our teeth……so white teeth (for summer) are made by brushing and flossing 2-3 times a day in winter, then increasing it to 4 times a day in spring, only to drop down to a “maintenance” program of brushing once a week during the summer months.
This may sound ridiculous, but how is it different to including exercise into your daily routine?
Personally, I do see certain stages of our lives as being seasonal. From being dependent on your parents for everything, to learning some “grown up lessons” when transitioning to adulthood, to being responsible for others as a parent, then the sunset years, where those earlier health investments will start paying you back.
However, our daily habits shape us over the long term as individuals and contribute to our identity (both internally and externally).
Like any sort of investment, you only really reap the rewards over a longer period of time. Even the infamous Donald Trump once said, “most overnight sensations take a minimum of seven years.”
Exercise is no exception, and unlike seeing dollar signs increasing in your bank account every month, building muscle, losing body fat, and getting fitter are highly intangible. No wonder so many people give up after a few weeks or months.
Again, would you expect to save some money for a few months and be a millionaire, strum a guitar for a few weeks and belt out riffs like Slash? I don’t think so.
I remember several customers of my former business saying, “well I took your vitamins for a few weeks, and didn’t feel any better.”
In my next blog, I’ll explain some of the physiology behind why your body will fail to change in less than 12 weeks.
In the meantime, get busy training. If your goal is to be feeling and looking better in time for summer, you still have time.
