Fear Of Fitness

Over the years I’ve lost count of how many people have expressed apprehension over starting an exercise program. Many have a reason (coughexcusecough) that they invoke when asked, “Why not get started now?”

“I don’t have the time because of work”
”I don’t have the time because of my kids”
”I don’t have the time because I’m not caught up on Yellowstone”
”I can’t afford it”
”I’m too old”
”I have an injury”"
”I’m allergic to weights”
”I um…..um…..look over there!” (runs away)

and the ever popular versions of “I plan to start exercising _________ (insert vague future date here)”

or

“I plan to start exercising right when/after __________(insert event that will never happen here)”

But if you get past the hard candy shell that makes up the excuses or delays, what’s the real chewy reason at the center of the Tootsie Pop of exercise avoidance? Simple—-

FEAR

That’s right, good old fashioned fear. Some call it doubt. Some call it anxiety. Others may call it trepidation. All are valid but for our purposes I’ll use the all encompassing term, “fear”.

Fear of joining a gym, starting a fitness program, exercising alone, exercising in a group, or any version of those things, are extremely common. More common than most people realize because almost no one wants to admit it. In fact, most people don’t even want to admit it to themselves (What river did she drown in? Da Nile!). That’s where the excuses disguised as “reasons” come into play. If we have a good “reason” not to do something that will change our lives for the better then we don’t have to feel poorly about not doing it. The problem is that we feel poorly about not doing it regardless. It may be a subconscious feeling, but it’s there, lurking right under the surface of Lake Iamfinewithit.

The first question is, what specifically are people afraid of when it comes to starting their fitness journey? Well, there are a multitude of reasons including, but not limited to:

Fear of failure - I won’t get results and/or I’ll give up and that will damage my self-esteem and/or embarrass me.

Fear of looking foolish - I’m going to look stupid in that class or the gym because I don’t know what I’m doing.

Fear of mockery - My family/friends/co-workers don’t workout and they’ll make fun of me.

Fear of pain - Working out is too difficult and I won’t be able to handle it.

Fear of change - I’ve gotten used to being the way I am and adopting a new lifestyle is daunting.

Fear of being different - Everyone there will be in shape and I’m going to be the only fat/skinny/weak/old/etc one.

Fear of the unknown - I don’t know what to expect and I may not A) like it B) be able to do it C) fit in D) All of the above.

Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that we all feel the same way. The bad news is that we all feel the same way (Yes, even me. Ask me about it).

The second, and more important question is, what can we do about? How do we overcome our fear so that we can get started on our important journey of health and fitness. Answer——

We don’t.

Yep, that’s it. Thanks for reading.

Ok, maybe there’s something we can do to overcome our fear and get started.

Nope, there isn’t.

But wait, there’s more! If we wait to get rid of fear (in order to get started on anything) most of us are doomed to stay exactly where we’re at, prisoners of our own comfort zone, destined to never achieve our dreams and goals.

So what do we do?

It’s actually pretty simple. We take a few small steps that start us on a journey that will change our lives.

1- Identify your fear, own it, and share it out loud to someone. This instantly diminishes it’s power. I said this is simple. I did not say it was easy. No one likes to admit that they’re afraid, to themselves or someone else. We cling to our excuses like they’re a life preserver and we’re on the Titanic. But excuses aren’t life preservers. They’re cement blocks disguised as life preservers. Holding on to them is going to sink you. Let go of them and you will float. (Just like Rose!)

2- Take an immediate action. The most effective action is to reach out to a qualified, experienced personal trainer or fitness coach who will understand your apprehension and meet you where you’re at on both a physical fitness and emotional/psychological level. The right coach or trainer can help you work through whatever your experiencing that’s preventing you from moving forward toward your goals.

The important thing here is that you reach out to a real person right now. Don’t get bogged down in “research” that causes you to procrastinate. In fact, stop reading right now and call, text, email, or send a telegram to someone who can help. Let me repeat that. DO. IT. RIGHT. NOW.

Note: If you’re local to Wilmington, I hope that’s me. But, regardless of who you choose, the important thing is that you don’t find reasons to put it off any longer.
If you’re not local and aren’t sure who to reach out to or how to take this step, you can reach out to me. I’m happy to help you navigate the search for a fitness pro or program that’s a good fit for you.

3- Follow through on that action. Now is your time to take a brave step forward. That means scheduling a trial session with that personal trainer, trying out that coach’s group fitness class, or at least meeting with that fitness pro in person.

4- Make a commitment to yourself. You don’t have to know what every step on your path will look like, you just need to commit to taking those first steps. Health and fitness isn’t a one time thing, nor is it something with a defined timeline. It’s a rewarding addition to your lifestyle that will improve virtually every aspect of your life. Commitment to it is a gift you’re giving yourself that will enhance your entire human experience.

Big lifestyle changes can be intimidating so don’t overwhelm yourself with a year long membership or huge financial commitment. I highly recommend committing to 90 days so that you give yourself a chance to get acclimated to a program, create a positive health habit, and see some results. That combination will very likely inspire you to keep going but, if not, don’t worry—-

A sedentary lifestyle isn’t going anywhere. It’ll still be there after 3 months if you miss it.

“Hello unhealthiness, it’s been too long. Hold me. Hold me tight.”

5- Thrive. If you take these simple steps, you will thrive. You’ll never look back and think, “Wow, wish I hadn’t started getting fit and improving my health. That sucked.” It won’t always be easy. You may not always feel like doing it. You might slack sometimes or get off track. But if you stay committed to yourself and the process I promise you’ll look, feel, and live better than you ever did before.

Don’t believe it’s that simple? Try it out and prove me wrong. (Spoiler alert: I’m never wrong.)

And remember, the fear is normal. We all experience it. Courage is not the lack of fear. Courage is being afraid and doing it anyway. And the best part is, once you take these steps the fear will disappear and in its place will be an entirely new you.