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I Don’t Like It Either

By Ramese Long

Get up early … get dressed … get in the car … drive to the gym… sweat/hurt … repeat …. year after year.

Sounds a lot like a broken record? Truth be told, I do enjoy the results exercise can bring, but strong disdain for the grind runs neck and neck. If you’re surprised to hear me say that, let me give you another perspective…

I’m 42 years old, been in the fitness industry over 20 years and consistently worked out for over 25 years. Do you think I might be a little tired of the gym from time to time? In addition to boredom, there are numerous issues this 42-year-old body must work around versus the 25-year-old me.

*Chronic lower back issues

*bad rotator cuff

*ankle/calf issues

*right knee

*arthritis??

… and more.

You might be saying, “what’s the point of working out then?” Well, imagine if I did not work out or lose the weight I gained back in the day. Take those ailments I have and magnify them by 10! When I was another 60 lbs. heavier, my lower back was killing me 24/7 and I was only 33 years old at the time. Imagine if I maintained the weight I gained (along with any additional pounds I would have picked up along the way), then add another 10 years of aging.

Ouch!

At this point in my life, my health is about far more than a six pack. It has become more of a spiritual thing in the end. I know when I say that, the first thing that comes to mind for a lot of people is, “I don’t want to get addicted to exercise!” My answer to that would be, look at your other addictions and see which one serves you best for where you are and who you want to be in life. Fitness has become such a large part of my life not only because I do it for a living but equally because I have had to constantly find ways to not become bored with it. If you’ve worked in a restaurant before, don’t you get tired of eating from the same menu? Now I focus on how I feel which has led me to meditation, yoga, daily prayer and lowered my anxiety level to almost non-existent. I then take these areas and try to apply them to my daily life, whether it is my business, relationships or future goals like being a good husband, father and family man. Using these goals ensures that my health and wellness stay in the forefront of my mind.

Enough about my issues; how does this relate to you?

I have said this in the past and I will continue to say the same thing until it finally hits home. You have to find a strong enough reason to push yourself to make a change. Once you have found the reason you’ve been looking for, find another reason and another, and so on. You know all the obstacles that sit right in front of you which is why you choose not to confront them because you know they exist. It’s easier to ignore the long-term problems you will face because they’re not in front of you… at the moment.

As time continues to fly by each day you must make a decision on what is more important to your psyche. I suggest getting yourself on track by looking fear in the face and simply going for it with no turning back. Think about your greatest accomplishments in life and ask yourself if you met most of the accomplishments first met with some form of fear you had to overcome? Turned out just fine in the end, didn’t it? If you didn’t quit.

Do someTHIN!

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