Most of you know my dad, Larry Howald. He’s the guy you hear on the radio for Howald Heating and Air. He’s the guy that helped make our space so great. He’s the guy that never complains and always has a smile on his face.
My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2005. It’s a shitty disease and watching it progress is heartbreaking. Why am I telling you all of this? I’m telling you this because despite everything he has gone through and continues to go through, he never makes excuses. Exercise is key to living a longer and healthier life. Period. Exercise shouldn’t be something that you “feel” like doing. Exercise is absolutely essential to living longer with less complications. I think a lot of us take our health for granted. I think a lot of us say we’re going to make health a priority and when it becomes challenging, we quit. I know it’s not always easy to find the motivation but I encourage you to stop talking about it and be about it.
If you tell me you’re going to start eating healthy and will log your food every day, actually do it. If you say you’re going to make it to the gym three times a week, show me. It’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves when the going gets tough, but then I think of people like my dad. He has trouble walking and STILL workouts daily without complaining. He’s the busiest guy I know and is probably more tired than any of us, and STILL comes to the gym.
For 2018, if nothing else, I want you to TRY to do better. I want you to be honest with yourself when it comes to your excuses, attitudes, effort, and commitment. Ultimately, the choice is yours. We do our very best to guide and motivate our members, but when it comes down to it, you are the ones that live with the choices you make every day.
Here are excuses I want you to get rid of for 2018:
1) “I don’t have enough time.”
• You do. You know you do. A 30 minute workout takes up 2% of your day. Don’t ask yourself how much time you’re going to waste by working out a few times a week. Ask yourself how much of your life you’re going to waste by being unfit and overweight.
2) “I’m tired.”
• Your mind, when it comes to exercise is like a spoiled child. Don’t give in! It’s difficult but not impossible. If you miss one session, you’re more likely to miss the next one. This is when it’s important to “Show up” on the days you don’t want to.
3) “I have no motivation.”
• It’s not about motivation, it’s about discipline. 9/10 I don’t feel like it but I do it any way. Again, this choice may be difficult but not impossible.
4) “I don’t have anyone to train with.”
• That’s bologna! We have an AMAZING community of people here! Talk to your peers in class! Get to know each other!
5) “I’m not fit enough to be there.”
• That’s the whole point in joining! I understand it can be intimidating when you first start, but everyone here was also a beginner once. We are not your average globo gym. We care about you and our members care about you! Make it part of your routine. It’s the most important part.
On the days you don’t feel motivated to make the healthier choice, even when you promised you would, do it because you said you would. When you want to complain about your effort during a workout or skipping the gym again because you didn’t feel like going, remember that you GET to exercise. You GET to do this. Be the BEST you can be this year and show me that you’re going to do it.
“By enthusiasm one acquired unimaginable strength.” Rig Veda
