Spontaneous Health Is Not a Thing
Spontaneous Health is Not a Thing
Let me rephrase, “Spontaneous GOOD Health is NOT a Thing.”
Spontaneous bad health is certainly a thing. We all know someone who seemed to be in great health and is all of a sudden hit with a diagnosis of disease, or has an unexpected stroke, or heart attack. “I can’t believe this happened!” we wonder. “Jack was a perfectly healthy guy!”
In my 36 years of living, I’ve heard that phrase or similar ones, more than a few times. Although, in all my time on Earth, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone ever surprised by good health without work put in. No adult that I know of has shockingly woke up to six-pack abs without paying attention to everything they ate.
Compared to my wife, who knew what she was making for this year’s Christmas dinner before Halloween, my small peep of spontaneity makes me look adventurous. But don’t get me wrong, I’m very much aware my impulsivity is still another man’s military-like discipline.
My wife and I like to plan, and I think that’s a big reason why we are two pretty healthy people. (I like to think we’re doing alright for 36 and 37. Any chance I get to tease her for being older than me I take it :) )
Every night we talk about when we’re going to workout tomorrow, and we make sure we both create a plan together that allows us both the opportunity to workout. My wife plans out our meals for the week and knows what she’s going to cook. We know when we’re going to eat out and know when we’re not. We plan the time we turn in to bed to make sure we get enough sleep. We allow each other time for self-care. If one of us needs a walk, or hot salt bath, we allow the other to plan it and do it.
We are also very laid back people, which is true to where we live in Jupiter. I’ve met hundreds of people who have dropped in our gym over the years who talk about how much they love our area because it’s so “laid back” and all the people are so “easy-going”. I agree with them because it’s something I love about my hometown too.
But what most people don’t realize is that laid back doesn’t mean lazy.
It’s true, we do have one of the most laid back towns in America, yet, we have one of the disciplined communities in the families that are a part of FitTown Jupiter. The people who are a part of our community are truly a different breed. They protect their fitness with the same restraint that they protect their beach days. Both are important and both need proper prioritization and planning.
People in our town and community work hard. Our 5 and 6am classes are full as people come in before work. Pre-COVID it was normal to have 100 people come through our doors for a workout before most people’s alarms even went off. These classes still fill up now with the restricted class caps.
Probably even more impressive is the afternoon and night crew who show up after a tiring day of work. I’ve heard from many members who have to put a stop to their workday to make sure they make it to the gym. They put their workout on their calendar just as they would an important business meeting.
This is the kind of intention we all need a little more of this year.
This is why the word INTENTION sits atop my goals and habits for 2021.
Around the holidays, the season is filled with excuses around being too busy to prioritize workouts and eating healthy. We vow to start up next year when things calm down.
Well, it’s next year and guess what, things are not going to “calm down.”
But what I’ve noticed in my life is that the busier I am, the easier it is for me to set a plan and stick to it. It’s the times like the weekends where my health is at it’s worst because it doesn’t have the structure of a weekday.
It was the times during the gym shutdown of this past year that were the hardest for me. Not because it was harder to workout without the gym atmosphere, but because the structure of my day was gone. That lack of structure led to worse decisions around my nutrition and physical activity.
So when we say, “I’m too busy for a workout,” we should question what’s going to change when we actually get more freedom or autonomy with our schedule. It’s more than likely things are going to get worse, not better.
Structure in your life leads to structure in your health.
Instead of looking at a busy schedule as something that drains your discipline, look at it as something that begets more discipline.
Plan your exercise like you plan your workday. Plan your meals accordingly too. Pre-planned meals are always a better choice than spontaneous snacking.
Many of our athletes who seek nutrition coaching are just looking for some structure among the freedom they have. Most will say, “I just need you to tell me what to do.” It’s not that they don’t know what to do, they just need permission to have some structure.
So here I am, giving you permission to have some structure.
Commit to and reserve your 5 workouts for the week on Sunday.
Drink the same protein drink every morning when you wake up.
Plan and/or prep your lunch the night before.
Set the same bedtime and wake-up alarm each day.
Set a 10 minute block of breathing exercises.
Limit eating out to 3 meals in a whole week.
Drink plain water with every meal.
Create a POWER LIST with the three most important things you will get done that day. Work on your POWER LIST the night before.
Don’t do all those things, incorporate the things that will matter to you.
If you have trouble setting structure for yourself, get a coach. That’s what we’re here for. ;)
I want to wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2021.
-Coach Tony
Let me rephrase, “Spontaneous GOOD Health is NOT a Thing.”
Spontaneous bad health is certainly a thing. We all know someone who seemed to be in great health and is all of a sudden hit with a diagnosis of disease, or has an unexpected stroke, or heart attack. “I can’t believe this happened!” we wonder. “Jack was a perfectly healthy guy!”
In my 36 years of living, I’ve heard that phrase or similar ones, more than a few times. Although, in all my time on Earth, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone ever surprised by good health without work put in. No adult that I know of has shockingly woke up to six-pack abs without paying attention to everything they ate.
Compared to my wife, who knew what she was making for this year’s Christmas dinner before Halloween, my small peep of spontaneity makes me look adventurous. But don’t get me wrong, I’m very much aware my impulsivity is still another man’s military-like discipline.
My wife and I like to plan, and I think that’s a big reason why we are two pretty healthy people. (I like to think we’re doing alright for 36 and 37. Any chance I get to tease her for being older than me I take it :) )
Every night we talk about when we’re going to workout tomorrow, and we make sure we both create a plan together that allows us both the opportunity to workout. My wife plans out our meals for the week and knows what she’s going to cook. We know when we’re going to eat out and know when we’re not. We plan the time we turn in to bed to make sure we get enough sleep. We allow each other time for self-care. If one of us needs a walk, or hot salt bath, we allow the other to plan it and do it.
We are also very laid back people, which is true to where we live in Jupiter. I’ve met hundreds of people who have dropped in our gym over the years who talk about how much they love our area because it’s so “laid back” and all the people are so “easy-going”. I agree with them because it’s something I love about my hometown too.
But what most people don’t realize is that laid back doesn’t mean lazy.
It’s true, we do have one of the most laid back towns in America, yet, we have one of the disciplined communities in the families that are a part of FitTown Jupiter. The people who are a part of our community are truly a different breed. They protect their fitness with the same restraint that they protect their beach days. Both are important and both need proper prioritization and planning.
People in our town and community work hard. Our 5 and 6am classes are full as people come in before work. Pre-COVID it was normal to have 100 people come through our doors for a workout before most people’s alarms even went off. These classes still fill up now with the restricted class caps.
Probably even more impressive is the afternoon and night crew who show up after a tiring day of work. I’ve heard from many members who have to put a stop to their workday to make sure they make it to the gym. They put their workout on their calendar just as they would an important business meeting.
This is the kind of intention we all need a little more of this year.
This is why the word INTENTION sits atop my goals and habits for 2021.
Around the holidays, the season is filled with excuses around being too busy to prioritize workouts and eating healthy. We vow to start up next year when things calm down.
Well, it’s next year and guess what, things are not going to “calm down.”
But what I’ve noticed in my life is that the busier I am, the easier it is for me to set a plan and stick to it. It’s the times like the weekends where my health is at it’s worst because it doesn’t have the structure of a weekday.
It was the times during the gym shutdown of this past year that were the hardest for me. Not because it was harder to workout without the gym atmosphere, but because the structure of my day was gone. That lack of structure led to worse decisions around my nutrition and physical activity.
So when we say, “I’m too busy for a workout,” we should question what’s going to change when we actually get more freedom or autonomy with our schedule. It’s more than likely things are going to get worse, not better.
Structure in your life leads to structure in your health.
Instead of looking at a busy schedule as something that drains your discipline, look at it as something that begets more discipline.
Plan your exercise like you plan your workday. Plan your meals accordingly too. Pre-planned meals are always a better choice than spontaneous snacking.
Many of our athletes who seek nutrition coaching are just looking for some structure among the freedom they have. Most will say, “I just need you to tell me what to do.” It’s not that they don’t know what to do, they just need permission to have some structure.
So here I am, giving you permission to have some structure.
Commit to and reserve your 5 workouts for the week on Sunday.
Drink the same protein drink every morning when you wake up.
Plan and/or prep your lunch the night before.
Set the same bedtime and wake-up alarm each day.
Set a 10 minute block of breathing exercises.
Limit eating out to 3 meals in a whole week.
Drink plain water with every meal.
Create a POWER LIST with the three most important things you will get done that day. Work on your POWER LIST the night before.
Don’t do all those things, incorporate the things that will matter to you.
If you have trouble setting structure for yourself, get a coach. That’s what we’re here for. ;)
I want to wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2021.
-Coach Tony