Sensible Exercise

Sensible exercise would seem to be a straightforward proposition. Acquire the necessary equipment, learn the required mechanics, then practice on an ongoing basis. Liberally sprinkle in competitive events along the way and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.

If human beings were only ever so practical.

Oral Traditions

I love mentorship. Whether receiving guidance or sharing wisdom, the human-to-human interaction is irreplaceable. Infused with emotional connection, conversations can also take on embellishments.

In the case of exercise, this is where science helps in sorting the fanciful from the factual.

Gym lore reflects a rich personal side of exercise experiences. It also does a less effective job at teaching ideas that help keep athletes healthy. As marketers of exercise products have obviously embraced, appealing to the emotional (human) side of athletes is easier to do that teaching the dry facts of anatomy and physiology.

One Born Every Minute

One of the hallmarks of science is the confident, but not arrogant, approach to information for the consumer. While the commonsense method of using available information lacks the punch of “hurry before they are all gone” sales pitches, performance of solutions is much better.

How many snake oil sales have we fallen victim to over the years? Wondrous powders guaranteed to build large muscles overnight. Magical potions that provide guaranteed weight loss while you sleep. All about sales and questionable results. But we sure love the sound of the “something for nothing” pitches, right?

What science proposes is far less glamorous, but it delivers on results.

Building the Foundation

Taking a scientific approach to building your exercise routines provides results. Not overnight but lasting reliable results that come from our evolved physiology that has been generations in the making.

Let’s start with a few ideas.

• One size does not fit all. Age, gender, genetics, lifestyle, and motivations all factor into where our individual bodies start and respond to the choices we make.
• We are all wondrously unique. Stated negatively, what works for the person sitting next to you at the gym may not work for you in the same way. Social conformity doesn’t help here.
• Nature is subversive. Nature does not care what we think or want. Nature just provides what Nature provides. Get over it.
• Getting better or stronger has to do with organizing efforts around abilities and goals. We each have strengths that we can play to. My strengths are likely different from yours, so our exercise regimens are different. Not good vs. bad training styles, just apples vs. oranges different.
• How we think has a direct influence on how we perform. Obsessing on minutiae of physiology distracts from the bigger picture. If we get emotional and beat ourselves up over missing a workout or guilting over the tasty junk food meal we enjoyed yesterday, we just make ourselves crazy. Nature doesn’t care.

Let’s try a different approach.

Sensible Exercise Routines R Us

First off, who are you? Do you need deadlines to motivate or are you intrinsically driven to accomplish goals?

Do you like the idea of owning your health decisions? Do you trust in your own knowledge of how your particularly unique body works?

If you have not already done so, take that intellectual step back from your insecurities about exercise (that we all share, by the way) and reflect on what you do have. Expectations vs. realities is always a sobering conversation but an important one to have.

Now relax. The heavy lifting (no pun intended) is done. This where we start building our individualized knowledge base. From what builds your body bigger or stronger, to how quickly you recover or heal, all information is useful.

Remember, marketing claims to the contrary, nobody knows your body like you. Listen to the information of others but verify it works for you.

Be willing to be wrong. Sometimes the best thought out plans just don’t work. Finding out what does not work is equally important as knowing what does.

Decisions, Decisions

Get tough with yourself when it comes to marketing claims or the bro lore of the gym. Our willingness to walk away from well-intentioned but useless information is difficult. We all need to learn to advocate for ourselves.

Marketing of exercise regimens and supplements are complex situations with more at stake than meets the eye. Whenever I feel the pressure to buy or subscribe, I take that step back and ask for more information.

It is in the knowledge of circumstances that empowers us to make the best decisions – for ourselves. When we do our homework and trust in our own reasoned judgements, better outcomes can be expected.

Be informed. Be strong.

“If it’s really hard to find a sensible person around, become one.”

― Raheel Farooq