High Intensity Exercise = Adversity

Few people live a truly charmed existence. All of us will have to face and overcome difficult circumstances at some point in life. The manner in which we handle those challenging moments will determine just how successful we are in our chosen endeavor. In his book "How Good Do You Want to Be?", former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban says, "In life, your road map is knowing what you want to accomplish then committing yourself to doing the things necessary to reach that destination. You cannot get there without hard work and perseverance." Total Results clients know just how challenging our workouts are, but this is the price they are willing to pay in order to achieve good health and continued independence. The adversity that they conquer during their workouts fortifies them for whatever life throws their way.

Many regular readers of this blog are familiar with the concept of voluntary hardship. This can take on many different forms, such as taking a cold shower, going for a walk outside in winter without wearing a jacket, completing a twenty-four hour fast, or standing for long periods of time rather than sitting. The key word here is voluntary; these are not things that are being forced upon you. The idea behind voluntary hardship is that it fortifies you both mentally and physically; to experience some physical discomfort makes you more resilient and also gives you an appreciation for the relative good fortune that most of us are blessed to have. Total Results exercise is a form of voluntary hardship. No one is forced to participate in our program; clients willingly come to us to learn how to become the best version of themselves. Our workouts are brief, infrequent, and intense, and no rational individual would consider them fun, at least not once you start working with a great deal of effort.

The mental component of exercise can never be underestimated. In order to give your best physical effort, you must be in the proper mental frame of mind. Eliminate distractions! If your mental focus is hampered because you are thinking about something else, you cannot come to grips with the challenge you are about to face. Visualize the workout as an opportunity to overcome some adversity and accept the fact that the next twenty minutes will likely be unpleasant and uncomfortable. Chase after that discomfort, rather than run from it. Facing an obstacle head-on makes it a lot less scary. While we are tricking our bodies into thinking that we are engaged in a life-and-death struggle, in reality we are in a perfectly safe environment. Sometimes clients that take a layoff forget about the amount of effort and focus that is required for optimal performance. Accept the fact that this is hard; better yet, celebrate it! Be proud of yourself for doing something that not many other people are willing to do.

The effort that you give when you are not at your best shows the depth of your character. There are going to be circumstances in life that come up: work deadlines, family emergencies, life stress, and even self-inflicted difficulties. We are all human, and there will be days when you simply "don't feel like it." This is where being process-oriented rather than outcome-oriented is really beneficial. Your best effort may vary from one workout to the next based on factors such as sleep, nutrition, and activity level but there is great honor and satisfaction to be derived from simply doing the best you can on a given day. Don't just try to "get through it", but rather find meaning in the effort. Coach Saban says, "When an opportunity presents itself, approach the challenge not with concern about the outcome but with courage to do your best. Find honor in how you compete."

We are what we think we are, for better or worse. A positive attitude goes a long way. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, but once you finish a Total Results workout the hardest part of your day is over. Relish the fact that you have the opportunity to do this, and be proud of the adversity that you are able to overcome. The name of the game is effort!