How To Encourage Loved Ones to Start Working out
Fitness comes easy to some of us. Others, not so much.
We were not all blessed with an innate love of exercise. Those of us who do love it, or at the very least, those of us who have made it a habit, have learned to appreciate exercise and it's various benefits. For those of us who are inclined to work out, it's hard to imagine that some people might not like it - but that certainly seems to be the case for many. Watching friends and loved ones live their lives without reaping the benefits of regular exercise, and healthy eating for that matter is hard. Convincing them to start doing so is even harder. Especially when it’s a spouse.
In my several years working as a private sector personal trainer, I have trained MANY people who were once, what I like to call"non-fit” and over time, grew to love fitness. What is "non-fit," easy, it's someone that, if left to their own devices, without the motivation of a personal trainer or coach would not workout. All of these people had unique barriers, but many of them shared a collection of VERY similar things that kept them, throughout their lives, from becoming a regular exerciser. I share these things because I believe that in order to help someone change, you have to understand where they are coming from.
The most common thing these individuals had in common was little to no involvement in organized sport in their youth. Being involved in sports, or even group recreation activities, is very often the first exposure children have to physical activity. It's an opportunity to learn that movement and play have uniquely fun and rewarding properties ranging from pure physical expression to teamwork. Missing out on these opportunities at such an impressionable age can become an issue when it comes to prioritizing exercise later in life.
Another thing these people often have in common is highly stressful, and demanding personal and professional lives. Congested schedules and our rat-race lifestyles make it even harder for people, those who ALREADY do not love to move, to commit to any form of regular exercise.
Sadly, having a spouse or partner that did NOT encourage them to exercise came up often as well. Don’t be that person.
These are just some of the things you may find yourself working against when trying to inspire someone to become more active.
These things withstanding, it is still quite upsetting to watch friends and loved ones alike continue to live a mostly sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle. A lack of time and a lack of exercise history are not adequate excuses are not sufficient excuses not to do SOMETHING.
Here are four things you can do to inspire a friend or loved one to get started lifting:
Encourage healthy eating: When it comes to inspiring people to take action, I have found leading by example is a great way to start. When you spend time with this person, make it a point to select eateries that are "healthier"/lower calorie. The same thing goes for beverages, meet for coffee and tea instead of beer/wine.
Go on a walk: There is no single form of exercise more simple than going on a walk. It makes for a great place to start and is MUCH less daunting than say, inviting someone to an intense boot camp style class. That walk might evolve into an invitation to the gym or another quality physical activity opportunity. The goal here is small wins.
Stop ridiculing: always pointing out someone's unhealthy habits and choices might seem like a useful tool. It rarely is. I have come across very few people who respond positively to excessive negative comments and critiques. Because it's worth repeating, use the negative criticisms sparingly, they are effective, but only in small doses - too much, too often is a bad move.
Notice when they do the right stuff: Be around to provide praise and support when and if the person takes decisive action. Any positive action is worthy of praise. If you are serious about helping this person see success with their health and fitness endeavors, it may help to grab your pom-pom's.
These tips may NOT be enough to motivate the people you most care about to take better care of themselves, but they certainly won't encourage them to do the opposite.