Is it the beautiful weather that keeps them out? Is it the numerous social events that everyone commits to? The change in routine that is difficult to re-adapt to? Yes to all, but there is a stronger influence, it is called discipline and the continuous desire to set your fitness as a priority...just like getting up for work every day. You cant be successful in your career if you don't continually work at it....or at least show up!
To be successful with your continued fitness and wellness, it needs to be a lifestyle; something that you believe in and truly takes precedence in your life. Some people see the "fitness and wellness" thing as a social connection, and it is. However, it is simply not enough. The social events of bar-b-qing, sitting at the beach, and vacationing will surely trump your plan to run, go to the gym or get in that morning exercise video before the day or running your kids to their friends house, baseball games, and catching a drink and appetizer with your close friends.
The "summer slackers" are really no different than those who set a new years resolution to get back on track with their fitness. It truly is a vicious cycle and I see it every year. It goes something like this:
Seasonal Yo-Yo Fitness
- Summer time; the weather is too nice to workout indoors and my family has a lot of social things going on (lasts around 90 days)
- Fall; once the summer ends and most are full of gluttony, their routines are about to change again, kids back in school, forcing them to re-adapt and still not have time to get fitness in their life. (lasts around 90 days...sept to november)
- Holidays; once school has been back in session and they have been in and out of the gym a few times for a taste of what they "really wan't" the holidays strike and the cycle starts alllll over again. Having YET to adapt into a consistent balance fitness program.
- New Year; "okay I am really going to start this fitness thing once the holidays end"..if this isn't you then I bet you know someone who it is. Text-book wana-be fit but just doesnt have the self-discipline and motivation. Sure, it sounds "trendy" to your friends and to post on facebook that your on a fitness mission...but chances are in 3 months or less you'll be back to your good old habits. (interesting, this lasts about 90 days too)
- Spring time; so many have made a strong attempt from their new years fitness resolution, but guess what...better weather and end of school projects are on their heels again and the cycle is about to start over again. Never getting through more than around 90 days of training consistently any more than three times per week since last spring!
Research shows that it takes approximately 90 days of consistent new behavior, repeated 4-6 times per week for old behaviors to change and the body to adapt. Well, bad news for those who never make it past that 90 day mark because there is never a period in our 12 month calendar where a significant life changing occurrence such as dramatic weather change (seasons), school letting out, holidays, etc. that doesn't happen. Take a guess at what variable this is referred to as?
LIFE; the sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, especially metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment.
–adjective
for or lasting a lifetime; lifelong: a life membership in a club; life imprisonment.
This "life" we all live in (from the blue collar to the financially affluent), no matter if it is the holiday season or the beautiful weather of new englands summers, our fitness is a lifelong adaptation. And as a unique specimen (human) our bodies need a consistent environment to adapt to what we all want; a lean, strong, healthy, and balanced life of fitness and wellness. This is just another variable in the equation identified as "Daddy Syndrome" but applies to us ALL.
Keep fighting!
Joe
