The Importance of Community for Getting Healthy and Losing Weight
I first started lifting back in 9th grade cross country. Our weight room was small, the size of a three- car garage, with old school weights and machines scatter across the room in a very unorganized manner. It had a strange yellow paint on the wall and no air conditioning in the middle of Arizona summer, so no need for warm up. You were drenched in sweat after the first exercise!
Coach Sullivan was our cross country coach and this man was a machine! Imagine a 6’3 60 year old lumberjack, who could bench press 315 lbs and run a 5 minute mile. His favorite sayings were “what a nice day,” (even when it was scorching 115* outside) or “stop touching boys!” (when we horseplay in the locker room).
Coach Sullivan was basically this but always encouraging, with a very big, genuine smile on his face.
Thinking back, the workout experience was absolutely horrible, but I loved being part of it. Not because of the running but just because the people.
We were the smallest cross country team, with just 5 members versus the 30 average. So there was this comradery. We all got to know each other pretty well and there was never a lack of banter and jokes during our training. We pushed each other through the toughest of days and cheered for each other during all of our competitions. I was definitely the slowest runner out of the group but there was so much support and motivation from my team and coach that I never felt left out. I sure do miss those days sometimes…
The point is that it can be very different to tackle a journey others, versus by yourself. As an individualistic society, we like to think that everything we do comes from our own actions, our own thoughts and that only we can get ourselves to where we want. Sometimes we don’t realize that the environment, and the people we surround ourselves with can heavily influence our thoughts and actions.
Even though it is a little harder now during the pandemic to surround ourselves with good company, there are still many ways to do so. You can join a Facebook group, a forum, or start a zoom chat with friends that are looking to get back into shape. I think you’ll see the difference it can make.
Even with working from home, which could give you the extra time, you may still struggle with the motivation to keep fitness and health a priority in your daily life. More than ever, we are seeing the importance of maintaining good health. Personal health can be a life or death matter. Private coaching could very well be for you. It could give you the structured and motivating push that you need. I offer these private coaching lessons either in person, virtually, for individuals or for small groups. I highly encourage you to look into what coaching can do for you. My website could be a good start to helping you make the great future you want for yourself. Book a chat with me. I’m here for you. I know I can help!