The First Step to Living a Healthy Life

Spoiler alert: It has nothing to do with working out

Ready? Kinda? Ish?

So, you’re looking to start living a healthy(ier) life. I don’t believe there’s anything more important than taking control of your health, because without your health, what do you have? The quick answer: absolutely nothing.

Getting Started is a 4-Letter-Word.

The hardest part for most people seems to be the “getting started” part. I have talked to a ton of people over the last five years who have told me how long they have been thinking about getting started, or how many years they’ve driven by our gym, and how long it has taken them to walk through our door. I’m sure many of you reading this can relate in one way or another.

It is my hope that by reading this article, we can shorten the gap between the “thinking about” part and the “getting started” part of your healthy lifestyle.

I believe there is one thing you can do today, right now, that will accelerate this process for you. This is going to seem very simple, but remember how important it is not to confuse simple with easy. I just got back home from vacation a few days ago, and while on vacation I read a book called “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.” Yes, that’s the actual Title of the book. If you find some merit from what I am about to go over in this article, I highly recommend you pick up this book. The book is all about taking a counterintuitive approach to living a good life. It is highly entertaining, funny, and, most importantly, the author makes a ton of great points.

One issue the author discusses in the book is the difference between “Fault” vs. “Responsibility.” Most people use these words interchangeably, when they really don’t mean the same thing. For example, let’s say I got hit by a drunk driver while walking down the street, and broke my leg as a result. Is it my fault there was a drunk driver that hit me with his car? Obviously not. However, my broken leg is now my responsibility to deal with on a daily basis.

Let’s transition over to fitness now. Is it our fault that the food industry does not properly label the ingredients in the food they are selling, or that there aren’t any regulations as to how much sugar can be used in certain foods? No, that isn’t our fault. However, it is now our responsibility to deal with it.

It’s time to take control

The first and most important step to living a healthier lifestyle (or really anything you do for that matter) is to take 100% responsibility for where you are, and what it will take to get you where you want to be. Need to lose 20 pounds? Have a gluten intolerance? Diabetic? Lactose Intolerant? These things might not be your fault, but the reality is, they are 100% your responsibility. If you aren’t wiling to take responsibility for where you are at, and the reason(s) behind it, you’re not likely to get started anytime soon. Why? You will find yourself stuck talking about all of those reasons why you are where you are, and paralyze any motivation for getting started at all. You’ll get into the “why bother” mindset instead of accepting responsibility to finding the resources and strategies to get you where you want to be.

So again, the answer to this question is simple, but not an easy pill to swallow. You need to be able to have the mental fortitude to look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that this is your responsibility, and you are going to do what is necessary to start living a healthy lifestyle.