Exercise potato!
Goal_Seeker_1988
Posts: 1,619 Member
(I found this on Discovery Health and wanted to share this with everyone.... I see alot of this, I am a regular gym goer and see people there every day that haven't had a success)
Are you an Exercise Potato?
Recently, while we were speaking at a fitness conference (ACE Fitness Symposium), my friend Chris McGrath and I were talking about people.
Specifically, we were talking about the kind of people who exercise 2-3 times a week but outside of their structured exercise plan, they are inactive most of the rest of the time.
It's almost as if the "check is in the box" for exercise and once it is, movement can be minimized the rest of the day.
We call this type of person an "Exercise Potato." Someone who exercises, but outside of exercise time, is pretty much a couch potato.
This is a deceptively dangerous way to live. When movement becomes a task that you "have to" do instead of a natural part of life, it sets up a dangerous pattern.
•Once you've exercised, you might "treat" yourself to a doughnut at the office, a candy bar, or some other treat that only popped into your head because you exercised and now you deserve a reward (most rewards don't undo the benefits of the achievement.)
•Once you've exercised, you sit more often the rest of the day now that you have the workout out of the way. Recent news stories have made the message clear that if you sit a lot, it raises your mortality risk - even if you exercise.
•Once you've exercised, you feel like you "got it out of the way." This leads to being only one step away from stopping your exercise program. You never find exercise or movement enjoyable enough to do it for it's own sake. As a result, every workout takes an impressive display of willpower to once again force yourself to do something you know you should be doing.
How can you spot an Exercise Potato?
This is probably the person who "goes to the gym," but never makes any progress.
And they might frequently comment that they "workout, but can't seem to control their eating."
They might workout "consistently" but not at an intensity that is enough to get results.
They also might have tried a lot of diet plans/pills/quick fixes because deep down, they'd really not bother with the hassle, sweat and time drain of exercise.
And they often toil away in isolation rather than enjoy the blessing of movement with loved ones.
Is there hope for an Exercise Potato?
(What do you think I'm going to say?) Of course there is! All it takes is one step in the direction of having physical activity become more a part of your life instead of something you get out of the way.
Ask yourself this one question: "What would I do differently right now/today if a miracle happened overnight and I woke up fit, feeling energetic, and feeling great in my body?"
In other words, what would you do today if all the negatives and obstacles were out of the way? How would you spend your time? What simple things in day-to-day life would be different for you?
Now, can you start to connect that mental image with letting movement spill over into the other 23 hours of your day and not just the one hour of your exercise program?
Focus on the solutions rather than the problems and it can powerfully shift mindset.
Are you an Exercise Potato?
Recently, while we were speaking at a fitness conference (ACE Fitness Symposium), my friend Chris McGrath and I were talking about people.
Specifically, we were talking about the kind of people who exercise 2-3 times a week but outside of their structured exercise plan, they are inactive most of the rest of the time.
It's almost as if the "check is in the box" for exercise and once it is, movement can be minimized the rest of the day.
We call this type of person an "Exercise Potato." Someone who exercises, but outside of exercise time, is pretty much a couch potato.
This is a deceptively dangerous way to live. When movement becomes a task that you "have to" do instead of a natural part of life, it sets up a dangerous pattern.
•Once you've exercised, you might "treat" yourself to a doughnut at the office, a candy bar, or some other treat that only popped into your head because you exercised and now you deserve a reward (most rewards don't undo the benefits of the achievement.)
•Once you've exercised, you sit more often the rest of the day now that you have the workout out of the way. Recent news stories have made the message clear that if you sit a lot, it raises your mortality risk - even if you exercise.
•Once you've exercised, you feel like you "got it out of the way." This leads to being only one step away from stopping your exercise program. You never find exercise or movement enjoyable enough to do it for it's own sake. As a result, every workout takes an impressive display of willpower to once again force yourself to do something you know you should be doing.
How can you spot an Exercise Potato?
This is probably the person who "goes to the gym," but never makes any progress.
And they might frequently comment that they "workout, but can't seem to control their eating."
They might workout "consistently" but not at an intensity that is enough to get results.
They also might have tried a lot of diet plans/pills/quick fixes because deep down, they'd really not bother with the hassle, sweat and time drain of exercise.
And they often toil away in isolation rather than enjoy the blessing of movement with loved ones.
Is there hope for an Exercise Potato?
(What do you think I'm going to say?) Of course there is! All it takes is one step in the direction of having physical activity become more a part of your life instead of something you get out of the way.
Ask yourself this one question: "What would I do differently right now/today if a miracle happened overnight and I woke up fit, feeling energetic, and feeling great in my body?"
In other words, what would you do today if all the negatives and obstacles were out of the way? How would you spend your time? What simple things in day-to-day life would be different for you?
Now, can you start to connect that mental image with letting movement spill over into the other 23 hours of your day and not just the one hour of your exercise program?
Focus on the solutions rather than the problems and it can powerfully shift mindset.
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Replies
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Interesting article! Thanks for sharing!0
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Interesting.
I'm kind of an exercise potato..... I do think of when I go to the gym as "getting it out of the way", and am very sedentary the rest of the day (hooray the life of a college student). But, I don't "reward" myself with food for going to the gym, I've been eating tons better, etc. I don't really like going to the gym, but don't hate it either. I like the feeling AFTER I've got it done but hate doing it, and I'll probably always feel that way. But I go 5-6 times a week so that's definitely more than the average "exercise potato" I'd think0 -
Hey stop talkin' 'bout me! LOL, jk! I agree! I read somewhere once that if your dog is fat you're not exercising enough... love that! I think people forget that simple things like throwing a frisbee or playing outside with your kids are forms of exercise. They are certainly not grueling tasks either! On the contrary, they don't only force your body to move and work, they clear your mind too. The world would be a much happier, healthier place if we'd all just slow down from our busy lives and do enjoyable things on a regular basis. Excercise and eating proper foods should not be a task, rather an enjoyable lifestyle! It's what we were made to do!0
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First of all, thank you for sharing! When I was reading this, one question popped into my mind. What about those who have relatively sedentary jobs? They tend to sit the majority of their work day.0
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First of all, thank you for sharing! When I was reading this, one question popped into my mind. What about those who have relatively sedentary jobs? They tend to sit the majority of their work day.
That's why they have desk workouts. You can find them on the internet. But, it's mainly referin to the fact that there are ppl who think it's okay to workout for an hour (and the fact is they don't even push themselves) then they go home and watch tv for the rest of the day.0 -
This is a very interesting and true! I keep a set of hand weights under the coffee table and when I watch TV, I do arm exercises or push-ups/sit ups during the commercial breaks.
It's the only way I don't feel guilty for wasting an hour or two on the couch!0 -
This is a very interesting and true! I keep a set of hand weights under the coffee table and when I watch TV, I do arm exercises or push-ups/sit ups during the commercial breaks.
It's the only way I don't feel guilty for wasting an hour or two on the couch!
That's great! I am a CNA and on my days off, after I workout I clean. So I stay busy. However, I get two days off a week so on the second day that I have off I don't have as much to do. So while I am watchin TV I march in place or do side twist. Even just standin while watchin your favorite show will burn more calories than just sittin. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with relaxin we all need to do that. However, there are 7 days in a week and you only need 1 rest day
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