Other gyms are NOT my competition...

​I consistently hear from people about how many gyms there are in my area...I guess people think there are a lot of them. There are a few, I’ll give you that…but a LOT? Well that depends on how you look at it. 
 
The reality is, other gyms are NOT my competition, so I don’t really spend a whole lot of time thinking about it. I know that seems surprising, but I don’t spend a whole lot of time, in fact none, worrying about what other gyms are doing. They are not my competition. 
 
Studies show that less than 21% of people get the recommended amount of daily exercise. And let me tell you, the recommended amount is so low it’s laughable. At Zone we all wear MYZone Heart Rate monitors to give us feedback in class as to how hard we are working. After class we get an email report with a breakdown of our class. When you hit the governments recommended amount of exercise for the week you’ll get a congratulatory email to let you know you hit the mark. I usually get this on Tuesday! I teach a 30-mintue class on Monday, and then, when I do my workout on Tuesday, that will put me over the bar…that bar is low indeed. I’m not bragging, I’m making a point. The bar is low and yet, 21% of us are NOT hitting that mark. 
 
And I don’t have to tell you about cancer rates, anxiety and depression on the incline, diabetes being out of control in adults, kids and even toddlers, and so on. 
 
If you happen to live in the southern United States, there is a stark reality that needs to be addressed; We live in the most obese portion of the world. 
 
If, and it is, the United States is the most obese country in the world, and the southern states are the most obese states in the U.S. then that means we live in a danger zone.
 
You know what that also means? If you are part of the 21% doing something about your health and fitness, you’re weird, you stand out. That means you’re going to be different at nights out with friends. You’re sweet Aunt Betty is probably going to try to stuff you with lasagna every time she sees you. Your friends are going to give you the side-eye when they eat unhealthy food in your presence and they will try to get you to come along. You’re going to have to fend off the office diabetes trap in the break room. You’re going to have different habits that make you look different, and not just physically. I have clients that really struggle with this. It’s not easy swimming against the tide. If you’re a fit-freak (even moderately, or on your way to being a fit-freak) in the southern states, you are going against the current. Keep going! 
 
Like Dave Ramsey says: “You’ve got to live like no one else, so you can live like no one else.” 
(That's not the only thing Dave taught me about fitness....check out this post)
 
So what is my competition? 
 
Mindset. Yep! Mindset!

• The mindset that dups us into thinking you can do it later. You know what? If you fail to save for retirement, maybe you’ll be ok. Maybe you’ll invent something that will make you a fortune in your 70’s. Maybe Aunt Betty is rich and will leave you a little something. Maybe you kick your savings into high-gear and get it done. But what about your health? Use it or lose it. The mindset that says, “I’ll do it when…” is my competition. 
• The mindset that says, “Everyone else then me.” We think we can spend ourselves putting everyone else first and when we get time we’ll work on us. My last blog post on this topic went crazy! If you didn’t read it and you know you need to put yourself on the “to take care of” list, go read it now. It hit home with so many. The mindset that says “I’ll put on everyone else’s oxygen mask first” is my competition.
• The mindset that says, “I can’t afford it” or “I don’t have time for it.” And yes, for most of us this is not an actual time or money issue, it’s a mindset issue. For 99% of us it’s not a matter of lack of time or money, it’s a lack of priorities. Both our bank account and/or our “time account” will tell you exactly what our priorities are. Want a sobering look at what really matters to you? Check either of these “accounts.” Check your bank account for how much you spent on Starbucks last month, or eating out, or junk…or alcohol. And I’m pretty sure most of us have wasted time we could better spend. Mel Robbins had a great little word of advice that I thought was interesting. The premise is that all of us have the same time in a day. You have the same number of hours to get your life done as has every person on the planet who has ever lived…ever. What we choose to do with that time is what dictates our lives. So, when we have the inclination to say we don’t “have the time” for something, instead you need to tell yourself, “That is not a priority to me.” Let that hit home. 
  1. I don’t have time to cook dinner. Reality: Cooking dinner is not a priority to me. 
  2. I don’t have time to work out. Reality: Exercise is not a priority to me.
  3. I don’t have the money for (healthy food, gym membership, etc…). Reality: “It’s just not a priority to me.”

 
Note: We never HAVE time. We MAKE time. 
            
All of this….this is my competition. The mindsets that pull at ALL OF US, myself included, are my competition. I don’t get a free pass, as some would think. I’ve been told I have no excuse for not working out. HA! Oh, I have them. But I also know this…I have NOTHING if I don’t have my health, so I make it a priority. 
 
I saw a video on Facebook that hit home a few weeks ago…sort of went like this…
 
Imagine you made a million dollars…or a billion, doesn’t matter, the amount is a LOT. You decide you’re going to take your whole family on a month-long trip to Tahiti and stay at the most amazing place you could dream of. You have days on end to soak up the sun, read your favorite books and get a massage. As you’re lying on the massage table you start to get a sore throat. Guess what has your full attention now? Among all the beauty, sunshine, and relaxation you can’t get your mind off that sore throat. Your health has your attention. It always will. 
 
Your health will always trump whatever else is going on in your life. You can work to get your child into the best schools or sports but if you’re not there to go do those things with your grandchildren, did you win?
 
Yes, in my part of the world this means you’ll have to work against the grain. You’ll have to be different. You’ll have to make a habit of evaluating your mindset and decide if you’re going to accept your own excuses. The 79% surrounding us will not hold us to the fire. They are part of the problem and misery loves company, right? So, don’t expect them to push you on. Find a tribe that holds you to the fire. Find a fit-family that will be the voice of reality and encouragement. Find a coach that will see this through with you, not let you accept average, and hold you accountable to what you say you want. Are you ready to be part of the solution? Are you ready to make your health a priority? Are you ready to be part of the 21%? 

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Jen Mulford is an entrepreneur, coach, speaker, author and champion for personal freedom. 

Jen is the owner of Zone Conditioning™️, Psycle Zone™️, Psycle Nutrition™️, PsycleCEO™️ authored the book 4-Clean Eating Kick Start, and was honored with the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year award for 2018. Jen enjoys inspiring individuals and groups with her no-nonsense coaching style. ​​

Book a consultation or book Jen to speak to your group: 
Jen@ZoneConditioning.com