STOP WASTING MONEY ON GYM MEMBERSHIPS

“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”

– Dwayne Johnson

It has been estimated that over 60 million people have an active membership at one of the 36,000+ fitness centers/health clubs in the United States. Yet, the data suggests that only 50% of individuals actual utilize the memberships, and the remaining 50% (approximately 30 million people) only average 100 visits per year. That equates to eight visits per month and two visits per week, assuming the individual(s) were consistent across the course of a year, and taking into account two weeks of vacation, during which few people are willing to exercise.

Two Times Per Week

Have you ever achieved mastery at any skill by only practicing two times per week? Have you ever achieved any significant goal, in a reasonable amount of time, by only devoting 60 minutes a day, two days per week? If those sound like ridiculous questions with obvious answers, then we are getting somewhere. In order to achieve your goals and find success, you must be willing to work. You need to be patient, consistent, love the process, and prioritize the habits and behaviors that will lead you to the “prize”. Otherwise, in five years, you will find yourself in exactly the same circumstances that you’re in now.

Patience and the Process

We are in the “Generation of Now”. Everyone wants progress, results, and success NOW! Few people understand the value of patience, hard work, and loving the process. This is especially true in the world of health and fitness. Everyone wants the quick fix. Regardless the goal, people want results yesterday. Virtually everyone that walks into an LA Fitness, Orange Theory, or CrossFit affiliate has a specific goal in mind, they want to achieve that goal in record time, and they believe the trainers have a magic program or supplement to make that happen. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula. The only way to achieve your health and fitness related goals is sustained, consistent effort. You have to love the process; you have to enjoy training, eating well, and working hard, and you have to be patient.

Consistency

As it relates to health and fitness, regardless the goal, you’re going to have to show-up, sell-out, and repeat. You’ll have to do this day after day, after day, after day. Depending on the goal, you’ll have to continue this process for weeks, months, and even years. Do you honestly believe that 20 minutes on the elliptical and a full-body split routine, or CrossFit classes, or Barry’s Bootcamp, twice per week will produce to any substantial results? Two hours of exercise per week won’t even counteract the number of hours you spend sitting at your desk or the additional calories you eat and drink at Happy Hour on Friday.

Unless You’re Willing to Work, You’re Wasting Your Time and Money

If you truly want to lose 10-20 pounds, improve health markers, reverse Type II diabetes, or simply look better naked, you have to prioritize your training and nutrition. You’ll have to modifying current behaviors, and ultimately adopting a new lifestyle. You’re going to have to exercise four, five, and even six times per week, eat well, be active, and possibly even find some new, like-minded friends willing to support your efforts. In the end, it really comes down to consistent hard work. You have to put in the effort!