Last Updated on December 1, 2022.
How many times have you noticed that you’re out of shape and that things have hit the rock bottom? Perhaps you set the New Year’s goal of getting into shape – only to fail and end up with guilty conscience and self-resentment by March?
Some of our goals are easier to achieve than others. It seems that the most important goals, namely the ones that are health-related, are the most difficult to achieve.
But why is it so?
Why are we able to clean up the garage, but powerless when it comes to getting in shape.
Fitness should be fairly simple. It boils down to exercise and hard work, but still… We somehow always seem to fall behind.
Whether you try it and end up quitting after a few months, or never even start working out in the first place, something always goes awry.
But why is this so? Why do so many people forgo their own health and life, in favor of other things, when there’s so much on the line? Let’s talk about it.
Overview
- Prioritize your health over anything else
- Challenge yourself to learn a new skill
- Adhere to a “no excuses” policy
- Don’t bite more than you can chew! Add new goals gradually
- Start Kickboxing
- #1 It’s Fun, Safe & Efficient
- #2 The Added Health Benefits
- Final Thoughts
You don’t prioritize your health
Let’s face the facts. Nowadays, a lot of us think we don’t have the time to sleep, cook or eat properly. This is something we all convince ourselves at one time or another, but the truth of the matter is, in most scenarios — these are just excuses.
We always have to worry about our job, our house, or family members, placing ourselves at the bottom of the priorities list.
However, the hard truth is that if you don’t take the time, and invest in your health and fitness, you’re not going to have the strength to worry about anything else in the future.
“If you don’t take the time to be healthy…You’re going to have to deal with the problems of being sick” — Sensei Garzillo, TSMA Abington
Realize that nothing is worth losing your health, so consider getting your priorities straight!
You don’t challenge yourself to learn a new skill
Quite often, gyms and workout studios are packed to the rims with people from December, through January. Then, come April, there’s no one to be found.
Whether it’s that the program isn’t interesting or challenging enough, or it’s just too boring and strenuous. And that’s completely fine, as long as you don’t give up and stop working out altogether.
Truth be told, we haven’t experienced much of this in TSMA, as the vast majority of our members tend to fall in love with kickboxing after the first trial lesson.
We plan our sessions to be fun and challenging, so there’s always something to look forward to. Not to mention, you can see your appearance, stamina, and strength improve constantly — which only pushes you to come more and more.
You make excuses
Adopt a no-excuses policy asap!
One of the biggest issues people tend to face on the road to fitness is that they don’t set themselves up for success. They tend to focus on the negatives, such as the things they can’t or won’t do or change, or don’t like.
The solution is to make yourself get (and stay) in the right frame of mind. It’s even better if you have someone that helps you with that. AT TSMA, we don’t accept excuses, and we work on building your inner strength and determination.
You think that getting in shape is more difficult than it is
The most common misconception about getting in shape is that you have to dedicate your entire life to it and become a fanatic. This, understandably, is what turns most people off of working out — as it’s a lot to take in at once.
However, this isn’t the truth. You can try to make small changes in your life, and strive to be better each day until you’ve become the person you’ve always wanted to be.
Start by changing a few meals and working out 2-3 times a week, then go from there. Allow yourself time to adjust, and then add new goals gradually.
Don’t forget that exercise can (and should be) enjoyable! It also doesn’t have to hurt and overtake your life in order to be effective. Otherwise, it will never stick, and you will just end up at the beginning of the vicious cycle time and time again.
Speaking of which, changing your diet doesn’t have to be an awful, bellyache of an experience. While you should cut out the greasy, sugar-filled foods and snacks, there’s plenty of food out there that can benefit your body while satisfying your hunger. Opt for lean proteins such as chicken or turkey meat, egg whites, yams, etc.
Start Kickboxing
#1 It’s Fun, Safe & Efficient
One of the greatest benefits of kickboxing by far is that it teaches you self-defense.
Sadly, this is something people only think about after they’ve been attacked. However, if you enroll in kickboxing now, you will ensure that you can fend for yourself if you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation.
Also, at TSMA, there’s no chance of running into issues you’d encounter in other gyms. Perhaps most notably, you don’t have to fear getting hurt or not making the most of your workout.
Our trainers have many years of experience in kickboxing, as well as a genuine love for it.
Thanks to this, they will always be there to support and push you if need be. And don’t worry, our senseis and other members will be watching you at all times to ensure you don’t get hurt.
Finally, as we mentioned — kickboxing really is fun! It drives and stimulates you while pushing you to your limits. Not to mention, you get to interact with other members and senseis and are constantly learning new tricks and kicks.
If you’re out of shape, you need some fun in the process of getting fit because you want to make sure that you follow trough.
#2 The Added Health Benefits
Unlike any other activity, kickboxing can improve your cardiovascular health significantly. By increasing your oxygen uptake levels, it makes your day-to-day better, while making you healthier in the long run.
Additionally, because it provides the perfect balance of cardio and strength training, it can be highly beneficial for people with MS and similar conditions. This is because kickboxing has been proven to result in improved anticipatory and reactive balance, as well as coordination.
Last but not least, this martial art can make a world of difference to those on the autism spectrum. What’s more, kickboxing, in particular, has shown to be quite helpful with brain health, focus and cognition.
Final Thoughts
As you hopefully know by now, getting in shape doesn’t have to be something that turns your life upside down. On the contrary, if you find an activity that drives you, it can be an incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
If you’re looking for something that will allow you to get in the shape of your life, while making you stronger inside and out — look no further. At TSMA, we have thousands of members whose lives we’ve helped change for the better.
Call 1-800- 52- TIGER, or visit TSK.com to find a school near you and schedule your trial class today! Call 1-800- 52- TIGER, or visit TSK.com to find a school near you and schedule your trial class today!