During the 70’s there’s was a bodybuilding boom. Weight lifting came into vogue and every guy wanted to look like Arnold. Then came the aerobics revolution. Cable networks would air them every day at a specific hour, or you could buy the VHS tapes that made a lot of people multi-millionaires. Now we have the CrossFit revolution, spinning classes like Peloton and Soul Cycle, and the old fashioned gym memberships.
Fads have engrained in us that you need special equipment, in a special place, during a specific period of time to get fit. Trends have sold us that we need six packs and shredded legs to feel good.
Furthermore, modern life has a tendency toward more and more comfort: food delivered straight to our homes, supermarket shopping done for us, automated cars that will take us right to the door of wherever we’re going, and unlimited entertainment that gives us little reason to leave our living rooms.
Here’s where it gets dicey. Modern life also demands more productivity from us. Longer work days, restless work weeks and soul-sucking commutes are the norm. Work has taken over your every waking hour.
It’s not surprising that over 90% of people quit the gym after 3 months. Only about half that remain go regularly. Over 50% of Americans don’t get the minimum required daily exercise. And how could they? The system is rigged against you!
If the only way to be healthy is to make time to hit the gym, but your work life is so stressful that all you want to do during breaks is get comfortable (to reduce stress)—no wonder so many people aren’t getting the exercise they need!