I don’t know where I came across this explanation first but it’s not my idea so whoever did, full credit to them.
The vast majority of people we work with are simply looking to get out of a health &fitness rut and simply live higher quality healthier lives.
Some of them don’t have many changes to make to achieve their goals and it’s fairly easy to help them get what they want. Don’t eat as much junk, exercise consistently, drink more water, etc. and they are half way there.
Most of them on the other hand have a longer road to travel and it’s going to take a much bigger effort and time commitment to get to where they want to go. The habits that have become entrenched in their lifestyles have set them back a long way, won’t go away easily and have affected their body much more negatively than the clients I mentioned earlier.
- struggling to get out of bed in the mornings
- Pasted into the couch every evening from fatigue
- Body aching from the effects of processed foods and straining under the excessive amounts of body fat
- Head reeling from dehydration and sleep deprivation
- Lifestyle related medical issues
It’s not a nice place and they want out of it
When it comes to getting out of the rut they are in, there are 3 versions of themselves that all play a part in whether or not they will succeed.
Enter the 3 you’s- past, present and future. Let’s get to know them a bit better.
PAST YOU
This is the fucker responsible for getting you into this position in the first place. all those bad nutrition decisions, skipping on planned exercise sessions, staying up late watching mindless tv, partying 3 nights a week, etc.
While he’s gone and can’t be changed he can still serve as a powerful reminder of why you want to change. The pain of feeling like shit can help you make the tough lifestyle changes that need to be made. When your journey get tough, and it will, past you is your reminder of why you need to keep going. You learn from him/her and grow into the person you want to be.
FUTURE YOU (we’ll get to present you shortly)
While past you is driving you away from the pain, future you is pulling you towards the pleasure of a better self.
- Healthy radiant- glowing like the sun
- Bundles of energy
- Lean, fit and athletic
- Strong and powerful
- Bouncing out of bed in the morning
- Banging out chin ups with ease
- Sexy and attractive
- A role model that others look up to
You mightn’t want all of these things but you definitely want some of them. Getting here would definitely make you happier and give you a better life- LETS GO FORT IT STEVE. WWWOOOHHHOOO!!!!!!!!
One tiny little problem. Future you doesn’t exist. You made him/her up. Future you can’t actually take any action.
He/she is standing way off in the distance screaming to be born(e?) into reality but totally helpless and unable to contribute except as a thought that you have invented.
If you the pain of past you is strong enough, and the concept of future you is strong and alluring enough then you are halfway there.
Enter………….
PRESENT YOU
He/she is in the unfortunate position of the one having to do the work and that’s easier said than done.
You see guys, saying you want to change ‘past you’ is easy until you are faced with the effort of having to actually make those changes in every day life.
Saying you want to be the healthier, fitter and energetic ‘future you’ is very easy until you need to make the changes that ‘future you’ is built upon.
PRESENT YOU has to do all the ACTUAL work for the based on the notion of a better quality life and it’s not easy:
- stop drinking so many fizzies
- Eat more broccoli, carrots and spinach instead of cookies and jambons
- Getting up at 6am for the gym before work on a cold, rainy morning- it didn’t show that in the Youtube fitness videos I watched
- Saying no to the endless torrent of social events that could easily derail you
- Organising babysitters so you can head off to the gym for an hour
- Saying no to the offer of a cigarette on a night out when you’ve been off them for 4 days
Poor ‘present you’. Landed with a monster task but that’s not a valid reason for not doing it.
Starting a task is easy due to the novelty of it but this soon fades. Overhauling your lifestyle os no different. When the going gets tough and the requirements of the task at hand sinks in you need to call on all 3 you’s to succeed.
PAST YOU to drive forward with your goals and remind you that there’s no real quality life waiting for you if you return.
FUTURE YOU to provide you with the promise of a higher quality and more rewarding life if you put in the effort and follow through with taking the massive action required.
PRESENT YOU. The workhorse tasked with doing what needs to be done. Think Frodo Baggins, Neo from the Matrix or Batman.
Now that you’ve met the guys, what do you think of them? Let us know in the comments sections below.
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