Health Culture

I generally try to keep my hands clean. I don't really get into internet fights. The only time I ever took a swing was when I saw a well known figure in the strength and conditioning world insult Planet Fitness.

Because here's the thing: fitness industry must have a lot of gall to do this BAD of a job fighting the sedentary lifestyle/obesity crisis while insulting people who go to a gym that's marketed to be beginner friendly.

At the end of the day the biggest obstacle to getting healthy is essentially "gym anxiety." It may not feel this way to you but understand that a gym is nothing more than a building full of anxious people worried about the other anxious people looking at them.

Sure there are some gym rats and some old salts who feel comfortable and confident. But for the most part you're in this with everyone else.

So Planet Fitness may not have squat racks and deadlift platforms and all the toys that the athletes and the cool kids have. But at the end of the day its inviting people into the fitness space. The cool kids should really be embarrassed at how poor of a job they are doing of that.

We are often told that we should sacrifice self-care and relaxation for the sake of exercise and activity. And it is true that a certain level of discipline and sacrifice ARE required for your health. Afterall, we can't get something for nothing. We have to be able to give up SOMETHING in order to prioritize good habits.

And yet, it seems that work is the untouchable, golden-child of our cultural priorities. Everything must be rearranged around our work schedule because God-forbid we alter the work schedule in order to be healthy.

Let me give you a real example: I am lighter and weaker than I have been in years. And this is actually appropriate. It reflects my priorities: 1) My family responsibilities, 2) the success of Health Culture and then in 3rd place is my physical fitness routine.

In fact, it should be noted that while I was going through the Fire Academy my fitness took a dive down to 4th place.

But I've recently caught myself in a bad habit: skipping my workout to get admin and marketing tasks done. Now there may be a voice in your head that says, "Joe, why would you consider that a bad thing. Those tasks need to get done!"

And they do. But here's the thing. I have a computer at home. I don't have maces, sandbags and dumbbells at home. I've recently started to have to play a game called, "Can I do this at home?"

Because in my prioritization of Health Culture over my fitness routine I've forgotten how to work SMART instead of working HARD. I can get on my computer and do the marketing or run the numbers after the kids go to bed. But after I turn the key and finish my work day any chance to stay healthy is gone.

We have to sacrifice and we have to plan in order to prioritize our health. Please don't forget that work isn't immune from these calculations. Your work to stay healthy, you don't stay healthy to work.