No matter how determined you are, you end up not being able to stick to a fitness routine. Other demands take so much time and energy that the last thing you want is to do a boring workout.
You are not alone. No time, no fun: these are top reasons people stop working out.
But don't we know better?
Don't we know that not everything in life is fun; that's where delayed gratification and self-discipline come in? Don't we also know that "no time" is an excuse because we find time for what is important to us, and what is more important than our health and well-being?
Shouldn't we be able to just grit our teeth and do it?
We end up beating ourselves up and give up, that is, till the next January when the exuberance of a new year buoys us again.
Rinse. Repeat.
Everybody knows yo-yo dieting is bad but yo-yo exercising is equally so. But what can we do?
No matter how determined you are, you end up not being able to stick to a fitness routine. Other demands take so much time and energy that the last thing you want is to do a boring workout.
You are not alone. No time, no fun: these are top reasons most people stop working out.
But we know better, don't we? We know that not everything in life is fun; that's where delayed gratification and self-discipline come in. We also know that "no time" is an excuse because we find time for what is important to us, and what is more important than our health and well-being?
We should be able to grit our teeth and just do it, right?
We end up beating ourselves up and we give up, that is, till the next January when the exuberance of a new year buoys us again.
Rinse. Repeat.
Everybody knows yo-yo dieting is bad but yo-yo exercising is equally so. But what can we do?
And I know all about yo-yo exercising. For years, if my exercise routine was interrupted, it would take enormous willpower and a long time to re-establish it.
Until I started Tae Kwon Do.
It is the only activity that has kept me working out consistently.
The Reason?
Martial arts engaged my mind.
It wasn't boring and repetitive; 5 minutes did not feel like 50. In fact, it was often the other way round. I did not have to give myself stern talks when it came time to work out. I never once assigned higher priorities to cleaning bathrooms or reorganizing pantries.
It is true even now. I don't practice martial arts because it is good for me. I practice because I want to. I am not motivated by the idea that exercising is necessary but rather by interest and desire, and interest and desire trump obligation and willpower every time.
And I know all about yo-yo exercising. For years, if my exercise routine was interrupted, it would take enormous willpower and a long time to re-establish it.
Until I started Tae Kwon Do.
It is the only activity that has kept me working out consistently.
The Reason?
Martial arts engaged my mind.
It wasn't boring and repetitive; 5 minutes did not feel like 50. In fact, it was often the other way round. I did not have to give myself stern talks when it came time to work out. I never once assigned higher priorities to cleaning bathrooms or reorganizing pantries.
It is true even now. I don't practice martial arts because it is good for me. I practice because I want to. I am not motivated by the idea that exercising is necessary but rather by interest and desire, and interest and desire trump obligation and willpower every time.
You do not lack willpower.
Recall times in the past when you were able to employ strong discipline and ended up succeeding in something that made you proud. Why then does it not work in exercising?
If you look at those past successes, you would find a fascinating subject, or a cause that aligned with your values, or deep satisfaction in the work. In other words, your motivation was an intrinsic enjoyment or fulfillment in the pursuit itself, not just an external idea about its benefits.
If you merely tolerate running or lifting weights because they are good for you, willpower is not going to cut it. It needs support from the following:
The first makes you want to do it. The second offers something you can control more easily than feelings: scheduling, finding an accountability partner, singing up for an event.
It's the same for your children: they have willpower as well. Just observe how they deal with hunger and sleep deprivation when they are in the middle of doing something they love. This does not apply only to video games, but also to topics or projects at school.
They need the same ingredients as we do: the combination of intrinsic motivation and an environment conducive to building good habits.
Daily living requires a lot of willpower. Don't overtax it and then blame yourself for being weak. Find something engaging and enjoyable.
You do not lack willpower.
Recall times in the past when you were able to employ strong discipline and ended up succeeding in something that made you proud.
You do not lack willpower.
Why then does it not work in exercising?
If you look at those past successes, you would find a fascinating subject, or a cause that aligned with your values, or deep satisfaction in the work. In other words, your motivation was an intrinsic enjoyment or fulfillment in the pursuit itself, not just an external idea about its benefits.
If you merely tolerate running or lifting weights because they are good for you, willpower is not going to cut it. It needs support from the following:
The first makes you want to do it. The second offers something you can control more easily than feelings: scheduling, finding an accountability partner, singing up for an event.
As for your children: they have willpower as well. Just observe how they can deal with hunger and sleep deprivation when they are in the middle of doing something they love. This does not apply only to video games, but also to topics or projects at school.
They need the same ingredients as we do: the combination of intrinsic motivation and an environment conducive to building good habits.
Daily living requires a lot of willpower. Don't overtax it and then blame yourself for being weak. Find something engaging and enjoyable.
Even though I grew up around martial arts through my brothers' training and popular culture, I had a number of misconceptions about it:
Untrue.
Maybe these are the same beliefs you have absorbed unknowingly as well. Maybe you have discounted martial arts for you and your family based on these misconceptions.
Try it for yourself. Give Axon Martial Arts Academy a call. Come with an open mind.
970-310-5519
Tae Kwon Do trains the whole body to work together. You improve your balance, preconception, flexibility, mobility, strength, and reflexes, all necessary for optimal living.
As great as martial arts is at training the body, it is even better at training the mind. From day one, you'll notice how much focus is emphasized. Over time, consistent practice will sharpen your mental clarity.
One of the hallmarks of marital arts is respect. Respect shown to others creates a strong community. Respect for self is the foundation for wise life choices and the resultant successes.
Beyond the confidence from knowing you are physically strong is the confidence about who you are: someone who overcomes, who persists, who has so much potential a lifetime wouldn't be enough to uncover it.
Advancing through the ranks makes sure you optimize your time- and task-management. The inevitable obstacles such as difficult techniques will push your resourcefulness to new levels.
Students learn best when given clear instructions within a positive environment. You won't find any warped, so-called tough-love tactics here. We build up, not tear down.
Being intentionally small, Axon Academy can build a strong community for parents to support one another and for kids to grow up with friends within a stable community.
At Axon, we seize every setback as a learning opportunity. We work hard to foster a sense of wonder and humility as we look at what we can learn and do.
Axon Academy welcomes everyone in the family to train together because it creates opportunities for families to strengthen their bonds and create memories.
To receive this honor in our first year of operation is incredibly encouraging. Thank you, Northern Colorado!
"Mrs. Chong always teaches with kindness, patience, and respect. She is flexible and accommodating with the method of teaching. She is a wealth of knowledge. I am so grateful for the time I had with her as my teacher."
— Jordan Clutter
Fort Collins
"My son and I have benefited greatly from Mrs. Chong's instruction in martial arts over the past decade. She has an uncanny ability to pinpoint areas of technique and to demonstrate and explain exactly how to improve them."
— Kathy Sigda
Fort Collins
440 N Lincoln Ave.
Loveland, CO 80537
(Inside the Loveland Dance Academy)
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