The same rules that helped us as kids like seeing things through and not eating our vegetables still apply today. Inside a great gym, those values show up everywhere. In the coaches, in the community, and in the built in support to keep going even when it is tough.
Most of us grew up hearing a lot of the same advice from our parents.
Eat your vegetables. If you fall down, get back up and don't complain. Simple rules for kids that also work well for adults.
And then there's this one.
Maybe not as common, but a rule that I've heard many parents use as a way to both instill discipline or to teach their children the importance of commitment. For some reason we seem to forget about this one as we get older because we only associate it with childhood team sports.
As a kid, this rule teaches resilience. As an adult, it might just save your life.
You can play whatever sport you want with one condition.
You can't quit until after the season is over.
So how and why can this one be beneficial as we get older?
Keep reading.
'Eat Your Vegetables'
Most kids don't like veggies. Nothing new there. I personally didn't like brussel sprouts until I was 40. Our parents made us eat them because they're nutritious. It was mostly about doing something that’s good for you even when you don’t feel like it. Also, in my case, not wasting food. As adults, we chase every possible shortcut, but we ignore the basics. We know what healthy food is. We know we need to sleep well and avoid stress. It’s not a mystery. The hard part isn’t knowing what to do, it’s the doing part that most people struggle with.
“If you fall down, get back up.”
As kids we all fell off of our bikes many times. This didn't cause us to stop riding them altogether. Any physical activity worth doing is going to lead to a few bumps along the way. One bad deadlift in the gym or a rough day at jiu jitsu because you didn't tap soon enough shouldn't be the reason to stop something forever. The more you ride your bike, the less likely you are to fall. Over time, you also get better at lifting weights properly. One of the reasons we couldn't imagine not riding our bikes is because riding them meant we were with our friends. It's the same when you're a member of a great gym.
"Stop Complaining"
Also “whining,” which, according to my father, was my preferred communication style when I was a kid. When it comes to exercise, complaining is nothing more than a crutch. Not everything is going to be perfect. Some days are better than others. And you're not going to like every CrossFit workout. In fact, they're all kind of terrible one way or another if you're doing it right. Avoiding and/or complaining about takedown day at BJJ isn't going to help you get any better either. Might as well be the type of person we want our kids to be and suck it up.
But the big one. The simple rule I think so many adults could benefit from the most.
When you decide to try something out, you absolutely cannot quit until the season is over.
A season lasts roughly 3 months.
No matter what. If you signed up for a team as a kid, you played until the season ended. It didn’t matter if you struck out every time you stepped up to the plate or rode the bench only to play right field for 3 innings. Whatever the sport, it may very well not be your thing. But when you're part of a team, it's not just about you. Quitting before the season is over not only hurts the team, it is also disrespectful to the coaches and staff. Finish out the season, then move on and try something else.
Now apply that same logic to your next gym membership. Walk into any Gym Force facility and you'll find many similarities to team sports. Coaches that love to coach, and members and staff that are there to help as great teammates tend to do. The best part about it is that everyone gets the same amount of playing time and nobody cares how bad you are. It's not about winning anymore, but simply playing the game. But you need to stick it out until the season is over no matter what. And if you don't like it, at least you gave it an honest effort.
Regarding the importance of being a part of a team: I recently heard an interview with General Stanley McChrystal. Immediately after he retired, the first thing he did was start a company. He started this company without any idea of what kind of business it would be. He didn't start with a business plan. His first priority was putting together a team. I don't remember the exact quote, but it was something like, “We all need a jersey to wear.”
Do yourself a favor and skip the churn-and-burn type gyms, especially as a beginner. It's no fun forcing yourself to work out alone for 3 months at a Planet Fitness even if you know what you're doing. And it makes just about as much sense as solo soccer or chasing down your own hits on the baseball field. The only thing resembling a team in Planet Fitness are the staff with their matching purple shirts all with the same goal of selling as many non-attendance memberships as possible.
It's time to be a kid again. Get started with Gym Force and join one of their teams. Play for a full season. Eat your vegetables and if you get hurt, don't complain. Simply get back up and try again.
And no talking back!