Fitness Isn’t Luck: Guest Blogger Michael Richeson
This is a guest blog entry from my good friend Mike Richeson. Mike is one of the more intelligent humans I know who possess talent in several areas of life…. let’s just say that Mike doesn’t suck at life! His blog isn’t necessarily a fitness blog but more of a life blog. Check it out and enjoy his skill of beautiful photography.
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The other day, a friend of mine said, “You’re so lucky you’re healthy.” Given some of the context of the conversation, she was correct. I haven’t been put down because of some terrible disease, and I haven’t been banged up in a car accident. I’m very lucky in that regard. Part of the conversation was just health and fitness in general, though, and I tend to use those terms interchangeably. Yes, there’s a difference between health and fitness level, but fit people are generally healthier. They’re also more useful and harder to kill. (I love Mark Rippetoe for that quote.)
I’m always amazed at people who think fitness is an accident or some kind of cosmic gift. Or that struggling up a flight of stairs is just their bad luck of the draw rather than a lifetime of Nintendo and doughnuts. Sorry, but fitness isn’t “luck,” and it isn’t accidental. I’ve trained with lots of people I consider superheroes, and they work their butts off. They make choices and exercise some discipline. Because of that, they can live what I consider much fuller lives.
If you want to play games of luck, try craps or Russian Roulette. If you want to get fit and enjoy the pleasures only the active can experience, well, you’re going to have to stop making excuses and get off your ass.
Go work out!
Absolutely, fitness is not luck, requires discipline and hard work but the rewards and increased quality of life in the way you feel and react to whatever situation you may be in, make it more than worth the effort. Both physical and mental well being are the product of a fit and healthy body and something that can be achieved by most of us. So give up the excuses, educate yourself on how to go about it and reap the rewards!