One of the worst things you can do is compare yourself to someone else.

Unfortunately, social media has created a “Culture of Comparison” that’s highly unhealthy … not to mention destructive to your fitness goals.

In this “always-on” world, it’s easy to fall into that trap but know that comparison is almost always unfair in every aspect of life, but certainly regarding health and fitness. And it is highly unnecessary.

Sure, you may see someone who appears to have the “perfect” body or the “perfect” life, but it’s important to remember that social media is not reality. People only post the highlight reel of their lives, not the day-to-day reality.

Those “influencers” with the 6-pack abs who can do pull-ups for days haven’t been on the same journey you’re on. Maybe they don’t have kids, a 9-5 job, endless Zoom meetings, and laundry.

What’s more, even if someone does have the “perfect” body, that doesn’t mean they’re happy or fulfilled. So why compare yourself to someone who may not even be satisfied with their life?

Comparing yourself to others is a surefire way to kill your motivation and self-esteem. So focusing on your health and fitness journey and not comparing yourself to others is advisable.

To get what you want, you need to earn it with YOUR actions … not someone else’s.

So if you are in a rut, and you don’t feel that you are functioning at peak performance, take action and when the opportunity presents itself, walk through that door, even if it is scary and unknown. 

Take me, for example. I leg press 650 lbs, smiling. It was not always like that, though. When I started on the Body Design journey with ♦ Stephen Hercy ♦ AKA Dr Fitness USA, I had so many injuries from dancing that I was afraid to enter the gym and lift anything.

Thirteen years later, I am on top of the world and have no more injuries!

Our students, even those in their late 60s with osteoporosis, are leg press at least 350lbs in a relatively short time! They are strong and confident. 

Do I have a perfect life, the perfect body? Of course not. It’s about the journey. We are all a work in progress as long as we are willing to keep learning and growing.

Why am I saying this? Because you can kill your motivation by comparing yourself to others who started sooner than you and were consistent. 

But you do need to start, if you don’t, you will pay the price.

“Aging diseases start during midlife or earlier and are skeletal muscle diseases. We are trying to fix the wrong problem. Most health issues confronting adults are not from being “overfat” but being “under-muscled.”

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s Overlooked Key To Longevity

Say yes to life

What I did that many people are unwilling to do, is I said YES to the opportunity to transform my life when the opportunity presented itself.

I didn’t say:

• I don’t have any money (even though I didn’t have any money, I was nearly bankrupt, my business had caught on fire, and I had lost everything.
• I don’t have the time (even though I didn’t have the time, I was working around the clock to rebuild my life.
• I’ll start after I catch up with things (even though logically, I should have said that since I owed much money to many people and I was at the end of my rope)

Instead, I said YES

• Yes, to trust the unknown and do something different
• Yes, to a fresh start, even though it was scary
• Yes, to believe and have faith that things will fall into place

There is great value in opening new doors and getting a fresh start, even though it can be scary to walk into the unknown. It can give us a new perspective on life and help us to see things in a new light. It can also let us let go of the past and move on to something better.

I see many people give up before they even begin. But I will guarantee one thing: The longer you wait, the harder it gets!

Youth offers the prime muscle-building opportunity and bones; doing so later in life is still possible but at a fraction of the pace.

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s Overlooked Key To Longevity

 

 

And if you think that JL looks great at 50 years old and that you can look and feel as impressive, understand that she has been consistently strength training, and taking care of her body for years.

It takes time to get there. 

You don’t undo what has set in for the last 30 years in 30 days.

So if you are waiting for more money or time, you are wasting precious time on aging young and robust. For some people, there is no return, no tomorrow. Windows of opportunity do close.

While there are many things you can do to be healthy and age young, if you are not strength training and keeping your body strong, you are missing the number 1 scientifically proven tool for AGING YOUNG.

Don’t believe the social media hype and false promises, don’t compare yourself with anyone, and do the work. 

Start strength training today, not tomorrow The future belongs to those who start today.