If you've ever set some fitness goals and started a new workout routine, only to get frustrated and quit, you're not alone. And the good news is, it might not have been due to a lack of effort on your part. You just might have been missing a critical piece of the fitness results puzzle: The power of people.
There's a study out there showing that loneliness is as detrimental to your wellness as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Following the pandemic, one of the most prevalent marketing words we saw was “together.” We didn’t realize how much we took the “power of people” for granted, and in the wake of social distancing, we were left with exponentially increased rates in addiction, depression and suicide.
We are inherently created to do life with others. Even though our introvert friends will initially raise an eyebrow, even they will admit that being fully alone in life isn’t ideal.
A Personal Reflection on the Power of People
Years ago, before I opened my own gym, I was a Beachbody Coach. My role was to make people healthier by selling them at-home workout programs like P90X, Insanity, etc. I had all the salesy lines:
You don’t have to drive to the gym!
Take it at your own pace.
Workout in whatever clothes you want because no one will see you!
I did the workout programs myself, alone in my living room. No, I didn’t have to drive to the gym. Yep, I could wear whatever I wanted. But it didn't take long for me to realize there was one glaring problem. I was… ALONE. There was no one there to cheer me on, or to high five when we were done. I didn't have a coach to make sure I was moving safely. I didn't have anyone to hold me accountable when I wasn’t feeling it, and just hit “stop” on the DVD player, which I did A LOT.
Beachbody is still around, and now there's a new era: Peloton, Tonal, there's even a personal training mirror thingy.
Same concept, same loneliness. SAMESIES.
What I learned from that experience is that something really cool happens when you surround yourself with people who share your goals and lifestyle: Everyone becomes a better version of themselves than they were the day before. Connections are formed, limitations are conquered, and there are a whole bunch of 'I can't believe I just did that' moments.
One of the special things about this type of camaraderie is that it doesn't matter that everyone has different specific goals. While some people live by the “beast mode” mentality, others are just starting their fitness journey. Both share the same goal of being fitter and healthier today than they were yesterday.
No, they’re not lifting the same amount of weight or rowing at the same speed. But they’re both in the same class together and working toward that shared goal.
Why Community Changes the Game for Your Fitness Results
Only those who've tried to travel a fitness journey alone will truly understand how much a strong community can change the game.
If you're curious or currently exploring options, here are some real-life examples of how the power of people can help you:
- Having a fitness family means people will help you to show up consistently. Simply because they care, they'll pay attention to the days that you come to class, and when you don’t. On those days that you don’t, they’ll ask why and hold you accountable.
- Being surrounded by others will make you push harder. There's a popular saying in CrossFit: "The loudest cheers are for the last to finish.” There’s no man – or woman – left behind in this gym. We’re all in this together.
- Because you’re not going to quit, you’re going to get better results. If the power of the group pushed you to get one more rep in every class, or finish a few seconds faster, those small things add up to big results over time.
- You’ll find real-life testimonials of people just like you who made the commitment, consistently walked through the door and achieved things they never thought they could do.
- And finally, the power of people means having fun. At Legacy Athletics, we like to say, “We take our workout seriously. Ourselves? Not so much.” The different groups in each class time can always rely on each other for support, encouragement and lots of laughs.
So if you’ve tried traveling your fitness journey alone, or if your journey is just beginning, remember that this is a road best traveled with others.
Find a community that shares your values, a culture that pushes you to succeed and one that puts an emphasis on the word “together.”
Ready to get in the best shape of your life? Contact us today to schedule your first free class!
