People are very different.
In the last month I had two conversations that proved it, even though both people said the same phrase: “Life is short.”
In one conversation, someone was fired up to make a change:
“Life is short… why not get in the best shape of my life and look and feel as good as I possibly can?”
In the other, someone said almost the opposite:
“Life is short… why stress about what I’m eating or spend hours a week torturing myself with exercise? I’d rather just enjoy my food and my time.”
Neither perspective is wrong. It’s just interesting that the same belief – life is short – can lead to completely opposite actions.
My job, of course, is to convince people that they can and should exercise.
For the person who says, “Life is short, why exercise?” my response is simple:
Your life is likely to be longer and better if you do.
Even if you still eat pizza, drink alcohol, and enjoy dessert more often than the nutrition books recommend, exercise is still a huge positive. It will always move your health in the right direction compared to doing nothing.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably already an “exercise person.” So when a friend says, “I’m just not an exercise person,” you don’t need to argue with them.
But you can gently challenge what they picture when they hear the word “exercise.”
Exercise does not need to be torturous. It can look like:
- 2–3 short, focused workouts per week
- Being guided by a coach so you don’t have to think
- Using weights that feel challenging but not crushing
- Taking breaks, laughing, and actually enjoying the session
- Walking out feeling better than when you walked in
Over time, those types of workouts lead to things like:
- Not getting winded walking up a few flights of stairs
- Moving furniture or carrying groceries without worrying about your back
- Feeling everyday activities get easier instead of harder with age
That’s what we’re really chasing.
So if you know someone who’s proudly “anti-exercise,” you don’t have to convince them today. Just let them know that if they ever change their mind…
A little bit of exercise can go a very long way.
– James Pratt