By Kevin Myles


As men, we are all too often victims of our own mentality. We don’t like to do something unless we’re good at it. It is a lot better to look good on the basketball court than to make a fool of our selves trying to play tennis for the first time. Even though with time and practice we have the ability to improve, we would much rather stay in our comfort zone. In fact, if the basketball skills were ever to fade, most of us would just sit around and talk about how great we used to be, as opposed to dealing with how poor we’ve become. The problem with this mentality is that it locks us into old habits and keeps us from new experiences. Sadly enough, when it comes to our health and fitness, this kind of mentality can get us killed. 

There is a fitness crisis in the world today and it certainly is not limited to women. More men than ever before are overweight and out of shape. The pursuit of a fitness lifestyle is a perfect example of the all-or-nothing male mentality at work. Generally speaking, men are either totally involved in working-out and fitness to the point of near obsession, or are completely disinterested. For those of you who are into exercising regularly and eating right… great. You are already experiencing the benefits, which include; increased health and vitality, greater energy and libido, improved self-confidence, and a greater resistance to disease and the effects of aging. For those who have not been able to adopt a fitness lifestyle as of yet, it can easily seem like an overwhelming and somewhat intimidating task. “When will I find the time, where should I go, and will I get the results I want?” are usually the questions that are racing through our minds. Add to that the fact that our male mentality keeps us from wanting to enter any situation we haven’t yet mastered and it’s easy to understand why many of us never get started. Well, my friends it’s time for us to make a change. 

Our need to be fit and healthy has to become greater than our desire to protect our ego if we want to be able to reap the full benefits of what life has to offer. The ability to live a quality and productive life, and seize all available opportunities, is greatly dependant upon our health. We can’t afford to allow anything to stop us. This doesn’t mean that we have to turn ourselves into the next Mr. Olympia. We just need to develop our own personal fitness goals and incorporate their pursuit into our lives. We don’t need to be Duane “The Rock” Johnson or L.L. Cool J. At the same time, we don’t want to be unable to look down and see our shoes. We all have an idea of what our own personal physical perfection would be. It’s really just about trying to become an improved version of our selves. 

Whatever actions it takes to reach your fitness goals should be implemented starting today. Whether it’s cleaning up your diet, joining a gym, or simply becoming more active, you need to start investing quality time and energy into yourself and the activities that will help create the best possible life for you. You owe it to yourself, your family, and your future, to take better care of yourself. 

You might be surprised to learn how very little exercise time it really takes to get into great shape. Just three days a week of no more than an hour a day can do wonders. Whether you join a gym or exercise on you own, is totally a matter of preference. Most gyms will allow you a trial period to check them out before joining. To get around that feeling of being out of place, you may want to hire a personal trainer initially to get you started off right. But even if you decide to go it on your own, don’t let those typical male feelings of always wanting to be the best at everything we do keep you from entering into a new environment. Even though you are only beginning, your journey may be a lot shorter than those who started before you if you really spend your time well. Moreover, if you are worried about not being physically on the level of the regulars, fear not. Nobody starts off in fitness with his or her ideal physique. It is something that is constantly being improved upon, and is obtained over time. Besides, most people who frequent gyms will be too concerned with what they look like to give much attention to what you look like. 

I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that you can eat everything you want and reach all your fitness goals. There is a definite relationship between the way you eat, and the way you look. In order to improve, you can expect to have to make some changes. This doesn’t mean that you can never again enjoy all of your favorite foods. It simply means that you must remain constantly aware of your eating habits, and structure your overall diet in a way that allows you to make improvements at the rate you desire. 

The pursuit of a fitness lifestyle involves a small investment in time and effort that pays big dividends in appearance, health, and quality of life. It doesn’t require that we compete with anyone but ourselves in order to achieve success. Don’t let a fear of the unknown, or an all-or-nothing mentality, keep you from starting down the road to a better, longer, and healthier life.