We lie to ourselves. We know this. And it’s what causes us to cause our own problems. Its not something we do vindictively to ourselves, it’s just something we do as a means to get what we want a little faster, or a little easier. In the end, it just causes us problems.
In this article, I’m writing about the lies we tell ourselves when it comes to working out and staying fit.The lies we tell ourselves when it comes to fitness can go both ways: lies about why we can’t workout and lies about how much we can workout or to what intensity. Both of these lies result in the same thing: not working out. I have told myself both of these kinds of lies, and I am also a product of what it is to stop telling myself these lies.
The Superhero Lies
Lets start with the fun lies we tell ourselves. These lies feel good. These are the lies when we get these great surges of energy and feel like our favorite superhero. My superhero of choice is She-Ra, and if you don’t know her, one of her greatest assets is her strength.
She strong! I love that muscular woman, and when I’m feeling really good, I want to pick up 500 pounds and throw it through the air. Booyah!
Unfortunately, lies like these likely end you up with back pain, or some other muscle strain, and force you to sit it out for a while. Dang it! So much for the booyah.
Sometimes these lies demonstrate themselves a little more subtly, without images of superheroes in your mind. That’s when you tell yourself that the little twinge in your back, ankle, fill-in-the-blank, isn’t really anything to worry about, and then we forge through it. Again, we find ourselves on the sidelines, having to wait till something heals.
Superhero lies are essentially delusions of grandeur, and the subtle superhero lies are only a little less grandiose, they are more along the lines of denying our mortality or at least the limitations of our normal human frames. Both of these lies result in the same thing: we have to stop working out for more than just the one or two days we would have had to do if we would have listened to a little reason.
What to do about it: alright people, you know that when you are hurting you need to take a break. You get these little red flags that go off in your mind and you choose to ignore them. Don’t. Stop that immediately and remember that you really are mere human after all. Sit this one out and come back out the next day.
The Age Lies
I’m feeling this one a little more as each month flies by without me noticing. Oh, the age lies. Now, we can all work out and try to slow down the aging process as much as possible, and I am all for staying fit and healthy until I drop dead at the age of 118. But, we have to face facts here. No matter what age you are, you are getting older. And if you are over thirty and reading this, then you have probably already experienced a little of this.
Now, the age lie is one lie that can go both ways: I’m too old to lose weight, get healthy, lift weights, run a mile, etc. etc, and then the other side of that is, I’m not that old! I can throw down my newly muscled, 40-year-younger nephew in a living-room tussle anytime, anywhere! (true story, but don’t tell my husband I told you!).
Both of these lies are destined to bring you down. One of them quicker than the other.
This chair may be old, but it still works!
This lie of “I’m too old to . . .” is just something you got in your head somewhere, probably from hearing it from your parents, and/or the rest of the aging population. I will never forget the time that I ran my first triathlon, going through the finish line so proud of myself, only to turn around about 15 minutes later and see the 80-something year old man also cross the finish line with his index finger held up in the air–i.e. first place in his age group (never mind that he was the only one in his age group). Now, if you never worked out a day in your life, and you are now 62 years old, don’t expect to get up and go run a triathlon! But don’t also give up on trying to get yourself healthier than you are now. Anything you can do to keep that body moving is going to be good for you.
And then the other face of that lie–the one that leaves you injured because you forgot really, just how old you are and the fact that you don’t have the agility, speed or strength that you had when you were 20. Face facts, age does something to our bodies that we don’t like. But don’t let that get you down in the mouth and sitting on the couch from now until you die. Just keep going at it, being as strong and healthy as your normal human frame will allow you to be. And stop trying to compete with the teenagers and 20-year-olds now that you are over a certain age.
The Time Lies
I got really good at these lies, and at times, I was so good, I didn’t even realize I was lying to myself. I honestly believed that when I told myself I would have time to workout “tonight” that I really would work out “tonight.” Naaaaah. That doesn’t happen.
If you have established a time to workout, then stick to that established time–whether it’s morning, noon or evening that you find to be the best time for you to workout, once you figure that out, stick to it and do it, even if you don’t want to get out of bed, or if you’d rather go home and put your feet up on the couch instead of lift some heavy stuff. You know yourself, and you know the time that works best for you. So don’t listen to that lie you tell yourself. If she comes out and says, “oh don’t worry honey, you can do this tonight instead of now” no matter how darling her voice is, or how convincing she is, you turn your head and call her a bleeding liar to her face and stop listening to her! And then go workout!
Conclusion: Delusion No More
Yep, these lies are just self delusions, no matter how convincing they can be. So stop listening to them. Get honest with yourself, get tough on yourself and be real to who you really are. Know your true limitations and when you are just being a cop out. And keep yourself healthy! Because a healthy life is a whitespace kind of life, and honesty is too.
Go get ‘em!
Wow! I can relate to it all. I had sad all of those lies one time or another. The one that I need to get passed is I’ll do it tomorrow. That little voice has gotten hold off and now it’s time to put it into place… Seriously.
Good for you Susan!! One of these days, I really want to do a walking “tape” or ipod thingy so that I can motivate you while you walk.
I’d love that.
))
And it’s not just workouts – it’s any project that we take on. What, I hear you say, age does not matter when you are engaged in intellectual pursuits? Oh, yes, it does, my memory and my brain are nothing like as nimble as they used to be in my teens or twenties.
Oh, I didn’t say age doesn’t matter–age does make a difference, BUT it doesn’t mean we CAN’T do at least SOMEthing. Right? Your intellectual pursuits may be harder, but you are still doing them, right? Well, you write darn good poetry anyway!! And you missed my dead lift poetry!!
So true! I’m quite okay with not listening to time and age lies but Superhero lie is definitely wandering in my life (and workouts). Many times have I thought “booyah” and ended up skipping workouts for a strain… I hope to learn to stop to this “superhero” in my head
Haha! That doesn’t surprise me about you Victoria.
You should enjoy the superhero lady, but don’t listen to all of it. 
I like to think of the story of Col. Sanders. He was in his 70s being told no repeatedly before he was finally able to start Kentucky Fried Chicken. Excuses and lies are just those things we tell ourselves that keep us from moving forward.
Yeah–that’s a neat story about Col. Saunders. There are actually many people who did great things in the second “half” of their lives. Age should never stop us!!
I so do not want to admit it but I relate to all of this. My goal is to change that and keep it that way this year.
Goals should be SMART. Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. So, take this goal and make it all these things.
This post is plum full of TRUTH!
What I think of:
Superhero Lie –> Most guys in the gym. (is this a masculine thing?)
Age lie –> Mom and Dad( “I’m just too old…” )
Time lie –> Everyone (overconfidence is everywhere)
Thanks, Levi. I also enjoyed your post about injuries, which this one touched on a bit.
Ha! Superhero Lie works on men and women–trust me about this.
I am terribly guilty of the time lie. For instance, I was going to run yesterday morning, but the weather was bad, so I pushed it off to the afternoon…Then I got busy so I pushed it off until this morning…then my running buddy said how about 1:00? I said great…then I got busy…..
Oh my goodness! So many like minds here–thanks for letting me know I am not alone in this.
But, your post motivated me and i went to the gym last night and ran on the treadmill — thanks for the push!
awesome!! And that’s why we blog, right?!! This is the good stuff.
Ohh! I like this post! I know She-Ra syndrome gets me every once in awhile. I have days where I think I can conquer an insane task – or as you mentioned in the time denial an insane AMOUNT of tasks, just to leave myself disappointed and depressed. Thanks for saying what we all are feeling in such a candid manner.
I think you will really like this post I stumbled on the other day:
http://magiaepasta.com/2013/03/01/follow-friday-4-the-myth-of-doing-it-all/
It’s kind of similar to what you’re saying, and I know it really resonated with me!
Thanks Martha! I’m really glad you liked it. And I will take a look at that post.
Great read Bethany! It is a good quality being able to adapt to exercise as you get older…hopefully I don’t have to worry about this yet for a few years, being only 20!
you lucky duck!
Are you making fun of me in here..?
Hurting your back.. hmm.. sounds familiar.. lol
I’m back to super-hero status now though!
But at any rate.. these are great points, and I especially like the, “I’m too old to..” Um, I can probably point out 5-10 ladies that are at least 40 that are rocking their workouts and look better than some 20 year olds!
oh yeah–I can point out many of them too–and to be sure, I will be in that crowd shortly.
And, no, I wasn’t pointing you out in here. Heehee hee!
But I’m glad you are back to super-hero status.
I can so relate to all of this in fact this post could had been written my be I relate to it that much
Haha! Time for you to start THINKING about doing something about it, Jo-Anne. You could take your grandchildren on walks.
I can relate to the time lies in that I give in to putting it off until later. I know I need to make working out a priority, or it won’t get done. Thanks for the kick in the butt!
you are welcome, Crystal!
Wow! What an engaging piece of writing. Loved reading it and it’s so true
Bethany – this is spot on! The worst part is when we really start to believe our lies and let them control us. I like to do pushups in the morning and it never ceases to amaze me that I always do the exact number of pushups I set out to do… Whether it’s a low number or high number!
Yeah, I’ve heard these excuses before. “I’m too old” or “I don’t have enough time”. I go to the gym regularly so I can see through them. I’ve seen 70 year olds working out with weights and lifting more than some 20 year olds. It just takes a little work and determination. The time excuse doesn’t hold up either. When I go to the gym, I only go for 45 minutes. I try not to go any longer than that. That’s really not much time at all. the way I like to put it to people is that all you need to give up is an hour of TV a week to work out. With just that little bit, you can make some progress.
When my fiancee was working on becoming a personal trainer, his instructors told him how to convince clients to pace themselves or not go too crazy. He’s def. seen enough guys try to go superhero and really mess themselves up. Great post, Bethany!
Thanks Jamie–I too have been learning this as I’ve been studying for my personal trainer’s exam.
I love this post Bethany! It’s jam packed with truth and simplicity. I think everyone has told themselves at least one of these lies at one time or another. I loved what you said about age. That people use the age excuse both ways, not just the “I’m too old.” I never thought about the fact that I use the lie of “I’m not old enough to be feeling this way.” I’m definitely going to be checking myself for that one.
Oh wow–I actually never thought of that one–”I’m not old enough to be feeling this way”–at least not as I’m thinking about it now. If we tell ourselves that while we are young, we set ourselves up for accepting feeling “old” when we are old. This is good, Abby. I will be checking myself on that one too. Thanks!