Written By: Mario Ashley, MBA, Owner Naples S&C
Growing up, I was the cute short chubby fat kid. I’m grateful for that.
You see unlike many of my athletic friends playing sports, I had to confront diet and exercise at a very early age. It started in middle school where I learned how to cut weight in order to be eligible to play Pop Warner football with my friends.
Don’t get me wrong, I hated it at the time. I had to grow up faster than my peers. I had to learn what it meant to eat healthy. I was forced to limit my portions and even drink Diet Coke.
Now in my mid-30’s I have many childhood friends who are extremely unhappy because they are overweight and out of shape.
I believe the perception of those who don’t work out is that it’s easy for FIT people to workout and eat “right.” Coming from the FIT guy who was the fat chubby kid, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
This places us, the fit people, in a tough position. We want to be able to post about things we are doing in training but if we do it too much it looks like showing off.
You’ll rarely see me with my shirt off, and I seldom boast about my ability to Snatch 225lbs, Deadlift 475lbs, Bench 315, run a mile in 6:45 seconds, and walk on my hands over 100ft (that’s me boasting), because as proud as I am about these accomplishments, I know someone may look at that post and become more depressed about their current situation.
In reality, we are no different. In fact, if I were to stop working out and stop caring about what I put into my mouth, I would turn into the little chubby fat kid again. This time it wouldn’t be so cute.
In reality, we are no different. In fact, if I were to stop working out and stop caring about what I put into my mouth, I would turn into the little chubby fat kid again. This time it wouldn’t be so cute.
I believe it impossible to be entirely fulfilled and happy without some degree of health and fitness. To me, fitness and health are essential in developing ultimate happiness and fulfillment. And the only difference between being fit and being overweight is that fit people DECIDE to make daily positive lifestyle choices. They don’t let emotion, the way they feel, predicate an opportunity to take care of themselves.
They DECIDE to workout today even though they’re tired, even though they’re sore, even though they’re stressed.
They DECIDE to go to the gym because they said they were going to.
They DECIDE to wake up at five o’clock in the morning to workout but it is likely they won’t workout at night.
They DECIDE to make an effort to eat healthy because no amount of exercise can overcome a bad diet.
And for nothing more, they know that those decisions long term will produce lasting benefits that give them the opportunity to have the quality of life we all deserve.
