A couple times a month I will encounter college-aged guys who will approach me in the gym seeking the secret to “getting ripped.” Also, occasionally at the hardware store etc., someone more of my vintage will say something like, “Can I have some of your muscles?” I would phrase it more correctly as long-term strength and vitality. They approach me wide-eyed looking for “the magic.” I guess they are anticipating insight into taking an anabolic, engaging in hormone replacement therapy, or some other performance enhancing drug protocol. I have been accused of “taking steroids” since probably high school or college (a short cut and a fool’s errand in which I am happy to say I have never engaged). That used to feel like an insult, but I have come to take it as a compliment. It should be of no surprise, It seems as everyone is looking for a magic pill, supplement, device, or exercise that will be their quick and easy path to vibrant health. That is a universal desire and it will never end.
Back in the 1970s, Suzanne Sommers introduced us to the magic bullet of fitness known as the “Thigh Master.” Through the years, we have seen everything from electronic stim for your abs, to shake weights, P90X, the silliness of CrossFit, and more recently GLP-1s. Maybe those things are viable engagement tools or function as some sort of placebo. Hey, if those things work for you, let it rip. There certainly are high-quality dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, workout plans etc. that can be helpful to you in your quest for health. Just be aware that what may appear to be a savior may actually be preying upon you. (Please don’t injure yourself with some misguided CrossFit nonsense, or start using gear and shut down your own testosterone production,… potentially permanently.)
From my point of view, the real secret to long-term vibrant health is finding a way to enjoy living in a manner that enables long-term health and vitality. You should enjoy the training, the learning, preparing the meals, eating in a manner that supports your goals, doing the cardio, etc. Make the journey the destination. You don’t have to be an obsessive gym rat. Maybe you are better off on a bike, swimming in a pool, or running on a trail. Long-term strength and vitality is not a temporary thing or a short-term habit, it’s a lifestyle. The fact is that you can only live that way if it is sustainable and it is something that you truly enjoy. The good news is that your body is a very resilient and adaptive machine. Also, living the fitness lifestyle can be far superior to the other ways of living. You don’t need to suffer extreme dieting punctuated by cheat meals or other short-term fixes. Once you start to dial-in your lifestyle you will wonder how you could have lived your previous ways or eaten that other garbage for so long.
Reset your mind and view your next 6 months as a step in the right direction on your progression towards vibrant health. Also, know that you can and should enjoy all of it. Then the following 6 months can be yet another step in that progression. Enjoy all of it. Then refine your fitness passion and rinse and repeat forever.
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