Do you remember when the internet was called the “Information Super Highway?” Does anyone say that anymore? Well, the point is that you have more information you will ever need at your fingertips. We live in an age of information overload. That includes fitness and nutrition.
Online fitness programs, online advertisements for fitness programs, diet programs, diet and fitness trends . . . It’s all everywhere you look. And, they all promise fast and easy results. Do this and you will lose 20lbs in 3 weeks. Do this and you will get in shape in only 10 minutes a day.
And yet, 40% of the US population is obese and 70% are overweight. So, what’s missing? If it is so easy and fast to lose weight and get in shape, why aren’t those numbers better? For one, the messaging isn’t right. Diet trends can tell you everything you want to know about gluten, keto, fasting, and macro counting. However, none of them talk about energy expenditure, proper calorie intake for activity, or eating behavior. Diet and fitness trends are not the same as nutrition and training.
CrossFit is different! If you look around for transformations, CrossFit will pop up everywhere. It isn’t fast and easy, but it is insanely effective.
Here’s the secret
CrossFit is a lifestyle program that puts forth the key tenets to behavior change. For someone to be successful in making and sustaining a health change in their life, the program needs to provide the following:
- Continuous monitoring from self and others: We track our results, we compare to see progress, and coaches help us move forward.
- Internal and external motivation: Seeing change drives more change and when people cheer for us, our motivation is at a high.
- Self-defined and externally defined goal setting: Goal review sessions and Coach’s Corner help keep you focused on progress. Coaches keep you on track and help give you new goals to achieve.
- Enduring intrinsic and extrinsic challenges: i.e. OVERCOME ADVERSITY
What you find online, and outside of CrossFit, relies heavily on your ability to self-regulate and motivate. Some people can do this. However, as we saw during quarantine, most of us need others to help.
