Fitness Longevity Tip: Train for Yourself, Not for Others

Have you read the blog image? I’ve seen that sort of thing a lot. Five years after a major and restricting injury is one thing, how about 10, 15, 20 years? Why work so hard on racking the weights and appearing strong (ultimately to impress others) when you are the only person with the power to preserve the one body you have? Group exercisers often push beyond the safe limits of pain (with excessive reps or weight) due to peer pressure and the desire to impress others around them. Once someone sustains a serious injury, the question is, was it worth it? Were those people worth it? Or are you more valuable?

It is my belief and observation that people who join group exercise classes need that group support in order to be consistent with exercise and push themselves, for accountability — what will they say if I stop showing up? kind of thing. Not only is group exercise inferior to individualized training, because it issues out blanket training regimes (with few modifications, if offered) to the entire group, but group exercise often leads to injury. This is because the average person cannot effectively fight peer pressure. If everyone is lifting heavy (even if their form/execution is deplorable) they must lift heavy too. Group exercise is like a middle school gym class, often laughable, and headed by someone with a minor education in fitness.

Thanks to my education and experience as a personal trainer, it has always been very clear to me that the best way for anyone to take care of their body and reach their goals is through individualized training. So, avoid the injuries. Avoid the peer pressure. Avoid the hyped-up CrossFit and boot camp culture. Find an experienced and knowledgeable personal trainer who can write an individualized routine based on your current physical condition, health, and goals. Or, educate yourself as I have. As a broke single mom, I couldn’t afford a trainer, so I became my own. Look to professional institutions and professional coaches for educational material, and focus on individualized training — for your long-term fitness.

Individualized training > Group exercise