You are not an iphone. Fitness, motivation and your mental health

The idea of ‘becoming a better version of you’ has been on my mind for a while, but i guess being World Mental Heath Day i managed to make time to write this little rant i hope you’ll find helpful.

I see it a lot at the minute. Well meaning posts over Instagram, Facebook, blogs and even in the media talking about the idea of being a ‘better version of you’.

“It’s not a diet, or a fitness regime to lose weight, you’re on a journey to be a better version of you” ..... Stop!

I get it, i’ve even been guilty of saying and thinking the same at times, but my opinion has changed because as well meaning as it may be, when you look a little deeper I feel it goes against what it’s trying to achieve (making change a positive thing).

You are where you are because of the choices you have made. Everyone has their own reasons for where they are now, in shape or not whatever that means. Just because someone isn’t ‘fit and healthy’ doesn’t mean they aren’t their best version of themselves, because fitness, fat loss (or anything else health wise) doesn’t define you as a person.

If you get out of shape it’s not because you’re not a good version of you, you’ve just prioritised other things in your life, like your kids or your social life or other things you value and enjoy more and pushed your health further down the to do list.

I’m not saying that being health conscious and trying to lose weight or be stronger or fitter is a bad thing. It’s a great thing. I just don’t like seeing people thinking or talking about themselves like they’re upgrading from an iphone 6s to an X just by squatting more or not fuelling themselves solely on caffeine and chocolate bars. How you see yourself and the things ‘you’ do (your identity) is massively important to doing and sustaining anything. Think about it, if you don’t believe you could do it or see yourself ever doing something, how motivated and likely are you to start and keep it up?

 I guess I want to change how health and fitness is viewed and talks about things. ; from something you know you ‘should’ do, or a chore that’s so far down the list it’s never gotten to, to something you do because you choose to do, all without feeling patronised or being forced to do in order to avoid guilt or shame at yourself. Fitness can become another thing to feel pressure from, as there is a fine line between inspiration and #bodygoals and your own expectation especially if you only look on social media (which is a topic for another day).

I’m not expecting you to enjoy exercise or vegetables because who wouldn’t prefer ice cream instead of kale and actually, a lot of people don’t enjoy exercise (not at first or all the time at least) and that’s ok.

It’s not the amount of motivation you have, but the quality that was discovered to matter more (even as far back as the 1970’s) because it’s personal to you.

Taking ownership of your choices (and feeling like they are your choices to make) is motivating and empowering. Doing it with the knowledge of why it’s important for YOU and pursing that no matter where you are starting from is a great thing that i can get on-board with, call it self love or whatever. Just don’t do it to be a better version of you. Do it because you ARE the best version of you.