Think Or Swim

Or, how dropping in leads to dropping out.

This week I was going to write about some common exercises you probably shouldn’t be doing.
 
However, I’ve had quite a few requests over the past few weeks for drop-in Kettlebell classes, so I’ve changed the plan. Instead, I’m going to address something that we touched upon last week as one of the three reasons that so many workout plans fail.
 
Erm, I don’t get it Craig, what’s the link between drop in classes and my training plan not working?
 
A valid question.
 
The answer is a single word.
 
And that word is:

Consistency.
 
Still confused?
 
Allow me to elaborate.

All of our sessions, from the Spartan Project and Viking Project Group PT programmes to our various one to one plans are pre-booked either monthly or by blocks of sessions.
 
I don’t do one-off PT sessions, I don’t allow drop-ins to the group programmes.
 
Would I make more money by allowing drop-ins and offering one off sessions?
 
Absolutely.
 
But as I’ve said before, I’m not doing this to take your money, I’m doing this to make you healthier, stronger, more mobile. In short, the version of you that you could be if you weren’t mis-advised and mis-led by the unscrupulous and incompetent who thrive within the fitness industry.
 
But I digress, and you may still be wondering what the harm is in a casual training session?
 
Ask yourself this: if you want to ‘drop-in’ to a class, maybe once a week, maybe once a fortnight, how committed are you?
 
How much progress do you think you’re going to make if you turn up once a week because you have a free hour and you fancy something different?
 
Are you going to make the same progress as the guys who do regular one to one sessions and follow their customised home/gym plans?
 
Nope.
 
Are you going to make as much progress as The Spartan Project guys and girls who commit every month to turning up three times a week and follow their eating and home workout plans?
 
Nah-ah.
 
Is it fair to the people that do commit if I then give my time, knowledge, and attention to a casual entertainment seeker?
 
Absolutely not.
 
You get the picture, right?

And what happens when you don't start seeing results and hitting goals?

Sooner or later - usually sooner - you'll get disheartened and lose enthusiasm.

That once a week class becomes once a fortnight.

You fall off the healthy eating wagon because the devil on your shoulder tells you there's no point in eating right if you're not working out.

And, before you know it, you've become one of those unhappy people who're convince themselves that 'exercise doesn't work for me'
 
The only way your programme works is if it can be regularly progressed. Without commitment, there’s not going to be progression.
 
If you’re serious about your goals, act like it.
 
If you’re a casual exerciser, that’s your choice, but I’m not going to sacrifice the progress of people who commit to our beliefs, people who, every week, are hitting targets and smashing personal bests, just so you can be entertained.
 
If you’re interested in joining us, by all means come and talk to me, watch a Group PT session or one to one session (I have some friendly Spartans who won’t mind you watching).
 
Just don’t ask if you can come down for the odd session when you feel like it.
 
We only want you if you have a clear goal and the mental desire to achieve it.

Stop over-thinking.

Stop procrastinating.

Stop being afraid of who you can be.

To quote Mark Twight:
 
“What’s the point swimming if the water’s not deep?”

Don’t drop in, dive in.

The water's lovely.