Niche fitness classes might reign, but working out alone is there it’s at – at least for me.
If one thing is true, it is that the fitness industry is an extremely saturated place to be, and to watch. Don’t get me wrong – working out is a major life priority for me and has been for years.
Even before I hit junior high school, I recall being the most hell-bent runner in my class for 3 years in a row, running over 300 miles every summer – enough to score me a new t-shirt for the school year starting in September. The other kids always poked fun at me .. because I ran, every day, sometimes twice a day. In the summer heat, I’d be out on the old, gravel farm roads running. Miles from my parents house.
I was addicted to running. But I wanted to be the one who showed commitment to do it more than anyone else. I guess you could say I was a bit competitive.
That shirt was my golden ticket. It gave me the confidence I needed to continue turning another year. Through high school, I ran cross country, then track – so much in fact that I had to get new shoes every other month. I was that serious of a runner.
Enter: military service.
Not only did I continue the pounding of pavement, I was most frequently, the guidon bearer of our company formation. Running with a flag in arms is no small feat – especially when you have to run ahead of 200 people (mostly men), who can, and do, run faster. I couldn’t fail.
Following military service, it was marathons – I remember being pregnant with my first two children and running 3. I remember receiving advice from others … “be safe! Remember, you’re pregnant!” I was fairly certain I knew my own limitations – and having the gift of running for years prior really put me at an advantage to birthing babies naturally without complications in my pregnancies.
Now, 25 years post high-school, I’m still pounding pavement – this time, the “pavement” is the rocky rails of the Southwest. Up and down the mountainous ravines, trail running has become the best way to strengthen my legs, quads, arms, even my upper body. Running in the heat of the summer (115+ degrees F) is not an easy feat – it requires a massive amount of hydration, and regular sleep. Taking care of yourself to be able to run in those temps is critical.
While I log over 35 miles a week on trails through my running shoes, and lift heavy weights (squats, lunges, and leg extensions, upper body work) all but 2 days a week, everywhere I turn, there is uptick of niche fitness, advocates, and partners who so frequently approach me about joining their program.
They tout half off first month gym fees…
Some offer workouts at home, just 20-30 min a day.
Others… require financial commitments that are marketed as “you owe it to yourself to take care of you!”
And my response to them all is… pullllease. (insert eye roll here)…
These niche gurus, partners, trainers even, want to make people feel like they can’t do it on their own. (I feel like turning to them and politely saying “Hey – yeah, that’s great. I just got done running 5.5 miles of trails and doing 2 minute sprints up the mountain just moments ago…”
But I regress.
Perhaps these folks feel like most people (ahem – perhaps women?) “need” someone to guide them. Then you have the MLMs of the fitness industry – the pursuit of productive happiness with toxic behaviors that wrap themselves in a coat of “follow me!”
“Self love is critical!”
“You can do this!”
“I can show you how to transform your life!”
“I’m a coach/fitness expert!”
“I’ll show you how to get your life back!” (–> newsflash: you can get your own life back on your own!)
These organizations treat like you like cult members – the so called “leaders” are regular people, who are taught to prey on those new mothers, mothers of many, stay at home moms, work from home moms…
Moms that have extra weight.
Moms with kids that might not want to leave the house.
They’ll compliment you, friend you into their little cult-like club, and ever-so carefully pick your pocket clean by marketing their fitness and supplement line to fatten up their pockets.
Mixing their social media posts in with a sprinkle of their personal life, a few posts about them “using the product”, some business quotes, and… rounding it off with relatable parenting posts.
Because, after all, it’s critical that people feel like they can be relatable, right?
So many will desperately try to establish themselves as some sort of authority in that specific fitness program. I loathe, absolutely loathe, the trend of the new business-savvy brand partner (aka: Mom who suddenly joins an MLM and is instantly now a guru on fitness and nutrition…) that aligns themselves with some type of new MLM and promotes all kinds of unregulated powders, supplements and pills to desperate, unaware mothers that are looking to be part of a niche.
They want so desperately to be part of a group.
To be accepted. Seen. Heard. Validated.
These disingenuous markers, and that’s what they are, are no better than companies pushing drugs or oils – they’re desperately willing to make a buck.
They get on team calls, strategize about how to market their shakes, pills, energy supplements – they feed into women’s emotional securities and delusions about how to best get fit and healthy. Their fall-back line, amongst them all, is that they are simply “passionate” about what they do, and have a “burning desire” to help people.
Except… there’s one caveat for those who can actually think for themselves:
Getting fit and healthy isn ‘t rocket science.
Most of these people who market their niche program or MLM will have you believe that getting fit requires a well-formulated plan, supplements, shakes, protein powders, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day workout programs, programs “on demand” and a … get this: MEMBERSHIP FEE.
If anything, they’re over complicating something to further their marketing practices and feeding their egos.
Never, ever underestimate the powerful benefits of simply getting outside and moving your body.
It’s as uncomplicated as you can get. Anyone can reap the benefits of a simple, straightforward fitness plan such as this: move your body.
You don’t need fancy equipment.
Running and walking outdoors is free – find trails in your local area, run your neighborhood. Head to your local Goodwill for workout bands or even more, inexpensive weights (mine were $2!)
You don’t need subscription workouts.
You can develop your own. Or, for variety, hit up YouTube for some new ideas – there are a plethora of free workout ideas.
You don’t need the most expensive shoes.
Grab a good, solid pair at the store for less than $30. Or, opt to hit up your local thrift – I think my runners were a mere $2.
You don’t even need crazy supplements.
Basic nutrition applies. Feed your body adequate protein, healthy fat and hydrate with water and you will feel amazing.
Teaching and promoting sound fitness and health is only necessary for those disingenuous, disorganized, and unmotivated individuals who can’t think for themselves, who can’t understand functional movement, proper nutrition and basic dietary concepts, or so desperately crave to be validated.
Or, those who so desperately want to peddle products that fatten their pocketbook and promote their self image.
Many of these niche fitness gurus will even go so far as to associate themselves with fitness professionals, skilled in areas they are lacking, to further pomp their agenda for their business.
The truth is that fitness isn’t challenging. Eat better. Move around. Make healthy choices. The biggest changes come down to your decision to motivate yourself. Nobody can motivate you – not a gym owner, not a fitness advocate, not a fitness “partner”, just you.
You are your own best advocate, motivator, inspiration, and channel for change.
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