Enough With the Bullshitting
OK, I’ll put you on notice right now. You do have time to work out. For all of you out there that do workout – and by that I mean extended and vigorous physical exercise several times a week- regardless if it’s CrossFit or something else – I apologize, but I’m tired of hearing people, say that they “…are just too busy, I don’t have time to spare to work out!” This is usually accompanied with a long drawn-out breath an eye roll and a guilty smile. Apparently this is supposed to prevent one from thinking: You are full of shit. It’s an invitation to join with them in the delusion that these decisions don’t have consequences.
I heard this excuse the other day, something inside my head went, click and it came out; “That’s bullshit,” I said. “It’s a choice you’re making. You decided that something other than your health was more important.” That person doesn’t talk to me anymore.
And before you say it, yes, I did attempt to explain it in milder, gentler terms; this decision is an important life-effecting choice. You have to find time, the desire to change must come from within, not imposed from outside, I did the whole namaste thing on their ass.
But let’s be honest, it’s just pure bullshit. Would you drive around in your car with the check engine light on for months? Do you take a 6 week hiatus from brushing your teeth because it’s “The Holidays” and you’re so “stressed out”? Well maybe you do. I hope you don’t. The thing is, it will catch up to you. Do you have time in your busy life to get sick? How about a debilitating illness? Diabetes perhaps? Heart disease? Not living to see your kids grow up?
Busy at work? Based on personal experience with the dying, and this report, those people on their death beds never say “”Gee, I wish I had spent more time at the office.” Did you watch TV last night? How long? Thirty minutes? Sixty? Was that episode of How I Met Your Mother worth a chance to improve your health? You had time. Did you text with friends for 15 or 20 minutes several times today? You had time. Hell, you could have invited them over for a workout together and like, talked to each other face to face. Wow. Gaming? The Internet? Please, God make me stop before I launch into a real rant.
Guess what? If you don’t make time for fitness and healthy living, a lack or fitness, injury, sickness or disease will force an outcome upon you not to your liking or perhaps not one that you survive. The good thing is, this is mainly a choice within your conscious control. Your genetics (good and bad) are your potential, not a definite outcome.
This aforementioned individual got defensive and said I had a “superiority complex” and that I thought I was better than they were. Issues of human value aside I said, that by empirical standards, I was superior; I’m stronger, more flexible, more powerful, I have a higher vertical jump. my VO2 max is definitely better (this person smokes) I’m more resilient to injury, I have a stronger immune system, more lean muscle mass and lower body fat. My blood pressure is lower than it was in my late 20′s and I sleep like a baby. Statistically my chances of needing long-term or emergency medical care are substantially lower, which impacts costs to everyone. My insurance premium costs are lower too. After that, this person couldn’t think of anything to counter my slightly ticked-off logic with, they called me a name I won’t mention here and walked away.
Full disclosure here. This is a hot button issue for me. My dad died a needless early death at age 70 from Type II diabetes-related causes because he choose not to take care of himself. It required him to modify his diet, lose weight and exercise so he could stick around to love his wife, travel, tell his great stories and watch his grandkids grow up. In not doing so he managed to die in the early morning hours of my 36th birthday. See, decisions do have consequences.
I don’t hold any illusions about getting everyone to workout, eat right, live healthier, I know the truth is this shit is hard. It requires real effort. Discipline, commitment and drive. Most people are not willing to do it; there are too many cop-outs available, too many ways to slack off. But it doesn’t mean that you dear reader, have to be one of them.
So enough with the bullshit excuses: Sickness, injury, diminished lifespan - or vigorous health, fitness and longevity?
It’s your choice. I’m on my way into the gym to train people who want to live. Meet me there today.
You have the time.
Tim Fleck is the owner and coach at CrossFit St. Cloud.
He’s usually not this uptight.
June 5th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
[...] blog is a borrowed post from CrossFit St. Cloud. The author addresses the excuses people make for not taking care of themselves and doesn’t hold back in shooting [...]
June 5th, 2012 at 11:31 pm
[...] Enough with the Bullshitting - courtesy of CrossFit St. Cloud [...]
June 6th, 2012 at 6:57 am
All God’s people said….AMEN!!!!! Love it – dead on brother!
June 6th, 2012 at 7:56 am
Well said. I’m sure that the concept in your post is nothing new to most of the people that are reading it, but it’s always good to do a little self-reflection/ check-up on out own bullshit to keep ourselves honnest. At times when my own little bullshit-checking voice at the back of my head isn’t loud enough, it’s helpfull to have the voice of a big, bald, sometimes-preacher-than-others friend around.
Real friends tell eachoter the truth and call bullshit when they see it. Your former “friend” aparantly wanted a bullshit-partner, not a firend. However, a lot of other people appreciate the preachy, bullshit-resistant, fuck-stick that you are. Preach on!
June 6th, 2012 at 8:41 am
Tim- GREAT posting, just caught it on Facebook today. You said exactly what I think all the time when I tell people about Crossfit, and how they do not have time, or, even better, they have to get in shape before they come to CF. Keep up the excellent posts!
June 6th, 2012 at 9:23 am
excellent! i’ve wanted to say this to people myself a few times
it’s also motivating for me to remember when i feel like using similar excuses to stay home. great post!
June 6th, 2012 at 10:57 am
WONDERFUL.
Thank you. Blunt, honest. Truth!
June 6th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
[...] read this article yesterday in the am & it inspired me to get off my bum and take advantage of the spot of clear [...]
June 6th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
[...] Enough With the Bullshitting [...]
June 7th, 2012 at 5:56 am
Great ideas, inarguable truth, undeniable importance. Like many others who use strings of distracting obscenities to get a point across, you’ve lost the impact of your arguement. Speak in terms that socially competent individuals will be willing to consider, or be marginalized by your language skills, or the lack thereof. Peace.
June 7th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
While I understand the point you’re making, it’s a bit overstated and over-applied. Quite simply, there ARE people who legitimately DON’T have time to work out- single parents working 3 jobs, people under the poverty line who have enough time/money for the dollar menu but not a membership to CrossFit St. Cloud, etc. I’m assuming you didn’t mean for this rant to apply to that demographic, but that’s sort of my point.
Not to mention the fact that while being physically fit doesn’t make you more superior than anyone else, thinking that it does certainly makes you an asshole.
June 7th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Tarik,
There are of course, always exceptions to anything. I’m not saying that you have to belong to my gym, or any in order to exercise regularly. Exercise wise, I’m not too worried about the folks who work three jobs, I would bet that at least one of them is physically demanding. But even those people need to eat decently. And you don’t have to eat off the dollar menu, it means taking the time and effort to find healthy food. I’m sorry but that excuse is largely a cop-out. It’s a a shame that a McDonald’s meal cost less than a healthy one in the short term, but again how much does obesity and/or diabetes cost? I would say if you know someone in that situation, take it upon yourself to give this person a helping hand. It could be babysitting their kids, helping them find better employment, or educating them on making better nutritional choices.
As far as my “superior attitude” is concerned, I was not implying that I as a person, I was better than the guy I was speaking to, just that my stats were better. if you hadn’t guessed I was being an asshole on purpose; It was to shake this guy out of his complacency.
June 8th, 2012 at 4:32 am
[...] 1. Enough with the bullshitting from a crossfit gym. I think it’s a bit harsh, but I also think it’s well written and that the point — everyone has time to be active — is spot on. I get frustrated with people saying they don’t have time to move their bodies. It’s often on Facebook that people say it. Get off Facebook. Go to a yoga class. It doesn’t have to be crossfit. Ride a bike. Play tennis. Do something. Get sweaty. Walk to school. Dance. MOVE! [...]
June 8th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
I work out a lot but my check engine light has been on for years.
June 9th, 2012 at 6:59 am
[...] think you don’t have enough time to get a WOD in? You’ve been put on notice: Enough with the Bullsh*ting!!! Filed Under: WOD Blog · Click on a tab to select how you'd like to leave your comment [...]
June 9th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Well said. Eloquent & real.
June 10th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
[...] ‘Enough With The Bull********’, by Tim Fleck at CrossFit St. Cloud. This one’s a good read especially for those of you that are handy with the excuses for not coming in. Trust me, I use them a lot too! We know it’s tough to get in here sometimes but you just have to make the time. With 7, sometimes 8 classes a day surely there is one that you can squeeze into your busy life? [...]
June 11th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
[...] Enough with the Bullshitting [...]
June 15th, 2012 at 6:14 am
Theres been a lot of articles written about this theme but I have to let you know that this was the most direct and lucid one I’ve ever read. Your points and comparisons were excellent, great job.
Tony
June 15th, 2012 at 7:10 am
Rock on. Well said man. CHOICE is what defines the human species. I choose my actions – and I am consciously or unconsciously choosing the IMPACT of those actions on me and everyone around me.
Not taking care of myself to insure that I will be here for those I love is basically saying … F*ck you, I don’t care enough about you to make sure I’m here for you tomorrow.
That’s not a statement I’m willing to make.
June 16th, 2012 at 11:17 am
I totally understand what you’ve said. However, most people respond to positive, short-term gains better than long-term consequences. Otherwise, no one would smoke or do other unhealthy practices. Psychologically, we are all teenagers who believe devastating consequences won’t happen to us personally, and we’re bulletproof. Maybe a future post to show how you get results from being healthy without losing a million pounds or fitting in those jeans from high school would help encourage those of us who are sedentary to get moving: things like more energy to run with the kids, less stress, etc.
June 30th, 2012 at 11:46 am
[...] I discovered they have a blog where the feature information and the WOD (workout of the day). It was here, that I discovered this article. Read it. And then get up off your butt. You’ll see what I [...]
August 9th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
[...] No Excuses! CrossFit St. Cloud Post time to comments [...]
October 10th, 2012 at 8:50 am
[...] I discovered they have a blog where they feature information and the WOD (workout of the day). It was here, that I discovered this article. Read it. And then get up off your butt. You’ll see what I [...]
March 31st, 2013 at 10:30 am
[...] http://www.crossfitstc.com/wods/enough-with-the-bullshitting/ [...]