Do It For Your Future Self

My client had this to say about their reason for starting to work with me: "I'm doing it for my future self."

I love this mentality, as maintaining physical fitness becomes more and more important as we age. 

Increased strength and mobility translate to performing your activities of daily living with ease - think carrying your groceries, moving furniture, and getting up from the floor.

But the "future you" doesn't need to be the version of yourself 10, 20, or 30 years in the future; it can be the version of yourself 6 months, 12 months, or 2 years in the future. 

Another client once told me about their friend - someone who was in their 70s - who started strength training to be able to put their luggage in the airplane overhead compartment without assistance. This is an amazing goal, not only because progress can be easily measured (if you can lift the weight limit for carry-on luggage overhead, then you're good), but because achieving that goal opens up more opportunities for travel. I can only imagine that this person felt much more inspired to travel once they felt capable of navigating air travel without assistance. 

Being strong translates to a greater sense of agency. When you're stronger, you feel more capable of doing things that might have at one point felt out of reach. 

So if there is something in your life that you want to do, but you feel limited by your physical fitness, that is the future self you should be serving. Say you want to play pickup hockey with your friends without as much fear of injury, or you want to go on a camping trip but are intimidated by carrying your food, clothing, and tent on your back - following a solid strength training program for 6-12 months (maybe more, maybe less, it depends on the person) should make you feel more than ready to tackle these goals. It doesn't take much either - 2-3 days a week with full body workouts should get you there. You don't need to deadlift 500lb to be strong enough to take on whatever life throws your way. 

From my own experience, being strong and mobile makes me less hesitant to try new things, and to feel confident that I won't be laid up for a few days after a novel physical experience due excess soreness or stiffness. 

So if you ever hit a roadblock on your training journey, or if you are wondering if or when you should start to train, just remember this: do it for your future self.