don's report archive

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Why Americans Are Not Likely To Become Fitter Any Time Soon
Tuesday November 14, 2006

In a few weeks, the National Wellness Instituteor NWI will release position statements on physical fitness. The statements, authored by three experienced wellness characters, were designed to assess American fitness levels and offer advice. Also, the experts were asked to comment, based upon their extensive personal experience as athletes and fitness promoters, on ways that America could more effectively promote exercise to bring about a healthier culture. The three experts on the NWI panel were Robert Sweetgall, BCHE, whose speciality is Wonderful Walking Programs for Reducing Stress, Obesity, Body Fat, Osteoporosis, Aging, Diabetes and Heart Disease Risk and Barbara Harris, M.A., a veteran writer for fitness magazines. The third expert? That was me. Here is what I wrote -- my position summarizes the "icantdoit" philosophy described here on numerous occasions.

Everything Robert Sweetgall wrote in his excellent position statement about physical fitness makes perfect sense. In fact, in my first book (High Level Wellness) and subsequent books, newsletters, website essays and at least a thousand lectures over 30 plus years, I have said more or less the same things, as have legions of fitness and wellness enthusiasts (including George Sheehan, Ken Cooper, Richard Simmons, Slim Goodbody, Richard Keelor and so on). All this advice on the nature and benefits of fitness represents variations on a fine and sensible theme.

And it's all futile, with a few exceptions now and then. The reality for most people who read this stuff, who attend the lectures, go to the fitness clinics and otherwise encounter "The Word" about fitness and give it a try, time and time again, is "ICANTDOIT." As Ecclesiastes expressed it, "This also is vanity and a chasing after wind." "Icantdoit" is a concept Dr. Grant Donovan and I have described extensively in the past year. I'm as much of an enthusiast for fitness and wellness as ever, but I have reluctantly come to the realization that most people cannot sustain exercise patterns over time, or manage their weight, or succeed at any number of goals they cherish. Like myself all these years, they underestimate the barriers to wellness. Nearly everyone would like to achieve fitness but cannot for a host of reasons, including genetics, culture, habit patterns and much more. The odds against success at becoming and remaining fit are overwhelming. Good advice, such as is available in these observations from Bob, Barbara and yours truly, won't be enough.

Yes, once upon a time, as Bob notes, "physical activity came naturally as a way of life, survival and just doing daily chores." But, not today. Gimmicks and toys (heart rate monitors, exercise prescriptions, aerobics classes, black spandex, etc.) won't do it, either. The reason a "majority of Americans have become sedentary and fatter," as Bob reports, is that they are underprepared, undersupported and underqualified to sustain a high degree of fitness. Everything Bob and Barb say makes sense. I share their enthusiasm and commitment to fitness, for myself and as something good for everyone else. Yet, advising people to "Now go play!" will never do the trick. Not even close. Why is this so?

It's because becoming and remaining fit, living healthfully and succeeding in life is too demanding; most are not prepared for the obstacles that stand in the way.

We first made the case for icantdoit in an essay in June 2005. At present, fourteen articles are now available at my website SeekWellness describing how icantdoit applies for almost everyone. Think of it -- If you COULD choose, put into practice and sustain healthy choices, you would. You would accept responsibility for the quality of your life and exercise vigorously on a regular basis, eat well, manage stress, think critically and do all the rest. Who wouldn't? After all, wellness is fun, romantic and hip, sexy and free. It's a richer way to be alive. You'd be a little crazy not to live this way--IF YOU COULD. However, the sorry situation for most is "I cant." Varied barriers block thinking and behaving in ways consistent with sound lifestyle practices. Nearly everyone would be better off accepting an icantdoit credo.

Napoleon Hill, author of the famous Andrew Carnegie formula for money-making entitled Think and Grow Rich: The Andrew Carnegie formula for money making, studied several thousand people -- and concluded 98 percent of them were failures. This might be a little harsh and an overestimate. Still, it was interesting to think about the thirty major reasons he thought accounted for why so many fail.

When Grant and I looked at Hill's explanations for explaining failure at making money, we concluded that twenty of Hills reasons apply as well to attempts to maintain physical fitness, along the advanced lines of wellness lifestyles.

Unfavorable Hereditary Background -- Many people are born with a deficiency in brainpower or lack of physical capacity -- and there is nothing they candoaboutit. For some, exercise is NOT fun - it's an ordeal.
Lack of Ambition to Aim Above Mediocrity -- icantdoit people lack ambition and are not willing to put in the considerable effort required for success. Attaining and sustaining a respectable level of fitness, especially as you age, is hard work and takes time and extensive discipline.
Insufficient Education -- Hill argues that the "the best-educated people are often those who are self-educated and get whatever they want in life without violating the rights of others." Many icantdoit people have school-based knowledge but lack the capacity to effectively and persistently apply their knowledge. As Hill notes, "men are paid, not merely for what they know, but more particularly for what they do with that which they know."
Lack of Self-discipline -- Most people cantdoit because they lack the discipline required for self-control. Hill argues, "if you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by it. You may see at one and the same time both your best friend and your greatest enemy, by stepping in front of a mirror."
Ill Health -- Hill postulates, "No person may enjoy outstanding success without good health." Most of those Hill studied overate foods not conducive to such favored health status, lacked sufficient physical exercise, rarely breathed fresh air and generally had poor habits of thought. Sound familiar?
Unfavorable Environmental Influences During Childhood -- Most people acquire bad habits from poor environments and improper associates during childhood. They spend the rest of their impoverished lives blaming others because they cantdoit. If your exposure to exercise as a child was negative, this becomes a formidable barrier during adulthood.
Procrastination -- Hill's research led him to conclude that icantdoit people are always waiting for the 'time to be just right' to start doing something worthwhile. And, of course, the time is never just right. There is always something to do that is more enjoyable, restful, pleasurable or otherwise attractive than sweating and breathing heavily.
Lack of Persistence -- Most people start well but finish poorly. They are icantdoit people because they are prone to giving up at the first signs of defeat. Getting started with exercise and fitness is the hardest part.
Negative Personality -- Most people don't like each other and cantdoit because they repel each other. Hill argues that "success comes through the application of power, and power is attained through the cooperative efforts of other people. A negative personality will not induce cooperation."
Uncontrolled Desired for Something for Nothing -- Most icantdoit people have a gambling instinct and a desire to be rich without effort, hence the worldwide success of casinos and lottery groups. There is a price (time/effort) to pay, every day, to stay fit.
Lack of a Well-Defined Power of Decision -- Hill believed "successful people reach decisions promptly and change them, if at all, very slowly." icantdoit people reach decisions very slowly and change them frequently.
Wrong Selection of a Mate in Marriage -- Poor mate selection aids and abets icantdoit because such relationships are energy-sapping and destroy most ambitions. If your spouse considers exercise a diversion from things that are far more important, how long are you going to stay with exercise routines? (What you should remove from your life is the non-supportive spouse.)
Superstition -- Superstition is a sign of ignorance. Most people cantdoit because they believe many foolish things unsupported by evidence or reason. Ever heard someone say, "Joggers never look happy jogging?" (The happiness or at least satisfaction expressions come later, when they FINISH the exercise activity.)
Wrong Selection of a Vocation -- The chances of success are not good in work environments that are disliked. Or that leave one too famished, frustrated or flummoxed to exercise.)
Lack of Concentration of Effort -- Most people cantdoit because they are easily distracted. They fail to focus efforts on one definite aim.
The Habit of Indiscriminate Spending -- This is the big one in Western society. Most people cantdoit because they are forever standing on the precipice of poverty by spending (not investing) more than they earn.
Intolerance -- The icantdoit person is normally close-minded, acquires little knowledge and easily becomes religiously, racially and politically intolerant.
Inability to Cooperate with Others -- More icantdoit people lose opportunities in life because they lack the capacity to work effectively with others.
Guessing Instead of Thinking -- Hill suggests, "most people are too indifferent or lazy to acquire facts with which to think accurately. They prefer to act on opinions created by guesswork or snap-judgments."
Lack of Capital -- Most people start out and travel through life without sufficient capital to absorb the shock of mistakes.

Donovan and I do not hold that these twenty factors are THE most critical variables for everyone. Yet, these twenty do explain why so many find it so hard to sustain good intentions to live healthfully. By familiarizing yourself with this list, you may develop a greater appreciation of the seriousness of the barriers or obstacles to wellness, and thereby increase the extent of your commitment. It takes a great deal of devotion and intention to continue over time to invest the required energy to sustain a fitness regimen and a larger wellness lifestyle. Maybe you are an exception. Maybe you can do it. I doubt it, but I'd love to be wrong, in your case and everyone else's. Be well.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the MEANING DOMAIN under the skill area of applied wellness. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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