Fitness, the environment, and the economy are linked, and one of the ways is through the concept of growth. Growth conditions us to assume that life is usually improved by adding to it, and we follow that common wisdom automatically. Fitness illustrates why, sometimes, the model breaks down and the opposite is the truth. This little tweak to how you think about life could make all the difference.
Economic growth says that as the economy gets bigger, innovation leads to more industry and more production. This rise in productivity ultimately creates more wealth, and thereby more prosperity for society. The model has served us well, but there are times when the best solution to a problem cannot be manufactured, packaged, and sold. Fitness is one of the best examples of how our normal inclination to add something to our lives might actually undermine our success.
Exercise Isn’t About Weight Loss
If you are looking to lose weight, you may be inclined to add a gym membership or buy a workout DVD in the hopes that adding more exercise will help. The truth is, the only way to effectively lose weight is to reduce the amount of unhealthy foods in your diet. Exercise has tremendous value, but it is in other areas. Adding it to your routine with the hope that it will be an antidote to unhealthy behaviors will hinder your progress.
Stretching Can’t Counteract Hours Of Sitting
Similarly, you might consider adding a stretch routine such as yoga to your life in order to become more flexible. To be sure, yoga is a great way to help with flexibility and mobility. However, if you spend many hours sitting the benefits will only go so far. To achieve the best results, reducing sedentary time is paramount. Look for ways to reduce sitting time, like taking calls standing, or walking or biking to work.
Juice Cleanses Don’t Add, They Take Away
To add one final twist to the concept, consider juice cleanses. Cleanses are packaged as a solution that you can buy, but what they really do is take something away. When you are on a juice cleanse, you radically alter your normal eating habits; most importantly, the bad ones. This might appear to be a good solution, but it is a misleading one. You do want to reduce bad eating behaviors, but you’ll need to do it in a sustainable way. Juice cleanses are an attempt to package and sell a behavior, which ultimately undermines more realistic change.
It’s All About Balancing The Equation
Obviously, there are products and services that do help you achieve goals and make your life better. What is important is knowing when the normal economic instinct to purchase one’s way out of a problem actually undermines the solution. Fitness, done well, shows that the best results are often achieved by focusing on what needs to go, rather than what needs to be added.