Fitness builds a foundation for your entire life. Start building that foundation from a young age, and you'll have a head start on almost everyone else. I'm 20 years old, and I can say that resistance training and fitness have helped get me to where I am today. Many teenagers, people in their twenties, and even older adults feel lost in life and struggle with low self-esteem. This isn't just because they're unhappy with the way their body looks — it's because they've never built confidence through results they produced themselves.
You can't buy a physique
Many teenagers and young adults have never truly worked for anything in their lives, because their parents have provided most things for them. In the moment it feels good, and you're grateful that your parents provide these things, but it can take away your drive to accomplish things for yourself. Fortunately, getting in shape isn't something your parents can buy for you — so you're forced to work toward your desired physique.
I have worked with clients whose parents have told me that their child's attitude toward other areas of life, such as education, changed once they started getting results while working with me. They built confidence by achieving results through their own hard work, not from someone simply buying them something they wanted. They begin to understand that hard work can produce results in other areas of life too. Not only do they understand this — they realize that they're capable of putting in that hard work themselves.
Many people convince themselves that they're either born to be good at certain things or simply not good at them. Of course, some of us are naturally better at certain things than others, but at the end of the day, hard work can make you significantly better.
"Getting in shape isn't something your parents can buy for you. You're forced to earn it."
The standard never stops rising
The other main benefit of getting in shape is that it shows you can always be better. Many people get comfortable in life once they reach a certain level of success and begin to think that they can't do more. But in fitness, there is always someone who looks a little better or is in better shape. Most people who start working out realize they're never truly satisfied with their physique, because they develop an eye for its flaws. This creates an endless source of motivation to keep improving.
That attribute isn't only valuable in the gym — it's valuable in anything you want to do, whether it's schooling, running a business, or becoming a great artist.
The same rules everywhere
Resistance training and fitness follow the same rules as every other area of life. With hard work comes results, with results comes confidence, and with confidence comes the belief that you can achieve anything. Once you see these results, you'll never think they're good enough — and you'll continuously work to improve every day.
The principles of resistance training and getting in shape are the same principles that apply to life. Master fitness, and you will subsequently master your life.
Keyvan Billou
Coach at Hammer Fitness, Toronto's #1-rated personal training gym. At 20, Keyvan coaches clients to build confidence and discipline the same way he built his own — through results they earn for themselves.
