“Just do it”

I grew up loving and wearing Nike in the 90s as much as any other kid. Especially since they endorsed the greatest NBA competitor of all time. His Airness, Michael Jordan.

As I fat loss coach, I often find myself surrounded by conversations discussing exercise and nutrition.

You know how when you buy a Dodge Durango, all the sudden you see every other Durango on the road?

There’s a great video on YouTube called “The Invisible Gorilla Experiment.” Basically the video asks you to count how many basketball passes are made amongst a group of people that are moving around in circles passing the balls back and forth.

And while this is happening, a person dressed as a gorilla walks through the middle of the game.

Almost everyone guesses the correct number of passes. But almost no one sees the gorilla.

We only see what we try to see. And we only hear what we try to hear.

Point being: maybe these conversations are happening everywhere, all the time. And I notice them because health and fitness is always front of mind for me. This is also called FOMA, or Front of Mind Awareness. Not to be confused with FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out.

Something I always overhear in conversation among people discussing diet or exercise. One party always tells the other to just do it.

Unsure about starting that new fitness plan from your magazine? Just do it.
Unsure about starting that new diet your friend is doing? Just do it.

Tim Pychyl is one of the leading authorities on the science of conquering procrastination. He talks about this theory in his book, Solving the Procrastination Puzzle. It’s a concise, practical guide on key strategies to help reduce procrastination in your life.

How often do we procrastinate when it comes to pretty much anything involving our health or losing fat?

I found a new program I want to do… I’ll start Monday.
I need to go on a diet… I’ll start Monday.
I’ll join the gym… after the Holidays.

We procrastinate (look for excuses) rather than… just doing it.

Tim argues in his book that “just do it” might sound cool. But it’s not a good motivation tactic. Especially when the person is overwhelmed, and likely doubtful, about being able to do it in the first place.

You want to start P90X? But 6 workouts per week for 90 days is intimidating. Especially for someone that’s never worked out before.

Telling an obese person wanting to shed some pounds to just do it is like telling an alcoholic needing recovery to just do it. It’s not that simple.

If all you had to do was just do it, everyone would have already done it. It being the thing they need to do.

So what should we say instead?

Perhaps a better slogan as it pertains to diet and exercise is “just get started.”

Don’t worry about whether or not you actually finish. Just get started. And your odds of finishing will be much higher. Because once you start something, it’s much easier to keep going.

On mornings when I don’t feel inspired to write, the thought of trying to vomit 1000 words onto my computer screen feels more daunting than climbing Everest.

When you have no motivation to get in a tough workout, the idea of sweating for 45 minutes sounds worse than a crypto market correction.

But if all you did was just get started, you’d rally Team Momentum on your side and finishing would be much easier.

I’ve heard this referred to as the “5 minute ramp up.”

Lacking motivation to…

• Workout
• Write
• Clean your room
• Meditate
• Pay the bills

...Just do 5 minutes.

Then let momentum take over.

The hardest part of working out is just getting yourself to the gym. Once you’re there, it’s easy.

So the next time you find yourself in a conversation with someone who is seeking your wisdom on how they should proceed with the task at hand, suggest they just get started.

--Brian