Are We Really Too Busy to Exercise? A Conversation That Made Me Change My Mind

It was not many days ago, when all of us, cousins, ​​were gathered at a family event, andlate at night, we found that we were discussing and complaining about the same situation, how long-term sitting jobs are affecting our health. 

And at the end of the day, we did not have the energy to work out or pay for a gym membership to take care of our health. 

Then my eldest brother, who is a middle-aged adult, comes in. 

He said, “I’ve been working in the corporate sector for the past 15 years, and there wasn't a single day when, after completing my working hours, I didn’t work out to maintain my health. 

He said that this is now happening to middle-aged people like me who are not able to pay attention to their health. And you guys are not too busy, you’re just procrastinating when it comes to your health.”

At first, we laughed at this, but later, when I rethought this, I came to realise that this is reality. Many middle-aged professionals today are dealing with the same situation…busy schedules, long hours, and a growing struggle to stay active.

This conversation didn’t stop here; the discussion slowly shifted from complaining about busy schedules to thinking about what we could actually do about it. 

Some of us pointed out that the real problem isn’t always a lack of awareness. Because most professionals know what they should do, but they just don’t do it. My brother explained that when work gets demanding, many people assume they need long workout sessions to see results. But in reality, small but consistent workouts can make a big difference. 

After all, I asked him, “Can you please guide us on how you are still so energetic at this age?” 

My brother told us that he started to suffer from back pain, stiffness, and feeling overwhelmed all day. After getting frustrated with all these, he started his research and tried to find the best solution. He said one of his colleagues suggested to him what he never considered before…working with a personal fitness trainer. 

When his colleague told him about personal trainers, he began looking for a personal fitness coach for himself in Nashville. 

Eventually, he found Dan, a fitness coach at "Basics and Beyond fitness and nutrition." 

He started working with him, and his schedule was so flexible that he was able to work out primarily at home, visiting the fitness center only occasionally. Moreover, Dan would often come to his house, which made the arrangement even more flexible. 

Gradually, he began to notice improvements. He observed changes in his double chin, the back pain caused by sitting all day, stiffness, and improvements in his low energy levels. 

After hearing all this, and since I happen to live in the same city (Nashville), I told my brother, "Hey, find me a great fitness trainer just like that, too!"

He replied, "There's no need to search; a female personal trainer named Libby also works with Dan." 

Following this, I have now embarked on my own fitness journey with Libby. I am excited to see if I can remain consistent and whether I, too, like my brother, will witness noticeable changes. I will certainly write about this experience later to share whether I truly gained any benefits from working with a fitness trainer, and if I was able to maintain my consistency.