The ability to bounce back.
To learn from our mistakes.
Our bodies ability to build bone density with weight lifting.
Our immune system’s natural way of vaccinating us against diseases.
It’s what makes the human being so resilient.
More specifically anti-fragile.
As Nassim Taleb explains in his book “Antifragile”, antifragility is better than resiliency, because it allows for gain from stressful events.
We have the awesome ability to get better and stronger, physically and emotionally after recovering from stressful events.
Our hardships develop our character. As does exercise for our physical bodies. As does going outside playing and rolling around in the dirt as a kid fortifying our immune systems as adults.
We have that ability, but we’re not bulletproof, there’s a Goldilocks zone. Where the soup is not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
Are we getting enough SLEEP? Are we eating nutrient dense foods? Hydrated? Are we over-stressed from our demanding bosses, bills, relationships? People forget that stress is not just a mood but a physiological response.
Stress is not a mental thing that can be wished away but a physical part of your being at any given moment.
That’s why we ask these questions to new clients during our initial UpFit Assessment. Because we might need to dial back the first week.
There’s been more times than I can count as a young ambitious coach when I put new clients through hard workouts their first day. No matter how much sleep they got, no matter their fitness level, never asking how they were feeling.
2 days later they would text me saying they’re sick, and can’t make the next workout.
80% of the time I would never see them again.
We forget exercise is inherently a stress as well. And to an unfit, over-stressed, and under-slept trainee it can put them into the too hot “goldilocks” zone where you end up burning your tongue.
Bring out those anti fragile capabilities of our body. As we become more fit, our physical anti fragile abilities will fortify. Just make sure you’re hydrating, prioritizing your sleep, and telling your boss to shove it.
-Coach Paul is a master trainer and co-owner of Upfit Academy – Small Group Fitness and Personal Training Specialists proximal to Midtown NYC.
