Frolicsomely fit: Now and Next did it

Frolicsomely Fit

Now and Next playing together

How could it be?! Now and Next eagerly agreeing on something...

Our culture instills the belief that success comes from using self-discipline to master worldly temptations. Succumbing to immediate gratification and pursuing what feels good in the moment often seems like a path to ruin.

According to the CDC, more than 75% of Americans not getting enough exercise? Why? It must be because all those Americans have not developed enough self-discipline and are giving into what feels easy and comfortable in the moment.

What's really going on...

When I have talked with my clients who do get enough exercise, I discover that they have found a way to enjoy it. They may avoid correcting others when they are complimented on their "self-discipline" because it "sounds good." As a result, "self-discipline" gets the credit when in fact, "enjoying doing what they love doing" should get the credit.

I'm "going to the gym" everyday...

Travel time each way: 5 seconds (walking from my office to my living room)
Gym membership fee: $10 a month
Reason I'm consistent in working out each day: It's exciting and fun

My secret

Using the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset and controllers (one time cost of $250), I have subscribed to the "exercise" app Supernatural (I put that in quotes because for me it's the "having fun" app). The monthly subscription to Supernatural is $10.

ChatGPT gives a good description of the experience.

"Supernatural for the Oculus Quest 2 is an electrifying virtual reality experience that elevates your daily routine into an unforgettable adventure, with the spotlight shining brightly on its incredible music and pure, unadulterated fun. Picture yourself diving into a world where the rhythms of your favorite songs blend seamlessly with visually stunning landscapes, turning every session into a euphoric concert for one.

"The app's meticulously curated playlists feature everything from heart-throbbing beats to soul-soothing melodies, ensuring there's a rhythm to match every mood. Dance, groove, and lose yourself in the music as you swing and sway through challenges set against the backdrop of the world's most breathtaking vistas – from the serene beaches of Bora Bora to the vibrant auroras of the Arctic."

Here are three recordings (from inside my immersive world of Supernatural)

You are seeing these recordings in 2D. But I'm experiencing them in 3D live with heart-thumping music and with the targets coming at me fast.

What's not to like?...

This last video features "boxing," even including the knee kick, which was new to me until recently.

The design and implementation of Supernatural is so masterful that I'm a bit reluctant to mention one "flaw." From a marketing point of view, it probably isn't even a flaw.

That said, the coaches who give you tips and "encouragement" throughout the workouts often say things like, "Let's not slack off here! Give it all you've got!" For me, at least, if I paid any attention to these results oriented exhortations, it would reduce the thrill of the process and my continued eagerness to return to Supernatural again and again.

A fatal assumption...

"Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty." -Theodore Roosevelt.

It's a badge of honor that we are willing to push ourselves through difficulty and pain. We assume that if something is worth doing, then it must be hard to do it. Therefore, if it doesn't occur right away how something could be easy to do, we immediately assume that that it's going to be hard. This assumption supports the continuing battle and lack of integrity between Now and Next.

In the case of exercise, we need to keep asking the question, "How could I set it up so that exercise is fun and easy for me?"

Here's another one of my answers to that question.

The too-easy and no-time-needed way to keep fit

Using the remote to quickly turn it on or off, I use this whole body vibration machine (cost on Amazon starts at $100 USD) at my standup desk at least 30 minutes a day while I am doing work on my Apple Mac mini.

I hardly notice that I am using it, but when I do it just feels like a gentle body massage.

Here's how ChatGPT summarizes the benefits of WBV.

"Whole body vibration (WBV) therapy involves standing, sitting, or lying on a machine with a vibrating platform. Here are summaries of some studies that have explored the efficacy of WBV as a means to maintain fitness and health benefits:

Improvement in Muscle Strength and Mass: A study published in the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research" found that WBV significantly increased muscle strength and mass in older adults, similar to conventional resistance training.
Weight Loss and Body Composition: Research in the "International Journal of Obesity" suggested that WBV, combined with a low-calorie diet, might improve body composition and facilitate weight loss more effectively than diet alone.
Bone Density: A study in the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Density" reported that WBV could help improve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, potentially reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Balance and Mobility: Research in "Gait & Posture" found that WBV training improved balance and mobility in older adults, reducing fall risk.
Blood Circulation and Lymphatic Drainage: Studies have suggested that WBV can enhance blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, contributing to better overall health.
Reducing Back Pain: A study published in "Spine" indicated that WBV might reduce back pain and improve strength and flexibility in patients with chronic lower back pain.
Improvements in Neuromuscular Performance: Research in "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise" showed that WBV could lead to improvements in neuromuscular performance in athletes, enhancing speed and power."

The fundamental key to a great life

That key is integrity: Now-Next Integrity and Oneself-Others Integrity, with Now-Next Integrity being the more fundamental of the two.

Within Now-Next Integrity, it could be argued that those integrities which support physical health and well-being are even more fundamental. Although both good nutrition and keeping fit are essential for the best health, according to Dr. Joel Greger of "How Not to Age," poor nutrition accounts for almost ten times as many premature deaths than does poor fitness.

That doesn't mean, however, that fitness is not fundamental, especially since it enhances the effects of good nutrition.

The way to create the integrity to guarantee continued, long-lasting fitness is to find ways to make "exercise" fun.

Supernatural using the Oculus Quest 2 and whole body vibration are two of the ways that I have found to do that for me.

Would they work for you?

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