I had a really good conversation with someone today about results. She pointed out, and rightfully so, that people are moved to sign up for a fitness program mostly by seeing the physical results of someone who is a part of or has finished that program.
Why Physical Results Matter
People want to actually see the inches lost, the 6-pack abs, the bulging biceps, the defined quads and the reduction of the number on the scale. They are interested in knowing the increase in speed and how much more weight can be loaded onto the barbell now compared to when the fitness program began. They want to be able to see what will happen to them physically if they decide to sign on for whatever it is being offered.
I can totally understand that. That stuff is important. Physical transformation is a huge aspect of why we dedicate ourselves to exercising. It’s important to be able to see, feel and recognize how far we have come and the progress we have made towards reaching our goals.
Numerical measurements are the tools we can use to actually see that. They are proof that our hard work is paying off, but they can also be crippling if they are your only motivation. Similar to when you are building a house, no matter how beautiful the exterior is, the walls will most likely crumble if the foundation is weak.
What I have come to realize over the years through my own personal fitness journey and helping others along theirs, is that some of the biggest, most beautiful and impressive transformations occur under the surface, at the foundation of who we are.
These are the transformations that rebuild confidence, restore a sense of control, and reignite self-worth. They’re the mental and emotional shifts that anchor someone’s identity — not in how they look, but in how they feel, show up, and believe in themselves again.
The Hidden Strength Of A Strong Foundation
There are no numerical measurements to gauge this level of internal accomplishment. It doesn’t present itself in a flashy Instagram photo or pop out in a Reel. It’s not something that can be shown off on a billboard or illustrated in a jaw dropping before and after photo on Facebook. This transformation is not enhanced by a perfectly fitting pair of jeans or a drop dead pair of shoes. If you look carefully, though, you will be able to see the results shining through these fabulously fit souls.
You will see this transformation in the woman who smiles every morning as she’s running up a hill, or the lady who walks your block every day at 5:00 pm and always gives you a warm wave. You will see it in the man who fought his way back from cancer and started his workouts barely being able to jog in place, but after months of hard work and determination can now burpee with the best of ‘em, a twinkle in his eye! You will see this in the woman at the pool who shows up every morning to swim and has long since let go of the insecurity of walking around in public in a bathing suit.
Joy: The Key To Sustainable Fitness
Some of these people may actually have washboard abs and glutes of steel and could easily flaunt themselves on TikTok. And a lot of these people may actually measure their results by the number on a scale, a tape measure or a watch, but it will never exceed the most important thing they have discovered in themselves and placed as the foundation of their fitness journey: joy.
Joy is what keeps them coming back. I’ve seen it firsthand in the smiles after a tough class and from those who never thought they could enjoy exercise. I’ve experienced it in my own journey through movement during the hardest moments of my life. People say they do it for the results, but they stay with it for the way it makes them feel.
Joy is the reason for their consistency. Joy is the reason they feel the results of their healthy lifestyle and are able to spread that in a much more meaningful way than if it was presented in a picture on social media. Joy is contagious. Your physical transformation will be much more enjoyable and sustainable when you start with joy and build from there.
Carly Fauth is a fitness instructor, ACSM-ACS certified cancer exercise specialist, movement mentor, and founder of FitFunCarly, a virtual fitness program that helps people get fit in just 15 minutes a day. Carly’s passion for wellness deepened when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in February 2024. As a survivor, she now uses her journey to inspire others to unlock their own extraordinary personal strength and overcome life’s obstacles.
Find holistic Fitness resources in the Spirit of Change online Alternative Health Directory.
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