Goals?

During a recent gym session, a fellow gym mate approached me with some curious questions:

Q: Are you training for a marathon? Is that why you're focusing on strength training?

Me: No.

Q: Is your immediate goal weight loss?

Me: (A little deflated) - No

Q: You must be working on getting a six-pack then?

Me: No, not that either.

Sensing his confusion, I finally put him out of misery: I'm here to maintain, if not improve, my overall fitness. I am in this for the long term with a healthy mind and healthy body sustenance goals

His surprise at the fact that I wasn't chasing a short-term target was oddly satisfying. Don’t get me wrong — there’s nothing wrong with having short-term goals, and they are great motivators. But being a fitness enthusiast for some time now and dabbling in multitude fitness regimes, I have come to value sustenance, inner strength, and slow transformation over quick wins.

I was proud that I had many years of consistently showing up, battling through the aches, cramps, and occasional setbacks to validate my response!

And just like that, my gym mate turned to leave, probably off to quiz someone less philosophical about their workout routine!