Pointe Fitness has alluded to a popular tag line for tennis shoes before. The “Just Do It” motto is a great motivator for many that are ready to do. There are two primary halves of taking action, however. First, one must show up. This month the focus will be less on what to do and more on simply being there to do.

Gym memberships are sold every day. In the Ballwin area, it is difficult to go more than a few miles without seeing a large fitness center or smaller fitness studio. Although there are plenty of gym memberships sold, there is a glaring gap from the sale to members showing up. Statistics vary depending on the source. A National Public Radio article from 2014 estimated as many as 67% of membership purchasers never show up. That statistic is pretty shocking considering it uses the words “never show up”. A casual review of other sources brings yours truly to the conclusion that 60-80% of membership holders show up less than twice per week on average. This is a little less shocking, but still raises eyebrows.

Let’s address the less shocking, eyebrow raising idea that 60-80% of gym members use their memberships less than twice per week. Assuming that these members are not exercising when they are not at their gyms, this is very troubling. Surely there are exceptions as some members may decide to go for a walk, take a bike ride, etc. on nice days. If we take the stats at face value, however, exercising less than twice each week is simply not cutting it. Not showing up is a guarantee that nothing will get accomplished.

Putting exercise and gym memberships aside for a moment, the general thought of not showing up and its effects are almost never positive. Whether in personal life or professional life, being a no show has residual effects. Imagine being a no show for your spouse or kids, a friend, sports teammate, or a co-worker. All of these examples create negative effects beyond the ‘no show’, itself. In these cases, your family, friends, teammates, or co-workers take notice. The amount of reciprocal respect and support naturally diminishes. The “action” of being a no show speaks loudly. 

Our bodies also take notice when it comes to being a no show for exercise. We all know our bodies well enough to know when it tells us we feel healthy and strong versus lethargic and weak. Among other factors, guidelines to how often and how intense one should exercise each week depends greatly on the individual’s current level of fitness. The American College of Sports Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control state two basic guidelines:

• All healthy adults aged 18–65 yr should participate in moderate intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 30 min on five days per week, or vigorous intensity aerobic activity for a minimum of 20 min on three days per week.
• Every adult should perform activities that maintain or increase muscular strength and endurance for a minimum of two days per week.

These two guidelines strip exercise down to the bare minimums. Considering these minimums and gym membership statistics, it is easy to conclude that Americans are not physically active enough.

Exercise and its importance to health is a no brainer. Just as you listen to others in your life and observe their reactions if you are a no show, listen to your body. It will definitely let you know when you are consistently a no show for exercise. “Just Show Up”, then “Just Do It”.