What 170 Strangers Tought Us About Getting In Shape

Blakley and I just got back from an Airstream Rally on the beach yesterday.

It was quite impressive to see 170 shiny campers together with like-minded people swapping stories, all calling themselves “Airstreamers.”

Not “people who own an Airstream.”

They are Airstreamers. It’s a big part of their identity.

170 Shiny Airstreams in Paradise

It got me thinking on the drive home about why so many people with good intentions still struggle with eating better and working out consistently.

Deep down they still identify as “the person with bad genetics,” “someone who always struggles,” or “not the in-shape type.”

So when they start acting like the strong, disciplined version of themselves, it feels fake.

That internal conflict (called cognitive dissonance) pulls them right back to their old habits because those habits feel like who they really are.

I’ve been there!

The people who actually stick with it long-term aren’t the ones who just try harder.

They shift their identity first.

They stop saying, “I’m trying to get in shape.”

They start saying, “I’m the kind of person who takes care of my body.”

Small wording change.

Massive difference in results.

See… Once your identity lines up with your new habits, you don’t have to white-knuckle it every day.

The actions you want to take feel natural.

And that new identity doesn’t just help you in the gym, it gives you the energy and confidence to live the adventurous life you actually want.

Hitting the road. Exploring new places. Keeping up with the people and experiences that matter most.

So here’s the question: Who do you want to become?

Not what do you want to achieve, but who is the person you want to be six months from now?

That identity shift has to come first. Everything else gets easier after it.

If you’re ready to do that work (the stuff that actually lasts), click HERE and tell me what that new version of you looks like.

Until next time… Lift heavy, and be nice.

Jonathan

P.S. - I went on a long rant on this topic on last week’s podcast if you’re interested. You can watch it HERE.