One of the most common reasons I hear when I ask someone what might stop them from achieving their fitness goals is “I can’t afford it”.
I won’t deny, JCFit is not the cheapest gym in town and nor do we want to be. We want to be the BEST gym in town and I believe we are that as we employ the best coaches in Jersey City and have the best community family of members. We sell results, not a membership to a gym that you’ll never use and our coaches are extremely well trained in various methods to help you achieve your goals, whether they be to lose some weight, train for a competition, recover from injury or learn to make better nutrition options (and many others). Your success means as much to us as it does to you.
Jumping into something new is hard. There’s a time commitment, an emotional commitment and a financial commitment.
Change is hard, but it will be worth it because you are worth it.
Read this one sentence, think about it deeply.
“People pay for what they value”
People spend money on the things that are important to them. It’s how they want to be identified.
Some people value a nice car or nice clothes. Others value the convenience of paying $5 for a coffee vs brewing it at home. Personally, I started valuing experiences over material things about 6 years ago which helped me make the decision to quit my job in banking (read more about that here)
I value my health and wellness (and the $5 coffee!). My time and financial commitments prioritize those things. I think of it as an insurance premium vs future healthcare and prescription costs.
If you share those values but still wonder how you can afford it, please keep reading and I’ll try to answer the question “Can I afford to NOT workout?”
Mental Acuity
Multiple studies have shown that exercise improves cognitive ability. In his book “Spark” Dr. John Ratey shows how exercise helps improve focus, fight depression and make better decisions. A sharp mind gives a professional the ability to think through projects, and the entrepreneur the space to develop new ideas, or create a new line of revenue.
Energy and Immunity
People who work out regularly are more productive at work than those who don’t, according to research published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. These same people miss less work. Physical fitness builds immunity and reduces many major health risks. Absences and decreased productivity can mean lost opportunities for advancement and lower-income. Bosses often look unfavorably upon those who are frequently out of work.
How much difference does one promotion make over a career? A study in the Journal of Labor Research found that men who work out regularly make 6% more than their sedentary counterparts on average. For women, the numbers are higher. Women who work out regularly make 10% more on average than those who don’t.
Health Care
A 2012 study by the Journal of the American Heart Association showed a savings of $2500 per year for people that got adequate exercise. Adjusting that for health care cost increases of ~5% per year gives a 2020 savings of over $3500.
Taking this a step further, we have routinely seen folks stop taking medicines because their symptoms have gone away. This is in agreement with their doctors and usually after achieving body composition and health goals. Some examples (30 day dose): Statins ($36-$600); Metformin (extended) $235-$1200; Xanax $60-$100. Most folks have health insurance, but are still paying co-pays on these drugs.
Clothing
You may spend less on clothes. The average adult will gain about 2 lbs a year from their 20s through their 50s. What this means is that many of us have about 3 sets of clothes in our closet. What we currently wear, and probably one or two sizes smaller. When our clients are consistent and establish good nutritional patterns we see them drop clothing sizes or have their clothes fit better.
Spend less on Fast Food
Seventy percent of Americans eat fast food three times per week at an average cost of $12.50 per meal. Our clients who work on establishing healthy nutrition patterns routinely cut that in half by planning ahead and preparing healthy, nutritious meals and snacks. An average savings of $18 per week is another $950 savings.
In summary, one way of looking at the cost of your JCFit membership is an investment in your future. A down payment now that can save you a lot of money and make you even more money, in the longer term.
There’s no better investment than in your health and fitness. It’ll allow you to do the things you want to do, when you want to do them.
Leave a legacy. For your friends. For your family. For your community.
They all need you.
So I have one question.
Can you afford to NOT workout?
