12 years ago when I first started working as a PT, money was super-tight.
So I bought myself the cheapest wristwatch I could find.
A £20 Casio, plain black and pretty basic…but it did the job.
It tells me the time, has a countdown function, a stopwatch, and it just about lights up.
(Full disclaimer – it does claim to be water resistant to 100m but apart from some pretty grim outdoor sessions I’ve never really tested that.)
Now over the years I’ve been in the fortunate position to be able to upgrade my watch.
First there were fitbits, then garmins, and then the super-slick Apple Watch.
They’ve all caught my eye, and yet as I type this it’s that same Casio watch still sat on my wrist.
The reason?
It works for me. It does what I need it to.
When I train I can set it to time my rest periods and beep at me when I’m lying prone in a puddle of my own sweat.
When I get up at 5am I can check the time without turning the lights on and disturbing my wife.
And I can see what time it is.
Job done.
So, the way I see it, I’ve no need to change it.
Yes, a Fitbit would give me a (pretty inaccurate) run down of my steps or how many calories I’ve burned.
An Apple Watch would tell me when someone has text me, emailed me, poked me…probably wipe my bum for me too.
But I don’t feel like I need those things. I’m all for keeping it simple and if something is working, don’t change it.
And that is an absolute belter of an analogy for your approach to training.
If you’ve been paying £20 a month for access to a budget gym, using it regularly and seeing great results, then don’t change a thing.
Keep doing what works for you!
If however, this time last year you signed up for a gym but since February have been more rarely sighted than a festive salad…maybe it’s time for an upgrade…
The definition of insanity is NOT a DVD that magically leaps into the machine and makes you work out three times a week.
It is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result.
Learn from your mistakes.
