November 22, 2022

Why Do You Want To Be Fit?

How do fitness and being physically active impact our lives? And more importantly, why do we want to be fit in the first place? Learn more!

What is it that drives you to seek fitness? Is it the way you look and feel after a workout, radiating with energy and an inner glow?

Is it the sense of accomplishment you feel when you finally master that new move or achieve your goals?

Or is it something deeper – a connection to your authentic self, forged through movement and breath?

Whatever the reason, one thing is clear – being fit matters. And why wouldn’t it?

After all, when we’re fit, everything just seems to fall into place.

Life feels good on every level.

So let’s explore what fitness means to us – and how we can make it a lifelong habit.

External Validation

Some people go to the gym for the sake of being externally validated. They want to feel like people are noticing their progress and that they're becoming someone that is more physically appealing.

And well, while the modern day narrative will tell you that shouldn’t be the main reason to take care of yourself, it is in fact important for people for a number of reasons.

First, it can help people feel good about themselves. When people receive compliments or other forms of positive feedback from others, it can boost their self-esteem and make them feel better about themselves.

Second, external validation can help people feel like they belong. (this is the third primal human need, after survival and safety!). When people feel like they belong to a group or community, it can make them feel more connected and engaged.

Lastly, external validation can help people make better decisions. When people receive input from others, it can help them to better understand their options and make more informed decisions.

Self-Confidence

Some people go to the gym to train in order to have more self-confidence. For these people, the gym is not just a place to get physical exercise, but it is also a place to build that confidence and develop a positive outlook on life. They feel that if they can accomplish something physically, then they can transfer that success to other areas of their life.

They see the gym as a place where they can test their limits and boundaries and push themselves further than they thought possible. This type of training builds mental toughness and grit, qualities that are essential for success in any area of life.

Then there is the other layer of confidence. The one you develop between you and your body

Imagine this - you come home after a long day. Throughout the day, you’ve done a lot. Each and every part of your body is filled with blood and you’re energized. You take your clothes off before going to bed and you look into the mirror.

This is the ultimate in vulnerability that will display your self-confidence. Naked. Nothing on or around you to mask or hide anything. No fancy watches. No nice clothes. No expensive cars. No distractions. Just you and your body.

Now, imagine doing that regularly and seeing that you are looking better by the day. What kind of effect do you think all the hard work you put in and seeing the results you are earning would have on your level of self-confidence?

But Mostly… Procreation.

Now, last but not least, we just HAVE to talk about how things work in the brain.

The brain is constantly making judgments about the people we see around us, and one of the things it takes into account is physical fitness.

From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense that the brain would be wired to prefer mates who are physically fit and able to produce healthy offspring. After all, good genes are essential for survival, and a fit body is a sign of good genes.

Of course, not everyone is attracted to the same type of body, but the general preference for fitness is hardwired into our brains.

Perhaps, this is why each and every one of us subconsciously leans toward fitness…Because ultimately, we’re made up of trillions of cells, all working towards a common goal - procreation.

So, listen up… next time you see someone with a great body, remember that it's not just you - your brain is recognizing a prime mate!

Final Thoughts

People want to be fit for a variety of reasons. Some people want to feel better about themselves, others want to set an example for their children, and still, others want to improve their health.

No matter what the reason, there are countless benefits to being fit that can help improve our lives in many ways. So make sure to stick to your fitness habits and bring good health and a good shape way into your later years!

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What Does Functional Training Actually Mean (If Anything at All)?

May 2, 2025

A Guide from a Personal Trainer in Nashville Functional training originally focused on improving real-life movement patterns like lifting, climbing, and carrying. Today, however, the term is often misused. In this guide, Coach Jim—a leading personal trainer in Nashville —breaks down what functional training really means, clears up common myths, and shows you how to build workouts that truly improve strength, mobility, and everyday performance. The Real Origins of Functional Training Functional training started in rehabilitation settings. Physical therapists needed to help patients regain the ability to perform daily tasks—getting up from chairs, climbing stairs, carrying groceries—safely and independently. From there, the concept moved into strength and conditioning , especially for athletes. Coaches began designing programs that mimicked the movements, speeds, and forces encountered in sport, believing that exercises should reflect the demands athletes face outside the gym. It made sense: real-world movement is multi-planar, integrated, and often performed under load or fatigue. Training that mirrors those challenges better prepares people for life outside the gym—a philosophy I bring to my personal training Nashville programs. Where It Went Wrong Fast forward to today, and "functional training" is so watered down it’s almost meaningless. You'll hear it attached to bootcamps, TikTok trends, and group fitness classes that may or may not have any real connection to improving real-life function . Here’s the problem: ➔ Functional for whom? ➔ Functional for what purpose? A competitive powerlifter needs a different kind of "functional" than a 70-year-old wanting to garden pain-free. A baseball pitcher needs different movement skills than a new mom recovering from back pain. Without context, "functional training" becomes vague, subjective, and often misleading—even for people searching for fitness training in Nashville today. Principles Over Buzzwords Rather than asking is this functional training?, it’s better to ask: Does this follow good training principles? Here’s what matters: Specificity: Does it target the movement patterns, energy systems, and qualities the person needs? Transferability: Will the adaptations carry over to real-world tasks, sports, or injury resilience? Progressive Overload: Is it challenging enough to promote strength and adaptation over time? Movement Quality: Does it reinforce good mechanics, posture, and control? Individualization: Is it tailored to the person’s needs, abilities, and goals? If a program checks these boxes, it's functional —no matter what it’s called. This is the exact approach I use with my Nashville personal training clients —focusing on principles that deliver real-world results, not gimmicks. Common Misconceptions About Functional Training Let’s clear up a few myths that still float around: Myth #1: Machines aren’t functional. Machines can be incredibly useful, especially for early rehab or hypertrophy-focused phases. They allow targeted loading without high stability demands—which can support real-world function depending on how they’re used. Myth #2: More instability = more function. Training on BOSU balls and wobble boards has its place (think ankle rehab or proprioception drills). But constantly destabilizing exercises? Not necessary. Most life (and sports) happens on stable ground. Stable surfaces allow better loading, strength gains, and neuromuscular coordination—what I emphasize in all my personal training Nashville TN programs. Myth #3: Functional training avoids heavy lifting. Quite the opposite. Functional training often involves lifting heavy—because strength matters for almost everyone. Farmers need grip strength. Athletes need power. Older adults need the ability to carry groceries or get off the floor. Load isn’t the problem. Poor application is. So, Should We Keep the Term "Functional Training"? The term can still have value—if it's clearly defined and applied correctly. At its best, it reminds us that training should serve a purpose beyond just aesthetics. It emphasizes integrated movement patterns, core control, joint stability, and real-world carryover—principles central to Nashville fitness training done the right way. But without that context? It's just another buzzword. The smarter move: Zoom in on function for the individual. A mother managing back pain needs different patterns than a CrossFitter chasing PRs. A retiree rehabbing a knee needs different strength work than a semi-pro athlete. Good training doesn’t chase trends. It meets the person where they are—and builds from there. Final Thoughts Functional training started with a powerful goal: ➔ Help people move better , live better , and perform better . But over time, its meaning has been blurred by trends, marketing, and misapplication. Today, smart training isn’t about chasing trends. It's about asking better questions: Is this training functional for the client’s real-world needs?