So which generation trains the hardest in the gym and is the most disciplined with their diet?

To answer this question we must first break up our generations into the three different groups that I spoke of in my first instalment of this two part blog.

Let the Battle Begin!

Baby Boomers

I’ve got respect for my elders so I’m going to start off this battle with the Baby Boomer Generation. We work with lots of Baby Boomers. In fact, about 50% of our clientele are Baby Boomers. And if you are thinking of using old age as an excuse as to why you can’t do something, don’t tell the Baby Boomers that we work with that! Working with this generation for the past two decades has given me some insight to how they think and how they approach the struggles of everyday life and their mentality when it comes to hard work, both inside and outside of the gym.

It’s no secret that the older we become the more susceptible we become to both chronic and acute injuries. The body can only take so much wear and tear, especially after years and years of punishing it with regular exercise, hard labour, and the everyday stresses that we deal with in life. So by the time that someone in their late 50’s and over begins to work with us, there’s bound to be a few health and physical issues that they are dealing with.

But I can honestly say without a doubt that the majority of these people that we work with rarely if ever complain about their aches and pains. It’s almost as if the Baby Boomers have learned to lived with pain and understand that bitching and complaining about it will not solve anything. With that said, they are open to suggestions and appreciate our advice when it comes to diet and exercise. The majority of these clients are not interested in ripped six packs and bikini-ready bodies. They’ve been on the planet for over half a decade and plan on staying on it for at least another half. Therefore they understand the importance of following a healthy diet and incorporating regular exercise into their daily lives so that they are able to watch their Grandchildren grow old.

Do the Baby Boomers train hard? You’re damn right they do! They have a reason that goes beyond aesthetics and an incentive that really is larger then life.

Generation X (The “Xers”)

Being an Xer myself, you would think that I would be a little bias to this generation. And I am. But not when it comes to diet and exercise as I don’t think that we train any harder or diet any stricter then our counterparts.

I absolutely love working with clients from this generation. They’re young enough that they can pretty much get away with doing anything in the gym (within reason) without injuring themselves, yet old enough to understand that they’re not going to develop a God-like physique overnight and therefore don’t push themselves beyond their limits.

Most of my generation grew up without computers and/or the influence of social media. As kids we idolized the likes of the Schwarzeneggers and Jane Fondas of the era when it came to building muscle and burning body fat, and were taught that the only way to achieve those impressive physiques was through intense exercise and rigorous training.

If I were to knock our generation for anything, it would be for our lack of effort in the kitchen. I think many of us grew up in a time where convenience was more important then quality when it comes to nutrition. Therefore as a coach and fitness professional, I stress the importance of cooking your own meals and trying your best to only consume whole foods when it comes to diet and nutrition. Generation X is by far not a lazy generation, we just need to get back to the basics when it comes to doing what’s good for our bodies outside of the gym, so that it compliments the efforts that we are putting when we are inside of the gym.

The Millennials

Okay, I’m going to be honest. I don’t understand the Millennials. I don’t like Selfies, I don’t know how to “Boomerang” I don’t see the point in updating my Facebook status every 5 minutes to tell everyone where I am, and I don’t know what the hell Snapchat is!

I know I’ve been critical of Millennials in the past however as more and more of this generation begins to work with us, I’ve started to appreciate and respect these young ones for their smarts and quick wits. Most of the Millennials of whom we work with are quick learners. They seem to listen well to instruction and are open to being critiqued.

I don’t agree with the label that this generation is lazy however I do think that many of these youths have unrealistic expectations when it comes to their results with their health and their physiques. I do think Social Media has played a significant role and has a major influence on how this generation views life and what can be achieved with little to no work.

We are now living in a “Want it Now” generation. It seems as if many people (not just the Millennials) are not willing to put in the necessary work needed to achieve the results they desire – both with their bodies and their careers. I come from a time where if you wanted to lose body fat, you cleaned up your diet and performed additional cardio. Nowadays I have people asking me for what fat burner to take or the best fad diet to follow so that they don’t have to suffer a bit.

I personally think a little bit of suffering is actually good for us. I believe that taking one’s self out of their comfort zone, helps build character. Yes, taking steroids will help you become more muscular and yes, I’m sure you can become leaner if your foods fit your daily macros (FU*K YOU IIFYM DIET!!!!) however these are easy ways out. And in this case, I cannot respect easy.

If, I were to offer the Millennials any piece of advice it would be to not be afraid to put in some hard work and long hours. Because in the end, it will make you better for it.

And The Winner Is…….

So who comes out on top in the Iron Jungle?

The Bad Ass Baby Boomers?

The Grinders of Generation X?

or The Self-Motivated Millennials?

None.

A person cannot be defined by how hard they work or how disciplined they are because of an era of which they are from. There are multiply factors that will dictate whether a person has “what it takes” to take their physique and their life up to the next level. And none of which has anything to do with age.

In closing, it’s a tie. And I know that nobody likes a tie game, so if you disagree with my assessment then prove me wrong. Show me what you can do in the gym and how much your willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals. Make me believe that your generation deserves the title of the “Hardest Working Generation” and wins the “Battle of the Ages”.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance