Question: Do you struggle with your fitness?
Do you struggle with motivation to workout?
Do you struggle with not feeling good about your body, your progress and your results in the gym?
Chances are you're looking at the wrong goals and because of this you are constantly feeling unaccomplished, which leads to feelings of failure and never getting to where you want to be, it becomes extremely challenging to motivate yourself.
Does this sound familiar?
All those people in magazines, at competitions, and filling instagram with their awesome workout pics are the small percentage of the population who are intrinsically motivated. Who are able to suffer and sacrifice based on some internal psychology. What's important to note is that the majority of the world is not like this, maybe YOU are not like this AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!
Most people suffer along thinking: Why can't I be like them? Why can't I like fitness and working out? Why is this so hard for me? What is wrong with me? Will I ever get to my goal? Why don't I have abs? Why am I even doing this?
What is the secret?
The secret is to truly change your entire mindset when it comes to your health and fitness. You have to change your goal. You have to change your understanding of what fitness is, and only then will you become successful.
First off, success is not just about losing weight, looking a certain way, or fitting into smaller clothes. These are not good goals; these are byproducts of adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Secondly, your fitness isn't a 6-week program. If you think you can achieve a healthier lifestyle in 6 weeks it means you think you only need to commit to your fitness for six weeks and you're setting yourself up for disappointment.
What is success?
Success is participating in regular fitness and physical activity until you finish your program.
When do you finish your program?
When you die.
This is the secret to fitness.
What have you been told by fitness marketing over the years? Decide to 'make a change' and fit into different clothes or look a certain way or lose X number of pounds and then embark on a regimented program to get to those "goals".
We forget that humans are motivated by the now. Not by things in the future. So if your goal is to drop 2 sizes or to lose 15 pounds, every day before you hit that goal you have failed. Every day. Hence the proliferation of 'quick fix' programs and '4 weeks to a new you' sales pitches! Traditional fitness marketing is constantly trying to get you there faster so you feel accomplished.
But rarely do people have the time, energy, coaching, or drive to do what it takes to hit that goal in a fast enough time period to have them feel accomplished. Those people I mentioned above who are able to accomplish this -- that small minority who are on the magazines, go to the Olympics, and compete in advanced challenges, they are the MINORITY who are able to be motivated by long term rewards.
Note: minority.
So what can you do as you struggle with this?
You are doing it.
You have taken your valuable time to read this message and the next step is to reach out to a community and coaches for support. This is step number one. Humans are social creatures and need support.
Next you MUST reframe your idea of what success is. At our brick and mortar business, and with our online business we promote the same message -- frequency of training leads to success!
Frequency of training is THE only goal you should EVER be focused on. Add physical activity to your lives daily, and focused fitness to your life 2-7 times a week.
The little things all add up. Yes, take the stairs instead of the escalator. Chop your vegetables for dinner instead of buying pre-chopped. These are your daily physical activity goals. Then do a focused training program 2-7 times a week depending on what you can fit into your life.
One of our online members who is a busy Mom of four wrote us this week to say she took the stairs every day and you did 2 of our Online workouts.
CELEBRATE THAT SHIT! THIS IS WHAT FITNESS IS ALL ABOUT!
What did we tell her? You just accomplished your goal. YOU ARE a success.
"So don't stress if one week you only train once. That's ok. Next week hit two workouts. Over 50 years that won't matter. Regular and consistent physical activity is everything."
Will this make her drop a size by next week? No.
But if she continues for incorporating training and more activity into her life over the next 20 years - I PROMISE you that it will have a huge impact. She will be able to hike, travel, play with her grandkids, and enjoy life!
If you try a 6-week program and drop 15 pounds and then stop doing fitness (which over 85% of people who have short term goals find themselves doing) then 20 years from now you will be doing the exact same thing; trying to figure out how to find motivation and how to hit your short-term goals.
Stop the cycle.
You have to be active until the end of your 'program', which means the end of your life!
There is literally NOTHING more important than that. Nothing.
So don't stress if one week you only train once. That's ok. Next week hit two workouts. Over 50 years that won't matter. Regular and consistent physical activity is everything.
If you can recognize this and truly change the way you look at fitness and health you will have a better life. Seriously, I promise you.
How do you deal with your current struggles? One step at a time. One day at a time. One flight of stairs at a time, and set your new goal and timeframe -- forever.
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