Getting to your goals is never a straight shot. You never reach goals without experiencing bumps in the road. Did you think it would be any different? Did you think that you could accomplish anything worth accomplishing without some sort of difficulty? Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded. Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.” As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” The determining factor between success and failure is determination. If you are determined to reach your goals, you will.
Fit looks different on everyone.
When it comes to fitness, I see people getting discouraged a lot because “they aren’t seeing results.” But what they really mean is that they aren’t reaching some internal goal that they have for themselves (oftentimes this goal isn’t even realistic). What some people may not realize is that getting results isn’t all external appearance, in fact it’s mostly not. There are much more important things that are happening during your fitness journey than just outward appearance. You are getting stronger, mentally and physically. Your heart, lungs, and joints are getting healthier. Your digestive system is working more efficiently. You are sleeping better. You have a more even temperament. It’s important to remember that fit looks different on everyone. Some people can easily have ripped abs, some people have long lean muscles, some have bulky muscles, some don’t have any of that. It’s not about getting down to 6% body fat. It’s about taking care of your body and finding a fitness/nutrition routine that works for you. So, when you feel as though you aren’t seeing results, ask yourself these questions:
First, some things that can hinder results:
1. Am I following my plan 100%? (Are you getting your scheduled workouts in? Are you eating correctly?)
2. Are I drinking enough water?
3. Are I getting enough sleep?
4. Are I over-stressed?
Second, remind yourself of non-scale victories:
1. Am I stronger than I was before?
2. Can I fit into/feel comfortable in clothes that I couldn’t before?
3. Are my health stats better than they were before (blood pressure, resting heart rate, cholesterol, etc)
And, most of all, find a trainer/coach that you trust. Because they can push you past what you think you are capable of and get you the results that you thought you could never have.