A lot of people come to fitness coaches like me and expect miracles. They expect to be given some “secret” and find out what it is that we know that they do not. What are we going to do that will give them the physique they want quickly? I am good at what I do and some have even said that I’m great at my job, but the truth is that there is no secret. It may not be popular or headline grabbing, but there is no quick fix and a shortcut simply doesn’t exist. It’s important for people to accept it so we can concentrate on the only way to get what you want. That consists of hard work, commitment and determination. Sorry, that’s probably not what you wanted to hear, but it’s the truth.
We spend so much of our time looking for that “quick fix” or “secret” that will instantly give you shredded 6-pack abs, jacked arms or big round Brazilian butt. These quick fixes promise you instant results with minimal effort. They tell you what you want to hear yet deliver very little, except disappointment. Deep down, we know that these gimmicks don’t work, yet we still fall for them and shell out our hard-earned money when the next one comes along. Before we know it, we have tried a dozen of these fad diets, gimmicky training programs and useless exercise machines only to have several years blow past us without seeing any results. We are usually in worse condition than we started! The so-called “quick fixes” take years from us and get us nowhere.
On the other hand, if we took the logical way and understood that it might take us many months of investing the necessary nutrition and training principles into our plan, we would be sure to get results. It’s amazing to think that in as little as 12 short weeks, with proper dedication and commitment to eating clean and training, you can achieve incredible results in both losing body fat and gaining lean muscle!
We need to get away from these quick fixes and fad diets that promise the world, yet deliver very little, and concentrate on training and eating correctly which are the cornerstone principles of transforming your physique. However, the response that most people come up with is “I do not have the time or I am too busy”. My answer to all of these people is that you need to make time, be selfish and stop making excuses! If you truly want to see results with any endeavor in your life, you will do the things necessary in order to achieve them, period.
We are told from a very young age to avoid being selfish. We have it hammered into us over and over again, but in the world of fitness, you need to be selfish to make changes! In order to achieve your dream body and reach the health and fitness goals you desire, it is essential that you become selfish. Anyone who is a success at anything in life has had to show a bit of selfishness. This is a positive thing and one which will also help others long-term.
We are taught to put others first, to always look after others and to avoid making it all about yourself. To a certain degree, these are admirable characteristics to have. However, there is nothing wrong with putting yourself first now and then. In fact, it is imperative.
How useful are you to your partner, family and friends if you are overweight, unhealthy and always tired? How do you think your family and friends would feel if you’re full of energy, fun to be around and able to give your best to everyone? There is no comparison! In order to be this person, you must be a little selfish.
One of the biggest excuses I hear from people who want to lose weight and get fit is that they don’t have any time. This is nonsense! We all have 24 hours in each day, so if you truly want to make changes in your life then make the time! If it is selfish to take 30 minutes out of your day to exercise and keep yourself fit, then it’s perfectly fine to be a little selfish. You will feel better, have more energy and generally be a nicer person to be around.
If it is selfish to take a few hours each week to prepare and cook healthy meals to ensure you are getting nutritious food that your body requires for optimal health, then be selfish. Again, the benefits you will get from doing this are definitely worth it!
You are only setting yourself back by making excuses. We think that working hard, sacrificing, toiling away and putting up with pain, ailments or weight issues are what we are meant to do. We have been taught to just “deal with it”, but this attitude is causing a lot of our health problems.
My own experience with this was during my time working as a chef. I worked very hard and some days I even worked long 15 hour shifts. I was not eating properly even though I was surrounded by food all day. I did not exercise because I did not have the time. I was too busy with other important things in my life and believed that boosting my career would make myself successful. I had no time for personal relationships, eating healthy or training in the gym. I believed that I had to sacrifice everything and work extremely hard because that’s how to get ahead. What do you think happened? Yep, I burned out!
I weighed the heaviest and was the unhealthiest that I had ever been in my life. I broke up with my partner since I was way too engrossed with my work and I was also seeing my family far less than I wished. Yes, I was working my way up the career ladder, but other things suffered. So, I decided to quit.
Now, I look after myself first and foremost. I make time to exercise and cook my meals every week. This has helped to make me the fittest, leanest and healthiest I have ever been. I am “selfish” in the fact that if I have not worked out or prepared my meals, nothing else matters until I have taken care of these things. There is no point in me sacrificing myself to do things for others. Once I have taken care of myself, I’m then in a better place to do things with my friends and family. What use am I to the people I love if I am always tired, grumpy and not focused on the things we are doing together?
What’s the point in trying to live a constructive life if you are continuously eating unhealthy foods, not exercising and not maintaining your health? I hear clients say they have no time to eat properly since they are too busy doing things for others. The solution is to ask them to do it! Put the onus on them to take care of things so you can have a little time to better yourself.
It might not be easy since you will be trying to break ingrained habits that you have followed for years, but you can do it. There is no point pretending it will be simple because it won’t be, but things worth doing rarely are. There is no other way around it. You need to put yourself first to help yourself and the others around you to live a vibrant and healthy life!
