Talk is cheap.
I’ve been in the fitness space for almost 20 years, and you learn a few things over time. The most important is that people continue to repackage the same principles in new wrappers and sell them again as fresh ideas. There are only a few truths that stand the test of time, don’t eat like a child, eat real food, move more, and recover well. Any advice outside of that is probably trivial if not untrue.
This article is not meant to rag on the bad advice, snake oil, and shakeweights of the world, although that could be a whole other topic entirely, where would could dissect how silly these small fitnes trends are, and how they aren;t actually making an impact on peoples overall health. But I digress, we’re here to actually discuss the sound advice, and why just giving it isn;t enough.
I titled this post “fitness advice is trash,” and not because the content is false, but because just telling people what do isn’t enough. I saw a post this morning that was about changing your life in 3 easy steps, and it could have been any one of the millions of influencers out there that said it, because it’s generic, and it usually involves these three things: Eat more protein, get more walking or movement in, and sleep better. Please excuse me while I pick up the pieces of my blown mind from that groundbreaking advice!
Let’s be honest, no one is going to argue with that advice, of course better food, exercise, and recovery are the ticket to being healthier, but this is starting to sound like when someone writes into Jocko and asks how they can get up earlier every day, and he responds with “just get up earlier.”
As humans in a first world society, we don’t exactly need more knowledge on what we’re supposed to do, we need action. Having worked with hundreds of clients over the years, I know damn well the problem isn;t that no one has never told them to eat broccoli instead of Cheetos, the problem is that they can;t get out of their own way and make it happen!
There’s a massive psychological aspect to change and reaching your goals, and I feel as though being only a few weeks out from the new year is a great time to start this conversation. What is going to be the driving force that makes you choose eggs and a protein shake for breakfast over skipping it or eating cereal, how will you drive to the gym after work when you’re dog tired instead of straight home? Will you have the will power to go to bed at 10 instead of binging Dancing with the Stars? It’s all well and good to say we will do these things, and obviously we know we should, but what MAKES us do it?
Having a strong and compelling WHY needs to come first.
We’ve all heard the stories of the dude that was fat for 45 years and tried every crash diet, nothing ever worked, then one day after a massive heart attack he’s lying in a hospital bed faced with his own mortality, looking at a photo of his 12 year old, and suddenly find a real reason to make change, then loses 100 pounds over the next year and get his life together.
I’m not saying that we need to wait for such a drastic slap in the face, but clearly fitting into a sweet bathing suit for a trip to Myrtle Beach was not a strong enough reason for change for this man, and maybe you need a stronger one also.
When you can truly come up with the real reason why you want to get healthier, eat better, get stronger, leaner, happier, it takes all that advice you know you should listen to, and it makes you pumped to implement it, because you have that reason to make it happen, a reason that you just cant wrap your mind around failing.
So here we are, weeks before setting our resolutions, and we have a task. Decide what success looks like. Is it 20 pounds lighter, less pain in your joints from better food choices, a better outlook on life because you’re proud of who you are? That’s the goal, and it’s a great start. Next you need a reason why you want it, and if you ask yourself 3 times why, you can get close to the reason.
Goal: I want to lose 20 pounds.
Why?
Because it will make me look better.
Why do you want to look better?
Because I will have more confidence in my daily life.
Why do you want more confidence?
So I can be proud of who I am!
Imagine that feeling, walking around proud, knowing you put in the work, 6 months from now, looking good in whatever you wear, holding your head up high, carrying around the knowledge that you’re a disciplined person that made a change, that’s what success looks like.
Now we have a goal, and real reason why, next we need a plan for accountability. Is there someone in your life that can support you? Hire a coach? Maybe you take the habits required to reach that goal and create accountability around each one of them… go to the gym? find a training partner that’s already doing it, make them expect to see you. Eat better food? Take a picture of everything you eat and send it to a friend that already eats healthy.
When I have a new client sign up for either nutrition and habit coaching, training, or whatever, we go through this process. Goal, Why, Habits, Accountability. Start working through this in your life, and you’ll find you can make real change.
So yes, eating protein for breakfast, moving more, and getting more sleep will change your life, but not of you don;t do them, and often times that’s the toughest part.
If you need help, if you’re struggling to find the accountability to make it happen, we do this in real time for busy parents right here in Colorado Springs.
Use this link to schedule a free conversation where we go through what your goals are, talk about the habits that will get you there, and detail a plan of accountability.
Let’s stop blowing smoke, and work towards changing our lives for real.
