THE BEAUTIFULLY MESSY TRUTH
When the majority of people think of success (myself included), they like to think of it as a consistent path with absolutely zero downturns or mistakes. This is because we are always seeing the end product of success. The guy with a six pack, or the girl with toned legs and a flat stomach. As someone who has experienced the twists and turns of what I like to call "the success curve", allow me to shed some light on 3 of the biggest things that go on behind the stage, particularly to dieting and working out.
TEMPTATION
Oh yeah, it's there alright. Candy bars from Halloween are the biggest burden to me currently! Whether it's sweet or salty treats that turn you on, trying to stick to a strict diet does not look like that straight line at the top for the majority of people. BUT THAT'S OK! I guarantee you that even the top Instagram models can eat "clean" 24/7/365.
Now what I have found that works best to keep the general shape of the "success curve" moving upwards is to INCORPORATE treats and yummy things into the diet. Why is that? In the short term, it can seem like a hinderance. But when used responsibly, it is an insurance against binge eating, frustration, and mental fatigue. In fact, a recent study shows that exerting willpower can impair the memory storing function of the brain, making things more difficult to remember. So for long-term results, and for the sake of sanity and enjoyment of a healthy balanced lifestyle, treat yourself once in awhile!
LAZINESS
This one is self-explanatory, but keep in mind that your fitness idols did not get where they are by staying in bed all day, and neither will you. In order to stay motivated and on track, a good workout routine should incorporate some "lazy" rest days. These will aid in repair and recovery of your body after a few intense workouts. However if you are healthy and have a workout scheduled that day, you owe it to yourself to attend! I've been there myself, and the one thing I can say is that I have never ended a workout thinking "I'd be better off if I had just stayed in bed".
IMPATIENCE
You've eaten responsibly all week, and worked up a sweat during all your workouts. So where are the abs?! Maybe you've been on track for a few weeks now, only to see minimal progress. This is yet another beautifully messy truth. I can speak from experience when I say there is nothing worse than knowing I'm doing everything right yet the results come slow as ever. When it comes to results, I like the saying "hard to gain, easy to maintain". Hard work ALWAYS pays off in the end. But if you feel like you've hit a sticking point somewhere along the way, here's some advice to help make sure you're doing everything you can to bring on results, at any rate.
1. Track EVERYTHING. You can't grow (or shrink) what you don't measure. If you're having a tough time losing weight, track how much food you eat, and then try eating less than that. There's a more specific science to it, but that is for another blog post. Track your workouts, your cardio, your weight, everything. Knowing as many variables as possible helps YOU out when you need to pinpoint a potential issue to a problem.
2. Stick with it. This was a valuable lesson I had to learn the hard way. I became too tempted to try new diets and workout programs when the ones I was on would have worked out just fine had I stuck with them longer. I am now making more progress than ever on the same routine I've been doing for 14 weeks now. Consistency is key. On the flipside to this- you need to know when to cut your losses.
3. Know when to cut your losses. If you have been on a certain program for months now, and have been tracking it religiously, yet fail to see results, you most likely need to try something new. All too often people adhere to bad programs in the hopes that they work out in the end. This justs wastes precious time you could be making progress with. I would recommend adhering to a program for AT LEAST 6-10 weeks and only then trying something new if you see absolutely no results.
IN THE END
We've all got our struggles. The three I listed above just happened to have a bigger impact on me since I've experienced them and seen them in the people I work with. What's important to remember is that it is all part of the "success curve". If these achievements had no barriers, everyone would be fit and Instagram models would be out of a job. If what you're trying to achieve is challenging you, trying to knock you down, and just being a pain in the butt, know that you're on the right path to success.
