We have seen it before, people who say they are tired of being overweight, out of shape and not liking the way they look. They line up at the front door of the gym, usually on New Year's Day and loudly proclaim "THIS IS THE YEAR", they get off to a relatively good start and then suddenly after a short while, some after only a few weeks. You scratch your head and wonder why, or you just basically dismiss them as not wanting it badly enough. While that is a good explanation i don't think it's totally accurate so I've basically have derived a list of things from my own personal observations why people give up so soon.
1. It's Not Easy:
All too often people want to take the path of least resistance to reaching a goal. If the workload seems to be too much for them or causes them discomfort, they want to try something else because they feel it's too hard. In other words, they just would rather be lazy than make the sacrifice and step out of their comfort zone to reach their goals. They can't differentiate the difference between soreness from buildup of lactic acid and pain from an injury or accident. What they fail to realize is that this type of soreness only comes around usually after the first week of workouts because the body's adjusting to something new.
2. Don't Get Quick Results:
There are those who want the athletic or toned body or ripped physique in weeks as opposed to months or even years of training. The truth is that they didn't get in bad shape or put on all that weight overnight, it happened over TIME, and it will take just as long to take it back off as it was to put it back on, maybe even longer. When they get so enamored with these TV ads claiming they can drop 50 lbs in 10 days, they believe the hype, not realizing that the body does not operate like that. Metabolism, genetics, and proper nutrition all play a role in your body changing.
3. Lack Of Support:
You would think many people would have the support of family and close friends while on their mission to change their lifestyle, yet they end getting little or NO support from them. i have found out that my biggest support system in my change have been people i have met in the heatlh, fitness and bodybuilding industry. They have been through the fire and know what it's like to have to take on this dream for the most part alone so they usually become great friends, even greater than the friends you had before your journey began.
4. Loss of Motivation: Sometimes people feel like they are putting way to much time into doing what needs to be done to reach their goal so at times they take a day off, which at times leads to 2 day, then 3 and before you know it a week or month off. And once they lose it, it's hard to get it back for lots of people.
5. Time Away Due To Unforeseen Circumstances:
Sometimes when things are really going good in your process, this little thing called life rears it's ugly side. Tragedies, Illness, Injury, Job change or Family Issues take us out of the gym for a while and before we know it so much time has passed by that we are worse off than we were before.
For all of these reasons, I have my own bit of advice on how to handle them
1. Nothing that comes in life that's good comes easy. As i stated earlier, only the first week of training is generally where you will experience the most soreness and no as you go along it doesn't get easier, but when you press forward you will get through it. Most of the time it isn't the fact that the work is hard, it's that you have to be willing to work hard at it.
2. Nothing worthwhile comes overnight. Remember this is a lifestyle, not a hobby Some people i know have been on their journeys for up to 5 years to reach the results they want, but just learn to get proper rest, nutrition, and continue to work and be patient, you will see the results soon enough.
3. Let the lack of support of friends or family motivate you to show them that you don't need their support they don't offer it. Go out there and befriend people in the gym if you have to. Join FB groups where people who have similar interest in changing their lifestyle and will encourage you and keep you accountable
4. Motivation is the key to staying in it for the long run. Always look at visuals of people transforming their bodies and put up motivational posts about not giving up around the hours and look in the mirror everyday to remind yourself why you are doing this in the first place and if need be, hire a personal trainer to help keep you focused. Remember the end result will be worth all that time you put in and the sacrifices you made.
5. Remember that when life rears it's ugly side, that regardless of what emotional state it leaves you in, it still goes on so you have to. Time heals all wounds and there is not a better way to deal with these circumstances by burying yourself into your workouts because , they take your mind off of it if just for a little while and it relieves stress which is caused by these unforeseen circumstances. If need be take the time you need to reflect, but regain your focus as soon as possible.
I hope this helps those who may have a problem with hanging in there and staying with it. Until next week, DREAM STRONG!
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