Three Mistakes You Don't Want To Make
One of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Rules to Success' is 'Don't Be Afraid to Fail'. These are some wise words and following this rule could lead many chronic procrastinators onto the path of success.
However, although some mistakes can be helpful, the ones written here will derail your progress and leave you wondering why you never achieved your dream physique.
Mistake No. 1 - No Clear Vision
This one can be tricky. Most people have some kind of vague idea what they want to achieve. Like they want to lose some weight or build some biceps. This is a good start but in order to get real results, you need real goals. Not only that, you need a structured plan to get there.
Without a clear vision, the likelihood of you sticking to any fitness plan will diminish severely. Firstly, picture yourself how you want to look and feel, where you want to be, then write a step-by-step plan detailing how to get there. Set massive goals and put deadlines on them to keep you on track. A great technique recommended by Brian Tracy is 'back from the future' thinking and this involves writing your goals as if you've already achieved them. This will have an outstanding effect on your mind and behaviour, try it and see for yourself. Creating rules for yourself is another great way to help keep yourself in check but you must be disciplined and stick to them.
A reasonable rule may be to only drink alcohol for very special occasions or to only have a small piece of chocolate once per week. One of my personal rules is that I must complete a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise every single day. It doesn't matter what kind of day I have, I will never make up an excuse. If I have to go for a wet, cold jog at midnight, so be it.
Writing all of this down is very important. Doing so will take your vision from your thoughts and place it into physical reality, however it takes a lot of discipline to stick to this. If you have a clear vision but are unsure of how to get there, check out our Online Fitness Coaching - it may be just what you need.
Mistake No. 2 - Inconsistency
Without consistency, you will never achieve any significant results. This one is so important and most people fail to get it. They follow the latest fad diet or some 6 week fat loss plan from a magazine, thinking it will change their body and then somehow it will stay that way even if they do nothing to maintain it!
If you're the kind of person who gets back into the gym for a month come January, then again for a month before the Summer, you need to understand this. Looking good and keeping fit takes consistent hard work! Don't let this put you off though, it can be a highly enjoyable process and once you see real change, all of your hard work will have been worth it. Just be patient and the results will come.
Making your fitness habits part of your lifestyle is one of the best things you will ever do. Too many people learn this the hard way. Just remember, there's nothing more important than your health.
Some things that may help you to stay consistent are looking at motivational quotes, pictures and watching videos every day. Getting yourself a mentor to hold you accountable can be another incredibly powerful tool. A training partner can be great for keeping you committed to your workouts. When they're feeling a bit lazy, you can return the favour and help them through their struggles.
Mistake No. 3 - Not Taking a Wholistic Approach
Everything works synergistically. Train hard with a crappy diet and you'll look and feel terrible. Eat well but fail to train effectively for your goals, you will not achieve them. Eat perfectly, train like a Spartan but party all the time and sleep like an insomniac, and you will not achieve optimal results.
If you eat well, sleep tight, train hard, stay hydrated and be smart, you will fast-track your progress.
A good example of someone failing to be wholistic is your typical inexperienced bodybuilder who trains all the mirror muscles but fails to develop the important muscles that cannot be seen, typically the supportive muscles of the back. This leads to all sorts of problems and can cause serious postural issues, such as shoulder and back pain. Everyone is individual and some areas of the body may require more attention than others, but there must be balance throughout.
At BusyFitness, we always follow a wholistic approach. Our clients don't just receive some workouts and get left to it. Our mission is to help change peoples lives for the better. We can help with many things. Whether it's nutrition, posture, poor self-esteem, general training advice, or anything to do with your health and wellbeing, we're here to help you. Get in touch and we will do our best.
It's not impossible get a half decent physique or be reasonably fit and healthy when you party a little and eat some chocolate brownies with your mocha on a Thursday afternoon. However, if you want the best results possible, you need to commit to a wholistic, consistent approach, with a crystal clear vision of your end result.
Do you notice any of these three mistakes in yourself or others? Make some changes and you will be guaranteed some results!
What fitness mistakes do you see all the time? Leave a comment and let everyone know, so we can all improve!
