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Written by Drew Abbott
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Thursday, 30 November 2006 |
“I can’t lose weight”. “I want to be in shape”. “No matter how much I exercise, I just can’t get stronger!” These are all very common complaints and I hear them almost every day. There are a million different diet plans and exercise routines and cardio kickboxing classes for you to try, and every single one of them can work for you. And every single one of them can lead you to complete failure.
The truth is - any fitness program can work if you, as an individual, really make an effort to make it work! In 99% of cases, the success or failure of a fitness plan is entirely dependent upon the individual. The biggest problem with a fitness plan is that, in general, it gives you a map of what to do but rarely does it give you a way to navigate that map. I could easily sit here and write out a hundred workout routines and diet plans; but without the right guidance, you’ll most likely be left overwhelmed and stressed out. So with your resolve in one hand and your new fitness plan in the other, allow me to offer these tips as a guide to help you succeed.
1. Visualize the person you want to be
This is so simple, yet missed by so many. Get a picture in your head of how you would like to look. What would you like to weigh? How big do you want your arms to be? Do you just want to look like one of the skinny, but ripped, guys on the cover of every men’s fitness magazine? Put this picture in your head and refer back to it whenever you feel like quitting.
2. Set small goals
More often than not, an individual will have a set goal in mind. “I want to lose 20 lbs”, “I want to be more muscular”, or my favorite; “I want to look good naked.” These are all wonderful goals, but none of them are easily attainable. You must first define the goal. By when do you want to lose 20 lbs? What to you is “more muscular”? What does “looking good naked” mean to you? No amount of diet or exercise is going to increase the size of your Captain Caveman, so I can’t help you there.
What I can tell you to do is to set small and realistic goals. Losing 5 lbs in a month is a small and very realistic goal. It’s easy to attain. Dropping half an inch from your waist is a small goal. Saving enough money to buy a penis pump is a small goal which will give you nothing but a sore crotch, so maybe spend that money on a nice hooker who won’t care how you look naked.
3. Track your progress
How will you know if you’re making any improvement if you don’t keep track of it? If you want to lose 20 lbs, weigh yourself once a week and keep a record of it. If you want 15” arms, measure them every month and keep track. If you’re making improvements (remember, small goals) then you’re on the path to success. If your progress is halting, ask yourself why. Are you sticking to your plan? Is it a solid plan? Are there other factors that could be affecting you? Are there any resources available that you aren’t taking advantage of?
4. Do your goals match your behaviors?
It’s very simple to have a fitness goal and to fail in the accomplishment of that goal. Without altering your behavior to match your goal, you will never succeed. A very simple goal is “I want to be overweight and unhealthy.” This being the case, your current behavior of eating fast food and sitting your ass on the couch all day matches your goal perfectly. And you will be a complete success. If, however, you would like to be fit and healthy, then you will need to change your behavior. There is no magic pill - no matter what the TV says!. The only solution is a proper diet coupled with regular exercise and the will to stick with both.
5. Take an interest in your own health
Weight Watchers is easy. That’s why it usually doesn’t work. Do you know who makes it work? The people who really care about reaching their goals. I’ve seen countless people on diet plans searching for every way they can eat all the junk food they want without exceeding their “point total”. Brilliant. At the same time, I’ve seen people actively learn what to eat and why. There are tons of diet books, websites, and nutritionists out there. Look for the ones that have yielded real results and real success. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
One last point I’d like to make regarding realistic goals: If you currently weigh 200lbs and want to lose 25, that’s a realistic (long-term) goal. If you want to work out 3 days a week and drink a lot on the weekends, then looking like a male fitness model is not a realistic goal. One of my own goals is to bench press 500 lbs. To many, this is not realistic at all. To me, however, it is very attainable and I will likely surpass it. I’ve employed all of the tips above and have used them to continually progress. I not only visualize my goal, but I surround myself with others who have already surpassed that goal. I’ve made it clear to myself that yes, I can reach my goals. So can you. Now get off your ass, put your penis pump away, and get to work. |
