Looking to get fit? Avoid these 3 things.

“I just can’t lose the weight!” “I’ve tried everything!” “Nothing seems to work for me!”

Sound familiar?

I often receive emails and messages from people online looking to lose weight, or gain muscle or just get fitter and leaner, but not seeing results.

Are you experiencing the same?

There’s no reason you can’t and shouldn’t be able to achieve your fitness goals. Most of the consultations I have with new clients, highlight just how much confusion there is out there around what actually works. People are so desperate to achieve results, but not willing to do what it takes, or do know, but struggle with the willpower to get it done. Many take short cuts or buy into the latest hype or fitness fad to achieve ‘fast’ results.

Tired of this depressing cycle?

It doesn’t need to be so complicating or overwhelming. Let’s keep it simple.

Here’s 3 common mistakes you can start avoiding from today:

1. Stop thinking short term, and drop the word ‘fast.’

Fitness and health is a long-term journey. It’s about creating positive daily habits, and doing them consistently to achieve long lasting results. Sure, there are techniques/methods out there that may result in ‘quick’ weight loss. However, I can assure you NONE of these methods are going to last in the long run. It’s not healthy to think about weight loss as ‘fast.’ It takes times. You have to put in the work day after day to get there. That doesn’t mean exercise every single day. That doesn’t mean diet or eat next to nothing. It means doing small things daily, until they become a habit. Before you know it, they will then turn into a lifestyle. So, stop thinking short term. Invest in your fitness and health for the future. Not just to ‘get abs’ for a holiday. Nothing good comes easy. There is no ‘fast’ way to lose weight and keep it off. Focus on creating positive daily habits, and stick to them. Every single day.

2. Stop stopping and starting and expecting results.

This has to be the most common reason I see why people don’t achieve results. Everybody wants to look good and feel good, but most aren’t willing to put in the work to get there.

I recently conducted a new client consultation with a woman in her late 40s, who in the space of just 4 months, tried all of these things in a desperate attempt to lose weight – eating just 800 calories daily (I can touch on this in another blog, but please don’t do this, it’s so unhealthy and dangerous for the mind and body to run on such a low calorie intake) to skipping carbs all together, to doing an exhaustive hour on the cross trainer fasted every morning, to being on a smoothie only diet for 7 days, to popping ‘fat-loss’ pills and even reducing water intake to try and reduce the number she saw on the scales every morning.

The depressing thing here is that this woman is not alone. I know many people out there are doing the same thing, and struggling to break the cycle. To look and feel your best, and see results that are long-lasting and allow you to live a healthy, happy and balanced lifestyle, you have to be consistent. This point ties into point 1. Stop thinking about ‘fast’ results, then getting frustrated when you don’t see changes after 2 weeks. Then stopping, only to start another pointless fad diet or unsustainable fat loss method a few weeks later. Be consistent. If you’re looking to lose weight, start moving more. For example, get off the bus 1 or 2 stops early and walk. Take the stairs versus the lift. Reduce sugar in your tea from say 2 teaspoons to 1. Swap full fat milk for semi skimmed in your morning coffee. These small changes, done consistently will add up to a lot. And make a big difference.

3. Stop beating yourself up.

You’re not always going to be motivated. You’re not always going to feel like exercising or going for a walk. You’re not always going to make healthy food choices. You’re not always going to see the scales move in the direction you want them to. You’re not always going to feel strong, and sometimes you may find yourself regressing and going in the opposite direction all together.

This is absolutely normal. Stop thinking the path to fit and healthy is linear. It’s not. It’s up and down and life will always get in the way. The point is just to keep moving forward, and if you fall off the path, then get back on it and keep going. Many people start something, then quit when they don’t see results immediately, often leading them to overeat or emotionally eat because they feel bad, and then the whole negative cycle starts again.

Stop being so hard on yourself. Expect ups and downs along the way. Prepare for it. For example, if you know you’re going to have to work late, then perhaps prepare food the day before. If you didn’t sleep well, then maybe swap your planned ‘heavy’ weight session or ‘high intensity’ spin class, for a gentle walk instead. If you ate well over your calories at dinner one night, clean it up the next day. Stop being so hard on yourself. Stressing yourself out will not help. You’re human. You’ll overeat. You’ll under eat. You won’t always have the best workout of your life. You won’t always feel like exercising. It’s normal to think and feel like this. The point is just to keep going. Consistently.

Do you need help getting started? Or want my help getting back on track? I’d love to help. Book a free consultation and let’s get you going.