5 Reasons You Haven’t Nailed The Body You Want
If you’ve been busting your butt in the gym, or trying to stick to a hell-ish, socially restrictive diet and are still not looking like the genetic equal of Jessica Alba… or Hugh Jackman… then here’s a few reasons you may not be seeing the results you want.
1. Your Mindset
Knowing all the tips, tricks and activity patterns in the world to make you leaner, faster and stronger won’t amount to much if that knowledge doesn’t translate into action. If you knowHOW, then why haven’t you done it yet?Research shows people with a positive attitude are more likely to stick with and actually achieve their goals. It’s believing you CAN rather than getting caught in the “it’s so hard” or the “I can’t do this because...” head space.Quick FixBreak your big goals down into little ones. Set yourself something achievable like a 3 week challenge. No complaints, no excuses for 3 weeks… just do it. Once you’ve achieved your challenge, give yourself a few days off then set the next one.Longer TermBe mindful of how you feel about exercise and healthy choices. Does exercise feel like a chore? Do you have a negative association with healthy food? We are drawn to pleasure and try to avoid pain, so the best way to achieve long term success is to create healthy habits that give you positive feelings (pleasure) rather than negative feelings (pain).Some easy ways to do this are to set mini goals so you’re getting little wins, train with your partner or friends (shared success is twice the success after all!) or find a trainer that believes in positive reinforcement rather than making you feel unworthy.If you’d like some extra help to reassociate pleasure with exercise and healthy choices, try a BUF favourite Anthony Robbins.
2. Your Nutrition
The most significant factor in getting results is your nutrition. I love the way Precision Nutrition puts it - poor nutrition is what holds you back, good nutrition is what propels you forward. Good nutrition is consistently proven to build better and faster muscles, shed fat, increase energy, improve recovery, improve mood and just generally improve most measurable health markers. If good nutrition is your weak spot…Quick FixKnow what good nutrition actually means. There is way too much contradicting information out there and it can be really confusing. Don’t worry about the latest this or the latest that, stick to the basics of nutrition and you’ll be fine. We recommend reading through this blog to get the basics down, but start with a free nutrition analysis (just ask your trainer). You’ll be surprised at what a big difference small changes can make.Longer TermOnce you understand what you should be eating and why, then it becomes a lot easier to work on instilling the habits of good nutrition.
3. Your Consistency
Training for just 10 min every day is more effective than 1 hour on the weekend. The same applies over longer periods of time as well – so many people smash themselves for 3 months over summer and then hibernate for the rest of the year, big mistake! Being consistent, week in week out is much more effective, even if some weeks you’re not training hard.Quick FixHire someone to make you do it. That’s why God invented the fitness industry. Even trainers hire other trainers to keep them accountable! Use a trainer to get you started on forming the right habits, it’s hard to be lazy when someone is waiting for you. If a personal trainer is out of reach, booking in for classes at AGOGA will work too – just the process of booking is a great mental trick to keep you consistent.Longer TermGet into a routine that you can stick to year round and make these times nonnegotiable pillars in your life. This might involve training 3 to 4 times per week but it also might involve a quick 10 to 15 minute interval training session when you roll out of bed each morning – little things like that done consistently add up very quickly.
4. Your Genetics
Now, I purposely put this towards the end. Not because it’s not hugely important, but often I find clients leaning on this for, ‘well it just must be my genetics...’, or ‘my mum has always been overweight, I think this is just my body type’, or ‘my body will always be fat, I don’t process carbs’.The excuses go on... and on. But, of course, with no actual results being achieved.It’s REALLY rare that someone’s genetics stop them from achieving the results they want… if in fact they actually DO want them.You CAN change the amount of fat and muscle you have. You can make significant improvements in your strength, flexibility and fitness. It’s just finding the right way to do it for your specific goals. Sure, some people have to work a little harder than others, but that just makes it all the more satisfying in the end.Be realistic with what you’re putting in and what you’re expecting back.Quick FixKeep a food journal and training diary. Are you consistent with your habits? Be honest!Longer TermIf you’re genuinely stuck or even if you want to understand more about your own unique genetic make-up, try Genetic Testing with AGOGA to help fine tune your approach.
5. Lack of Time and Knowledge
If you don’t have the time or inclination to figure everything out on your own and you just want someone to tell you specifically how, what, when and why to train/eat/think, then sign up for a Health and Fitness Consultation and I’ll walk you through it.
Final thought
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”– Aristotle.