The Problem Of Choice When Losing Weight and Getting Fit

     One of the great things about modern society is that most of us are lucky enough to live in a wealthy environment, meaning we have all the choices we need for a cracking time and an enjoyable lifestyle!

However, I believe there is clearly something amiss after 5 years working as a personal trainer and seeing many people who are very cash-rich but unhealthy, stressed, p*ssed off with life and unable to chase their cat down the garden without verging on a coronary.

That problem is too much choice.

Why is it that we have increasing number of gyms, diets and personal trainers, yet obesity continues to sky-rocket?

Why is it that whilst we have the wealth to afford pretty much everything we need for optimal health, sky-high energy levels and a great outdoor life, there continues to be weight problems, heart disease and cancer?

As I said, the problem is too much choice.

In years gone by people had one option - hunt and gather food to feed their family. This obviously involved a range of activity from long-distance hunts (aerobic exercise) interspersed with sprinting to catch animals, to climbing trees and picking or uprooting plants.

These foods were full of goodness and provided all their bodies needed for energy and survival. It was almost impossible to get fat!

Even as the human brain evolved and we discovered technologies which could do a lot of this for us, many people still had to work hard and could only afford fruit, veg, grains and some meat as a luxury. They couldn't afford all the sweets and treats that have become part of daily routine.

But what happens now?

1) Too much choice in the fridge

I love the phrase 'out of sight, out of mind'. Often the only reason we want something is because it comes into our line of sight evoking cravings for the short-term pleasure it brings - the very basis of the constant barrage of marketing by chocolate bar producers, McDonald's and all the other corporate 'food' giants who have dragged you down.

They keep reminding you about their product, so you keep 'fancying one'.

Even those who decide to go on a diet, keep certain bad foods in their fridge or cupboards as a treat. All this serves to do is provide constant reminders of the taste they bring. Not a problem when life's good and everything's okay but as soon as stress levels rise, you feel that urge to reach for the carbs.

The truth is if you had no choice because there wasn't a tin of biscuits in the cupboard, and you could deal with the cause rather than the effect, you would find that the craving would subside fast, allowing you to stay on track.

ACTIONS:

- Don't just keep a food diary of the past, write out a food diary for the future week. Go and do the shopping based on this and only this - do not buy anything else. This should consist of fruit, veg, organic meat, nuts, seeds and legumes.

2) The choice between working out and training

Most people go to the gym with no idea whatsoever as to why they are going and what the training plan is.

If you give yourself choices when you go to the gym, you'll always end up choosing your favourite exercises which means you'll always end up doing what's easiest rather than what you need to produce results.

You must have a solid plan which tells you exactly what to do in the gym, for how many sets and reps, for how many minutes and you must also understand why!

If you don't you'll let your soft side get to you on those days when work has stressed you out and you just want to have a bit of sweat and go home to wallow.

ACTIONS:

- Employ someone who can design a solid program based on science which guarantees results if you follow it to the letter. This will encourage you to just get to the gym, train for your goals and get out, performing what is necessary not what you 'feel like doing'!

3) No meaningful, time-constrained goals in place

You can't expect someone to design you a program if you yourself are 100% clear as to what your personal goals are, why they are important to you or when you must achieve them by.

A goal of losing some fat from around your stomach will get you nowhere fast as there's no pressure to work hard to achieve it. You've given yourself the choice of achieving the goal way in to the future - this will be the option you choose!

A fat loss goal should look like this...

"I am losing 25lbs of body fat by my birthday on July 4th 2010 and dropping at least 3 clothes sizes so I can go on holiday to the Azores and be confident walking along the beach in just my shorts because I am delighted with my new body. This body also enables me to finally do that 10km run! I'll achieve this by following the 3 weight training sessions and two interval sessions."

This goal has the key elements of an inspiring goal which you will want to strive towards.

Make deadlines shorter than seem possible - this is the only way to inspire yourself to phenomenal results!

ACTIONS:

- Set tough goals then get a program designed to achieve it.

- Demand more of yourself so it takes you out of your comfort zone and you don't have a choice but to train hard!

4) Your middle class lifestyle

Because of the opportunities and luxuries you have, you have the choice of a getting your backside into the gym or on to the beach for a run.

You know that you could have an easy, comfortable life just by doing what you're doing and enjoying all the luxuries on a daily basis without any physical hard work or control over your nutrition.

You know deep down that this is likely to lead to heart disease, cancer and diabetes but what the hell, that's in the future!

Don't get me wrong. It is essential that you enjoy life and indulge from time to time - there's no reason not to!

However, be wary of giving yourself the choice between a vibrant, energetic, outdoor lifestyle and a false existence based on material things and over-indulgence.

Set some challenges and train hard for them, including healthy eating. You'll be amazed where your life goes.

You may never be an elite athlete or even run a marathon but you can definitely live better and push your own limits.

ACTIONS:

- Give yourself something uncomfortable to do with your mind and body. Climb a mountain, cycle across a continent or just a country, take up a new sport. Just don't give yourself the choice of being a couch potato!

5) Make exercise your most important client

Do you sometimes find yourself selling your soul for certain clients simply because they are worth a lot of money and you know it will benefit you in the long-run to change your schedule to suit them?

Treat exercise this way.

Don't give yourself the choice of whether you keep the appointment or not. Make the appointment at least 3 times per week and keep to it.

Companies across the globe understand the importance of daily lunch breaks, social nights and strategy meetings on a weekly basis.

However, with all the money spent, most still fail to realize how much more successful their businesses would be if they planned structured approaches to health and fitness into their operations.

ACTIONS:

- Get your diary out and write down 3-5 times of at least 30 minutes for intense exercise for each of the next 4 weeks. Treat them like a client and do not rearrange when 'something comes up'.

- Live your life by your timetable not others.

6) No one holds you accountable

The reason you've been so successful in your career is more than likely to be down to not just your intelligence and talents, but also the fact that there has always been somewhere there to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and kick you up the backside to achieve more.

So why not get someone to do this for your health and fitness?

If no-one is there to check you did your training and ate what you were supposed to, you'll always find yourself spinning your wheels.

Every other aspect of your life will improve when your energy levels shoot up and you restore your natural health!

ACTIONS:

- Get yourself a personal trainer with the testimonials and experience to give you total confidence in what you can achieve but who won't let you off lightly.

Implement all of these steps and watch your life change massively.

Enjoy the choices you have but at the right time.

Learn to appreciate what you have but also what you could have, be and do with yourself!

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