19 Reasons People Fail to Achieve Their Fitness Goals

Reason #1: You don’t make a decision to start. You can have hundreds of excuses, but it comes down to how big is your want to? If you want results you have to start. Why wait ‘til tomorrow what you can start today?? DECIDE!

Reason #2: You don’t know what you want. Where are you on a scale of 1-10, 10 being as serious as a heart attack, about reaching your fitness goals? If your number is anything but a 9 or a 10, I will not work with you. Why, because you are not COMMITTED to doing whatever it takes to reach your goals. If you say you are a 1-8 that means you get it right eighty percent or less of the time. That means that you will eat when and what you want and not stick to a program. That is like a rocket scientist at NASA being sixty percent sure the left engine works on the spaceship we are sending to the moon. COMMIT!

Reason #3: You don’t make it a priority. Everyone’s biggest excuse is TIME. My question to you is what do you value? Do you value your health? Do you value productive energy when spending time with your family and/or kids? I would say that you cannot afford not to make time. By making exercise a priority in your daily planner you will not only have a sense of accomplishment by sticking to a regular routine, but feel more energized and less stressed when dealing with the daily ebb and flow of life. SCHEDULE!

Reason #4: You have no one hold you accountable. When beginning an exercise program, I highly recommend working out with a friend or considering a personal trainer because on the days you do not feel like going that person will encourage you to remember why you’re doing this. Having a training partner also keeps your workouts fresh and fun. ACCOUNTABILITY!

Reason #5: You focus more on the scale (weight) instead of the tape measure (inches). Muscle is more dense than fat. Therefore, focus on the inches. Some of the fittest people look like they way twenty pounds less than they actually do because muscle can be deceiving. Also, you will probably gain one or two pounds when you begin to exercise because strength training promotes this. If the only thing you did was add one pound of muscle, you will ultimately lose five pounds of body fat within six months because muscle burns calories (fat) at rest and fat does not. FOCUS ON INCHES!

Reason #6: You start exercising but you don’t change your eating habits. Eating and nutrition comprise about 70% of the results you will obtain when it comes to changing the shape of your body. What you eat and when you eat it are equally important. American culture in general would have you believing that this is a difficult concept when in reality it is not difficult at all. CHANGE EATING HABITS!

Reason #7: You follow the newest, latest, greatest technique due to media hype. Almost everything you see on TV is a waste of your time, money, and effort. If it sounds too good to be true…it probably is. If a supermodel is advertising the product, you will NOT look like him or her by “just using this product 8 minutes a day”!!! DON’T GET SUCKED INTO INFOMERCIALS!

Reason #8: You quit right before you are going to see results. In order to see measurable results, you need to stick with your new found exercise routine for 90-120 days if you want to truly make LIFESTYLE changes and maintain your results for more than a couple of months. The human body completely regenerates itself about every 90-120 days. COMMIT TO A 90-DAY PLAN!

Reason #9: You don’t eat breakfast. You’ve heard it since you were old enough to listen: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In fact, a study done at the University of Massachusetts with 500 participants concluded startling statistics. You are 150% more likely to be obese by eating breakfast away from home, and you are an astonishing 450% more likely to be obese by not eating breakfast at all. Breakfast is a simple thing that can dramatically improve your fitness results and your lifestyle. EAT BREAKFAST!

Reason #10: You don’t drink water or you don’t drink enough water. Water has many benefits. Your muscle tissue is about 75% water based. If you are dehydrated (and most people are), you will have more aches and pains than you really should have. When most people feel hungry, their body is usually telling them they are thirsty. Water also fights off hunger pains or will not allow you to eat as much food if you are drinking it diligently. DRINK WATER!

Reason#11: You set your expectations too high. Let’s face it, society places a major emphasis on results. However, what you just did to your body for the last 5, 10, maybe 20 years can’t be corrected within 24 hours, a week or a month. Lifestyle changes take time to progress and become habits in your life. Be patient through the process and know that you are only going to have to go through the process once because you won’t be on the latest roller-coaster diet. SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS!

Reason #12: You don’t switch your routine enough. Your body will hit a plateau because it will adapt to what you are doing. Therefore you will need to switch your routine around in order to continue to get the results you are looking for. This doesn’t mean that you will always have to do MORE but rather work smarter so you are in control of your results. CHANGE UP YOUR ROUTINE!

Reason #13: You’ve read too many ‘diet’ books and are misled on the topic of nutrition. “Dieting” is the most misused word when it comes to the world of exercise, fitness and health. With the United States leading the charge in the category of most ‘unhealthy’ nation, we are bombarded with the latest ‘do it in the next 24 hours fad diet that will help you lose 25 lbs in the next 2 days’ program. Don’t overcomplicate what “they” would like you to think it really takes in order to change some habits. Using the word “diet” truly means “what you are going to eat” vs. ‘what you are going to avoid.’ AVOID THE NEWEST “DIET”!

Reason#14: You consume yourself with your program and you forget to have fun. Some of you get so wrapped in keeping an exercise journal, a food journal, and buying new workout clothes that you forget to be realistic about your approach to your new found “self.” Just remember that if you become too fanatical too quick you will more likely be on to the next best thing sooner than you think. You do not want your exercise routine to become a ‘chore’. HAVE FUN!

Reason #15: You overcomplicate your routine. You have so many goals that you want to accomplish that you do too many things and spread yourself so thin that you don’t see any concrete results. New found lifestyle habits are found through simple routines…something that you can implement and stick to without too much deviation from your current flow of life. SIMPLIFY ROUTINE!

Reason #16: You don’t believe you can reach your ‘ideal’ goals. Believe you can get there. Write out EXACTLY what you want and the key…WHEN you want it. Then break down your goals in weekly training goals and check them with a professional to see if they are realistic. You can get back to the shape you were in prior to kids, back as a high school athlete, or back as a high school cheerleader if you set your mind to it. Wherever the mind goes, the body will follow. BELIEVE!

Reason #17: You don’t seek guidance. Your new-found journey can be very intimidating. Set yourself up to win by talking to a professional that can help you set realistic goals but probably more importantly help you stay accountable. If you are not ready to be held accountable then you are probably not ready to truly go after your goals. SEEK PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE!

Reason #18: You rely on some piece of equipment or a trainer to get you results. It is up to you and ONLY YOU to be responsible and accountable for achieving the results you are looking for. The equipment or trainers that help are there to guide, direct, and encourage you through the process. You are the only person who knows deep down if you are ready for this journey. ONLY YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE RESULTS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR!

Reason #19: You don’t do any strength training, just cardio. You will not get the results you are looking for if you leave out any components of a successful fitness plan. Strength training has many benefits including burning fat. If all you did was add ONE pound of lean muscle you would burn FIVE pounds of fat over the next 6 months without changing anything else. Strength training will also boost your immune system, strengthen bones, and increase your self-confidence. STRENGTH TRAINING IS THE TICKET!

Brad Nelson is a Minneapolis/St. Paul based certified Level II kettlebell instructor and strength and conditioning coach (CSCS). Brad is unwavering about getting you results through private or team training and workshops. For additional information or to witness a demonstration on how and why kettlebells are the single most effective tool for increasing strength, burning fat, general conditioning and teaching movement visit http://www.mtxeconditioning.com or contact [email protected]

© Copyright 2005 Brad Nelson — http://www.mtxeconditioning.com

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