Top habits of successful dieters: Be honest with yourself

Habit: Be honest with yourself

'Summer's coming! I'm gonna get SHREDDED this year! I'm gonna have an EIGHT-PACK and beautiful muscle-tone all over my body.'

For most of us, this sentence pops into our minds and out of our mouths every year (if not more often). It's a fantastic goal to have - REALLY. The problem is that this sentence pops into our minds and out of our mouths every year AND SEEMINGLY NEVER BECOMES A REALITY.

But why?

Most people will tell you that they really mean to do the work on their diet and in the gym, but life gets in the way, so they do nothing instead. Should it be this way? I think the problem is a different one...

I think the problem is a different one...

You see, the chances of a diet and exercise plan - even a perfectly followed one - leading to the kind of physique you see in the fitness magazines are very small. You need a genetic make-up in the top 1% of the population and the time and inclination to train twice per day and never make a diet mistake

Look at this honest Facebook post from one of the top competitors in the CrossFit Games:

I think that deep down we know that we are setting ourselves goals that are unachievable and therefore we begin the process despondent and afraid of our (almost) guaranteed failure.

So what's the solution?

Well, there are two...

One: Take six months off from life and give your diet and exercise your full attention.

Two: Set a goal that is actually achievable and then go for it. How about trying to get from 20% body fat to 16%? Or lose five kilograms and build your strength until you can do five pull-ups? These goals will make you look better AND give you confidence, because you CAN achieve them.

Be honest with yourself. Set realistic goals. Then achieve them and set more.

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