Our Dirty Secret

by Christian Bossert

We fitness professionals love talking about the best. The best diet, exercises, equipment, the best ways to plan your workout, the best way to build good habits. There lies a systematic problem labeling our ‘opinion’ of something as the best. We do not address a major fundamental issue. Deep down we know what the major barrier is. Whether we say it or not, most people don’t need a better program. They do not need the best equipment, a ‘life-changing’ $500 juicer or the latest fashionable workout gear (although I do believe it is a good thing to be ecstatic about your new yoga pants). The dirty little secret is, they just need to be better at sticking to the program they already have.

How do you stick with your program? Let’s see what people who have stuck with their program have to say.

“If you weren’t here I wouldn’t work out”

Occasionally I’ll hear this from a client. It’s true for some people. As a trainer, I’m a glorified accountability buddy. For many of us, we will not let someone down by not showing up or cancelling last minute. I also hear this from people who I do not train. They know that their workout buddy is critical to their consistency working out and sticking to their program. A rock solid reliable form of accountability is priceless!

Create a Reward System

Our minds operate off feelings of pain and pleasure. If I don’t like to exercise or eat right how will I ever lose weight. This requires some trickery with our mind. We must understand what our mind views as pleasure. Something as simple as posting to social media that you finished your workout or telling a good friend of your most recent run will set off our pleasure system. Taking a picture of your healthy meal and sharing it with social media can do the same thing. Search your soul and find out what motivates you.

Set Goals

Fitness 101 revolves around goal setting. If you don’t have specific measurable goals then you have nothing. If you find yourself struggling to keep to a program, revisit your goals. Are they written down? If not write them down!!  Are your goals specific (ie: run a 10k this Spring, lose two pant sizes in three months)? If your goals are not specific and do not have a end date, it’s time for you to get to work. You’ll never build a habit of following through with your program if you do not have specific measurable goals.

The Worry Monster

At the root of worrying is indecision. An unsettled mind is helpless and cannot find peace. Worry is based upon fear. Fear of what? Being happy? Being healthier? Pushing myself out of my comfort zone? The truth is most people lack the willpower to make a bold decision (ie tell everyone and their mother that they are committed to exercise and eating healthy for the next three months) and stand by what they say. It is not an option in my life to allow the disaster of destructive thinking, “worrying”, to dictate what decisions I make in my life and you shouldn’t either.    

Tell yourself it is possible. You CAN get started. You can be consistent in following your workout and nutrition program. Focus on getting better one day at a time. Find your accountability buddy. Reward yourself for following through. Set big hairy audacious goals. Make a decision and follow through. Make it happen!