So it’s been like a week since I cleaned up my diet… Where’s the results?

At the start of the week I posted how I’d had a bit of a nutritional meltdown over the Christmas and New Years.

About a week ago I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and clean up my diet.

This morning I woke up, put my hands on my stomach and thought to myself “So where are my abs – why aren’t I ripped?!”

It took me a couple of minutes to figure out that I was being a total goose but it got me thinking – in this day and age of instant gratification where we expect instant results with no effort, have we completely lost our minds?

I’ve spent a full month eating crap and then the last 5 days eating clean “I mean surely that must be enough right -> I need to see something right? anything?! C’mon abs – where you at?!”

It seems like it’s ingrained into us.

We all want something for nothing.

• can’t afford it – that’s OK, just put in on the credit card – buy now. pay later.
• can’t be bothered to spend time preparing nutritious meals – that’s OK, just get take-out.
• can’t shed the fat – that’s OK, just go get a liposuction – that’s what plastic surgeons are for right?
• can’t make money – that’s OK, go trip over something and then sue and get the compensation you deserve.

We want results but we don’t want to work for it.

It’s the reason people buy lottery tickets – they’re hoping for a big payout without having to do the work.

Most millionaires aren’t millionaires because they won the lottery – it’s because they built successful businesses that solved people’s problems and what’s more they worked their arses of for many years to do so.

I see guys who train 3 days a week get disheartened when nothing happens after 4 weeks – So let me get this, you’re trying to undo a lifetimes’ worth of poor health choices in 4 weeks – hmmm OK?

I’ve seen guys with no previous athletic background and poor shoulder mobility come into the gym and expecting to nail a body weight snatch in

You can see the madness right?

Well I’ve got some news and don’t worry – it’s always good to remind myself too…

“It’s gonna take time… a whole lot of precious time… It’s gonna take patience and time…” ~ George Harrison “Got my mind set on you”

You’re going to have to put in some serious time (and effort) to achieve your goals

A couple of questions:

• What’s your diet like?
• Do you spend any time on your mobility?
• How often do you train each week?
• How do you manage your stress?; and another important question:
• How long have you been doing it for?

This is why I’m really pushing the Whole Life Challenge at the moment and the concept of making small changes to your daily habits that will result in big changes in the long term.

Sometimes we get so focussed on the end result that we become frustrated by how far away it is.

Perhaps if we spent more time embracing the journey – the day to day and committed ourselves to the process we’d start to see the value in doing the work and eventually, you’d be rewarded for your effort

Ultimately we all know that you appreciate things more when you work harder for it, save for it and wait longer for it.

I used to be overweight and unhappy with my life and it’s been a long road to where I am today – 10 years in fact and trust me, my journey is ongoing.

Sometimes I get frustrated by my perceived lack of progress or by that which I don’t yet have but then I look back and see how far I’ve actually come.

A reminder for you

So that’s it. If your frustrated by how long this whole fitness and health thing is taking you – take the pressure off yourself

1. Realise that this is a life long journey – “we do this until we die…”
2. Detach yourself (a little) from your long term goals and embrace the process of the day to day (the journey)
3. Have a look back and realise how far you’ve actually come – and do it regularly
4. Embrace a beginner mindset – “What can I learn (about myself) today?”

I hope this helps 😉

–
Cheers,
Ben