Being reading lately how some individuals deal with weight loss and body looks.
It is interesting how in our present time slimness is considered the foundation of good looks; we are not talking about health, health is almost always a secondary subject.
Slimness is followed by “muscle tone,” which is little body fat with some muscle, after muscle tone is muscle mass. Now, depending on individuals preferences muscle mass with very little weight is the next stage up, and then Muscle mass with little body fat and athleticism is what considered the epitome of fitness and health.
Being involved in the sports and fitness world for more than 30 years I have seen and continue to see how the good looks of a body can entice someone to try unhealthy regiments in eating and exercising.
Once we see a handsome athletic looking slim body, we are motivated to go almost all out to achieve similar results.
We all this is almost always a big mistake. Do remember that individuals that have been in the limelight, showing off their bodies for years have created exercise and eating routines that are way too stringent for the average public.
You must acknowledge the number of times you have tried to head to the gym and stick with a good intense workout for more than three months or maintain a good and “clean” eating habit.
Not that it is impossible, but it is highly unlikely that the majority of us will be able to achieve a similar result as those outstanding bodies. Not to say that we can achieve this wonderful physique, but at the same time, we need to be realistic.
If we review our history and find out why we could not stick to an exercise or eating routine, we will find all of your answers.
- Routines are too long
- Too complicated with “cycles/intervals” and special machines or equipment
- Need to go somewhere and spend time traveling there
- Ned to change and get ready to do it, exercise, shower then get back to where you need to be
- Takes time from your other activities
- Workout intensity is too high
- Exercises are difficult to get the right technique
- Energy is not there.
- Motivation high and lows related to your work fatigue or other activities
So what is the best approach?
- Decide that you are going to try a routine for no less than three months
- Do not try too many things in the gym – 3-4 movements is plenty for weights, 1 for CV
- Try it for 2 to 3 x per week. Do not exhaust yourself
- Learn the movements form a pro and have them review your abbreviated workout.
- The less you do, the more energized you are to do the moments and more intensity and better focus.
- No need to workout in the gym, you can walk/jog/sprint outside by your home
- No need to head to the gym and try special equipment but if you have access to it great. Push-ups and very slow squats are still fabulous, transition to partial single leg squats (amazing workout)
- Eliminate one small snack at a certain time of your day. Do not compromise. After three weeks eliminate another snack. The results will be exponential.
The funny thing about this routine is that if you follow it for six months not only will you transform your body but you will feel energized, and it does not take too much time from your day.
After you have had a taste of some success and have a hold of the “quality rather than quantity” philosophy you might be able to tackle a slightly more challenging goal like looking like Venus or Adonis.
True Story:
I was working with a Corporate Wellness program and was working with very, very busy individual. Their company did have a gym on the premises, but very few of upper management was using it since they did not know about it, did not care about or did not have time to use it.
Understanding their need, my colleague and I introduce them to the gm by inviting them to short, targeted workouts for their health and wellbeing.
Reluctantly they tried it since they knew they were overworked and needed assistance with their health.
I, personally, had them come down at a designated time, did not let them change into gym clothes, they worked out in their work clothes.
They did energetic walking on the treadmill for warmup and reenergize them and followed by four exercises 1 set per exercise.
The routine was abbreviated and to the point! I was very strict with them in everything they did even though it was minimal.
Reps had to be perfect: slow, perfect technique and always progressive (each session I added two reps until they get to 12 reps then added a fraction of the weight and started at eight reps).
This workout did not last more than 20minutes. Every single one of them came down to workout 2x/week and later on acknowledged that they loved it – every single one of them.
Toward the end of my stay there, I had a minor chat with one of the young employees who was always a very compliant person and was an absolute fabulous student. She was quiet and always did what I asked her. I asked her if she was happy with her workouts and if she had noticed some weight changes? Her response was “I have not checked for any weight loss, but I have noticed that I feel so energized that I feel great.” To this day that answer has stayed in my head as one of the most satisfying answers I have ever had, I too felt energized.
