Try
I’ve been lucky enough to be able to not only view some of the recent rugby matches on TV but also to be able to go to watch some of the games live. Professional sport, regardless of which, always inspires me. The effort, time and commitment these people dedicate to getting minimal but crucial gains on their opponents is amazing. Looking back through my pictures I saw the one above and it got me thinking about the word ‘Try’ and what that really means to people, specifically in the world of health and fitness.
Lots of people will say they have tried be in good shape. They tried having a good diet. They tried doing some exercise. It’s used quite often as an excuse not to make the effort because they’ve been there and tried anything and no matter what they’ve done it just hasn’t worked. However, we all know if you really try, you get results. It’s impossible not to. Hard work and effort= gains. That’s how your body works. So how much effort does it really take to try and how can we quantify it? Honestly, I can’t answer that. Everybody is different and there can be no one size fits all. Personally, I would say trying includes all of the following:
1) At least 12 weeks of solid effort
Not 12 hours, not two days or even two weeks. Your body takes time to adjust to the changes taking place. People don’t get out of shape overnight, nor do they gain a stone in a day. It happens gradually, so much so that some people don’t even realise they’re gaining weight until suddenly their clothes don’t fit anymore. The same is true of weight loss and fitness results. They take time. Trying therefore, means not quitting until you’ve given your body at least twelve weeks to see the changes.
2) Making real changes
By real changes I mean ones that you can stick to and ones that you know will make a difference. It’s pointless increasing the amount you exercise and at the same time increasing the amount of bad food you’re putting in your body. It may sound like I’m making this up but I know many people who will do an hour of exercise and then go to McDonalds afterwards because they’ve earned themselves a ‘treat’. That isn’t trying. Nor is completely changing everything overnight, that’s just setting the bar too high. Make small, real changes you can and are likely to stick to.
3) Being committed
There’s no point lying to yourself or others if you aren’t really committed to your goal. If you’re skipping exercise sessions, if you’re eating more treats than you should then you aren’t committed. You’re lying to yourself and you’re lying to others. That isn’t trying, it’s setting yourself up to fail and it’s hurting you psychologically too. Be honest with yourself, if you aren’t ready to change then don’t say you’re trying. Wait until you’re ready and do it properly.
4) Changing your mindset
This ties into the one above. As stated, lying to yourself is the worst thing you can do. I talk very often about a holistic approach to health and fitness and that includes having a healthy mind. I think that comes from being honest with yourself. If you’re having a couple of glasses of wine daily and or eating more cake than you should then you know why you’re gaining weight. You have to be honest with yourself about the things you are or aren’t prepared to do to change. If you aren’t ready, don’t begin to try.
5) Tracking your progress
I’m guilty often of letting myself down on this. I don’t keep an exercise diary but it can be a great way of tracking progress. You can actually see how many more reps you’re doing, how much stronger and fitter you are and how you really are going forwards. I rarely weigh myself either, I don’t think it’s a very good way of tracking progress and it can be hugely demoralising. Think instead about taking body measurements or pictures but take them weekly or better still fortnightly because your body takes time to change. Muscle weighs more than fat so it could be your body is totally changing shape and you’re looking a lot leaner but you weigh the same or more. Tracking your progress in a methodical way means you’re tracking the real changes in your body.
Trying will mean something different for everybody. If someone comes to me and says they have tried to change their exercise and diet habits, to lose weight or to see better results I will always ask them what they mean by that. If you believe you have tried in the past but haven’t followed some of the steps above then what’s to stop you making the effort and following my rules of trying to see where it gets you.
As always, if you’re looking for exercise and nutritional advice please don’t hesitate to contact me using the section on my website. And remember, if at first you don’t succeed you can always try, try again. Especially if you really are doing just that!
PS. In case, like me, you are suffering post rugby World Cup blues, here’s a look at some of the tackles of the tournament. Enjoy! Rugby World Cup 2015 Tackles of the Tournament
via Dilly's Personal Training http://ift.tt/1Prs9LP
