As week 1 of 2019 comes to an end, here’s a great story to ponder if your 2019 goals include improving your quality of life by developing a consistent health and fitness routine.
A few ago, about 2 weeks into January, I sat down with a potential client who was looking to drop a serious amount of weight as it was really holding him back from living the quality of life he wanted.
It was affecting every area of his life and he was determined that this would be the year that he would finally change things.
He told me that every year for the past 5 years, he would attack January by cutting all the junk food from his diet, quit drinking (4-5 nights was the norm), hit the gym 5 days a week, start consuming tons of water, veggies and other ‘clean’ foods, etc.
After hearing this I asked him how long these changes lasted and he said about 3 weeks, then everything crash and he would end right back at square one.
After a few more frantic attempts to change his lifestyle during the year by following the same approach, January would eventually roll i again and he would be heavier than the year before, have less energy, more restricted in his movements, etc.
His quality of life was slipping back further and further with each year that passed.
So what would he do? the exact same as the year before…. and again the following year…… and again the following year…… and on it went!!!
So I asked what he had done this so far in January prior to us meeting and, you guessed it- no drink, 5 days a week in the gym, no junk, etc.
So I explained that we know this approach doesn’t work.
It’s simply too much change in too short a time frame. And of course he couldn’t argue with me as he slipped further and further into a rut t=year after year.
So I told him t was time for another plan of action:
- 2 days exercise week a exercise- not 5
- Drink 2 litres of water every day
- Aim to drink 3 nights a week instead of 4 or 5
- Eat whatever you want
Fast forward a year and a half later, and he was down 70lbs (!!!), off 2 medications (under the guidance of his doctor of course), had a skin condition massively improve, and had a completely different relationship with what it means to live a fitter and healthier lifestyle.
The plan was to get past January with a few very basic habits still in place, and then build on them, instead of going ‘All in’ for a few weeks and then hit February burnt out, pissed off, and back at square one with another defeat under his belt.
After we nailed these habits, we then added in one more at a time:
- eat some veggies
- a 3rd day of exercise
- gradually reducing the amount of processed foods in his diet
- added in. more quality fats and proteins to his diet
- aiming to drink just 2 nights a week
And of course he still had nights out and enjoyed his favourite foods, but he grew into a place that served him better, instead of remaining in a place that didn’t serve him or those closest to him.
And most importantly, he still gong strong after 5 years, instead of the usual 3 weeks his old approach delivered!
The difference this time round was that he had the guidance of a coach who could see things in an unbiased way, and who also had the skills to get him to try a different approach that the one he had mistakenly followed every other year.
If you’re in need of the same thing this year, then our January 6 week fat loss challenge could be the perfect program for you.
Click the relevant link below to see if we are the right fit for you, and let’s keep your 2019 health and fitness goals going past January!!
Ladies, Click Here For Full Details Of Our 6 Week Fat Loss Challenge
Men, Click Here For Full Details Of Our 6 Week Fat Loss Challenge
Steve
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