The Harsh Truth - What it Really Takes to Lose Weight
Recently a friend asked me how to get in shape.
Specifically, he wanted to know how to lose a fairly significant amount of weight.
I gave him some pointers on exercise and lifestyle, pointed him toward the Metabolic Typing diet, and spoke to him a little about motivation.
The usual stuff.
I mean, when it comes down to it, you know what I mean, right? When you're starting at square one, it's really just common sense.
So why doesn't everyone (maybe even you) just do it? What's that? Oh, you do.
Just not all the time.
I understand.
You've got a busy life, work runs overtime regularly, and you always seem to need to catch up on sleep.
After all that, you definitely deserve to indulge a little.
I'll get to the point.
The most useful piece of advice I could give to my friend had nothing to do with which style of exercise he should choose, exactly what he should eat for breakfast, or which motivational books would best get him on track.
Are you ready for it? It was - be consistent.
That's it.
That's all.
Nike got it right - just do it.
Something.
Anything.
I don't think 'L' (my friend) really got the importance of what I was saying here.
In fact (sorry L), I actually walked away rolling my eyes.
Brace yourself.
I'm going to show my harsher side.
'How hard can it be?', I thought to myself.
'I don't know why he hasn't just got off his ass and done it already'.
Now I do believe that weight loss or getting in shape is a very personal, definitely demanding and potentially painful journey.
It's tough.
But it is not complicated.
You get what you put in.
Plus - if you put it in regularly, you actually get more than you put in.
Here's how it works.
The time you spend on your body, and the daily food choices you make, equate to far more than '1 + 1 = 2'.
Half an hour each day is three and a half hours per week, is 175 hours per year, but it's really not that simple.
Think of healthy living like investing in a solid blue-chip stock.
One that just keeps growing.
Eventually multiplying your money many times over.
After a year of working out 30 minutes each day, you won't just have 175 hours of gym-time behind you.
You'll have all that (and the burnt up calories it entails), plus: 1.
a metabolism that burns more fat all day long, even when you're not working out 2.
halted and even reversed off muscle and bone density loss 3.
stimulated positive hormonal and mood change 4.
be well on the way to creating your ideal body 5.
possibly have even surpassed your initial goals You can apply this principle to healthy eating and positive thinking also.
Imagine the power if you did all three each day! So what's the alternative? (Otherwise known as the path most would-be slimmers take).
You sporadically hit the gym, eat well when you have time to think about it, and don't bother to feed your brain with any positive or motivating material.
The outcome? Well there are some positives.
And I guess this is still better than nothing.
1.
You'll have burnt off a few calories and maybe even built a little muscle 2.
You'll have improved your energy and overall wellbeing marginally 3.
You may have staved off additional weight gain and muscle loss The harsh truth: 1.
You won't lose weight.
Seriously.
I've probably seen it happen less than five times in 10 years with the 'now and then' approach.
2.
You'll constantly battle junk food or sweet temptation because you've never properly broken the habit 3.
You'll fight a daily battle to motivate yourself as eating well and working out is not really part of your lifestyle 4.
You'll continue to fight a losing battle with gravity 5.
You'll probably lose a fair bit of self-respect because you know you could do better Harsh, but true.
97% of people who join gyms don't get the results they wanted.
This stat was originally used to promote Personal Training, as the other 3% use Personal Trainers.
While it's true that having a PT can drastically improve your chances of success, I'd argue that this is because the accountability to a PT keeps you consistent.
The 3% are the ones that do something each day.
Every day.
Regardless of whatever else is going on in their lives.
Even during times of extreme busyness or stress.
In fact - especially during those times! It's just what they do.
They don't waste energy thinking about whether they can fit it in, or be bothered.
And they don't beat themselves up for enjoying a nice meal out.
Because they know that healthy living is simply - who they are.
The ironic thing is - these people who put in daily effort, who spend (at least) 175 hours per year working out, who eat well 80-90% of the time, and are highly self-motivated - it's actually easier for them to do all that than it is for the other 97% to do so little.
They don't have to make the decision again each day! I know where I prefer to be.
Are you a 3 percenter? Or maybe you're ready to be one.
Perhaps you're teetering on the edge.
Or maybe this article is just another interruption in your busy day, and you won't think about it beyond reading it.
Well wherever you are, if you're reading this, you're clearly one of the ones who does this think.
This week, why not turn thought into action.
Make a decision to be consistent for a day.
And then a week.
And then a year.
Before you know it, you'll be one of them.
A 3 percenter and proud of it! Oh, and L - if you're reading this - well done on your first week, mate! If you want to know more about transforming your body with correct principles of exercise, nutrition and lifestyle, email me at the address below for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation.
And remember - Life is Now.
Press Play.
Specifically, he wanted to know how to lose a fairly significant amount of weight.
I gave him some pointers on exercise and lifestyle, pointed him toward the Metabolic Typing diet, and spoke to him a little about motivation.
The usual stuff.
I mean, when it comes down to it, you know what I mean, right? When you're starting at square one, it's really just common sense.
So why doesn't everyone (maybe even you) just do it? What's that? Oh, you do.
Just not all the time.
I understand.
You've got a busy life, work runs overtime regularly, and you always seem to need to catch up on sleep.
After all that, you definitely deserve to indulge a little.
I'll get to the point.
The most useful piece of advice I could give to my friend had nothing to do with which style of exercise he should choose, exactly what he should eat for breakfast, or which motivational books would best get him on track.
Are you ready for it? It was - be consistent.
That's it.
That's all.
Nike got it right - just do it.
Something.
Anything.
I don't think 'L' (my friend) really got the importance of what I was saying here.
In fact (sorry L), I actually walked away rolling my eyes.
Brace yourself.
I'm going to show my harsher side.
'How hard can it be?', I thought to myself.
'I don't know why he hasn't just got off his ass and done it already'.
Now I do believe that weight loss or getting in shape is a very personal, definitely demanding and potentially painful journey.
It's tough.
But it is not complicated.
You get what you put in.
Plus - if you put it in regularly, you actually get more than you put in.
Here's how it works.
The time you spend on your body, and the daily food choices you make, equate to far more than '1 + 1 = 2'.
Half an hour each day is three and a half hours per week, is 175 hours per year, but it's really not that simple.
Think of healthy living like investing in a solid blue-chip stock.
One that just keeps growing.
Eventually multiplying your money many times over.
After a year of working out 30 minutes each day, you won't just have 175 hours of gym-time behind you.
You'll have all that (and the burnt up calories it entails), plus: 1.
a metabolism that burns more fat all day long, even when you're not working out 2.
halted and even reversed off muscle and bone density loss 3.
stimulated positive hormonal and mood change 4.
be well on the way to creating your ideal body 5.
possibly have even surpassed your initial goals You can apply this principle to healthy eating and positive thinking also.
Imagine the power if you did all three each day! So what's the alternative? (Otherwise known as the path most would-be slimmers take).
You sporadically hit the gym, eat well when you have time to think about it, and don't bother to feed your brain with any positive or motivating material.
The outcome? Well there are some positives.
And I guess this is still better than nothing.
1.
You'll have burnt off a few calories and maybe even built a little muscle 2.
You'll have improved your energy and overall wellbeing marginally 3.
You may have staved off additional weight gain and muscle loss The harsh truth: 1.
You won't lose weight.
Seriously.
I've probably seen it happen less than five times in 10 years with the 'now and then' approach.
2.
You'll constantly battle junk food or sweet temptation because you've never properly broken the habit 3.
You'll fight a daily battle to motivate yourself as eating well and working out is not really part of your lifestyle 4.
You'll continue to fight a losing battle with gravity 5.
You'll probably lose a fair bit of self-respect because you know you could do better Harsh, but true.
97% of people who join gyms don't get the results they wanted.
This stat was originally used to promote Personal Training, as the other 3% use Personal Trainers.
While it's true that having a PT can drastically improve your chances of success, I'd argue that this is because the accountability to a PT keeps you consistent.
The 3% are the ones that do something each day.
Every day.
Regardless of whatever else is going on in their lives.
Even during times of extreme busyness or stress.
In fact - especially during those times! It's just what they do.
They don't waste energy thinking about whether they can fit it in, or be bothered.
And they don't beat themselves up for enjoying a nice meal out.
Because they know that healthy living is simply - who they are.
The ironic thing is - these people who put in daily effort, who spend (at least) 175 hours per year working out, who eat well 80-90% of the time, and are highly self-motivated - it's actually easier for them to do all that than it is for the other 97% to do so little.
They don't have to make the decision again each day! I know where I prefer to be.
Are you a 3 percenter? Or maybe you're ready to be one.
Perhaps you're teetering on the edge.
Or maybe this article is just another interruption in your busy day, and you won't think about it beyond reading it.
Well wherever you are, if you're reading this, you're clearly one of the ones who does this think.
This week, why not turn thought into action.
Make a decision to be consistent for a day.
And then a week.
And then a year.
Before you know it, you'll be one of them.
A 3 percenter and proud of it! Oh, and L - if you're reading this - well done on your first week, mate! If you want to know more about transforming your body with correct principles of exercise, nutrition and lifestyle, email me at the address below for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation.
And remember - Life is Now.
Press Play.
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