You’ve heard it, seen it, maybe even done it.

This isn’t working, sod it…

Time passes, let’s try again…

This isn’t working, lets start that new diet in the new year…

Time passes, quit.

Inevitable settlement to the resignation of a healthier, fitter, more confident lifestyle.

Why?

3 reasons…

  1. The process of the ‘quick fix’ is always fundamentally flawed which creates the equivalent outcome as a house being built on sand – Because values and principles don’t align – Just because it’s a big organization, it doesn’t mean that it will serve you forever with your best interest in mind…aaaahhh the societal cookie-cutter weight loss pressure. It’s crap, you are better than that.
  2. People’s reasons for quitting are more often than not more familiar than their reasons for not – Comfort zones of procrastination are so much more familiar than consistency with people’s self-care plans (It’s not a bad thing, because you can flip that around for yourself so easily to create what you want).
  3. Excuses to protect – No time, money, or resources…But, there’s always time to watch tv and buy the latest phone. I know this sounds so direct, it’s so true though, much of this (it did for me) will not come because people are lazy or not capable, there will always be some kind of limiting story that is creating those outcomes, an experience to something that didn’t work previously, or it could be the simple fact that somebody is afraid to reach out to ask for help. For your happiness, reach out.

Be brave, don’t sit behind what you are afraid of, or others’ opinions…or worst of all, others’ influences.

All though all of that is common for so many people, and so is the desire to WANT to be fitter, lose weight, fat loss, shape change, etc…it’s important that in order to break through, the above dynamics are to be faced and overcome. I know it may seem scary. Trust me though. You can.

The absence of goal setting, context to the challenging situation (all or nothing more often than no creates nothing with a linear approach), relevant knowledge to the principles, support, planning, motivation…and more fun stuff, leaves people at the mercy of emotions.

The above factors MUST be implemented and practiced to succeed in this area of life.

If not, the mercy of emotions will ALWAYS lead to procrastination and/or the excuse-making victim mentality.

“It’s been a long day, I don’t want to ‘make the effort’ to eat ‘healthy’ or workout today, I deserve some chill time (everybody does with balance) with a bottle of wine (again, wine in balance)…I’ll work out tomorrow when I feel better…

Tomorrow doesn’t come, next Monday, then…by that point, the habit of procrastination has you by the nuts (and whatever the female equivalent is here) and momentum of the thing (unproductive – in context, lethargic, overweight, and uncomfortable) not welcome in the future is made.

One of the main cornerstones to achieving your health and fitness goals?….

High-jacking your emotions before they highjack you.

(here’s a great resource to help understand this concept more so)

Here’s how to get ahead:

  • Learn sustainable healthy methods in tune with your context to the principles of WHAT serves you as a human animal. There are laws we can not ignore and still expect to have great results.
  • Tap into motivation daily, part of this is knowing why you are doing what you are doing to create a compelling reason to cut out the obligatory element…GOALS, making GOALS, long term goals, medium-term GOALS, and DAILY GOALS is KEY to motivation.
  • Establish GOALS that are stronger than the notion of quitting.
  • Understand the context, sometimes you may not hit your sessions as hard, shoot the same session but with 70% or go for a walk (something is better than nothing and most importantly it creates momentum), sometimes you may have un balanced meal, ensure that at least it’s the best version you can choose (whole foods).
  • Know that things TAKE TIME, just like the Chinese Bamboo Tree.

Change that culture from ‘quit’ to do… and then, you’ll have a ball game!

You don’t quit on your relationship if you have an argument, quit your job because you had a tough day, throw your car away because it has a scratch, ditch your sports team because they lost…Why would you quit on your health?

That’s more important than anything. 

For many, stepping out of the psychological loop of self-sabotage is the first step.

That comes from:

Ownership.

And being vulnerable and honest enough to accept that help will help and that the help will bring the appropriate tools for growth.

What if you don’t know what you need to know to step up, but think you know and are just wasting your time? And in that time, if you got some professional help you would be where you want to be in the same period of time?

(Original vlog)

Paul Cleaver