I’m tired of Booty Gains.
I’m annoyed with Ass Selfies.
I’m sick of Fitness Journeys.
I’m bored with Filtered Progress Photos.
And I’m fed up with “Doing It For The Gram”
With all that said, just like I’ve done with CrossFit for the past 15+ years, I’ve learned to co-exist peacefully with stupidity and bite my tongue while looking the other way when I hear someone tell me that they are just looking to “tone” their physique……
Pardon my idiotic initialisms but STFU!!!!!!!! What the hell are you exactly trying to tone?!?!?!?!
I’m not much of a handyman however I do know that you most certainly cannot paint a house until it has been built. And unfortunately most of these people who are out there that are looking to tone, are essentially just showing up to an empty construction site with a paint brush in hand ready to work.
The Truth Hurts
I’m going to be brutally honest here for a moment and tell you that most of us (including myself) are nowhere near a point in our Physique Transformations where we should be looking to tone! Hell even professional bodybuilders, fitness, bikini and physique competitors rarely if ever are looking to tone anything on their bodies! If you want that “toned look” then you need to BUILD MUSCLE!!! And not just some muscle, but LOTS OF MUSCLE!!!!
Simply put, you cannot tone something that isn’t there. I know this may come off as harsh to some of you, however I think it’s important to form an honest critique on your physique, and have a realistic view on what needs to be done both in the gym and in the kitchen, in order to take that physique to where you want it to go.
Okay, So How Do I Get Rid Of My Gut?
This is without a doubt the number one question that I receive from men all the time. And my answer has and always will be the same: What’s Your Diet Look Like?
Guys, listen up! You cannot and will not ever out-train a shitty diet. Sure, back in your twenties you could eat whatever you liked and still maintain a decent looking six pack. But chances are that if you are struggling with a protruding belly and reading this week’s blog, then you are no longer in your twenties anymore. And you know what? Getting old sometimes sucks! So deal with it!
Yes, our metabolisms do slow down as we age. And sure, we tend to become more tired more quickly. And I know personally, that as we become older, our careers can become more demanding and family obligations can take up more of our time. But none of these are valid excuses to let both your health and your physique go to hell.
If you really want to lose that gut than stop eating crap and start lifting weights CONSISTENTLY (as in 3-5x/week). And if you lack the motivation to exercise and discipline to remain committed to your diet, then hire a reputable and knowledgeable Personal Trainer/Coach that will hold you accountable for both.
So How Can I Lose ____LBS Quickly?
Ah Ladies, I really do enjoy working with you all. In my opinion, most, if not all the women I work with, train incredibly intense when they are working in the gym with either myself or with one of our other Trainers. It’s no secret that women have a higher threshold for pain than we men do. And this is constantly proven time and time again, during the workouts that we put the ladies through (especially with all the heavy ass shit I make them push, pull, curl and squat).
However every so often I will have one of my female clients ask me for the quickest and most effective weight to lose weight on the scale. And again, my response is and always will be the same: What type of weight do you want to lose?
Look, losing weight is easy. All you have to do is consume less calories and burn more calories than you were consuming and burning before. However losing body fat while building and maintaining lean muscle on the other hand, is MUCH more complex to accomplish, and therefore requires a significant amount of attention to detail in order to be achieved.
Therefore if the ultimate goal is to burn strictly body fat while maintaining lean muscle mass, then the answer should be: Lift as heavy as possible and with the absolute best form possible. Remember, muscle burns fat. The more muscle you have, the more fat your body will burn in a rested state.
Patience is a Virtue
Finally, I think it’s important for us all to remember that we are only in competition with ourselves. I mean honestly, do you really care how good your friend looks in that bikini on the beach? Or does it really bother you all that much if your buddy’s biceps are 2 inches bigger than yours?
If these are truly concerns of yours, then my suggestion is that you take a long look at yourself and try to redefine what really matters to you in life. And what should matter to you is that you are strong, fit and healthy. Sure, looking good is a side benefit of working out with weights, however it shouldn’t be the only one that you care about.
Living in a society that heavily relies and expects upon instant gratification can be challenging at times. With all the nonsense that we see online with people trying to portray these fake and happy lives, it can become easy to get caught up in wanting the things that we don’t have or living the lifestyles we think we want right away. But trust me when I tell you that most things in life (especially your health and your physique) are worth putting in the time, effort and energy into, as the rewards you will receive in return, truly will last you a lifetime.
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance