Regardless if you’re wealthy or poor, skinny or fat, in great health or are immunocompromised, in a relationship or single, life can be difficult at times for all of us. Obviously some of us are dealt better hands in life than others. Some of us have more opportunities available to us than others. And some of us are just more fortunate and genetically gifted than others.
I’ve always believed that there are opportunities to be made out of any and every situation I encounter. And as cliche as it may sound, I’ve always tried to make the best out of these situations whenever possible. I acknowledge the negatives but I seek out the positives. When it comes to making difficult decisions, I don’t make them lightly. And when it comes to giving up on a project or quitting on a goal, I rarely if ever accept defeat.
The Two Types of People Who Give Up Too Easily On Their Health & Fitness Goals
1) The Excuser
As someone who has worked in gyms for over two decades now, I’ve seen LOTS of people give up and quit on achieving their health and fitness goals early into their fitness journey. I understand that the simple act of going to the gym is difficult for many people to do. And it’s even more challenging to do this if you have no clue as to how to lift weights and are self conscious about your physique. Between the loud noises of weights banging, music blaring, and beautiful/muscular physiques everywhere you look, the gym can be an intimidating place for any iron virgin. And for these reasons, many people don’t even bother to step foot in a gym. Or if they do step foot in a gym, they only stay for a few weeks at most. These people give up on achieving their goals before they even get started. And unfortunately they really do only have themselves to blame.
The Solution
If you find the gym to be an intimidating place and you don’t know what you’re doing, simply setting aside some additional funds for a few sessions with a Personal Trainer at a private training facility can make all the difference with regards to how you approach your workouts. A good trainer can design a program that is customized for your goals and your lifestyle.
2) The Non Planner
The Non Planner goes to the gym with no real game plan. Sure they might have an idea as to what they want to do in the gym, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will do it. Unlike the Excuser, the Non Planner is usually at least self-motivated enough to go to the gym on their own. They are also not intimidated by the loud noises and beautiful physiques. And although I do give these people credit for showing up, to this day I have no clue as to what they actually do in the gym when they do show up. Their workouts are random. Their exercise selections and sequences make little to no sense. Their form is usually off and their technique is lacklustre at best.
The Solution
Make a plan and stick with it! If you have some idea as to what you are doing in the gym, then you should have some idea as to how to split up different muscle groups into a proper training program. If you are going to the gym to train your legs, then don’t randomly start bench pressing because the mood strikes you to train chest. Have an idea as what you are going to do when you arrive at the gym. Visualize the exercises you are going to perform and the weights you are going to lift. Do not allow yourself to stray from this path.
Don’t Allow Yourself to Give Up
Although it seems obvious, you really should not allow yourself to give up on achieving your health and fitness goals. There will always be reasons/excuses as to why you can’t go the gym and exercise. Whether it’s time restraints, family obligations, health issues, chronic injuries, I’ve honestly heard them all.
And even though sometimes there is a valid reason to miss a workout or two, after two decades of working in this industry I’ve yet to hear a valid reason to miss a series of workouts in a row or to not even bother taking care of one’s health and fitness.
“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
Benjamin Franklin
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance