Honestly, I’ve seen this MORE and MORE over the past several years than anything.
Heck, you may be one of them.
We generally call them a non-beginner or intermediate workout buff.
The story usually goes that we have your average gym rat, this person works out 4-5 times a week, eats at least 4 meals a day, supplements and does cardio but for whatever reason can’t get into the shape they feel they are working for.
Does this sound like anyone you know?
If you were to see this person with their shirt off no one would question if they were out of shape – but you wouldn’t call them in shape either.
What usually happens?
Believe it or not, about half of the people that we work with here at Rowlett Transformation Center are NOT beginners when it comes to exercise and fitness.
They are your typical gym goers that have been at it in the iron game for a few years, have some set routine, reads up on some of the latest nutrition and exercise articles. They should be in great shape, and at one point in time they may have been in shape, but now they are struggling to get back to where to use to be, or even further.
They end up coming to us thinking that we have some routine or diet they can do that will finally get them where they want to be and get them out of their rut.
After first assessing them, we can see that what caused their rut was just ‘life’.
Work hours kick up a few extra days and they miss a workout or two, then they end up eating like crap and getting depressed about it for a few days while they sit down on the couch eating their weekend cheat meals when they haven’t worked out in the first place.
They come in knowing that they have chest-day on Monday (universal chest day for big box gyms) and do the same exercises and weight week after week but on occasion changing up the last exercise to “mix it up” a bit.
In addition, even with as much as they know, they get into their set routine that got them “in shape” their first go around as a fall back because they are too busy to think of anything else.
How to fix this
From my experience, there is one way to fix this and get your – or anyone else that you may know – body back into their best shape. It’s so simple that it’s almost a bit of a duh moment.
Accountability.
Being accountable to someone or something else is very powerful just for the mere fact that we don’t ALWAYS want or feel motivated to go to the gym but knowing that you have to report your workout or diet numbers to someone or something else is potent.
When you have someone checking up on you, you’re more likely to get your $hit straight so you won’t disappoint them and that is another STRONG motivator.
What ends up happening is that you end up doing the workouts you need to do, eating the foods you need to eat, stay away from those that don’t, you’ll have someone to lean on and you end up looking and feeling great. You repeat this process over and over again, with your coach behind you, and next thing you know you’re looking and feeling great.
It’s not always the perfect nutrition or training program but just continuous effort knowing that you have to be accountable to others that can be the catalyst to cause your body to change past those perceived barriers.
How to start?
I generally have a two-part approach to this.
First, you NEED to commit to something… anything.
Whenever I meet with a new client I ALWAYS try to find SOMETHING higher than us to commit to – a lot of times it ends up being a photoshoot – so that we BOTH have something to work towards.
After we decide what we want to accomplish then we commit to it in some shape or form.
If you want to do a mud run, don’t do the one that’s 10 miles from your house, make it to where you have to travel and stay in a hotel; then you pay for it and you’re in.
I have always leaned towards the photo shoots so when a client decides that’s what they want to do we get a date scheduled with the photographer and you’re committed.
You can also start a contest with your friends and bet $$$ on it, money is ALWAYS an incredible accountability partner.
AFTER you decide and make some form of COMMITMENT then you MUST ANNOUNCE it to your family or friends. You can do with at a dinner conversation or even Facebook.
When you tell others that you’re going to do something you are less likely to back out and more likely to keep your commitment.
The First Step is the Hardest
Even for the seasoned gym goer the step of committing is a big one and tends to be the hardest to take so I recommend getting a coach to be accountable towards.
Someone that is going to hold you to a higher standard even on those days that you feel you are too tired or lazy too.
Remember 5lbs of fat can turn into 15 real quickly and being smart nothing is as much of a disappointment as not living up to your potential and knowledge base.
You Want Us to Keep You Accountable?
You’re not alone and have nothing to be scared of, we are just people like you, but we have a knack of getting you set up with something that will keep you on your game and we will be there to coach you through those difficult days.
We have two programs:
Our Semi-Private Training Program and our Online Coaching Program <====
Don’t wait too long though; having the nuts to commit is a big part so when you feel that you have the courage at the moment to say “Hell with it, I’m ready to go the next level.” Contact us… or hell contact ANYONE that’s going to hold you that standard you want.
In Health and Awesomeness,
Travis Merritt, BS, CPT, (and other letters behind the name) is the Owner of Rowlett Transformation Center in Rowlett, TX.
P.S. – If you enjoyed this post please share it with your friends using the social media buttons below.
P.P.S. – Please ask a question or share a comment with us in the Leave a Comment section at the very bottom of the page. We love your feedback and will use it to develop future content.
PLEASE CLICK THE “LIKE” BUTTON, POST A COMMENT AND SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS…
