When I was overweight I’d go to the gym and walk/run on the treadmill and then do weights. Sometimes this super fit girl would be at the gym at the same time. I couldn’t help but watch every thing she did. She was just SO fit! I clearly remember her walking over to the chin up bar and ripping off a set of 15 pull ups while wearing a weighted vest. She did it 3 times.
I was so envious. I wanted to be able to do that and I couldn’t. When the gym was empty (I was embarrassed and didn’t want anyone to see me) I’d go over to that same chin up bar and feebly try to do one. I couldn’t. So I’d walk away and feel bad about the fact that I couldn’t.
BUT here’s the thing – I wasn’t truly focusing my training on that specific movement. Sure, I was exercising and I was doing a lot of things right in the gym but I wasn’t putting my efforts on achieving that specific goal. So, I switched my focus and started training in a way that would allow me to someday be able to do unassisted pull-ups. It’s many, many, many months later and now I can do chin-ups – 8 in a row – my goal is 10. Pull-ups are harder than chin-ups so that will be my next goal!
I see this all the time with my clients who are struggling to lose weight. They come to me saying things like I want to lose 10lbs (or 20lbs or 30lbs)…like now!! And when we want something really badly it’s easy to get impatient – to want to hurry the process. Sometimes we might even want to take a short cut but in the world of diets the quick fix never lasts (read more about what I think of diets here) but just like it took me time and consistent focus to train my body to do a chin-up, it takes time to lose fat. It also takes consistent focus.
Here are 3 steps to make sure you’re focused on the right things:
- Get really clear on why you’re motivated to lose weight. Think back to a time that you looked and felt your best – when was it? How did you feel? Write it down.
- How much weight do you want to lose? Write it down.
- What baby step can you take right now to get you started? (ie. Reorganize your pantry and throw out the junk, go grocery shopping and stock up on veggies, decide to stop night time snacking). Just make one little decision and stick to it.
Even better – drop down into the comments below and say what you’re going to do!
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