"I'm doing my cardio, intervals, eating clean, quick powerful strength routines, but I still haven't seen any real difference in my body. What am I doing wrong?"
These kinds of questions used to baffle me. I'd think, "They seem to be doing everything right, what's the problem here?" Then one day when I was doing one of my own training routines, it seemed to be lacking something. It was kind of "ho hum" for lack of a better word.
Then I stumbled across the answer. And since then, I've managed to see my progress increase. And my clients are taking their routines, fitness levels and physiques to levels they never thought possible.
The answer? Focus on 'getting it done' rather than 'doing'. You see, we all get distracted and bored when it comes to our own motivation. We get attention deficit disorder (ADD) to the degree that we feel the success we're looking for can only be achieved by doing.
"Do more!" becomes the mantra. So we do more.
Every trainer and client goes through this. As professionals we know you cannot change your body over night. In this case we are talking about the process of doing. Here, that is okay. You need to consistently train, make the time to go to the gym, and make clean healthy choices in your nutritional program to get the body you crave.
So you hire me or another trainer, join a gym or download a program from the internet. Usually the programs last for 4 to 6 to 12 weeks. This is a reasonable amount of time to see some level of results.
Right around week two or three you get bored and start reading one of the 8 million rags with...
"The new and improved, hold your breath for 15 seconds, take this pill, drink this liquid, spin around on your head twice and you will lose 15 pounds by Saturday morning".
You start ANOTHER diet from a magazine...even though the last one isn't finished yet.
You create a completely new training program...even though the first isn't showing results yet because you haven't been on it long enough.
You run to another trainer or gym because they promise results immediately...even though the last one hasn't finished or been given the chance to show its effectiveness.
You do more and more and more.
But doing more doesn't really cut it when it comes to success. You don't get results for what you're DOING if you don't stay the course to finish.
The truth of the matter is you only get the motivation and results for what you've DONE. Obvious really, but most truths are. Nonetheless, this is the most critical lesson you'll ever learn about achievement in ANY form of training. Finish what you start!
So don't start a new routine if you are in the middle of one program and don't change diets after a week. Because the fact is, the program most likely needs at least 4 weeks to show some results. Try to focus on 1 or 2 really important things and get those done. After you get the results you want, then move on to getting something else done.
Just stop doing, okay?
Close Your Email Program
Yes, I said it. Close your email program. I know this may border on heresy for some of you, but think about it. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, but email is one area where many of us have become slaves to, "You've got mail!" That phrase, or it's "ding" counterpart can rip us away from just about anything we're doing when we're within earshot of the computer. Unless you're waiting on a specific email to arrive, close your email program and open it only one or two times a day. The USPS only delivers mail to your home once a day, right? So why must you be able to receive email every waking minute of the day? Since when is "just because you can" reason to do something, particularly when it can be such an interruption and fritter away your time without you really noticing?
Let Those Calls Go to Voice Mail
Why is the urge to answer a ringing phone so overwhelming? Maybe for the same reason we say "dial" when few, if any, of us have a telephone with a dial: habit. Combined with Caller ID, voice mail is a powerful, yet grossly underused, tool for reducing interruptions and taking charge of your time.
Yes, I hear those of you who say, "What if it is an emergency?" First let me say I am not suggesting that you let ALL calls go to voice mail, just calls that come in while you are engaged in getting something important done! Having said that, I realize emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time, so create a plan for reaching you with said emergencies. For example, I have "trained" my children to call my cell phone instead of the house phone if there is an emergency. They know they are ONLY allowed to call my cell phone in two situations: when they KNOW I am not home or in an emergency. In effect, my cell phone serves as the "hot line" that is always answered. This, coupled with the fact that I do not make public my cell phone number, allows me to let my calls on the other phones go to voice mail without worry.
Categorize and Prioritize Your To-Do List
For most of us, simply creating a to-do list is not enough. Ticking off items on an arbitrary to-do list might help you get more done each day by helping you stay "on task", but the real question is are you getting the "right" things done each day to create the life you want to live?
Take the time to create a to-do list, yes, but then take it one step further: categorize and prioritize that list! Identify those items that are goal-related - those are important! From this list of goal-related items, create your "Must-Do" list for the day. Do these things; THEN do the rest of the things on your to-do list. This way, at the end of each day, you'll be that much closer to achieving the goals you've set for yourself because they have been the focus and direction of your day.
Let me also suggest that you close the email program and let those calls go to voice mail while you create these lists each day. Without interruptions, you'll need less time to get more done. Planned and enforced distraction-free periods of your day to plan and work will accelerate the speed at which you achieve more, leaving more time for play.
Both Bobby Kelly & Suzanne Bird-harris are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Bobby Kelly has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Celebrities and Fitness. For over 17 years Bobby Kelly has taken his passion for coaching to a level not reached by many in the fitness profession. Bobby has been interviewed and featured as an expert adviser on CNN, Fox News, ABC, NBC, and CBS as well as local affiliate stations. Bobby Kelly's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Suzanne Bird-harris has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Family and Entertainment Guide. Suzanne Bird-Harris is an accomplished coach and writer assisting women in stealing back their thunder by shortening their learning curves in life. Subscribe to receive her e-book, "Go to the Balcony to Get a Grip" at. Suzanne Bird-harris's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.