It happens to all of us: we start our fitness journey and after about 2 weeks or even a month, we get discouraged because we don’t see quick, visible, dramatic results.
Some even choose to give up and quit. This is among the most common mistakes people make when starting a fitness program.
But not you! Not this time!
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “Being healthy and fit isn’t a fad or a trend, it’s a lifestyle”
Yes, lifestyle. It’s not something you can achieve in a couple of days or even weeks. You can’t just eat healthy for a bit and expect results. This is a long term commitment that you choose to endeavor.
With all the “lose weight quick” scam products out there, it’s hard to distinguish which one you should take.
I have an answer that will ease your headache..none of them!
One of the secrets to your fitness results and success is patience.
Yes, patience. It’s something that has slowly started fading in this century. With the lighting speed technology and innovations that improve time in our everyday lives, patience is the one thing that is neglected.
Patience is a Virtue
We as individuals want everything right away and this includes our food. When we are not patient, we will not get top quality and healthy results. Few people take the time to sit down and have a healthy meal, as was in the past.
Everybody is on the go and when it’s time to eat, they get fast food to stay on the go and it slowly becomes a lifestyle. An unhealthy one at that.
You’ve heard the saying “patience is a virtue”?
But do you know what it means? Let’s break it down.
Virtue is something of moral excellence or goodness. It’s someone who is morally righteous. So if you want to be a better person, you should want to add patience to your values.
Patience can make us better people…and healthier.
How it Applies
Patience applies to all aspects of our life. At times we don’t have enough patience for something and we end up doing harm to our selves or even worse, someone else.
With patience we are able to have self-control in situations that we can’t do anything.
Same goes with fitness. It’s all about having patience in situations that you can’t control. I’m talking about having patience when you know you’ve been on a healthy diet, eating home-made fresh and healthy food. I’m talking about patience when you’ve been in the gym working out 3-5 times a week with the right program. But you have lost a measly 3 pounds. Don’t forget, muscle weighs more than fat.
This is the part where your old self would get discouraged, ask yourself “what’s the point”, give up and go start eating unhealthy and delay your gym sessions. But…this is not you! Not anymore! This time you added patience to your agenda and everything is going to change!
My Moment
My “wow!” moment when it came to patience landed almost 1 year ago. It was April 2014, and I was outside with my church youth on our first day of outdoor volleyball. I have been patiently trying to grow bigger for 5 months, wanting to get to a bigger structure and to feel like I’ve achieved something.
So I trained. I trained well, I trained hard. I trained patiently.
As everyone started gathering up for the volleyball game, I started getting compliments on my size and people asking if I’ve been working out. I didn’t need to say anything. The patience started speaking for itself J
It was great to be acknowledged with all the work you put in. It was my “wow, I must have gained some muscle if people are complimenting me and asking questions.” I was previously a 158 pound guy who had reached a weight of 180 lbs.
But that’s not why I worked out. I didn’t expect compliments or acknowledgment. It was all for myself. The compliments and acknowledgements are the bonuses. If you workout to lose or gain weight for yourself and your health, the people will start to notice.
“Work hard in silence and let success be your noise”
I showed up religiously for every workout. I started eating healthy, starting by quitting soft drinks and fast foods.
I’m convinced it was because I had finally learned how to train patiently.
Here’s what I learned: our bodies respond to what we give them. That includes the good and the not-so-good. Being able to gain muscle all of a sudden? That’s a by-product of lots of small choices: achieving each workout well, eating healthy foods, dedicating oneself to making daily commitments, doing your best, not beating yourself up when your “best” wasn’t “first-rate.” And always, always showing up the next day!
How to change
First things first, stop expecting immediate results! There is no quick way to lose those pounds. There is no quick way to gain a bigger size. It takes determination, consistency, time and PATIENCE!
“No one said it was going to be easy. It’s supposed to be hard. If it was easy, then everyone would do it.”
Make a long-term commitment to yourself to achieve that body you’ve always wanted. Do what you can, as often as you can, and don’t over-think the whole situation when you can’t. When we put in the time and patience on ourselves, our bodies talk back to us in ways that can sometimes be glorious.
Chart your progress. Your weight, of course, will fluctuate from day-to-day, and your sense of accomplishment or disappointment shouldn’t hinge on your daily weight. It is however, a useful feedback system to see what you’re doing right and to motivate you to stay patient.
Perhaps the No.1 thing you can do to lose or gain weight: Plan your healthy meals. First, use a calorie calculator to determine how many calories you need to maintain your current weight. If you’re aiming to lose a pound a week, you’ll want to cut that total by 500 calories per day to hit that goal (3,500 calories equals a pound of fat). Once you have your target calories per day, you’ll want to divide them per meal with some healthy snacks, if you choose to. Avoid any soft drinks or empty calories. Instead, drink water. About 8 cups a day. The key, of course, is sticking to the meal plan—don’t let yourself drift. You’ll get the hang of it after a few days, patience my friend. With time, it will become second-hand and natural, easy even.
This one comes immediately after diet: Workout. My recommendation is strength training. Pick a program that tailors your needs and experience. Commit to a schedule 3-5 days a week for an hour sessions. Start low weights and work your way up. Have patience that by consistently putting in the hard work, you’ll start seeing those pounds melt and a new body forming. Because that is what will happen.
Get enough sleep. Sleep affects your eating habits. Sleep affects your body weight loss or growth. Sleep affects many functions and reduces stress, helping body weight. Getting enough sleep helps keep your mind and body healthy. Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. By doing so, you let your cells repair themselves. Dropping your weight can be as simple as getting a good night’s sleep. So go ahead, get your sleep on!
Start today
Patience. Something we struggle with daily. But with practice, it can bring us up to a whole new level of our fitness success. Patience is important because it shows your commitment to yourself. Shortcuts lead back to square one. This community is not about shortcuts. We’re not about mediocre quick diets. We’re about working consistently and patiently on ourselves to effectively achieve healthy fitness goals. Patience is a bi-product of something deeper. Once truly realized, the rest seems to fall into place.