Stop Lying To Yourself You’re NOT Doing Everything
One of my pet peeves is when someone looks me right in the eyes and tells me a lie. I don’t care about little white lies. Yes you can tell me my faded and ripped up shirt looks good. That just might land you on my good side. Don’t look me in the eyes and try to convince me the sky is black. It’s just not true. I know it, you know it, the whole world knows it.
I’ve come to realize that a good number of people look themselves in the mirror and flat out lie about what they’re doing to attain a new body. There really isn’t a whole lot of mystery to the system. By now we all know that you need to eat six times a day, participate in some cardio to burn fat, and use the age old principle of progressive overload if you really want to sculpt your body.
Why then do so many people continually lie to themselves with regards to what they’re doing? It’s not helpful at all. It only serves to delay your results. Why not own up to what you’re doing and improve yourself?
I’ll use a co-worker of mine as an example. He’s been trying for the better part of the last year to lose the same 20 lbs. Sometimes he’ll temporarily put a dent in the number before his weight always seems to come back. Every time I see him we have to go through the same song and dance.
Typical Conversation
Coworker: “Hey Marcus I’m still trying to lose these last pesky 20 pounds. I’m doing everything right but the weight just won’t come off. You got any suggestions?”
Marcus: “Sure, let’s start where we always start. What kind of workout are you doing?”
Coworker: “I do cardio 2-3 times a week for 25 minutes”
Marcus: “When is the last time you’ve increased the resistance setting or duration of your exercise?”
Coworker: “I haven’t ever increased it. It’s comfortable for me and I get a small sweat going. Isn’t that enough?”
Marcus: “Do you still have the sample workout I gave you with weights and cardio recommendations?”
Coworker: “Yeah I have it but I don’t use it. I don’t want to bulk up from lifting weights.”
Marcus: “You’re aware that by ignoring what I’ve given you that you’re not doing EVERYTHING required to pull off those 20 pounds right?”
Coworker: “….”
Marcus: “I’m just trying to help you out. If you’d like to defy years of proven tactics and advice be my guest. It’s your time. See you later.”
Coworker: “….”
In the last year or so I’ve had plenty of conversations just like this one. The words may be different but the results are the same. The person invariably feels that the laws of physics don’t work for them and they just aren’t meant to lose weight. Those same people have refused to
- Lift Weights
- Participate in Any Cardio
- Cut out just 1 of the toxic foods they regularly overdose on
- Drink a few glasses of water a day
- Bust a sweat in the gym
- Measure themselves against their starting point
Obviously if you’re avoiding even one of those bullet points then you aren’t doing everything within your power. The world doesn’t hate you and the deck isn’t stacked against you. All you have to do is know the rules of the game and play it. It’s that simple.
Conclusion
Lying to yourself is a terrible habit to develop. If you’re not doing everything you should be doing to get in shape then at least be honest with yourself about the situation. Own up to the fact that you’re leaving out important components of the system. After you own up to it DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
You’d be better served to tell yourself the truth in the long run. Owning up to the situation will allow you to see some results and stop lying to yourself. That’s 2 benefits at once.
What more could you ask for?
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January 18, 2008 at 3:50 pm
So true man…great post, I lied to myself for first 6 months of working out, once I started facing up and "really" doing "it", in 1 month I got more results than the prior 6. I see alot of people in my gym doing the same thing, just going through the motions, some even looking worst than they did a year ago. If I dont feel like crawling to my car after the gym, I am not satisfied…anyhow great post.
January 18, 2008 at 10:44 pm
You’re the kind of story I like to see and pass along. It’s good to know that people are getting the message.
January 23, 2008 at 7:42 pm
You are so right. But it is easier said then done. But then again usually anything that is worth while takes commitment and hard work. Keep up the great work!
January 28, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Thanks Kasia!