Yes, it’s that time of the year folks. New year, new me, this time I mean it! Resolutions abound relating to diet & exercise, health & fitness but in 360 days from now, ninety percent of you will be saying the same thing because you failed. Why did you fail? Lots of different reasons, most of which are just excuses. But often times those excuses have a little bit of merit. You had the best of intentions, started off with a great attitude, but fizzled out after a few weeks. Sound familiar? It’s human nature to return to what’s comfortable. No change is much easier to handle than actual change, because real change takes effort. Combine one’s already change resistant nature with a misdirected path for change, and it’s easy to see why failure happens so frequently.
Paleo, Low Carb, Zone, Mediterranean, Atkins, Low Fat, Calorie counting, the list goes on. Running, cardio machines, yoga, pilates, kettlebells, crossfit, power lifting, bodybuilding, sandbags, etc. Dozens of diets, dozens of exercise modalities. For most people, unless they hit the lucky combination right from the start, they are doomed to fail.
The reason many people have for not adhering to a diet and/or an exercise program is that they simply choose the wrong one that suits them. Almost any diet and exercise program will work, WHEN it is applied properly. Unfortunately the fitness industry is horrible at connecting people with exercise programs that they will enjoy and adhere to. Diet plans are touted that they MUST be strictly followed to achieve results, even though the person attempting to follow said program loathes every bite of food they put in their mouth.
Here is a little secret, you can decide the exact diet and exercise plan that will 100% work for you! Yes, I did say that. But Ryan, I don’t know what to eat or how to exercise, HOW am I going to make the right choices and know what to do? Well, you are going to take my advice and as you go through the journey, you are going to provide true and accurate feedback to yourself and your trainer. (If you choose to employ a trainer, which I highly recommend) With some guidance, you will determine the foods you will eat often, those you will sometimes eat, and yes even those you are likely going to want to avoid as much as possible. I’m not going to tell you which foods are in which category, you will determine them for yourself during the process.
When it comes to exercise I want you to clearly define what you intend to accomplish, what forms of exercise you enjoy and which ones you do not. In both arenas, I urge you to try new things. Try new foods or new ways of preparing them. Try a new exercise, and give it more than one chance. If there is an exercise you always avoided, try to figure out why, and see if this time around it feels different. Each time you try something new, I want you to truthfully assess it’s impact before consulting your “guide” and determining if it is something that stays in your program or is dismissed. Many people look at all the things they feel they need to give up, rather than embrace all the new possibilities that exist for them out there!
The world is full of paths that will get you to your new year goals, but finding the exact combination takes a little patience and a little guidance for most people. Let me help you determine the no fail diet and exercise path that will become a way of life so that you can be one of the lucky ones to beat the odds and not have to make the same resolutions over and over each January.
Ryan Williams is a lifelong fitness enthusiast who currently specializes in calisthenics and DVRT ultimate sandbag training. He is available for private and group training here at the studio. You may email him directly at Ryan@primalfitnesspittsburgh.com for training inquiries.
