How counterintuitive is that? Yet genius!
One look around and the obvious rears its ugly face. Nobody likes to be uncomfortable. We drive across the street to McDonald's and pump up the air conditioning so we don't sweat for the 45 seconds we sit at the stoplight. Now I will admit that using the word "nobody" may be a glaring over-generalization, but face it there are very few people willing to put up with pain and suffering for the sake of long term benefits. Because that's how it seems to work in the world, doesn't it? The times that we find ourselves truly uncomfortable is when the reward is somewhere in the distance. But if we could just hold on...
Sometimes this isn't true. I'm sure that Michael Phelps was in some serious hurt each time he was milliseconds away from another gold medal or world record, but it's not too often that we find ourselves in similar situations. More often the reality is hurt now benefit later in a lot of aspects of life. When it comes to fitness most people aren't willing to do the hurt now and so they don't generally get the benefit later. It's sad really. Psychologists say that being willing to delay gratification is a significant sign of maturity. The trend of the times and everyone's need for instant gratification would indicate that America has slumped into an age of immaturity. But there is hope, you really can overcome it!
I recently read the book Faster, Better, Stronger by Eric Heiden. He repeatedly stresses that the most important way to measure fitness is on a calendar not a clock. The point he's getting at is that it takes time to do things right and to do them best. Lots of get fit quick schemes promise fast results and a killer good looking body in no time at all; but the best programs take time, sometimes months or even a year or two to accomplish goals in the best way possible. Your body is pretty incredible. It responds to appropriate amounts of stress by rebuilding instead of breaking down. Kind of cool, really.
However, this is only with time for recovery after stress. For example three days on, one day off with three weeks intense, one week lighter and so on and so forth. Suddenly a month has passed. It's not to say results won't be measurable and satisfying along the way, but it's important to separate long term and short term goals. Losing 20 pounds generally is not a one week goal (despite what you might see on the Biggest Loser). Jogging a mile might be. Completing a food journal definitely is.
The bottom line is it takes patience. The magazine covers are fake, anyway, so why bother jumping on the bandwagon every time they promise a plan for "a new you in just 2 weeks" or "the one simple secret to 6 pack abs in just 10 days?" Learn from the tortoise and take it slow and steady. Make a plan for yourself and meter out when you want to accomplish which goals. Then as you accomplish or don't accomplish, take time to reevaluate and adjust your plans as necessary. Keep your eye on the horizon and even if it takes a few months, the results with be that much more worth it and that much longer lasting.
Rome wasn't built in a day, you know?
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