Top 5 Reasons Why You Aren’t Meeting Your Fitness Goals

You can’t just WISH for it, you have to WORK for it. That’s in every aspect of life and fitness is no different. Time and time again, I hear that “fitness, eating healthier, losing weight, etc.”, is something that people want to add to their lives. They get super motivated for about two-three weeks, and then, unfortunately, those goals go back to that back burner. In fact, a survey showed that only 25% of people who workout achieve their desired results (IDEA, International Health and Fitness Journal). So the question becomes, why is this?

Reason #1 –Fitness Goals Without the Goal or Vision.

Like I said before, I constantly hear people say that they want to make fitness become a priority. But what does that mean? I see people begin an exercise regimen, but that’s the extent of it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good start, but what’s the next step? Without defining your goal or vision, there will be times that you want to quit and you do just that.  By having a vision, you can always remember why you’re working so hard. We live in a world where we want instant gratification. If we don’t get results right away, we feel a desire to change the current program that we’re on because we think that another we read about is better or we hear that it will get us to our goals faster. Don’t. Stay the course. Consistency is the key.

 

Reason #2 – Not Making Their Fitness Goals S.M.A.R.T.

As a fitness coach, I hear goals that are either extremely broad and lack focus or too narrow in scope that requires more elements to succeed. As with any goal in life, you should follow the S.M.A.R.T. principles (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Specific).  Read my other blog titled “Make Those Fitness Goals Smart” for a more in-depth explanation of these principles.

Reason #3 – Lack of Accountability

How many times have you said, “I’ll start tomorrow”, or “I’ll start on Monday”, then “tomorrow” and “Monday” comes around, and you talk yourself out of doing something? Most people are not committed enough to make themselves accountable for their fitness goals. Fitness tends to be that one aspect of life that doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. We all start (to include myself) with good intentions, but what happens when you don’t work out or start going back to your unhealthy eating habits? Unless you hold yourself accountable, there are no real consequences for your inactions. So, commit yourself, make yourself accountable, and be proud of your progress!

If you are self-aware and you know that you can’t find your own-self accountable, find someone who will hold you accountable! Whether it’s a family member, friend, spouse, co-worker, or whoever, sometimes having a workout partner is the best way to make sure you’re getting to the gym. There have been days that I just want to chill on the couch. However, I have a husband who is dedicated to the gym and he’ll say, “Let’s go to the gym”, and it forces me to put on my workout clothes and get my @$$ to the gym.

Don’t have an immediate support system that will go workout with you? Guess what…having a coach in your corner will hold you accountable. For my competitions, I had an amazing coach and he was always in my corner, saying the things I needed (and sometimes wanted) to hear. Because I had weekly check-ins with him, I never wanted to disappoint him or myself, so I wouldn’t skip out on my workouts or meals….well most of my meals. Knowing I had to check-in with someone else, it forced me to hold myself accountable.

 

Reason #4 – Lack of Professional Fitness Advice

We are professionals for a reason. Before I earned my certifications, I thought I knew enough about working out and nutrition. Boy, was I wrong! New research is always coming out and new treads are always “the next best thing”. Even the fitness magazines that I read sometimes contradict each other. Sure, you can research and read on your own, but how are you going to decipher all that information?

  Reason #5 – Underestimating the Power of Good Nutrition

Eating right and exercising goes hand-in-hand. Even from the closest people in my life, I hear “I workout so I can eat whatever I want”.  I’m not suggesting that you have to eat healthy 100% of the time. You still have to enjoy the food/drink pleasures in life, I mean I’m a huge wine-o, but follow the 80/20 rule. Eat healthy 80% of the time and enjoy that 20% with those cookies, or wine, or whatever you enjoy outside the “healthy” category. You will not reach your full potential if you are not fueling your body with the necessary daily mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fats. You need a healthy eating plan that will become part of your lifestyle!

 

Once you create your S.M.A.R.T. health goals, it’s time to put them into action and stay committed, but how?

–Put your goals in writing and place that somewhere where you can see it.

-Break down your goals into skills, and skills into practices. For example, a goal is to “lose 10 lbs.”. A skill can be  “Eat whole, fresh foods consistently”. Then the practices are “eat lean protein with each meal” and “eat 5 servings of produce a day”.

 

-Use positive statements and language like, “I can do this”, “I am able to…”, “I got this”.

-Keep track of your progress. I always tell people to take weekly photos, because, after several weeks, you can compare photos and see your progress. Workout and food journals are also a great way to track your progress and allow you to be more self-aware.

 

-Use your support team, like family and friends. If they are aware of your goals, they may be more prone to keep you on track or give you a pep talk when you’re feeling unmotivated!

 

-Reward yourself at milestones. For example, if weight-loss is your goal, once you hit that 5, 10, 15, etc. pound loss, buy yourself a new workout outfit or new shoes.

-Find someone to hold you accountable…LIKE A COACH!

If you’re interested in getting started on achieving your own fitness goals, sign up for a FREE CONSULTATION on the homepage! For additional fitness and wellness information, join the Facebook group: Wick It Into Shape, and “like” Facebook Page: Brittinie Wick Fitness.