How do you succeed when others (and maybe you too) have previously failed? You’ve tried everything. You’ve gone on all of the diets. You’ve followed them to the letter. You’ve exercised. Now what? How do you turn a previous failure into success?
Overcoming failure starts with you.
The most important factor in any endeavor starts with a strong commitment from YOU. It’s easy to fall prey to all sorts of temptations if you aren’t committed to yourself! And let’s be honest: when you didn’t follow through, it didn’t work, right? There’s no magic pill, there’s no magic plan, there’s no magic exercise. It’s comes down to your commitment to yourself, and your goals. I can’t do it for you, I’ve tried! I come in everyday, 6 days a week. I show up, I make the effort to help in any way I can, but if you don’t come, then there’s only one of us committed to your success, right?
Put on your determination cap.
Remember back in grade school, the teacher told you to put on your thinking cap? I’m telling you step one is your commitment to YOU, step two is engaging your determination. That means every time you want to slack off, you remind yourself that you are committed to a process, and that you will NOT fail. Giving up is not an option, and you WILL make this work this time. Period. That means that when someone around you tries to encourage you to eat something you know you shouldn’t, or skip a workout when you know you should be there, you remember your goal, and you stay firm in your plan.
Consistency is the key.
Step one is commitment to yourself, step two is engaging your determination, and step three is being consistent. I’m repeating myself to really have these points sink in! Do the things you’ve committed to every day, without fail, following a consistent pattern. If you miss a day because you are sick, you get right back on the bandwagon when you are better. The more consistent your effort, the better your results. Don’t let anyone or anything derail you! Stay with it, every day!
The “anti-failure” plan.
If you don’t have some sort of plan, I can help you with that (that’s what I do for a living!). If you have a plan and it’s not working, I can help you figure out where you might need to tweak it. Having a framework is helpful because it sets of a structure that you can follow. It gives you assignments every day, and then once you complete those, you’re done for the day! You can check it off your list! Feel a sense of accomplishment in a job well done!
Sample plan
- Daily: Log food
- Monday: Cardio, 30 minutes
- Tuesday: Weightlifting program, 45 minutes
- Wednesday: Stretch or Yoga class, 1 hour
- Thursday: Weightlifting program, 45 minutes
- Friday: Cardio, 30 minutes
- Saturday: Stretch or Yoga class, 1 hour
- Sunday: Off (just do something you love—walk the dog, go for a bike ride, whatever)
That’s just a sample plan, but you get the idea. Start to structure your days around a commitment to your health and well being, and all of the other things in your life will start to improve, little by little. It’s time for you to succeed!
Set up a Free Fitness Consultation
Written by Melissa Abramovich, ACE CPT, NASM CGT, AAHFRP Medical Exercise Specialist at Elite Sports Club-River Glen
Melissa Abramovich went into Personal Training and Group Exercise instruction after successfully losing 140 pounds through healthy diet and exercise. Her desire to help others drove her forward into a career helping others to make healthier choices. She is an ACE certified personal trainer and now also a Medical Exercise Specialist (AAHFRP), helping clients with a myriad of health issues at Elite Sports Clubs. She holds a Bachelor’s degree, and many group exercise related certifications as well.