I had a conversation recently that went something like this…
Them: Can you help me to lose weight?
Me: Yes
Them: How quickly?
Me: Depends how committed you are
Them: What if I’m not that committed?
Me: Then it’ll take longer
Them: How long?
Me: Depends how committed you are
Them: Define committed
Me: Doing what it takes to reach your goal
Them: But you’ve got to enjoy life
Me: I agree, but I know people who’s definition of enjoying life is eating healthily and keeping fit
Them: Wow, that’s committed
Me: Not really, they just enjoy looking good more than they enjoy takeaways and drinking so it’s no hardship for them
Them: So what about with my level of commitment?
Me: Then it’ll take longer
Them: But it’s do-able?
Me: Yep
Them: Ball park timescale?
Me: Depends on your starting point
Them: Two stones overweight
Me: If you hit it hard with training and get your nutrition spot on then about 3-6 months (1-2lbs a week)
Them: What if I go at 50% effort
Me: 1-2 years (1-2lbs a month)
Them: Define 100% effort?
Me: Smash the gym 3-5 times a week and eat for your goals, not your cravings.
Them: And 50%?
Me: Work fairly hard at the gym 3 times a week and eat “clean” most of time, making sure you stay within your calorie limit.
Them: Can’t you do it quicker?
Me: Me? No it’s your body!
Them: Ha OK can I do it quicker?
Me: Yep but you might end up putting back on again because it’ll be to hard to keep up long term.
Them: Ah…Ok! Let me think 🙂 …
Lessons:
1, Everyone has different goals, motivators and levels of commitment. And all of them are fine!!!
But…
2, To give 50% effort of someone who is living and breathing their goal and expect the same results is crazy.
So
Align your expectations with your effort and be OK with making progress at your own rate, whatever that may be!
Input = Results
As the owner and lead trainer at Reach Personal Training, I am responsible for the philosophy of the business and overseeing client programmes.
My mission is for Reach Personal Training to be synonymous with a long-term, real-life approach to health and fitness. We help our clients to integrate health and fitness into their busy lives. We don't do fads. We don't do crash diets. We do "Fitness For Life".
I have a family. I’ve always worked (and not always in the fitness industry). I have housework and shopping to do. I have a REAL life. So I know what it takes to balance a real life with a sustainable approach to health and fitness.
If I can do it then anyone else can too. All you need is the desire to make eating healthily and keeping fit a priority in your life. An hour a day, thirty minutes a day, even fifteen minutes a day of exercise, supported with a healthy diet based on whole foods, is all it takes to make steady long-term progress towards looking and feeling fantastic.
I have a few simple values upon which I have built Reach Personal Training. Only personal trainers who share these values will be part of our team.
- Friendliness. Just be a genuinely nice person, it's dead simple and it's the best way to live. Smile as much as possible and try to see the best in every situation.
- No fads. No pseudoscience. My background in academia makes me question everything. There is so much nonsense in the fitness industry, mainly because some people are in it to make money so they'll believe anything and questioning it will mean they can't believe in the product. We are different. We do what works. We use science to create our programmes and we never put profit over effectiveness. You will NEVER find Herbalife or Forever Living in our studio!
