In my last article, I began a count down of the top ten body transformation mistakes. In summary, they were: #10: Blaming someone else for the way you are, #9: Not believing you can, #8: Dieting, #7: Having no accountability and #6: Lying to yourself. If you are serious about making changes to your body, read on as I share the top five body transformation mistakes.
Mistake #5: No specific goals
“I want to get in shape” or “I want to get toned” are warm and fuzzy thoughts, not goals. To succeed, set specific goals, for example, being able to perform 5 chin ups, follow a specific eating plan, or to complete an event in a certain amount of time. A specific goal will greatly increase your chances of success.
Mistake #4: Not having a plan
Your plan is your road map to achieving your goal. If you don’t know the actions you must take to get to your goal, chances are you are not going to get there. For body transformation goals, a solid training program, including cardiovascular exercise and strength training is a must, as is an easy to follow nutrition plan.
Mistake #3: Relying on will power alone
Will power can only get you so far — success in weight loss requires a shift in your environment. Simple changes can help, such purging your cupboards of junk food and posting your goals on the fridge so you read them each day. Anticipate the obstacles you may face on the way to your goal and remove as many as possible.
Mistake #2: Inconsistency
To transform your body, you need to be consistent with training and proper nutrition. Sure, everyone has good days and bad days, but those bad days need to be few and far between to get serious results.
Mistake #1: Giving up too quickly
There will be obstacles to overcome in order to reach your goal. In order to be successful and change your body, you must persevere and overcome barriers. There are some days you will be tired, days you will be stressed, and some days you will not feel like sticking to your eating plan. Remember that a slip up does not mean you have failed. Recommit to your goals and get back on track. Thomas Jefferson said it best: “anything worth attaining is worth fighting for”.
Tanja Shaw is a kinesiologist and personal trainer, specializing in weight loss, group fitness, pre and postnatal fitness, and health and wellness programs. She owns Ascend Fitness Coaching. Reach her at tanja@ascendfitnesscoaching.com.