To make this topic easier to understand I’m going to use a goal I often hear spurted out by the majority of my new clients; to lose 10 kilos. This goal is thrown around frivolously these days; and thanks to all the media about people doing it in 6 weeks, 6 months, 10 weeks etc everyone thinks it’s an easy thing to achieve. Well; it is and it isn’t; if you apply yourself never waiver from your eating plan and train 5 times a week you will definitely lose 10 kilos. But this isn’t what happens for most people.

Most people who come to a personal trainer are what we call de-motivated; they want the goal and they will pay for help and knowledge but the motivation is still lacking. How do you suddenly become super motivated; you can’t; it’s a process that you must go through. Now don’t go thinking that I’m saying it’s hopeless and you should just give up; what I’m saying is stop waiting for the light bulb to go on in your head. The light bulb doesn’t suddenly appear one day out of no where; it is a slow process; and often a defining process that affects more than just your training and it can’t be forced.

The bulb is waiting; “That which is easy is never worth doing” Simon McCarthy aka me

To achieve the bulb you must dedicate yourself to your goal; completely not partially. And now you’re thinking ‘But Simon I am dedicated’; are you? Ask yourself these questions and then answer that question again.

1 Are you eating right?

2 ARE YOU EATING RIGHT? This is fundamental to your success.

3 Are you training enough? 2 times a week may seem tough but it’s not enough; start doing some of the work yourself.

4 Are you doing your homework?

5 Are you being honest with your trainer? A trainer must know when you’ve been good and bad.

6 Are you making an effort to avoid sabotaging yourself? One slip is a slip; more than one is a nasty habit forming.

7 Are you only training when you feel like it? This is a big one

8 Are you only taking your food seriously when you fail to achieve your mini result? E.g. drop1 kg in one week; this is an even bigger thing to consider.

9 Lastly; how often are you apologizing to your trainer for slip ups or not doing your homework.

If you are able to honestly still say you’re motivated and on track; stop reading now; if not; keep reading.

To help activate your bulb you’re going to have to turn all the negative answers you just gave into positive ones. You’re also going to have to keep getting those positive answers. Does this mean your bulb will activate sooner? Not yet. The real key factor to the bulb going on is seeing results for all your hard work. The funny thing about training is the more reward you see for your effort the harder you will naturally start working. Any client of mine who has managed to get kick ass results has done so by first working there ass off to get the little results; that 1 kg a week fat loss, the weights going up by 5 kg on every exercise, fitting into smaller jeans; these are the little things that will help you get closer to the bulb; and none of them did it by just seeing me once or twice a week. 

I could go on and on; and I may revisit this topic another time. But for now your mission is simple to do but hard to accomplish; which is how it should be. If you want those kick ass results start working for it; devote yourself to it and stop taking yourself further and further away from the bulb with excuses. You know all the excuses so I’m not going to even bring them up.

For now just finish this article with one thought; achieving a goal is hard work and takes dedication and that’s how it should be or it wouldn’t be worth doing.