Scope for improvement

The most frequently asked question I received after I achieved a very high level of fitness and physique with single digit body fat percentage. 8220;Can you maintain that way of eating and exercise for life?8221; Absolutely not! If I was to continue to train that way, I would eventually burn out. If I was to continue to eat that way chances are my body would adapt, but not until I eventually wilted away. I burned a lot of body fat during that journey and when I reached my goal and didn8217;t want to burn any more fat, why would I continue with a program that was designed to melt the fat off my body rapidly? Not to mention, following a fat loss program for a long period of time is mentally draining as well. But here8217;s the thing 8211; It was absolutely necessary for me to crank up the intensity of my workouts and push my limits. It was necessary for me to buckle down on my nutrition and eat a lot more natural foods. It was absolutely crucial to boost my mental game and stir up some serious internal and external motivation.

The traditional lifestyle approach is a cop out!

When someone tells me, 8220;I8217;m looking for a program that I can follow for life8221;, I immediately think that this person is copping out. In my humble opinion, this is an excuse not to put forth your very best effort.

The lifestyle approach gives you an 8216;out8217;. If you aren8217;t experiencing success you can always say, 8220;I don8217;t like strict programs. I prefer to enjoy life8221;. But are you really enjoying life in an overweight and unhealthy body? Are you able to do every thing that you want in life? Are you full of energy and living to your fullest? The traditional lifestyle approach allows you to stay in your protective little bubble. You never have to test your limits. It8217;s safe. There8217;s no chance of failure. How can you possibly expect to achieve great results with this approach?

If you want to burn fat and improve your body you absolutely must step outside of your comfort zone. You must be willing to test your limits and go beyond them. You must be willing to push yourself and do the extraordinary, not the usual. Ladies and gentlemen, don8217;t expect extraordinary bodies if you are putting in ordinary efforts. It8217;s never going to happen.

If you want to stay where you are at keep doing what you8217;re doing. If you want to stay in the current level of health keep your physique in the shape that it currently is at, then by all means follow a lifestyle approach. That8217;s what it8217;s designed for. But if you have fat to burn or muscle to put on, a lifestyle approach will not get you where you want to go. I personally allow myself to temporarily be satisfied with where I8217;m. I admire the success that I just experienced and give myself a nice pat on the back. But shortly after that celebration I begin looking for my next challenge. I begin to look for new ways to improve my physique and my health. To me, this is the TRUE lifestyle approach. It8217;s an approach of constant and continuous improvement. You grow as an individual each and every day. You live to your potential. You become the best YOU that you could possibly be. That8217;s what makes life worth living! I give my absolute best to every program that I follow. I want to see just how effective it really is. I like to see if a program can live up to it8217;s claims. The only way to know that for sure is if I put forth 100 per cent of my effort.

So my question to you is 8211; Are you putting your very best effort into your fat loss program? Or are you just coasting in a traditional lifestyle approach hoping that you will succeed somehow? If you want results it8217;s time that you pick up your game and kick it into high gear. Why wait for the end of your life to achieve results? Get them now and get them quick, then move onto the next goal. How bad do you really want a lean and desirable physique? Are you willing to do what it takes to get it? Come on now! I8217;m demanding more from you and you should be doing the same for yourself. Show me what you are really made of!

Till then stay fit.

The writer is a fitness consultant

with Ozone Health Club and a personal trainer. He can be contacted at

fitnessarchitectsyahoo.co.in