“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked.
“Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.”
With these profound words, Ernest Hemingway spoke of how the rich become poor – but the same sentences whisper perfectly of how rich HEALTH can ebb away.
Slowly at first, but then all at once.
For the majority of people, re-gaining weight or losing fitness does not happen overnight.
At first, the methods that drove success are relaxed in a very small way.
“I’m so tired tonight, i’ll put my feet up and watch TV instead of working out.”
Where before, the approach was to ‘do it anyway’, reaping the rewards that finishing a workout brought – now, with goals met – it is all too easy for the rules of engagement to change.
We all do it.
Yet, the door of discipline closes slowly.
It rarely makes the expectant slam that would wake you up to see the potential in its loss. If it did, we wouldn’t fail to miss it.
Beware the insidious nature of its disappearing act.
- Take note whenever you decide to miss a workout
- Switch your mind on to the moments that your emotions drive your eating decisions
- Stay alert to any signal of complacency
Isolated moments such as these will cause you no problems, provided you understand how easily they can turn into habits.
For ‘health’ is like taking a bath. It must be done daily…
It will never become easy
Perhaps too many in the fitness industry are afraid to say this – fearful of scaring people away from their new 6 week health kicks and the dollars that follow them.
I do not share this fear, because I know that only by confronting truth can you truly live a life of health – and my aim for our members is perpetual health, not rapid change.
- If you don’t keep health as a priority, it will fade away – slowly at first, and then all at once. It can never be abused and ignored, it must constantly be nurtured.
- When you hit your goals – maintaining results is easier physically than making progress – you don’t need to train as hard and you can relax your diet…but…
- …it is harder psychologically – you now have to exercise and eat healthily without the obvious prizes that each week brings – lost weight, improved tone, improved fitness. This is a shift that must be overcome.
Once you hit your goals, you must see health as a requirement of life:
- Go to work to pay the bills
- Take a bath to stay clean
- Brush your teeth to avoid the dentist drill and bad breath
- Drink water to stay hydrated
- Exercise to be fit and healthy
- Eat well to be fit and healthy
I am writing this because I believe that through empowering people with the truth, rather than the information they want to hear, you set them free.
If you want to be healthy for the rest of your life, you must always exercise and eat healthily.
No matter how long you do it for, no matter how fit and healthy you are, will never be done…not in 6 weeks, 8 weeks or 24 weeks.
Sometimes, it will be hard and it will always require a level of sacrifice.
There, I said it.
The good news is, it’s about the best sacrifice you will ever make.
Thanks for this article
When I was working hard to achieve my goal, loosing weight and ask somebody it is hard, I said after you get used to it (for me after 6-8weeks) not so much
BUT maintanence is on the other page -I can tell, i have got used to my new lifestyle(healthy balanced diet and everyday workout) but when I wake up at morning since I have good body shape and strength, I feel “ok, everybody else sleeps I am not a good mood to exercise so I just stay in bed I deserve it….” my husband tells sometimes : what if you miss one day without workout? And my answer … if I miss one day my experience I am able to miss easier the second one and third and go on … (for instance after a long holiday when my rutin is broken it is so hard to go back on track)
So I have to be strict myself and I come out from bed and start workout everyday! Sometimes it is really hard but after the session I feel incredible, strong and I feel I won! I beat myself! This is a victory every day!
Thanks for this article
When I was working hard to achieve my goal, loosing weight and ask somebody it is hard, I said after you get used to it (for me after 6-8weeks) not so much
BUT maintanence is on the other page -I can tell, i have got used to my new lifestyle(healthy balanced diet and everyday workout) but when I wake up at morning since I have good body shape and strength, I feel “ok, everybody else sleeps I am not a good mood to exercise so I just stay in bed I deserve it….” my husband tells sometimes : what if you miss one day without workout? And my answer … if I miss one day my experience I am able to miss the second one and third and go on …
So I am strict myself and I come out from bed and start workout everyday! Sometimes it is really hard but after the session I feel incredible, strong and I feel I won! I beat myself! This is victory every day!
So much truth here. Thanks for always caring enough to be honest and give people the truth. Your blog is always so good!
I saw this posted the other day. I didn’t want to read it because I thought it may hurt my heart. I came back to this today because I know I needed to read it. I didn’t want to read it because I knew it would apply to me. On my 3 year fit-iversary I sit here, not as heavy as I was when I started(260), but no where near as fit as I was in April 2016( 185 my peek). I’ve gained so much weight and it happened just as this blog post said it would. Word.For.Word. How devastating. Time to sacrifice more. Time to try again for what seems like the 100th time. I just get so sad and so frustrated. How could I have come to far just to go back… I know, the blog post told me exactly how. This was a great post.
Tracey Holmes
Tracey, I believe in you and I always have. We just need you to believe in yourself. Stay on the forums, keep your head in the game and get involved. You are a special person, I know that because we spoke at length. There is not an ounce of doubt in my heart that you will do this and you will love it and you will never look back!
Thank you for this. Maintenance is definitely a “murky” subject, and once again, you’re giving it to us straight. This journey isn’t a temporary one, not if you want optimal health long-term, not if you want to be fit, it’s an ongoing thing. I’ve put exercise into the same category as showers and brushing my teeth, these things are mandatory. The diet is crucial, and maintaining a healthy mindset about making healthy food choices is the only way I’ve been able to maintain–the changes I’ve made to my diet are permanent and sustainable…and mandatory, not optional.
Hi Jennifer
It is nice to connect your “face” to your comment(i have just read your note about your workout today)
I like what you wrote here: “exercise is in the same category like having bath or wash your teeth” It is very “eye opener” how we can explain our lifestyle for a friend who is interested in our success))))
Thanks