Author: Mike Inglis
"Please don't include my picture in your posting". These were the words of a new client (we'll call her Kay...not her real name) who emailed me. This was a couple of days after I had asked if anyone would rather not have a group of photos added to our Facebook page. When I received the message, I apologized profusely because I had already posted and tagged them. But then out of curiosity I asked, "Why don't you want to be in there? Your picture looks great and you're having so much fun?" And it was true! She really did look happy and engaged with her buddies in the picture. But I knew the answer before I even asked the question. "Because I don't like the way I look in it". Translation: I don't like the way I look, period.
The Early Phase
When Kay first signed with us, she was fired up and excited to start. But she also came in with a lot of doubt about her ability to keep with the program (or ANY program for that matter). She came to class religiously for the first 2 weeks, not missing a beat. But then things changed. Over the next few weeks she would miss workouts here and there. She blamed work, kids, and an overall lack of time for her absences.
Now this is not uncommon for us to see in the first month or two. It takes a few weeks for new clients' bodies to adjust to their new physical regimen. And it's a HARD, demanding workout! But with some coaching from her trainers, Kay stuck with the program through this low point and started coming more consistently.
A Light Switch
Then a magical thing happened. We also see this very often. Sometime between 30 and 60 days of starting our program, an internal "switch" flips in many of our clients. They go from being somewhat non-committal and tentative in their enthusiasm for their fitness efforts, to "all in" with their energy. It's like a light bulb turns on in their consciousness and all of a sudden their workouts are prioritized and attended like clockwork, they start paying a lot more attention to what they eat, and they become incredibly enthusiastic about their progress AND their prospects for the future. And then the SERIOUS results start showing up on the scale and in their strength and endurance.
So what is it that happens? How is it that someone who just a couple of days before was depressed about how hard it is to get to class, all of a sudden experience a complete 180 degree shift in their mindset? I'll tell you the answer in a minute....but first let me finish with Kay's story.
Kay's Story
Kay experienced this change about 6 weeks into the program. It was after one particular workout. It was a particularly challenging workout and I remember thinking that she looked exhausted afterwards. I asked her later what it was that changed her outlook. And she said (I'm paraphrasing here a bit) "It was during that workout. I was doing one of the exercises (mountain climbers) and it was getting tough. I was expecting I would have to stop and take a break before time was up like I usually do."
She continued, "But out of the blue this stubbornness came over me. I put my head down and decided that I wasn't going to stop until the time was up, no matter how hard it was. It felt like forever, but next thing you know, time was called and I had finished the entire exercise without stopping. I had NEVER been able to do that before...and I never thought I COULD! After I finished, I realized that there are so many things that I think I can't do, but in reality it is just ME holding myself back."
And that was Kay's turning point. Kay has now been with us for over 18 months. She's lost 30 pounds, changed careers to follow a personal passion, and run races and done physical activity that she NEVER thought she'd be able to do. She has made significant changes in her life and transformed herself into an athlete and an inspiration for so many others who are looking for that same change.
You've Got To Believe
Have you figured out what the difference was for Kay (and so many others like her)? The difference was....she switched from NOT BELIEVING that she could succeed to TRULY BELIEVING that she had the power. It is the BELIEF that success is in our grasp that fires the DESIRE to change. That DESIRE drives the ACTION that moves heaven and earth to CREATE the success we seek. It is NOT an accident! The people that succeed in fitness (and in anything else in life) are NOT LUCKY! They have created their own success by fostering and building a belief that they actually CAN succeed. And once that belief is solid, the desire to change is fired up. And a strong desire is all we need to create the circumstances and ACTION that will provide us with the success we're looking for.
What is it that YOU believe when it comes to your health and fitness? Do you believe you can succeed? Or do you still have doubts? This is the time to start, stick with it through both the highs and the lows, and ultimately look for the signs that you are progressing and SUCCEEDING. Once you get a taste of it, then you will truly start to believe. And then...watch out!