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Progress and Staying Motivated

Hard work and motivation


You've been working out for a few months now. While you've seen good progress, it isn't as much as you'd like. You hoped by now you would have a physique comparable to those fitness models on the billboards. The truth is, it takes time to see significant change.



We're constantly bombarded with transformations of celebrities for movie roles. Within 3-6 months, they go from unfit and untrained to looking pretty damn good. While they do certainly work very hard for this, it's much easier when it’s your job to look good for a role. They have a nutritionist to cook their meals, a trainer with a very specific exercise regimen and are being paid a lot (this is probably the best motivation one could have) to get in shape. Most of these celebrities also use steroids to get faster results. Their hormone profile is closely monitored by doctors and as a result they will face no health issues due to steroid usage. This is why we normal folk shouldn't expect results as quickly.

We live in a world of exaggerated claims and manipulation. Lighting, Photoshop, filters, flexing and having a post workout pump can make you look far better than you really do. So, try not to compare yourself to others. As long as YOU are progressing and getting better every week, who cares about others?

That's why I always advocate measuring your progress. Keep track of your body weight, your main lifts (deadlift, squat, bench press, pull-ups), take progress pictures, take measurements(of your waist, arms, chest, legs, shoulders) and count your macros/calories. This way there are fewer variables at play and you can usually pinpoint the problem causing suboptimal progress.

Getting fitter is a lifestyle change. It's not something you do for 6 months and then stop. The important thing is to not get disheartened due to slow progress and give up. Try to find out what is holding you back and correct it. Keep trying different routines/sports to find out what works for you.

This is why I try not to always rely on motivation. Some days you feel fantastic and have a great workout. On other days, you feel lazy and the mere thought of having to workout is tiring.

Motivation is fickle. Motivation is fleeting. It is easy to rely on since it doesn't really require much concentrated effort. Motivation hinges on the assumption that you need to be in a particular mental state to do certain tasks.

Discipline is what you need to cultivate. Discipline is what keeps you consistent. In the long run, discipline is what will get you results. Discipline will ensure you do what is required when it is required.

What is the best way to cultivate discipline, you ask?
Habits.
Every morning, when you wake up, you brush your teeth(hopefully). You don't really think about whether you like it or not. You don't look at it as a choice. Maybe when you started brushing your teeth, it might have seemed like a chore, but after 15+ years of doing it, it's just something you do.

When you do something long enough, it becomes a habit. Once you are able to make exercising a habit, motivation and how you feel aren't going to affect it too much. Of course, I don't mean to make motivation sound like a bad thing. Being motivated is great to surpass personal records and go beyond what you're capable of. It's just that you shouldn't always have to depend on it.

By being disciplined, you will see progress. By seeing progress, you will be motivated. And finally, this motivation will further fuel your discipline and work ethic.

Consistency will almost always guarantee results. If your diet and exercise regimen isn't really optimal, just sticking to it for long enough will ensure you get somewhere. As long as you have a positive mindset and are actively trying to become a better version of yourself, you will get better.

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