(ThyBlackMan.com) The gym is full of eager, excited and enthusiastic people looking to make changes to their physique and thereby improve their lives. Unfortunately, by the time this article will be published, one out of every three people who launched an exercise regimen at the beginning of the New Year will have abandoned their program. Why? There are a host of reasons, some of which have to do with individual initiative, poor planning and the overall give-in to the sensation of making New Year’s resolutions.
As I observe people in the gym and initiate conversation with them about what they want to achieve fit-wise, I’ve identified the following three ways that a lot of people are sabotaging their results in the gym.
Not Asking for Help
Simply put, most people in the gym do not know what they are doing. It’s not a bad thing to not know what you are doing. What’s bad is not asking for help; not having the gumption and temerity to simply ask, “How do I use this machine?”
I cringe when I see this (and I see it quite often) because misuse of equipment can lead to injury at worst and to giving up due to frustration at the very least. I’m not suggesting you hire a personal trainer if that is not within your means. I am highly recommending, though, that you simply inquire about how to use a particular station to prevent underachieving results and to avoid injuring yourself.
Eating Bad Food
There is an old adage in the industry that goes, “You can’t out-train a bad diet”. So many people flock to the gym without making any significant adjustments in their diet. The result is the body that goes into a gym is usually the same body that comes out. You are essentially just burning the calories from the last bad meal, but not making any noticeable changes in your physique. The larger consequences include not making your body stronger; not moving your health from negative to positive; and not weaning your body off unnecessary drugs for blood pressure, cholesterol etc. Isn’t this the whole point of getting healthy?
Not Being Consistent
By ‘consistent’ I’m not really referring to the number of times you visit a gym (during this season most people are at the gym every day!). I’m pointing more to consistency when you are in the gym – the consistency of cardio, flexibility and strength training you do throughout the week. Consistency is closely connected to having a well thought out and executed plan and following it closely. Doing ten minutes of cardio one evening and forty five minutes the next evening is not consistent.
These are just three ways you may be sabotaging your results in the gym: Not asking for help. Trying to outwork a bad diet. Not being consistent in the gym. The solutions are very simple. Don’t be afraid to ask a person on staff for assistance. Most health clubs offer a free workout with a new membership. Eat a well-balanced meal that cuts out processed and fast foods. Have a plan when you go to the gym. Know which muscle groups you want to work. Target an X number of minutes for cardio.
Do these things and you will find your results greatly enhanced!
Staff Writer; W. Eric Croomes
This talented brother is a holistic lifestyle exercise expert and founder and executive coach of Infinite Strategies LLC, a multi-level coaching firm that develops and executes strategies for fitness training, youth achievement and lifestyle management. Eric is an author, fitness professional, holistic life coach and motivational speaker.
In October 2015, Eric released Life’s A Gym: Seven Fitness Principles to Get the Best of Both, which shows readers how to use exercise to attract a feeling of wellness, success and freedom (Infinite Strategies Coaching LLC, 2015) – http://www.infinitestrategiescoaching.com.
