Have you ever wondered why people do not reach their fitness goals? If you've given this topic any thought at all there's no doubt that you can come up with numerous reasons. I am going to assume that people are doing what they are supposed to–eating right, exercising hard and tracking their progress–and yet still not reaching their fitness goals.
I believe that most people mean well, but they don't have the proper strategy to reach their goals. They do research and find things to do to continually change up their training. They eat 5 to 6 small meals a day. They take their body fat and circumfernce measurements weekly. They keep track of their results over time. They log down all of their training. So what is the problem?
Imagine that a person has decided that eating low-carb is the way to go for them. They set out eating on a low-carb program. They begin to see some immediate results on the scale. This is simply more conformation that they are going in the right direction. After a few weeks the weight loss slows down. They lower the carbs even more. Over time, they just stop losing weight.
How about the situation where the person is in the weight room lifting heavy. They've read that they need 2 to 3 minutes of rest between sets, so they take that time. They work very hard week in and week out, but just don't see the pounds coming off their frame. This causes them to lift even heavier. Still the results just don't seem to be what they'd like.
So what is wrong in both of those examples? If you've missed it, read the examples again. The answer is obvious–there is just no clear strategy for getting the fat off.
When entering into a program where you have goals you'd like to achieve, you have to come up with a strategy for eating and training that will compliment the goals you have. The strategy has to consider all the various angles like gaining muscle mass while burning fat.
A sample strategy for fat loss and muscle gain would involve changes to the weight training program being followed. By tweaking the rest periods and making them shorter there is a cardio component added to the training. Growth hormone release will be increased by increasing the intensity of the training sessions. Mixing up the training and adding in explosiveness will also increase your chances of hitting your goals. Since fat loss is part of the goal, add in cardio training on the days that you are not lifting weights. Be sure to add the cardio slowly, starting with 20 minutes each session at least 3 times a week. Only increase the cardio if your results slow down.
By following a strategy that is customized for your results you are sure to achieve any goal you set for yourself. A strategy will organize your efforts into a battle plan that will be unstoppable. Everyone can achieve goals when they add strategy to their thinking process. So, what's holding you back? Try adding some strategic thinking to your plan and watch your results skyrocket!
