People love numbers. As a former NFL player and current personal trainer I hear things like, "I want single-digit body fat," "I want to be a size six," "I need to weigh under this or under that" all the time.
Here’s what I say about the numbers — they're hogwash!
I tell my wife and clients all the time to stay away from the scale when starting a new fitness regimen; it will only make you angry. If you feel good in your skin, then that’s all that you need to concentrate on.
So what's the best way to go about beginning a new fitness routine? How do you achieve the body you want? Here's what I always tell my personal training clients — we'll do this through hard work and consistency. That concept is the solid foundation of getting fit; without that foundation, the work you are about to start won’t have a chance. You'll only be setting yourself up for failure (and end up hearing a phrase I despise — "Here we go again!").
During the 17 years I've spent training clients in Washington, D.C., that’s the one thing that has remained constant — hard work and consistency. You can’t have one without the other. A client once told me that she wanted to come in every day; I told her I’d rather she come twice a week for a year than every day for three months.
If you're ready to commit to a new fitness regimen, try this — take out a piece of paper and write down two or three 30-minute slots during your busy week, and then really dedicate that time to working out. Writing times down like this will help you to become more consistent with your workout and it helps you get realistic about the time you have available for training. You have to get to a place where you'll demand quality time from yourself, for the betterment of yourself. Get selfless with your training time; just don’t go overboard.
As a former athlete, husband and a father of three, I have to schedule my training time, too. It works!
Quick Facts
- When beginning a new workout regimen, stay off the scale or you'll lose motivation — not weight!
- Concentrate on how you feel, not how you look. That's what matters most.
- Commit to working out and write down 2-3 times a week that you'll exercise, then hold yourself accountable.
