Are You Struggling to Reach Your Fitness Goals? Let’s Break It Down.

Are you having trouble reaching your fitness goals? Do you start a diet, successfully lose weight, and then find yourself falling off track? It’s time to ask why that happens. Many people attribute setbacks to a lack of discipline, the wrong diet, or not exercising hard enough. However, the underlying issues could be varied.

Often, unrealistic expectations or a lack of understanding about nutrition's significance compared to exercise comes into play. Perhaps you don’t have a clear plan, or your goals may feel overwhelming. One important lesson I’ve learned is that every problem or project can be broken down into smaller, manageable tasks, making them easier to tackle.

For instance, if your goal is to lose 80 pounds in nine months, that’s an admirable target. But how do you track your progress? Instead of simply weighing yourself and hoping to inch closer to that goal, consider breaking it down into smaller milestones.

Did you know that one pound of fat equals approximately 3,500 calories? To lose 10 pounds of fat, you would need to burn 35,000 calories. While this provides a rough guideline, you also need to account for the energy from carbohydrates and other food sources. So, overall, to burn 80 pounds of fat, you would need to burn a total of 280,000 calories in that nine-month timeframe.

When you put it into perspective, this requires burning 280,000 calories more than you consume. For many, thinking beyond a week or a month can feel daunting, leading to discouragement. Instead, let’s break it down to a daily basis.

If you take those nine months and divide them into weeks and then days, aiming for a daily calorie deficit of 500 calories would mean you consume 3,500 fewer calories each week, resulting in a one-pound fat loss weekly. This approach sets a realistic and attainable path forward.

Of course, this method hinges on being honest about tracking our food intake and understanding our daily expenditure. Numerous apps can assist in this journey; I personally use several to monitor my workouts and nutrition.

I understand the struggles you might be facing. I’ve experienced periods of laziness, overeating, and fluctuating weight. I’ve succeeded in losing weight only to gain it back. As someone managing diabetes due to being overweight, I know the challenges firsthand. I’ve tried methods that worked and others that didn’t.

My passion for fitness has driven me to explore various activities, from weight lifting to swimming, martial arts, and beyond. I love food—pizza and Mexican cuisine top my list! I know the rationalizations we create to indulge in treats. Understanding this psychological aspect is crucial in overcoming setbacks.

Setting lofty goals can be motivating, but it’s the smaller successes along the way that truly matter. Celebrate losing that first five pounds as a significant achievement. Integrating planned celebrations after reaching those mini-goals can keep you focused and prevent failure. Conversely, celebrating excessively without a strategy is likely to lead to setbacks.

In my journey, I’ve maintained strength and muscle through strict exercise form. I be

lieve that wasting energy without purpose detracts from reaching your goals. My objectives often revolve around getting stronger, faster, or more fit, and while I’ve experienced failures, I’ve also learned what works based on my experiences and those of the individuals I’ve trained.

I’m eager to share my knowledge and help you achieve your fitness and nutrition goals. Remember, these objectives can extend into other areas of life; understanding that every problem or project can mirror another allows you to apply the same principles to various challenges.

This blog is a starting point for sharing insights. Even if just one person finds value in my writing or seeks to train with me, I feel fulfilled knowing I’ve contributed to someone’s journey. If you're ready to tackle your goals, feel free to reach out. Together, we can create a path towards success.

Best,Mike