Exercise Training: Is your “why” big enough?

As a personal trainer, you realize its hard to keep people personally accountable for their own success. You also realize why most people fail not only in losing weight, but also in life. I attribute the failure to not having goals. I believe very strongly in having goals. Why? Goals hold you personally accountable for your success. Now, I used to be just like you, yes you who is reading this. I was never sold on the power of goals and thought it was all “bull shizzle” until two years ago. I thought writing stuff down was for nerds or those success obsessed people like Carlton Banks on the Fresh Prince. Yup, I said the Fresh Prince… I happened to have liked that show! I still watch it when the reruns come on.

Two years ago, I was far from where I wanted to be financially, socially, and professionally. I was looking for a change and it needed to come like yesterday. I began frantically searching for answers and even thought about giving in to one of those get quick rich schemes. You know the ones I am talking about, right? Have you seen those Acai Berry detox ads? Yup, I thought about selling those and it was the only “legal” way I thought I could make money. I could think of several other ways to earn quick cash, but I decided I didn’t want to spend my life being afraid to drop the soap in the shower. If you are a bit slow, that was a reference on going to prison. I am not built for jail and I know that about myself, so the quick cash was never an option. I remember hoping, wishing, and praying something would change and then it finally did. Have you ever heard the saying, “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear?” That’s exactly what happened to me. I came across a small book and it told you how to get anything you want in life, as long as you aren’t manipulating anyone, to get it. It’s a simple formula. All you need to do is write your goal down and pick a definite date you want to have it. I did it and things started to change for the better.

The moral of this story is you need a goal. I see far too many people without a weight loss goal. How many pounds do you want to lose and by when? Goals are only achieved when you have a big enough “why” attached to it. Why do you really want to lose weight? Do you want to look better or feel better? What is your why? Once you figure out why you want to lose weight then write it down and hold yourself personally accountable. The “why” will keep you going and when it is strong enough will also help you succeed. If you don’t know where you are going, how do you know when you have arrived? This is the main reason people give up because they don’t have a concrete, measurable goal. See you on the lean side.

Darren McDuffie
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Certified Nutrition and Weight Management Specialist
Certified Exercise Foundations Specialist
Certified Fitness Testing Specialist