why keep trying?

When you've been working toward a certain goal, when you've been making sacrifices and have been disciplined, when you've been depriving yourself from things you'd normally enjoy, and when you've been plugging away believing that your efforts are going to bring the results you've been working towards and it just doesn't happen and nothing changes - what do you do then? When is it enough and when is it too much? Will you go the distance? Yes, what IS the distance, does anyone know, really?

It is by your own measure, whatever you are willing to commit to, whatever you are willing to give up, and however much you want to get that result of what you're seeking. It's a funny thing really; not at all like, say, school. We know exactly what must be done and for how long it will go on, in order to get that result, to get the completion certificate and the benefits that immediately follow.

But what about training and fitness, weight loss goals? If the goal is attainable and your obstacles are properly and honestly identified and hard work and research is put forth then how long before you say "I am not seeing results, I will either quit or change something"? How long before you'll just say "I quit!"? Should you ever say that? I think perhaps, yes! But I am speaking to those who all short identifying the problem, remember? I've mentioned this several times in previous rants, the problem, the real monster, not the shadow on the wall! For instance, if you have an eating addiction/disorder your problem is not how to burn more calories or build muscle, your problem is how to stop the destructive behavior that spoils all your efforts and sits on your head like an ugly tiara!

I will speak now to those who have been restricting their diet, making better choices and eating less in general, the ones who have been working out with a trainer and working out diligently, and the ones who just work out and work, and go to classes and for long walks and spend endless hours every week trying to bring about a change and it's just not happening! When do you say "I've had it, this is not working and I might as well enjoy my life and continue my comfortable lifestyle I've had before!" Save the time and save the money, just live it up, get lazy, gorge yourself, drink your wine every night - calories? What's that? I skipped dessert for lunch today, isn't that enough?

Well, don't give up, first of all! Do NOT give up! Chances are, even if you're not doing things right, you are doing SOMETHING right and changing your lifestyle for the better. What you may not be doing at all here is the 'being honest' part. Being honest with yourself. When I hear from a client how she has been eating her tiiiiiiiny calories and drinking lots of water and sleeping well, staying away from sugar and working with me and the weight is just not coming off! Do I say "I give up!" Do I question my knowledge as a trainer/coach/mentor and say "I failed"? NO! I don't point fingers either. I think... and listen. And change things up. Something is liable to trigger the much sought after change, or give away the much hidden truth. There is always truth. Don't tell me or admit it to yourself, but it's there, and the reason for "our" failure might be hidden beyond my abilities to extract and destroy it.

Because that is my new job description, I've decided, is to destroy the enemy! I will train my clients to take out their enemy that is keeping them from getting over that hill, the hill that separates home base from hostile lands, serenity from turmoil, peace from war, within, and inside each one of us. Identify your enemy.

Deep… I’m definitely missing my wine…pfooooh!