Fitness is an industry of instant gratification. For things as personal as how we look physically, and how we feel emotionally, trying to solve the problem as quickly as possible is a common approach for most people.
There is a reason why the supplement industry is worth $40 billion dollars. People are constantly looking for the “edge” that will get them to their ideal physique or “look” with the least amount of effort or friction as possible.
In reality, true transformation happens when we do the very boring stuff uncommonly well over our lifetime.
This includes:
- Move everyday
- Drink water
- Eat enough whole foods to fuel your body
- Get enough sleep
- Manage your stress
- Connect with other humans you care about
That’s it. If we all did this consistently, we would have amazing health, a great relationship with our body image, and overall happiness in our lives.
Maybe if I can put this into a pill or shake I could be a billionaire….
It is very easy to get caught up in the “what is fastest route to take” when it comes to health when we are very motivated. Social media has also glamourized body types and physiques that are always realistic for those who do fitness for a living, but difficult for those who have other stressors in their lives like full-time jobs and families.
Look…I am not trying to make excuses. I have lived the life at 7% body fat and I have lived the life at 30% body fat. I have cut 20 lbs. in 2 months and have yo-yo dieted over the course of 5 years depending on the season of life I am in. There is a time and place to be lean and mean and there are other times when we can walk around at an overall healthy body composition that is manageable and sustainable with all the other priorities we have.
I have also been around District H for close to a decade and have witnessed hundreds of members go through a similar journey for themselves. Different people have different goals and different expectations with what they want to do with their health.
But always remember that there is a “cost” associated with both and the goal is to try and find a balance that is sustainable without causing excessive stress or unhappiness. Living an ultra-lean life comes with additional stress. If your glass is already full due to your family and your career, having the goal of existing at <10% body fat as a male or <17% body fat as a female comes with an associated cost elsewhere. This can include time with family, performance at work, or just general happiness with yourself.
If your goal is to look and feel great throughout your lifetime, then take a step back and don’t worry about how fast you get there. Build a solid foundation on top of doing the basics incredibly well. Get really good at doing the boring stuff.
For most people, this comes down to creating an environment, both physical and social, that supports healthy choices and just getting a little bit better at the choices we make. Eating nutrient dense whole foods most of the time, getting in our daily movement, getting out in the sun, managing your stress and recovery, and connecting with our loved ones are all the things that will drive amazing health outcomes for you over your life.
It may take a little longer than if we went with calorie counting and macros, but you are more likely to sustain it. We are changing our identity and belief systems around what health means in our lives. But once the hardware is changed inside of our brains, then you will be operating differently for the rest of your life.
Cheers!