There’s nothing more frustrating than the feeling you’ve been doing everything “right” and just aren’t seeing any progress. Despite all the things you’ve been doing, you may feel like your body just seems to be “stuck”. And we sure know just how that can leave you drained and unmotivated.
What Kind of Results are You Looking for?
First, though, I think it’s important to ask yourself, “Are you really not seeing any results?” In my experience, personally and through that of many clients… when you take a step back you might realize that you are, in fact, experiencing results. They just may not look the way you expected.
These are some measures of success we like to take note of prior to assessing what the culprit may be that’s holding you back:
More energy throughout the day
An overall higher lust for life
Weight may be consistent but measurements or clothing size may be smaller
Plumper skin
Less hair loss
Women… consistent cramp-free periods
Now that you’ve taken a moment to focus on the positives of your journey so far, let’s take a look at a few reasons why you may not be seeing the results you set out for in the first place.
“Diet” Foods
The diet industry is a big one raking in over 71 billion dollars a year. They make a lot of money by marketing foods to you and masquerading them as healthy when the reality is, they’re not even close. Labels will have enticing buzz words like “sugar-free”,” all-natural”, “organic”, “fat-free”, “gluten-free”, “100 calories per pack”, “heart healthy” “superfood”, and “skinny”, etc. More often than not, if the label has a loud alluring advertisement claiming it’s healthy, it’s very likely it’s not any healthier than stereotypical unhealthy foods. These seemingly healthy packaged foods are often void of nutrients or packed with inflammatory ingredients that’ll only stall your progress and keep you from seeing long-term results.
Quick Fixes
The urge to go in on a quick fix is strong. We’re constantly bombarded with advertisements: a cleanse that promises results in days or a workout program that’ll get us a 6 pack of abs in just a few short weeks. Even drastically cutting back on the amount of food you eat is a quick fix. The biggest problem with these is we want the results to last but they very rarely do. In fact, a staggering 80% - 95% of quick fix diets result in not only gaining any weight back that may have been lost, but in gaining even more back than when started.
Pretty Shiny Object Syndrome
How many books have you read and started following the author’s plan only to abandon it for one your friend is getting results from? How many programs have you bought into and given up because you saw something else that piqued your interest? Most of these plans will work if you actually see them through and follow them as they’re designed… but you’re not going to see results if you’re always dropping one for another you see on social media the next day.
Not Cycling Deficit & Maintenance Periods
I find a lot of people just want to diet, diet, diet and don’t realize that because their body has changed, so has their metabolism. As your body size gets smaller, your metabolism gets slower, and will eventually result in a plateau. In order to get your metabolism back up and keep it healthy, it’s important to increase your food intake from time to time. In fact, you should never be on a diet for more than you maintain. It takes time and patience, and acceptance that it may take you longer to reach your body goals if you have more fat that you want to lose.
Priorities
In order to see true long-lasting results, it’s important to shift your mindset from “I need to lose weight” or “I want to look like her” or “I want to wear crop tops and bikinis” to “I want to be healthy”, “I want to enjoy food”, or “I want to feel great and be present for my family”. When you can shift away from the media-infused frenzy and social media comparison world, and simply focus on yourself and feeling good, you’re able to make decisions that support your long-term well-being. As a result, your body will transform along the way, albeit it may be slower than you may like. But it's a sure-fire way to get better results in the end.
Not Having a Plan
Not having a real plan is another reason why I find that many people stop seeing or don’t see results at all. Some people are able to make little changes here and there on their own but most need to map out a path to follow in order to make sure they stay on task. You can create a plan on your own by sifting through our blog and other free resources. Or you can invest in a program like Pretty Healthy Metabolism™ to take out all the guesswork for you.
Consistency
In the end, if you’re not consistent with whatever path you decide on, you won't see results. We recommend you be consistent 80% of the time. The other 20% is there for you to enjoy social outings with your friends without the guilt of eating the wrong food. And so you can enjoy foods you love throughout your journey regardless of whether you perceive the food as being “good” or “bad”.
Remember... results are more than losing a few pounds, gaining muscle, or achieving that tone lean look. The best results should be measured by how you feel.
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