Everyone wants a quick fix. It's been that way forever, and it will probably always be that way until the end of time.
As a trainer for over 15 years, I have seen it with my own eyes. Yes, I have seen people put in the hard work and achieve the results...but, for the most part, what I've seen is that if there is an easier route, people will take it.
Why do you think it's so rare to actually see people who are healthy and fit in the general population? Because it's HARD.
When it comes to health and fitness, there is always some new diet or workout routine that promises the "best" and fastest results. There is always some new celebrity endorsed diet or "cleanse" or detox that people flock to. There is always a new weight loss pill or injection to come on the market. There is always a new health "trend"-whether it's ice baths, saunas, cryotherapy, or whatnot.
Anything that will get you the results without the work? Yes, please!
We're always looking for shortcuts for everything in life. We hate waiting. We hate changing things we've done our whole lives, even when we know it's for the better. We want the end outcome...but without having to put in the blood, sweat and tears.
But when it comes to health and fitness....that's just not gonna work. I've always said, "half hearted effort produces half hearted results." And look, if that's what you want to get out if it, fine. Your body, your choices, your life. BUT you cannot complain about the lack of results from the work you choose not to do. I am all for body positivity and loving yourself no matter what shape or size you are-that's not what this is about. But most of the time, if you're not healthy on the inside, you're also not going to FEEL good.
When it comes to fitness, there simply is NO quick fix. There's just not. Are there strategies and measures you can take or diets you can follow or pills that can help you to lose weight quickly? Yes, absolutely. But losing a bunch of weight in a short amount of time only to gain it all back in a few months or years is not what we're going for...because that is not true FITNESS. Because what even IS fitness? Is it losing a bunch of weight? Is it being a certain number on the scale? Is it having a certain look or wearing a certain clothing size? Nope. Fitness is more than just a look or a number on a scale.
Here are a few different thoughts on/definitions of fitness from a brief internet search:
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Complete Food and Nutrition Guide (3rd ed.), when you are fit, you have:
- Energy to do what's important to you and to be more productive
- Stamina and a positive outlook to handle the mental challenges and emotional ups and downs of everyday life and to deal with stress
- Reduced risk for many health problems, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis
- The chance to look and feel your best
- Physical strength and endurance to accomplish physical challenges
- A better chance for a higher quality of life and perhaps a longer life, too
"Physical fitness is the ability to carry out our daily tasks without fatigue and go about doing our chores with ease. Physical fitness means the person is of sound health and can perform his tasks with no health issues."
"Fitness is a state of health and well-being which is generally achieved through proper nutrition, moderate-to-vigorous exercise (depending on your personal preference) and sufficient rest. Being physically fit means that your body has the ability and stamina to carry out daily activities without becoming fatigued."
"‘Fitness’ is, simply put, our ability to do daily activities comfortably. This means we are able to perform everyday tasks without losing our breath or any physical discomfort, and our body is able to endure these activities for an extended period of time, with the strength to perform them again."
(*Notice no mention of physical appearance in these definitions.)
So yeah, a pill or a restrictive diet may help you drop the pounds fast. When it comes to that, sure, there are quick fixes. But when it comes to having strength, stamina, endurance, quality of life, mental well-being, and confidence? There's no pill or "hack" for that.
And have you noticed that the people always wanting the "quick fixes" are the ones constantly hopping from one thing to another....and yet never actually achieve long lasting results? It's because they have never mastered the basics. They have never been able to incorporate healthy, lasting habits that take TIME and work to master. They give up when they don't see the results they want fast enough, or when they get tired of being on whatever restrictive diet they're currently trying.
Don't be that person. Stop chasing diet after diet, looking for the one that finally works. They won't work! It's not easy. It's not supposed to be easy! Good things take work. And the pride and feeling of accomplishment you get by making a commitment to yourself and then following through? Priceless.
“Fitness—if it came in a bottle everybody would have a great body." -Cher
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