Just What Does It Take to Transform?
Infomercials, weight loss products, fitness websites--they all h
ave them. Those fitness models with perfect bodies or people with seemingly impossible before and after photos. But what does it REALLY take to have that perfect body or your very own incredibly transformation? Well, I can’t speak to the former because goodness knows I don’t have one and “perfect” is subjective anyway, but I recently received an email from someone asking about my transformation and what it took. She asked some great questions and made a few points that were rather thought provoking.
Her questions were asking what it took for me to go from my before to my after picture. Oh yeah, so-- I used to be fat. Anyway, she specifically asked what it would take for her, 175lb size 12 body that's never been in a bikini to go from that to a flat belly. She further commented that even her mother, who's always been thin has also never had a flat belly and that she does think some things are genetic.
So first let me address what it takes me to be where I am. I lift 5 days a week for forty five minutes to an hour depending on the day. I also usually do cardio for about an hour a day, five days a week. I cook all my food in advance every week and eat six, healthy and balanced meals a day. I've been at it now for several years. Some may think that all sounds like a lot of work and sacrifice but think about it this way--there are 168 hours in a week. I spend only about 10 of those (or less) working out and I'm only in the kitchen cooking once a week. And from time to time I do still enjoy a few of my favorite treats. It really isn't THAT big a price to pay for choosing to take care of your health and being able to rock a bikini with confidence.
I have trouble answering the "how long did it take you" question because honestly, I'm still not where I want to be and it's taken me longer to get where I am right now than it needed to... for several reasons. Follow my athlete page below for updates if you're interested in learning more as I'll write about that in my blog in coming weeks.
Look, I get that everyone wants instan
t gratification and results right now but I much prefer to get someone approaching their goals as a lifelong project of improvement rather than a temporary "get me abs and then go back to what I was doing" plan. Especially when the reality is that going from a 40" waist to a 23" waist (for example) is NOT easy and WILL take a good deal of time and a great deal of sacrifice. I worry that answering "years" to the question "how long did it take you" will keep many people from even trying when what I really want is for them to embrace the fact that depending on the look they're going for and where they're starting it really can take years to sculpt a hard body. And once you get there, you have to continue to work to keep it. It really does have to become a part of your life, for life. But guess what? It's SOOO worth it. And our bodies were meant to MOVE. Our muscles were meant to be USED. Plus, you truly do learn to love it ...at least on some level. ;)
Now her genetics comments. Absolutely. Genetics do play a role. Genetically, some people carry more of their weight in their hips and it's harder for them to lose weight there. Genetically, some carry it in their belly and it's harder for them to lose weight there... genetically some people have a harder time losing weight in general than others. Do you choose to throw in the towel because genetically it might be harder for you? I say hell no! Genetics aren't the be all and end all. Even those with the most stubborn belly fat CAN lose it IF they are patient and work at it...the right way. I think most people just don't think a little bit of extra belly fat is worth the amount of work and sacrifice it would take to get rid of if they're otherwise a healthy weight ..and understandably so. But the otherwise thin woman with an ever present belly pooch...genetically they might be predisposed to carry excess fat there but that doesn't mean they're destined to be stuck with it forever if they don't like it. There is something in diet and training (or lack there of) that is not dialled in as well as it could be. (note: when writing to the masses, it's impossible to speak to every SINGLE person reading and their individual circumstances so if you're a thin woman with a belly pooch from some rare 1 in a million stomach disease that causes bloat or some other obscure reason please don't waste your time sending me hate mail...I'm speaking generally)
Moving on, she took her question one step further commenting that she thinks people get discouraged when they workout for 6-8 weeks and don't have a perfect body yet. She acknowledged knowing it takes more and that most people likely know that but just don't know how much more and if they're willing to go there or would rather just keeping working at things the way they have been and get as healthy as they can with the effort they ARE willing to put forth.
"I think this is where people get lost- somewhere between eating ice cream on the couch watching "The Biggest Loser" and feeling helpless, and working out enough to be healthy, and being happy with that. I think it is because we don't set realistic goals for the price we are willing to pay. This is what I don't like about the fitness infomercials and models with GREAT genetics who don't have to work out. We who are in the middle are always feeling like we are coming up short because we don't look like you (as promised on every infomercial) when we "think" we're doing what you are doing. I just want somebody to tell me, "NO, you CAN'T get THIS body in three 20 minute work outs a week." She says.
I thought those were excellent points.
First, I'd like to comment on the fitness infomercials and models with "great genetics who don't have to workout". Admittedly, I don't know every fitness model in the world but I know, have personally trained with and/or follow many of the most popular ladies who have graced the covers of several fitness magazines and I don't know of a single one who doesn't bust her balls, so to speak, day in and day out and who hasn't shared her own set of "before" pictures proving it's actually not great genetics, but ball busting work for years. So no. You CAN'T get those bodies by using whatever ab twister thingy or shake weight do-hickey they're 
peddling...ESPECIALLY if you're starting out over weight. Those models have absolutely NOT gotten their bodies using those products. They've paid their dues in the weight room and more importantly...in the kitchen, likely for years. Yes, maybe some have to work harder for it than others but they're all living a lifestyle that creates their bodies, every day--not using a shake weight twenty minutes a day for six weeks.
Stop watching infomercials. Seriously. GENERALLY speaking, if a product or a specific food has a television commercial, it's garbage. Get in the gym. Cook real food. That's the only infomercial you'll ever need. And look at that, you didn't even have to make 4 easy payments of $29.95 plus shipping and handling. You're welcome. ;)
If your goal is a specific "look" find out what it takes to get there and LIVE THAT. Live for the body you WANT, not the body you have. Start learning what it takes to get where you want to be or hire a trainer that produces the look you want in their clients, trust them, dig in your heels and do what they tell you. Then it just becomes one day fading into another and over time you just keep getting better. The time is going to pass anyway, whether you're eating egg mcmuffins for breakfast or egg whites and oatmeal...one is going to get you a bigger muffin top, and one will help you get rid of it. ;)
You cannot possibly expect to significantly undo the damage one lifestyle has caused by only making a few small adjustments for a short period of time; especially if the damage the former caused is significant. Likewise, you cannot possibly expect to reap the rewards of a new lifestyle by picking and choosing what aspects of it you want to start implementing and putting a time frame on how long you're willing to do it.
On top of that, if you've been noticing your waistline expanding in the last couple years and you continue doing the things you've been doing that have been causing it to expand, where do you think you'll be in a few more years? The same? Hardly. Unless you change something, it's only going to continue getting worse.
"I think the problem is nobody is saying, "If you can run a 5k, do x amount of push-ups, and don't eat crap, you are really doing ok. If you want to look like a Figure Athlete it takes more and here's how much more." It seems like it is one extreme or the other, and the people in the middle just get left to think they're not doing enough, or not doing it right, or that their body "can't" get there, and from there, it is easy to give up." She says.
Fair enough. I'll say it. If you can run a 5k, do x amount of push-ups, and don't eat crap, you are
really doing ok. If you want to look like a Figure Athlete it takes five days of intense lifting and cardio a week and a tight diet of clean, balanced meals. Well, that's what it takes for me, at least.
In my opinion, you're really doing okay when you're happy with what you see in the mirror, when you're happy with how your body feels and functions and when you feel strong and confident with what it's able to do. If running a 5k and not eating junk makes you happy, do that. If the thought of having abs is what you want most in the world and you're a mom and/or overweight who doesn't think it's possible, don't you dare tell yourself you can't. Decide how BADLY you want them. If you decide you just don't want it bad enough to put in the amount of effort that's required then for goodness sakes, allow that to just be okay for you and stop hating the extra pounds because it really is your choice. Choose to change it no matter what it takes or choose to accept it, not let it define you and just be happy with the results of what you are currently doing--or not doing.
AUTHOR
Roni Davis
Nationally Qualified NPC Figure Athlete
Personal Trainer
Online Coach
Nutrition Consultant
http://www.facebook.com/RoniDavisFigureAthlete
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