131 - This Is Simple, But It Ain't Easy!

Explicit content warning

08/18/21 • 23 min

If getting fit and healthy was easy, we'd all be there right now. But we're bombarded by marketing, advertising, fast food joints on every corner, and new diet books 24/7 and it's almost impossible to figure out what the right things to do are.

But with all these mixed messages coming our way, I still find fitness to be very simple. I'm a big believer in the basics of good health and wellness and try not to get caught up in the "new and shiny" object syndrome that's so prevalent in this industry.

Our group has recently kicked off a 45-day transformation challenge and the prior few months we're pretty rough for me. I was dealing with a great deal of emotional stress and turned to eating comfort foods and sitting on my a** as my way of coping.

Not good I know.

And we've all been there at one point and I committed to changing it when we started our challenge. And I recommitted to getting back to the basics and if you're just starting out or getting restarted, these few things will help you as well.

First, I stopped eating like an a**hole and started eating foods that I know are healthy. Easy enough. Putting a roasted chicken breast in your mouth is a better choice than a frosted blueberry Pop-Tart, I think we can all agree.

I started moving more and sitting less. I got back into the gym and restarted where I was at. And yes, I lost quite a bit of strength and stamina during my short hiatus, but I didn't try to force anything. I keep my workouts short, but it's where I'm at.

Same for you. Start where you're currently at, not where you used to be or want to be. Simple stuff.

I will also say that one of the keys to keeping this all together, especially in the beginning when it's easiest to quit, is accountability.

Find a tribe. Find a partner. Use your spouse. Make sure it someone who cares about your success. One of the reasons our private group, the Fit Dad Nation Inner Circle, is so successful is because it's based on accountability.

When people are vested in you and you're invested in yourself, amazing things can happen!

Just remember, when all else fails, keep fitness as simple as possible.

Not good I know.

Same for you. Start where you're currently at, not where you used to be or want to be. Simple stuff.

I will also say that one of the keys to keeping this all together, especially in the beginning when it's easiest to quit, is accountability.

When people are vested in you and you're invested in yourself, amazing things can happen!

Just remember, when all else fails, keep fitness as simple as possible.

Previous Episode

130 - Is "Eating Right" Even a Thing?

I hear " I need to start eating right" a lot and today I want to talk about why there is no such thing.

First, I'll say that are plenty of general guidelines for eating a healthy diet. Things like avoiding fast food, soda, and refined sugars and instead eating whole foods like eggs, lean meats, fruits, and veggies.

Pretty basic stuff.

But following a diet is a very individual thing and success and adherence can depend on many things from social situations, resources, and personal preferences.

In my opinion, no diet is right for everyone and low carb works as well as high carb which works as well as no carb. It's all about these 3 things:

1. Is it healthy?

2. Does it give you the results you want?

3. Can you sustain it?

Regardless of what approach to eating you choose, if it possesses these 3 things, it will work if you stick with it.

While I don't believe there is a "right or wrong" way to eat, there are a few things you should consider when looking at nutrition.

These are some rules that I live and teach by and have had a great deal of success with:

1. Keep nutrition as simple as possible

2. Consistency is more important than which diet you follow

3. Don't sacrifice your happiness in the name of losing weight

4. If you're not losing weight and you think you're doing everything right, you're probably not in a calorie deficit for long enough

5. Eat as many single ingredient foods as possible

6. You don't need a meal plan or prep and cook for hours. You need a better relationship with food

Most people don't follow a diet because they don't really want to. They like the idea of eating clean more than they like actually doing it. Just remember, there isn't a right way to eat. Make good choices and use your head.

Next Episode

132 - Why and How To Train With Purpose

There is something to be said for showing up to the gym when you don't want to. There is something to be said for checking off the "I did something healthy" boxes each day too.

And once in a while that's fine. But it doesn't work long-term and here's why.

Doing the bare minimum in the gym (or anywhere else) is never going to give you great results. If you're fine with that, then OK. If you want amazing results, you have to work hard and work with a purpose.

I've seen so many men over the year struggle to make any real progress despite working out, eating sensibly, and taking care of their health.

And many times it's nothing more than a lack of real effort in the gym. Sure, food is always going to be #1 when it comes to changing your body, but half-a**ing it in the gym isn't going to build much strength or muscle.

It's easy to wander around the gym looking for open machines or to try a random YouTube workout, but it's not going to do much for you. It's also easy to continue to do the same exercises over and over, for months on end even, because you like them or they are familiar.

So here are some ideas that are going to help you get focused and start training with intention and purpose, because it does make a BIG difference.

Know what you're doing before you set foot in the gym.
Have a specific goal you're working towards. Maybe it's an OCR or 5k run, it doesn't matter. Find something that excites you.
Have a strong reason to train. It's a very personal thing and you need to figure it out. Use that to inspire you when you don't feel like pushing yourself.
Find what type of training motivates you. If you hate going into a gym, don't do it! Go outside, join a class, or figure out what you actually like to do. Enjoyment is very important when it comes to getting fit and staying there.
Put your a** on the line. Throw down a challenge. Post publicly that you're going to make a change. Get accountable to someone or a group. Find your tribe and let them motivate you to be better.
Use music to get you fired up to train. I put on Slayer when I want to crush it in the gym. It works!
Don't be content with being average. Push harder than you did yesterday.

One of my favorite quotes is "don't let good enough be good enough" and it fits perfectly for how you train your body.

Be better than mediocre, you're worth it.