0 to 60: The Quickest Way to Failure

Unless of course you’re doing that in a new Porsche or Ferrari, which clearly then tips the scales and shows that you’ve made some proper investments in your day or that you’ve married Derek Jeter and we should all be so lucky.

But alas I am not talking about fast cars or GQ men because here I talk about all things fitness. So, 0 to 60. It doesn’t work in fitness. Fast is gonna blow out a tire, create an accident, or just really frustrate you. Especially if you’re looking to lose, say, 30 pounds and you buy a workout DVD featuring a skinny blond in tight pants skipping around while constantly telling you that you’re doing a great job even though you gave up 20 minutes ago and are hurling expletives at her at rapid fire speed because she annoys the sh*t out of you. Or there is the other extreme, a one Mr. P90X, where you have a buff-bodied dude who’s a total cheeseball explaining that the X is for extreme while “Blam” Pam is showing us the modified moves which make me feel even more sub-par since modified is extreme in some cases!

What I’m trying to horribly explain here is that in order to be successful, your expectations must be realistic as well as your means of acquiring them. 0 to 60 is like losing 30 lbs in two weeks. It’s too fast, and what may leave your side quickly will soon be back, on your side. This leads to frustration, depression and lack of motivation to give weight loss another go. Plus, if you’re choosing a program that doesn’t work for you, then you’re again setting yourself up for failure. If you went the extreme route, you may have found that the workout was impossible to maintain, you were unable to perform the exercises properly, and you felt exhausted half way through the workout. Not good motivators and definitely a program many won’t stick to.

Choosing the right exercise program is different for every person and you need to find what fits your needs. If extreme isn’t your thing then it’s not going to work for you. Don’t feel you have to give into the latest trends in order to be successful. Start from the bottom and work your way up. This is the only way to be successful over a long period of time. Thinking less extreme and more sustainable is a good starting point. Also is having a good plan of action plan!

You must make sure that your Plan of Action (POA) plan is realistic and attainable. Here are some tips on how to put together a good plan for steady and long-term weight loss:

1. Give yourself a reasonable timeline to achieve your goal. Ex. if you want to lose weight, know the healthy amount to lose per week is 1 to 2 pounds. (not 10 to 20 lbs per week like on The Biggest Loser!)

2. Choose a program that works for you. If you hate running, I don’t recommend buying a treadmill. (Captain Obvious at your service.) Go ride a bike, go for a swim, hike a mountain. These are all great forms of cardio without any running involved.

3. Create a reward system so you can buy that cute handbag without feeling guilty. You achieved a goal so go splurge a little on yourself. (Notice I said handbag. Not oreo’s, a chocolate fudge sundae or a beer-fest.)

4. Get rid of all your old workout DVD’s that you’re not using anymore. They’re mucking up the works and not providing an ounce of motivation. New DVD’s provide new inspiration.

This is my short suggestion list for making your own POA plan. It is by no means substantial or complete but hopefully it gets you going in the right direction… slowly, not 0 to 60!