Stop Following the Shiny Objects

I love a good Before and After story. What can be better than seeing someone change their life? I am a sucker for a book or a plan where someone says, "Look at me before...overweight, out of shape, bad hair, in debt, or...(add any bad thing here) BUT Look at me now! For just $27, I will tell you how I did it."

I would be crazy not to spend such a low amount of money to find out the secret formula. $27 to learn how to get back my dream body or to create that awesome sidehustle? SIGN ME UP!!

The problem with most of these plans, books, and academies is that it is usually the author telling their life story. While some of this is valuable info to know, they tend to not give the meat and potatoes of the subject. I want to know exactly what you did, day in and day out, to reach your goal. What was the work you did? What were the struggles? How did you overcome or move past the struggles? I want to know all the things. That is what they say they are going to tell you in their sales pitch.

I get it. A fitness professional will likely sell more if they are perfect and shiny. Their body in tip top condition, looking like they just stepped out of a photo shoot. But in reality, they do not necessarily look like that all the time. It took a lot of time, energy, focus, hard work, and struggle to get in that shape. For that photo or video.

We, as consumers, see that "perfect" image and think in that moment that this will be the thing. If I sign up and buy the program, I too will have their results. Then, a few days or maybe even a few weeks into it, doubt and struggle enter the picture. Life pops up with it's twists and turns. Where is the pretty, shiny face of the program now? Definetly not there to keep you motivated. Not there to talk you off the ledge of quitting.

I get that the process is not pretty. There are days when you feel like you can conquer the world. Your clothes fit looser. You slept great the night before. Your mind is clear. Then there are the days when it takes everything you have to just get out of bed. Just the thought of working out or drinking water sends you fuming. There are the days when the workout is tough and you can barely finish or when everyone seems to be tempting you to fall back into bad habits.

Here's what I propose: I have been overweight and unhealthy. I have worked hard to lose the weight, change my eating habits, and be a much healthier and happier version of myself. I have also had life and injuries throw me off track. I have gotten down on myself and stopped doing all the things I know I should be doing.

I am going to change my eating habits to what I know they should be. I am going to move my body to lose weight, build lean muscle, and to improve my overall self confidence and well being. I am going to do all the things that will get me back on track and stay that way for the rest of my life. Not a fad. Not a diet. Not something that can only be kept up for a few months. Something sustainable and attainable.

It is not always going to be easy. It is not going to always be fun. It will make me a healthier, happier, and more fit me. I will be the version of me that I love. The trick is to just start.

I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Specialist, Virtual Coaching Specialist Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Weight Loss Specialist, Behavior Change Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Youth Fitness Specialist. Let's put all that knowledge to use for all of us!

If you arneed advice, are looking to make a change, be healthier, move your body more, and have someone who is right there with you; head on over to:https://www.facebook.com/EmmaMerrittTotalLifestyle