Athletes can either be good, great or exceptional. The same is true for people who lose weight.
I have trained many athletes and have studied what it is about them that makes some succeed more than others. I have compared the behaviour of good, great and exceptional athletes to those people who are good, great and exceptional at losing weight. I believe that they demonstrate the same qualities in order to achieve what they want. They share the same frame of mind, attitude, habits and outlook.
GOOD
Good athletes, often motivated by fear and pressure, complain and moan – it never seems to be going their way. They may achieve some success but it’s often short-lived and disappointment soon sets in. Despite their failings, good athletes are reluctant to change or take on board new ideas and rarely recognise their own weaknesses. We often see good athletes repeating the same mistakes over and over again without progressing in the right direction – it’s a classic sign that they stick to what they know in the hope that things might work out.
‘Yo yo’ dieter – a typical Good Weight Loss Athlete. They do achieve some success, albeit through gritted teeth, but it’s never an enjoyable experience and they often fall back into the trap of bad habits. People who are good at losing weight are often motivated to start a new diet by seeing a ‘bad’ photo of themselves, or finding their favourite jeans don’t fit. They feel bad about themselves and throw themselves into their new regime. A life of restriction and unhappiness means that they do well temporarily but they soon go back to what they were doing before. Weaknesses are never addressed and negative feelings are comforted by food.
GREAT
Great athletes want to be the best, they want the ultimate success. They focus on this goal and only this goal – it’s all about the end result. They do have talent and winning is enjoyable to them but the process of getting there is not.
People who are great at losing weight are really motivated to achieve their goal, whether it’s being slim for a holiday or losing weight for their wedding. But it’s tough, and once they’ve reached their target it’s easy for them to slip back into old habits. The process is difficult and un-enjoyable. Great Weight Loss Athletes tend to overdo things, from training too hard to eating too little, which has a detrimental effect on how they feel. Once they achieve their goal they often put the weight back on again – not such a bad thing, as they know they can lose it again!
EXCEPTIONAL
The only way to be an exceptional athlete, apart from having great talent, is to love your sport. Having a passion for what you do drives you to do well. It becomes part of you, second nature. Winning is a welcome part of it, but the ‘doing’ is what it’s all about. Exceptional athletes focus on what they do well, what they love doing and, despite some setbacks, will continue to do well.
Exceptional Weight Loss Athletes don’t see adopting a new lifestyle and changing from old unhealthy habits as a hardship. They want to change, they want to do things differently and embrace the process wholeheartedly. They enjoy their new lifestyle, relish the challenge and, most importantly, bounce back from difficulties.
People who are exceptional at losing weight and keeping it off don’t find it a chore, it’s who they are; they’re relaxed about it, it’s become their way of life. They feel good and they enjoy it. Tough triggers, that for others may lead to failure, are nipped in the bud before they have the power to question their success.
Click below to read a great article that I wrote with personal trainer Susan Cass, called Dietary Snakes and Ladders.
Snakes and Ladders is a game that we may have all played. You know where the game starts on the board and you know where the end is, but there are many different routes you can take and an infinite number of outcomes. The same can be said for weight loss
Please make a comment below about this article if you find it helpful in any way.
I have a great pod-cast for you to listen to. Here I am interviewing World Number One Snooker player, Ronnie O'Sullivan.
I spent two years working with Ronnie and it was some of the most rewarding work I have done to date. Ronnie is nicknamed "The Rocket" due to his rapid playing style. He has been world champion on three occasions and is considered by many fans, critics and fellow professionals as the most naturally talented player in the history of the game.
In this interview we discuss Ronnie's approach to health fitness and weight loss and also discuss the components it takes to be successful and a winner in what ever you do.
Please let us know what you think of this pod-cast and if you find it useful. I will personally pass on any comment to Ronnie
Welcome to this special pod-cast called the Weight Loss Athlete. Here I discuss the difference between a good, great and exceptional athlete and compare this to someone who wants to be good, great or exceptional at losing weight.
Let us know what you think and if this has been useful to you.
Take care,
Pete
The Weight Loss Athlete MP3 file... click below to listen
Why is it that sometimes you just never quite get there? You started off with all the enthusiasm and determination to reach your goal, but you must have gone off track at some point. Did the crown stop cheering? Did the marshals send you off in the wrong direction? Or perhaps you didn't have the finish line in mind when you set out? Sub consciously you started the race knowing the end would be there somewhere but where it was exactly and in what time you'd ideally like to finish was undecided.
Thinking about this in weight loss terms, you probably started out with a weight loss goal or wanted to see a change in your body shape or improve in your health. You were off and out of the blocks faster than Linford Christie but then you lost the wind out of your sails, lost sight of the home straight and reverted back to your old ways. What's that all about?
When I took my personal training course, we were taught that the most important part of any training programme and/or lifestyle change was the planning. We broke this down into what we call SMART goals:
S – Specific
M- Measureable
A – Achievable
R – Realistic
T – Timed
Think back to all the diets that you've ever tried or that new healthy living routine you vowed to follow. Did you stop and think about all of these points and dissecting your goal to fit your lifestyle rather than you fitting your life around your goal? Writing down your goals, whether it be preparation for the up and coming marathon or planning that extra 5kms into your daily walk to work can help to cement things in your mind and by applying this smart system will help make that goal truly come to life. Giving yourself a start and end point, a measure of how its going to work and whether you are being realistic and true to yourself could be the crucial factor to achieving your goal.10lbs in a week when you break it down into a 1 week smart goal isn't achievable but 2lbs in a week and 8lbs in a 4 week period starting on 1st of the month and ending on the 31st of the month could be achievable.
If you want to stand proud and win the medal you've got to know your race. The Start. The Finish and everything in your journey that's going to get you to the red ribbon in between. Everyone's 26 mile experience will be totally different to the next persons - you just have to work hard to find your winning formula and get those valuable and memorable stages of the race under foot.
Plan SMART and be SMART. It'll help you get to where you truly want to be. No one is in charge of your life other than YOU and the best is yet to come...
You Can't Out Train a Bad Diet Dan Johnson said: Totally agree with this. I've had people come to me asking my why they're not losing any weight or building any muscle. Usually it's because their diet sucks and they do not want to change it.
Exerci...
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Boot Camp For Weight Loss Bev Morris said: Has anyone thought about BMF - British Military Fitness - check them out. Its the same as boot camp but on a regular basis, often two or three times a week. I can thoroughly recommend them. Outside ...
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What Path Will You Take Brian said: I've pretty much been trudging down the same path for a long time. Maybe it's time I create my own path instead of following paths others have made.
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Going for a swim in the sea Brian said: Thanks Pete for the positive message of making a commitment, even if it was a crazy way to illustrate your point. : )
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Boot Camp For Weight Loss Catgirl said: I did a week's boot camp last year and it gave me back my self-esteem and taught me to start loving myself again! I can't recommed it highly enough. I also lost 10lbs and 11inches but what it did fo...
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ME Dennis said: LOL, I love the old geezers. But I love me more. ;-) Self-confidence and love is very vital indeed. However, in order to say "I love ME" and also be convinced at the same it is important to ...
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Boot Camp For Weight Loss chiropractor said: This is one of the best forms of exercise programs a person can do, It recruits almost all the muscles in the body while performing plyometric activities.
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Boot Camp For Weight Loss peter cohen said: Thanks for your comments on this Cristina, Maurenn and Phillippa
I love Boot Camp and love exercising outside/
Take care and enjoy yourself as much as possible
Pete
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Boot Camp For Weight Loss Yoga Classes said: Nice post... Specially the video... Its full of knowledge... Thanks for the article... :)
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Boot Camp For Weight Loss Philippa Hodges said: Boot Camp rocks! I have never had so much fun and I'm fitter than I was 30 years ago. The one I go to takes place round a lake which really lifts the spirit as well. You are never too old, find a B...
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Boot Camp For Weight Loss Maureen said: Hi Pete
Great video - full of inspiration.
I still think I have a hang-up about the boot-camp thing due to my time in the army - need to get over this one!
Maureen
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Boot Camp For Weight Loss Cristina said: It's lovely to people of all ages, shapes and sizes exercise in the great outdoors in an environment where they can have some fun whilst working out and turning their bodies into fat burning machines....
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Getting Rid Of What You Don't Need SheenaIgnatia said: Hi Pete, I am so glad you posted the link to this video on twitter today.
The first time I watched it - I had a book shelf heaving with self help books gathering dust and now I have this beautiful b...
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What's the best type of FAT to eat? Artavan said: Avoid vegetable oils such as corn or safflower oil.
Reduce your consumption of meats and dairy products.
Eliminate highly processed foods.
Increase consumption of omega-3 rich foods such as...
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