I'm writing this as someone who neglected their body, and has struggled with obesity and body image for most of their life. What I've learned about training and nutrition in the last 5-10 years, gave me the chance to improve myself in a meaningful way. I also got a new-found appreciation and respect for many people in the fitness-community.
I found that people who are dedicated to fitness and health, share a few common principles. They share these principles regardless of gender, color, race, ethnicity, social status, etc. I think that these principles are essential, not only in fitness but also in life. Hence, the title of this article.
Training and following a meal plan requires discipline. Sometimes you don't feel like training, or you feel like eating something without really being hungry, probably something that you know you shouldn't be eating. Being disciplined means sticking to your training and meal plan and not giving in to temptation. Being disciplined means learning to say no to things. In the end, it's about consistency.
Discipline can get you through tough situations by doing what you have to do, and what you know is good for you, even if you don't feel like doing it. It can keep you on track to achieve your long-term goals even if your motivation is low at the moment. It can help you lose bad habits or adapt new good ones. People value discipline because it shows strength of character.
To see any kind of results, you have to give the muscle a reason to grow. You have to push yourself. You have to step out of your comfort zone. You have to try to overcome yourself. That doesn't mean that you have to destroy yourself each time that you train but you have to get close to failure. This is as much of a physical as it is a mental challenge.
Someone who works hard is always respected, regardless of who they are, or where they are from. It shows dedication/determination and the willingness to make sacrifices. It means that people can rely on you in critical situations because you know how to deal with pressure. It leads to an accumulation of skill, skill that sets you apart from people who are not willing to work as hard.
As with anything that is worth doing, it takes time to develop muscle, lose fat, or learn a new skill. The body needs time to adapt. It has to get used to the new stimuli and establish new mind-muscle connections. If you want so see long-term changes, you have to give it some time. This could be a few months, or even a few years, depending on your goal.
There are no short-cuts in life. Even if you are gifted or talented in one way or another, you have to put in the work, and you have to put in the time. There's no way around it. Patience means that you know that your hard work will be rewarded eventually. You are willing to sacrifice your time now so that you can reap the benefits of your labour in the future.
Every time you try a higher weight or a new exercise, there's a chance that you might fail. If you fail, you will most likely be humbled by the experience. It will show you your limits. It will also show you how you stand in relation to others. It's almost guaranteed that there is someone who can lift heavier than you.
Failing can be painful. Realizing that you are not as good as you thought you are can be tough. But how will you learn if you don't fail? How do you know how difficult something is if you haven't tried it? How can you appreciate a skill if you haven't at least failed once or twice at doing it? Humility means that you know your place in society or life.
If you cannot get yourself to work out regularly, then you cannot rely on yourself to do what needs to be done. If you cannot rely on yourself, how do you expect other people to rely on you? If you are only working out every now and then, your are probably not going to see any results. You need to hold yourself accountable for working out and eating healthy. The key is always consistency.
Reliability means that people can count on you. You can lose someones trust if you are not reliable enough. It's difficult to make friends or keep a steady job if you are unreliable. The same goes for inconsistent behavior and lying. It's even worse when you lie to yourself. You have to be able to trust yourself and your instincts.