Sadly, the title of this article is not clickbait.
I really am going to tell you why I think there's absolutely no hope for a lot of people out there with a body recomposition goal.
And here it is:
Your mindset is self-limiting.
And frankly, it's time everyone got called out a bit (gently, of course).
Common Examples of a Self-Limiting Mindset
These are examples of things I hear people say and my non-spoken responses:
"I really want to lose weight, but I'm not giving up my pizza and beer on the weekends!"
My Response: That's fine, but you're probably never going to lose a meaningful amount of body fat doing that. You might have to limit those foods for some time in order to achieve your goal.
"I really want bigger glutes and strong-looking legs, but I really don't like lifting weights. I especially hate lunges."
My Response: That's fine, but you're literally never going to grow your glutes or your legs.
"I want to gain more muscle but I just don't really have a big appetite."
My Response: That's fine, but you should probably adjust your goal. Muscle is grown best in a caloric surplus (even if it’s modest).
"My only slot to workout is in the mornings. I could go to the 6AM cardio class, but I just don't want to get out of bed that early."
My Response: That's fine. Just don't expect to lose any fat sleeping in. You might have to make a decision about which is more important to you.
"I know Andrew recommended getting more steps in, but it's kind of chilly outside."
My Response: That's fine. You could always wear a jacket, but the choice is yours.
"I really want to see my abs again, but there are always so many treats in the workroom! It's impossible for me to say no."
My Response: That's fine. It's definitely not impossible to say no, it's just not a habit you’ve mastered yet.
Why I’m Not Here to Dispute Your Reasons
Now, just to be super clear, it really is totally fine for anyone to say those things. I really mean that!
It's not a problem to like pizza and beer more than being jacked and lean.
It's not a problem to prefer watching Netflix than growing your glutes.
It's not a problem to enjoy workroom treats more than getting systematic fat loss results.
But you have to be honest with yourself about the progress you will be able to make within the limitations of your own mindset.
If you read those examples carefully, you'll notice that every single one of them reflects an order of priorities in which the body recomposition goal always yields to some other element of preference.
As cliche as it sounds, it's kind of true that most people who never achieve their goals never wanted them badly enough.
Why?
Because it's the desire within us that demands the implementation of new disciplines - even when those new disciplines are challenging and uncomfortable.
But here's where my hot take gets a little hotter.
Personally, I think you should start disallowing yourself to exude negative emotions regarding the outcomes of choices you have made.
Read that again if you need to.
What I'm saying is that at some point it becomes a waste of your own mental and emotional energy to dwell on negative things that you could change if you chose to.
That's a terribly negative cycle that never ends! And yet I think it describes the everyday reality of a lot of people.
MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL
Think about it...
Step 1: You see yourself in the mirror and you hate what you see.
Step 2: You feel a negative emotion like shame or guilt or frustration or anger.
Step 3: But nothing changes because there are other elements of your lifestyle that you enjoy more than what it would take to improve the way you feel about the image in the mirror.
Step 4: And then the cycle repeats the next time you see yourself in the mirror.
It's a very terrible thing.
Own your self-imposed parameters and move forward confidently.
In short, I think it's a good idea to make a decision about your body composition goals and journey, own that decision, and move forward confidently, even if your decision is not to pursue a dramatic change in your body composition.
For example, if you wish you had a big booty but you're literally never going to squat, hinge, or lunge because you "just don't like it," I highly recommend learning to love your butt the way it is.
Contrary to what you might be tempted to believe while scrolling through Instagram, the plumpness of your peach is not a matter of life or death.
As it turns out, it's more of a fashion piece given the current cultural climate.
Own your little butt. Love your little butt.
Why?
Because you made a conscious choice not to grow your butt, and that was a mature decision.
Seriously, you might wind up living a sad life if you hate your body despite your unwillingness to do anything about it.
Why put yourself through that?
Similarly, if you're 30 pounds overweight but you're not willing to change your eating habits and exercise more, own that decision. It's a totally fine decision.
Do I personally think you'd be healthier and flourish more in all areas of life if you were leaner and more fit? Of course! But I'm not you. Only you can make that decision for yourself.
So what's my point here?
Do this...
Sit down and be real with yourself.
Go have a long think about what you think you want and the effort you're actually willing to put toward that image in your mind.
If there's a major discrepancy there, make an adjustment so that those two concepts line up with one another.
If you realize you've been dreaming and need to bring it back down to earth, adjust your goal.
If you realize your goal is legitimate but you're going to have to put more effort in, adjust your level of willingness to do what needs to be done.
Just make sure you have consistency between the goal at hand and the willingness to achieve it.
Lastly, I couldn't help myself but leave you with some bit of positivity.
I lied. There really is hope (if you want there to be).
There really is hope for everyone if you choose to confront yourself and make change.
Also, if this article offended you a little bit, I think that's good. I like to challenge the way people think - especially the ways they think of themselves and how they make decisions.
My honest opinion is that most people are capable of far more than they ever rise to achieve simply because they fall prey to laziness, self-doubt, and an over-obsession with comfort.
You can absolutely be that person if you want to be that person, but you can also make a powerful decision to rewrite your own story.
You don't have to think of yourself as "fat."
You don't have to think of yourself as "weak."
You don't have to hate your body.
The decision is yours, and there's hope if you want hope.
If you need help getting started, be brave and book a call with me.
I hope you found this helpful!
If you feel like this blog brought you any value at all, consider sending it to a friend or family member who might need a loving kick in the pants.
Cheers, friends!
-Andrew
