Unlocking Lasting Weight Loss Success: Introducing Principles for a Healthier You
Hey, everyone! Welcome to Principles: A Practical Fat Loss Forever System.
You might know it as it's famously called at the gym, "The Shred," I'm excited to share the latest update, the final version of what I call Principles: A Practical Fat Loss Forever System.
I have used these principles and systems at The X to help hundreds of people lose weight they once believed was impossible to lose and taught them how to keep that weight off for the rest of their lives. With tons of people losing one hundred pounds or more and keeping it off for five or more years, the proof is in the results.
In this series, we're exploring the entire system one principle at a time. Today, we'll start by delving into Phase Zero and Chapter 1, aptly named "Prevent Failure."
It's crucial to understand that no one-size-fits-all solution or a singular method guarantees success in your weight loss journey. The reality is there are millions of paths to achieving your goals, but there are a few common ways that people tend to fail.
Unfortunately, if you're like most of us, we always seem to find those few ways to fail.
Studies suggest that approximately 99% of individuals who embark on a weight loss journey will find themselves heavier within two years. This alarming statistic reflects the challenges many face in maintaining long-term weight loss.
The health and fitness industry is a behemoth. It's more than that. The diet and weight loss industry is a $200 BILLION per year machine offering more options, convenience, and "ease" than ever before. Yet, the long-term results of these programs are still horrible, and the rates of overweight and obesity continue to rise, prompting us to ask: Why?
For our system, we are starting before we start with any program or diet. The focus on preventing failure is not about dwelling on the negative but equipping ourselves with the tools and strategies needed to overcome inevitable obstacles. By eliminating the various ways we might fail, we increase our chances of success and, more importantly, sustain that success over time.
So, why start with preventing failure? The idea is simple: we set ourselves up for success by eliminating potential pitfalls and establishing safety nets. This involves creating the right environment, providing essential resources, and having backup plans before moving forward.
Let's take a closer look at Chapter 1, "Preventing Failure," which consists of 10 principles.
Understand Why & How We Fail
Just Show Up & Take Notes
Continue Learning
Learning Is 99% Failure
Actively Build Resilience & Maturity
Become A Proactive Problem Solver
Become A Collaborative Problem Solver
Start Thinking In Bets
Minimize Risks
There Is No Such Thing As Perfect, There Are Only Trade-Offs
To illustrate these principles, I'll share the stories of two clients from my OG days at Gold's Gym: John and Mike. Despite their similarities—both were over 50, had more than 50 pounds to lose, and faced similar challenges—they achieved vastly different results.
Both John and Mike were men over the age of 50. They both had more than 50 pounds to lose. They had similar family structures and similar schedules. They lived similar lifestyles:
Sales and management jobs that required:
A lot of sitting.
A lot of driving.
A lot of meetings.
They had similar eating habits. They were both sedentary. They had identical fitness levels and parallel histories.
That's where the similarities end; they couldn't have been more different after that.
John had a clear, SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound): lose 50 pounds before his kid's graduation. He knew exactly what to do because he had done it all before and had been successful. He followed a well-defined plan, cutting out bad carbs, not eating after 7 pm, no more drinking, meal-prepping all of his meals, prioritizing protein and vegetables, and committing to regular workouts. He would work out five times weekly in the morning before work and then meet with me for our training session on Saturday mornings. If he couldn't make it in the morning one day, he would block off time in the evening. He had a schedule, a structure, and a backup plan. He was going to mix up his workouts, get lots of cardio, and do everything that had worked for him in the past.
Mike was the complete opposite. He didn't have a SMART goal. He just wanted to feel better. He didn't have a plan, didn't have any answers, and had "tried everything," and nothing ever worked. He showed up three times per week in the mornings before work. He did this consistently for more than a year and was sweating his butt off every time. But he never got any results. He didn't get much stronger, lose weight, get out of pain, or feel much healthier. He didn't have a diet plan and wasn't interested in sticking to a strict diet.
Mike didn't have any direction, or any structure, or any success, or any measurable goal. John had all those things, plus the experience of past success and the know-how knowledge.
The surprising outcome? Mike achieved remarkable success, losing over 50 pounds steadily and maintaining that weight loss for years. He recovered from pain, enjoyed the process, and felt great daily.
On the other hand, despite his clear plan, John never got any positive results and altogether quit before his child's graduation. He started and stopped a few more times over the years and never got out of pain, felt better, or got his weight off.
Why did that happen?
In upcoming posts and episodes, we'll explore each of the ten principles in preventing failure, drawing lessons from the experiences of John and Mike.
Understanding why and how individuals fail is crucial in crafting a personalized and effective weight loss strategy.
Stay tuned for the next episode as we delve into the first principle, unraveling the intricacies of failure in the weight loss journey.
Thanks for joining me on this transformative exploration. Until next time!
