When Everything Doesn't Go As Planned

One of the most frustrating things for a planner is when things don't go as planned. You miss a workout, you overeat at a meal, you make a mistake, you fail. You feel bad. You tried so hard to have everything perfect, and it just isn't working out that way. The weight is not coming off, the schedule is not easing, it's so hard.

So what do you do when everything doesn't go as planned?

Well, there are a few options...

• Quit. Be miserable and fail. Ick, next option please...
• Go on and try again. Easier said then done, and you've probably already done this one, over and over again.
• Revise your plan, get your mind and body focused, and work harder.

It's funny how a person has a vision of how their body should look or what they want to look like. And it's so disappointing when they don't turn out that way. You look in the mirror and cannot believe that the body looking back is the way you feel. 


So, do you just walk away from your body? 


It's so frustrating, the long process of losing weight. You can work so hard to lose 1-2 lbs. in a week, while all it takes is one weekend to gain 5-6 lbs. Why is that? Why is your body letting you down? Why is it not changing?


When I first meet with a client, I mentally note the "red flags" that come up as we get to know each other. It could be something about their health history, the standard "I eat pretty good", one of their support systems. I note the red flags and more often than not, those red flags become something we have to deal with weeks into establishing a good exercise and nutrition program. Notice I didn't say diet and workout. Exercise and nutrition.


Most people don't understand how important planning is when you start a new exercise and nutrition program. It's not just about your workout or your food. It's about making time for yourself, making your life a priority so you can better take care of others. It's about taking care, good care, of the body you have. And then there's the time aspect. Take a sample 12 week program. 12 weeks of exercise and proper nutrition. Life-changing, right? Yes, most of the time. But part of the planning for a 12-week program is planning for plateaus and for how long 12 weeks actually is. Think about 12 weeks - 3 months.


A lot of people don't consider this when PLANNING their new routine. First week goes great, maybe lose a pound or two. Second week is okay, maybe lose a pound. Third week you are starting to get tired of it. By the fourth week, you're thinking "I've been busting my butt for 4 weeks now and THIS is all I get?". The majority don't even make it to the 5th or 6th week without some sort of quitting and failure. Then what happens?


• Quit. Be miserable and fail. Ick, next option please...
• Go on and try again. Easier said then done, and you've probably already done this one.

• Revise your plan, get your mind and body focused, and work harder.

In a standard 12-week program, you will see results in week 9. Week 9 friends!!! So what does that mean? You have to get through week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8. You have to be consistent, doing the exercise, eating good nutrition and you have to do it for 8 weeks to get to week 9. Weeks 9-12 are when you will really SEE and feel the optimal benefits.

Keep this in mind when you are planning a new program. Have a professional help you. Revise your plan, get your mind and body focused, and work harder. It's hard when things don't go as planned, but you CAN recover and you CAN succeed. I'm here for you when you need me...