While striving for a goal, we have all used the expression of “giving it our all”, or “giving 100%”; and we all agree that if we put out maximum effort, the likelihood of success will be drastically increased. But what really comprises this one hundred percent? Ask 10 different people, and you’re likely to get 10 different answers. When talking about reaching your fitness goals, you might even get more answers than that. I recently received an email that inspired me to write this month’s article. The email gave an interesting insight into what it truly takes to achieve your objectives. Although the approach it took is somewhat unorthodox, the outcome holds true. It said that if we take the English alphabet, and we assign each letter a numerical value (A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.) then we can analyze any particular word. Taking that approach, can we answer the question of what it means to give forth 100% effort?
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
Is knowing what to do, enough to help you give it your best? There are so many different variables when it comes to fitness. Each of these variables will take you in a different direction, so which is the correct one for your goals? You need to know what exercises to do, and how to do them properly. You also need to know the proper set and rep scheme to use; the proper progressions, adjustments, and rest periods, and this only pertains to the exercise component of fitness. There is also the nutrition, and the recovery elements to take into account. Hiring a personal trainer is definitely one way to get over the Knowledge speed bump. A good trainer will be educated on all the “what’s” and “how’s” that pertain to exercise. So will your or your trainer’s knowledge get you to your goal? According to the formula, it only gets you 96% there; and I agree. Knowing what to do, when it comes to fitness is definitely only part of the equation.
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
If you’ve hired your personal trainer, or read enough about exercise to know what you need to be doing; then you understand that just knowing isn’t going to get you anywhere. You actually need to show up, even more so, you need to show up and do the work that is required. This is truly where the good personal trainers excel. If there is something that a good trainer will know how to do, is make you work hard. It is not uncommon for people to underestimate the body’s capacity for work. After all, your body’s main goal is the conservation of energy; it will find a way to accomplish the same task without having to work so hard. It is up to you, to force yourself to put in the effort it takes, and accept the challenge, that will get you to your fitness goals. Going through the motions and just doing hard work won’t lead to continuity. Just doing hard work, won’t ensure that you stick to the plan in and outside the gym. According to the formula, Hard Work only gets you 98% there.
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
By now you’ve probably figured it out by reading the article’s title. The key to ensuring you are giving your workouts all you’ve got is Attitude. You have to come into each and every workout wanting the results you are seeking. Don’t just do what you are told, don’t just go through the motions. You’ve got to want it; because everything worth having is worth striving for. There is no better way to ensure that you are putting forth maximum effort, than to truly want what you are working for. You have to take every rep on the weight machines, every minute on the bike, every step on the treadmill as if it were the ONE step that will lead you to success; as if your entire workout just consisted of that one instant in time. Next time you get to the gym, ask yourself, how much do you want it? How big is your “want to”? If your “want to” is big enough and you approach training with a winning attitude, the results will follow 100%.
