[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]I just finished a gym workout. Do I feel better for it? Not really. I went into the gym with no purpose or drive. No conviction that I was going to have an amazing workout. 55 minutes later I walked out feeling deflated with my lacklustre performance.

Thankfully this isn’t always the case or I wouldn’t look the way I do but from time to time I often think why bother? All that today achieved was wasting 90 minutes of my day when you add up the commute etc. It got me thinking about a few things.

I see people walking around the gym, exercising in parks and yes, occasionally, personal training clients with no real purpose. Wasting time with their low intensity, demotivated workouts. And then there is the nutrition side of things. If you don’t like what you see or how you feel, then it is time to do some self-reflection and be honest with yourself. If you are sick of going through the motions and not seeing any change (yet expecting change) your judgement day has come.

Because, at the end of the day, action and intuition (everyone knows deep down what effort is required for success) is the only way you will change the quality of your life and your health. Be honest with yourself and look at the lifestyle and the habits that you currently have. Evaluate your current potential. If you want your potential to increase, then you must be faster, better and more focused than you have ever been. Get yourself out of your comfort zone. Learn how to push yourself and challenge yourself to do things which seem down right daunting and scary. Because when you commit and go all in on your health and fitness journey that’s when you’ll see the change that you truly deserve. Not beforehand.

Yes, I’m a huge believer that effort equals reward. There are no short cuts. It comes down to hard work, discipline and consistency.

Speaking from personal experience I had my own challenge this year to lose body fat and weight. I was stuck in my own fitness rut. Part of this rut was a lack of drive and a feeling that “I was ok when I looked in the mirror because I was pretty good”. The truth was, I was on the descent – fast.

Drinking too much on weekends which would often lead to a mid-week drink, exercising with the same (mid-level) intensity and going through the motions a couple of days a week. I became comfortable.

So, spurred on by my very supportive wife I decided to take evasive action by firstly giving up all alcohol. I was also going to change the way I trained in the gym and at home. And finally, stop hanging around the kitchen every night after dinner to stop the unnecessary snacking and junk food.[/cs_text][x_image type=”none” src=”https://pgpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/pete.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text class=”cs-ta-center”]Target achieved. Feeling strong, motivated and focused[/cs_text][cs_text]

The Result

After this pivotal moment I went into the bathroom and stepped on the scales. My starting weight was 84.6kg. The heaviest I had ever been. Right time to change. I set myself four very specific goals.

1. Do not touch one sip of alcohol until my family holiday to Toronto (13 weeks away)

2. Change up my workouts every time I train.

3. Commit to 5 intense workouts a week

4. No more snacking after dinner (9pm approx.)

The 13 weeks passed and the morning of my family holiday to Toronto had arrived. How had I gone? I stepped onto the scales just before the cab came to pick up the family. I was 78.8kg. I had lost 5.8kg. I was strong, lean and energetic. My mind was focused. I had what I had wanted earlier. An increased potential. Yes, action and intuition do equal results.

I knew what I needed to do all along. It just took some time to be honest with myself.

My challenge to you now. Be honest with who you are. Spend some time self-evaluating and if you don’t like what you see. Take action. Today!!

Success in fitness

Pete[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]