Reaching Your Goal Physique With Honesty

By Coach Maria - Salus Nutritionist & Food Expert

Let's be honest.  No matter your size or weight, your age or stature; everyone wants the best physique they can get.  Right?

Some are closer to that goal than others, but we all have a goal that involves looking better physically.

If we continue to be honest with ourselves, we should ask ourselves: "Have I taken the right steps - in earnest - to achieve that goal?"

If not, here are a few tips that might help you get on the right track.

• Take a Nutrition Inventory

I begin with this topic, because nutrition is the most important piece of this puzzle - without making this a priority, you will more than likely be fighting a frustrating uphill battle. 
If you have been eating/drinking the same way for years and are still not closer to that goal physique, something is not working!  It's time to either change your nutrition plan or make some adjustments.  Here's where you can be honest with yourself.  How many of those changes are you already aware of, but keep clinging to the excuses for no-change?  Sometimes, it's as simple as paying attention to the mindless eating (i.e., eating when you're not actually hungry, or sitting in front of the computer screen or TV bored) or realizing that you might be taking in too many liquid calories (i.e., high calorie fluffy coffee drinks, your nightly alcoholic beverage).  Other times, it might require a total overhaul of your daily eating habits (i.e., is most of what you eat prepared by you or are most of your meals prepared and consumed from a source other than your kitchen?).  If the bulk of your nutrition comes from mostly processed foods, you can bet your goals will be stalled at some point.

• Working Hard or Hardly Working

It's true that moving a little bit is better than not moving at all.  Giving some effort is better than no effort at all.  When it comes to creating a physique that will make you happy and content, however, let's be honest again - it's going to take more than a little movement and a little effort.
Your workouts - no matter what your choice of exercise is - should take effort and be demanding (and we all have different levels of exertion - you know when you've given it all you have).
We're talking quality over quantity here.  Taking a walk with a friend for exercise?  You both should be walking with enough effort that having a conversation is not easy and perhaps not even required!  Working out in front of a television for distraction?  Turn the TV off and give an all out effort that makes TV viewing impossible.  Going out to jog/bike/swim a certain distance?  Break up or shorten that distance doing fast and hard sprint/interval sets instead that require an exerted effort 1 or 2 notches above what you are used to.  Increase the intensity in some capacity into your regular routine, lower the amount of time in a rest cycle, and don't forget to change your routine to force your body to adapt to that change.

• Map Out a Plan

Getting specific results, requires specific goals, which requires specific plans.  Taking a random approach to achieving your goals will produce will not always work.
Is your goal to get stronger?  Put all your effort when working out and address the entire body throughout the week - don't skip workouts on a particular day that might target your weaknesses.  Be consistent and keep variety in your routine.
Is your goal to lose body fat?  The answer is not to eat low-fat foods, but rather eliminating foods that you already know are contributing to the problem - processed foods, fast foods, sugar, that consistent glass of wine, beer or hard liquor, frequent desserts, muffins, cookies....I could go on, but you know what I'm talking about here.
Decide on your goal and make a plan.