October 1, 2006

No Shortcuts to Long-Term Success

Quite often when people ask me about getting in shape they also want to know how long it takes. Depending on the person, the answer they want to hear varies quite a bit. Most people realize that getting into shape takes some time; however, some don’t realize it, or they don’t want to hear it. They want to be in shape right now, even if they’re nowhere close to being there. In fact, more than a few times I’ve heard, "I’d like to get in shape – by the weekend." That just isn’t going to happen unless you’re already there.

The cold, hard truth is this: If you’re out of shape, you’re not going to make drastic changes in just a few days, or even a few weeks. It takes quite a bit longer than that to make significant changes to the appearance of your body. So, forget what the advertisements say, stop looking at those stupid little diet pills, and don’t fall for that "miracle fast" that claims that you’ll lose 10 pounds in just two days. These things just don’t work. And finally, don’t think about your progress in days or even weeks; instead, think about it in months and years. Yes, months and years.

For some, months and years may seem like a long time – too long a time. In realty, though, that’s what is necessary to see truly meaningful improvement to the appearance of your physique. However, it doesn’t mean that you won’t see some progress sooner.

For example, within just days of eating well and exercising you will probably feel more energetic and invigorated, even if your body’s visual appearance hasn’t changed that much yet. Within just weeks, all the huffing and puffing you might have been doing during your first few workouts starts to go away as your stamina picks up. After that, you’ll probably see some visual improvement in as little as a few months – after all, I did write the series of articles called "Natalie Waples: A Two-Time Figure Champion in Just Three Months," and she did make quite impressive changes to her appearance in just that time.

Still, months and years may not sound good enough for some, even if it is what’s realistic. As a result, they might hope for something quicker and resort to some sort of "miracle supplement," or worse yet, drugs. That, though, won’t really get you ahead, at least not in the long term. In reality, it might set you back even longer than if you just stayed away from those things.

I’ve never seen any of those supplements that promise quick fat loss or fast muscle gain actually work. No, the most impressive thing about them has nothing to do with the ingredients in them at all – the most impressive thing is the marketing behind them and their ability to suck people in and grab money from their pockets. In short, I haven’t seen one of those "miracle supplements" that wasn’t a rip-off and a complete waste of time.

As for drugs, they can certainly make changes fast – that’s why the medical profession relies on them to treat illnesses. However, drug use is dangerous and they should be used only under the care of a physician and for illness, not to try and look better. Furthermore, their effects often aren’t long-lasting, making their use as a tool to improve your appearance even more ludicrous. What’s more, I’ve seen people come off drugs and look worse than when they began! Drug use is nothing more than a quick and dangerous road to disaster.

Quite simply, there are no shortcuts to long-term success, and someone looking for improved health and appearance shouldn’t be looking for a quick fix. Have you ever heard the saying, "Good things come to those who wait"? In this case, it’s true – just be patient.

So, while you can’t get in shape by this weekend, you can get into better shape by Christmas. Furthermore, by next spring you can make big improvements, and by the summer you can be a knockout. Frankly, that’s not too long at all. The key, though, is to start right now.

...Doug Schneider
das@seriousaboutfitness.com

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