It’s Friday again; boy, what a week it’s been!
Yesterday was one of those jam-packed days for me, filled with a flurry of activity.
From in-person consultations at our gym to back-to-back Zoom meetings to site visits in other towns, it was a whirlwind from start to finish.
As the day progressed, Carl and I found ourselves running on empty.
Caught up in the day’s momentum, we had completely forgotten about lunch.
While Carl, being the ever-prepared guy he is, had his meal prep of chicken and veg handy, I had nothing.
That’s when I was faced with a choice.
I could either find a supermarket and pick up some cooked sliced meat and a pre-made protein shake or settle for an easy, high-calorie sandwich from Costa that I was standing right next to.
At that moment, it hit me how our daily choices, big or small, play a significant role in our journey to fat loss.
Of course, I chose the supermarket option – a low-calorie, high-protein lunch.
It might seem like a minor decision, but it was a decision that aligned with my summer fat loss goals.
You might be wondering why I’m talking about my lunch dilemmas from yesterday.
But losing body fat does teach us something.
We must make tough decisions if we want to drop a lot of body fat.
I didn’t want to make those decisions at the time, but I’m glad I made them at the end of the day.
And getting in great shape does teach you many lessons.
It’s definitely more challenging than most expect it to be.
I’ve learnt many things from previous “summer cuts” & shoots in the past.
It was at this moment, eating my sliced cooked meat, that I reflected on the harsh truths of fat loss that I’ve learnt and are often overlooked:
Even the healthiest diet can lead to weight gain if you overeat your calories.
It might seem like an impossibility, but it’s a fact.
We might fill our plates with the healthiest foods, but if we’re not careful with our portion sizes and calorie intake, we could still gain weight. It’s not just about what you eat, but how much you eat.
You may not lose body fat if you’re not feeling a little hungry during a fat-loss phase.
This is a tricky one.
Remembering that a certain amount of hunger is normal when you’re in a fat-loss phase.
It doesn’t mean you should starve yourself, but rather that your body uses your fat stores for energy.
Understanding and accepting this can make the process less daunting.
The closer your weekend diet is to your weekday diet, the better your results will be in terms of your body shape and scale weight.
Consistency is key in any journey, and it’s no different in your fat loss journey.
The discipline you show from Monday to Friday should not take a backseat over the weekend.
Keeping your diet consistent can accelerate your progress and help you achieve your goals faster.
As we head into the weekend, with summer just a few weeks away, I want to emphasise the importance of consistency.
The cycle of strict dieting from Monday to Friday, followed by a weekend binge, will leave you feeling guilty and demotivated next week.
It’s a trap many of us fall into.
But remember, it’s not about perfection but consistency.
So, this weekend, I urge you to make choices that align with your goals.
Enjoy yourself, but do so mindfully.
When faced with the supermarket vs Costa decision like I had yesterday, remember that every choice brings you one step closer to or further from your goals.
In the grand scheme of things, your journey to fat loss is a collection of small, everyday decisions.
Embrace these harsh truths, and the process will be much more manageable.
Here’s to making each choice count and embracing the sometimes harsh but always enlightening truths of fat loss.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Ryan