9 Reasons You're Not Making Progress
We all start working out for different reasons. Often times just being strong or wanting to look good naked is enough to ignite that spark of motivation. Sometimes we’re faced with health problems that snap us out of our laziness and motivate us to take control of our health. No matter the reason, if we workout it’s because we want to see some time of result. Committing to workout on a regular basis is the first step but ultimately it’s making progress that keeps us coming back. If you want to see real results, these are some of the all too common pitfalls that you will want to avoid.
1. You don’t have a plan.
People
expect to improve so long as they keep going to the gym even though they keep doing the same
things they’ve been doing up to that point. It's true that anything is better than
nothing but if you have specific goals, you need to have a specific plan in
order to reach them. If one of your goals is to get your first kipping pull-up, you’re going to need to work on progression movements to get you there. You
can’t expect to flail around magically appear above the bar. Ask for help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Write down your goals, make a
plan and stick to it.
2. Unrealistic goals.
The
harsh truth is that some of us have unrealistic goals and when we don’t achieve
them, we feel defeated and beat ourselves up over it. Thoughts of “Why didn’t I
work harder?” or “Maybe I should’ve worked on so and so a little more during
the week” or “Wow, I suck” start creeping into our heads. Make sure you
distinguish your long-term goals from your short-term goals. You want to be
able to kick into a handstand? This might take 6 weeks. You want to go to
Regionals? This might take years.
Remember
that to get to step 10, you have to go through steps 1 to 9. Don’t get ahead of
yourself. Be patient. If you’re not sure whether your goals are realistic or
not, sit down and have a chat with your trainer.
3. You work on things you like and neglect the things you don’t
like.
CrossFit
programming is meant to cover a broad scope of physical skills and as a result
most elite CrossFitters are well-rounded athletes. That’s why they are the best
of the best. Of course we’re not trying to compare the average athlete to a
Games athlete but there’s a lot to be said here. Being able to continuously
improve is all about balance and knowing when you need to take a step
back and work on things you’re not good at.
The only way to get better at
something is to keep doing it until you hate it a little less… that in itself
is progress.
4. You don’t train with people who are better than you.
I can’t
stress how important this is. Most of us have that person at the gym that keeps
us motivated; that person we “chase” during the met-cons or that person we
continually learn from just by sharing a bar with them. If you don’t have a
person like that when you train, you’ve got a problem. Not to say you’re a
crummy athlete but there’s always going to be someone out there who is a little
better than you at something. This is a good thing. For example, if you see
someone snatching a lot more than you, instead of asking, “What’s your max?” or
“How much is that?”, ask them what their training is like, how often they snatch or if they have any advice that could help you improve your lifts. You might
just unearth a little gem that helps you take that next step.
You
can’t get better unless you train with people who are better than you. They are
the people that will push you and motivate you. Learn from them.
5. You train with people who always tell you what you want to
hear.
It’s
important to have fun and train with friends but it’s just as important to get
constructive criticism. Compliments are nice but sometimes it’s an empty
compliment that leads to false hope. Your friend’s intentions are good and
supportive and we love them for that but we also need those blunt and honest
people in our lives and especially in the gym.
Constructive
criticism is a good thing. Seek it out and learn from it.
6. Listen to your trainer/coach
The most difficult thing for a coach, in any sport, including CrossFit, is the un-coachable athlete. They are the trainer for a reason. If for some reason you do not trust them, then maybe you should leave, or try a different trainer. This is very important, especially for safety reasons. Trainers are there for your to make gains and stay safe doing it. Another part of this is the guy/girl in the gym, who just because they been doing CrossFit for 6 months, thinks he/she is a trainer. You/They are not!!!! The trainers know what is best, not Mr. Six Months. Catch yourself doing this, and stop. If someone asks you how to do something, you can give them a quick tid-bit of advice, and then send them to the trainer.
You have to live with the body
you’ve got for the rest of your life. Treat it with respect. In the long run
you’ll be healthier, happier and stronger for it.
7. You don’t prioritize nutrition.
This is
an area that many people have a really hard time with. You’ve made the
commitment to workout on a regular basis, you’re getting plenty of rest but you
seem to be stuck when it comes to reaching your fitness goals. Eating
inconsistently, skipping meals and making poor food choices all have dramatic
effects not only on your strength and body composition but on your energy and
willpower as well.
You can
have a bulletproof training plan and the greatest of intentions but if you’re
skipping lunch and wolfing down a couple of slices of pizza on the way home from work
every day, you’re going to fall victim to a vicious cycle of sluggishness and
mediocre results. All those hours that you’re putting in at the gym are
essentially being wasted because you’re lacking the fuel for your fire.
Weekends are a great time to
cook large batches of food that you can portion out into some ready to go
meals. It may take you a an hour or two (less with some practice) but it will
save a ton of time during the week and you’ll be well on your way towards
achieving your goals in record time.
8. You’re not having fun.
This
should not to be confused with the fact that we all have bad days. Because we have
goals and have to work hard to achieve them, we all have training days that
suck and this is a completely normal part of the process. However, when your
workouts become a chore or they make you unhappy almost 100% of the time, then
you’ve got a problem. This is especially true when it affects your happiness
outside of the gym. More often than not, you should feel good after your
workouts. You’ve shown up and given it your all. That in itself is an
accomplishment. After all, you are at the gym to make yourself a better version
of you.
Whether it’s the gym
environment, the people, or you getting into your own mind, when your training
makes you unhappy, something needs to change ASAP. Take a step back and
re-evaluate your goals, your training schedule and your training methods.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a break from your regular routine to explore
new activities. A little break could be exactly what you need to
re-ignite that fire.
9. You make terrible excuses and are a whiner
No
explanation needed. If you want something bad enough, you’ll do what it takes.
Push yourself and stop complaining about the work-out every time you walk in the gym.
