If I Wanted to Sabotage My Fitness, Here's Exactly What I'd Do

If my goal was to completely sabotage my health and fitness, I'd just follow some of the most common fitness advice floating around today.

Here's exactly what I'd do (#6 is my favorite).

1. I'd try to lose 20 lbs in the next month.

Forget making small changes. I'd cut out every carb, I'd swear off dessert forever, and I'd work out twice a day.

Would it work for a little while? Maybe.

But would I hate every minute of it? Absolutely.

And eventually I'd get tired, burn out, go back to my old habits, regain the weight, and convince myself I just don't have enough willpower.

Reality check: The problem wasn't me. The problem was trying to sprint through something that's really a marathon.

2. I'd only exercise when I felt motivated.

I'd wait until I felt inspired, until I had more energy, until work slowed down, until life became less stressful, until the weather was nicer, until Monday.

Then, when motivation disappeared a few days later—as it always does—I'd stop exercising and wonder why I could never stay consistent.

Reality check: People who stay healthy for decades don't have more motivation than everyone else. They've just built routines that don't depend on it.

3. I'd spend hours doing cardio and never touch a weight.

Don't get me wrong—cardio is fantastic.

Getting your heart rate up is one of the best things you can do for your heart, lungs, and overall health.

But if I wanted to completely sabotage my long-term fitness, I'd make cardio my only form of exercise.

I'd never build muscle, I'd never get stronger, I'd miss out on improving my bone density, I'd miss one of the best ways to reduce my risk of falls as I get older.

And I'd ignore one of the biggest drivers of long-term weight management: resistance training.

Reality check: The best fitness plan usually includes a healthy balance of both resistance training and cardio.

4. I'd eat perfectly Monday through Thursday...

...and completely undo it Friday through Sunday. Then I'd wonder why nothing ever changes.

Reality check: Friday-Sunday is 42% of your week. You're going to move the needle incredibly slowly if you're crushing it 58% of the time and blowing it the other 42%. 

A better solution? Shoot for 80% crushing it and 20% treating yourself.

5. I'd compare myself to someone who has been exercising for 20 years.

Someone who's naturally athletic, 25 years younger, or someone whose "before" picture somehow looks better than my "after."

Because nothing builds confidence quite like comparing Chapter 1 of your story to someone else's Chapter 20!!!

Reality check: The only comparison that matters is this: are you healthier than you were last month?

6. I'd major in the minors.

I would start a new fad diet on Monday, quit by Friday, hear about a new magic supplement on a podcast over the weekend, then start the cycle over again on Monday.

We hear these types of things all the time from new members getting started. They'll ask things like:

"What if I take a shot of apple cider vinegar every morning?"

"Should I buy a vibration plate?"

"How about I cold plunge 3x/week?

"What do you think about me taking [insert the latest supplement fad here]?"

Meanwhile, they've never worked out in their life, they eat McDonald's every night for dinner, and they get 3,000 steps per day.

Reality check: Stop majoring in the minors! Look...

...it's not that these are bad. But until you get the basics right, they are not going to move the needle. You would be so much better served to focus on the big hitters (workouts, nutrition, sleep, etc.), than waste your energy obsessing over these minor details.

The hard truth is this: losing weight, building muscle, getting stronger...it's hard. And it takes time. Sometimes a lot of time. And most people do not want to accept that fact.

7. I'd try to do it all by myself.

Why ask for help when I can spend years repeating the same mistakes?

If I wanted to sabotage my fitness, I would go it alone.

Reality check: The most successful and fit people hire experts. Have you ever heard of an Olympic athlete going for gold without working with a coach?

No...

Yet so many of us continue to rely solely on our own motivation and planning to get us where we want to go.

Your health is your single greatest asset in life. So start treating it like one!

P.S. If you've made some of the mistakes on this list before...welcome to the club. Most of us have. The good news is that your next healthy decision matters far more than your last unhealthy one. If you're ready to stop sabotaging your fitness, click here.