Why Doesn’t Everyone Have Six-Pack Abs?

I’ve yet to meet anyone who is really comfortable being overweight. Either they complain about it from an attractiveness perspective, or they suffer from obesity related problems (such as lack of energy, prone to sickness, depression etc).

So it’s pretty obvious that most people would like to have six pack abs. Many of those people even attempt to get them. The truth is however that few people actually have visible abs.

Why?

I could come up with a whole host of answers to that question, but there are really only two reasons why people fail to reach their goals – and I’ll put these people into two groups according to their reasons;

Group 1 – “Because we’re lazy. We’re undisciplined and lack longevity.”

Now before I get flooded with hate mail let me add this, I am completely aware that there are some people who are physically challenged and thus unable to reduce their body fat percentage to a level that makes their abdominal muscles visible. These people should not be discouraged or feel bad about them selves. After all, the ultimate goal is to be healthy, isn’t it? So I hope this article is not going to hit people in the wrong place but rather that it will motivate us to press on and achieve the goals we’ve set for ourselves.

Going back to my point however, most people will hide behind myths such as “I have bad genes”, or “I’ve got the wrong body type” when in actual fact they just haven’t stuck at it long enough to see real changes and steps towards success. The truth is, most people who are overweight, or have a undesirably high body fat percentage, are this way because they do not stick to the goals they’re setting.

I know, because I used to be in this group (and some weeks I still am).

Getting in shape is hard, if it wasn’t then everyone around us would be fit.

If you want abs then you had better be prepared to work for it. It’s hard to give up those unhealthy foods we’re almost addicted to, and it’s hard to rearrange our schedules to fit in three or more workouts per week. But, if we stick at it (even when it feels like we’re not making any progress), then we’ll eventually be able to stand on our own to feet as people who are in control of our fitness, body and health.

It is possible to get rid of that flab, just get our of Group 1 and try and avoid…

Group 2 – “We keep trying but we never make any progress”

There is another unfortunate group of people out there who don’t fall into the first group. They are disciplined, they hardly ever eat (what they think is) unhealthy food, and they are consistent with their workouts. But they never seem to reach their goals.

Misinformation had destroyed their chances. They are following diet plans, workout guides and fitness information that can never actually help them. It will only ever produce short-term results. If only this group had the right information, they’d be catapulted to a new level of health (not to mention their elusive goal of six-pack abs).

I also have been part of this group. I used to take any information, hook, line and sinker, as long as it sounded good and intelligent, and the person giving the tips was an ‘expert’. Unfortunately I rarely made progress other than some short-lived results when I changed to a new diet or workout routine.

I cannot help group 1, but I can help group 2.

I can’t make you get six-pack abs (or whatever goal you’re seeking) if you’re not able to help yourself. But, if you are prepared to totally change your lifestyle, then I can help you. I’m still half way out of group 1 and avoiding to be in group 2 myself. But I’m on a journey which is headed in the right direction and I’m inviting you to join me.

No more excuses! Stop talking, and start doing.

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The Secret Of Setting Goals And Achieving Them

Generally a goal is something you want to achieve that you haven’t yet achieved. Almost everyone has set goals at some point in their lives, whether they be related to education, money, business, skills or hobbies, travel or experiences, overcoming phobias and yes, fitness related goals such as weight loss or gaining muscle.

Most schools will teach children about the importance of setting and achieving goals. If they don’t, hopefully most parents will for their own children. The worrying thing is that by the time these children becomes adults, most of them will no longer set goals for themselves.

In the article ‘Why don’t adults set goals for themselves?’ which was published last week, I outline 7 reasons why people don’t set goals for themselves. The main reason which permeates through all the ‘excuses’ is that people are too scared that they’ll fail, so they don’t set the goals in the first place.

Goals always involve an element of risk. The risk is that you’ll end up failing your goals. People play it easy by either not setting goals in the first place, making goals easy so they’ll always succeed, or making up very ambiguous goals so that it’s difficult to tell if they have succeeded or failed. You’ll get nowhere very fast if you do play it easy like that.

Do you want to get somewhere? Great, then accept the risk and overcome your fears of failing! If you do fail, don’t worry about it, just review what you could have done better and try again.

Once you are ready to risk failing you will be ready to choose your goal:

Your goals should be achievable
Don’t tightening your strings to far. Make sure you’re not going to set yourself up to fail by attempting to commit a world record!

Your goals should be challenging
Try and aim for something you’ve never reached before. This way you have to reprove yourself. Ask around in fitness/bodybuilding forums on whether your goal is achievable or not.

Your goals should involve a timeframe
If you don’t specify a timeframe you’ll be working towards your goal for years. Set a date and aim for it.

Your goals should be in written form
Write the goal down. If it only exists in your head you’re not going to be motivated enough to achieve it.

Your goals should be followed through by journaling
Keep a journal so that you know that on a daily and weekly basis you are working towards the goal you’ve set for yourself. Record what you eat, what exercises you’re performing, and what gains you’re making. If you run your fitness like a business instead of a Sunday afternoon habit you’re far more likely to get there!

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Why Don’t Adults Set Goals For Themselves Anymore?

1. They have become accustomed to failing the goals they set for themselves as children.
As children we’re often ‘forced’ to decide on goals we want to achieve.  The problem is that at a young age we often don’t think through our goals when we set them.  Because of that we forget about them and don’t end up achieving them.  We grow up with the impression that goals are useless and don’t help us.  I know this was my experience.

2. They don’t want to fail, so they don’t set goals for themselves
Remove all risk from the equation.  If you set zero goals for yourself then there’s 0% chance of you failing.  Of course, at the same time there is 0% chance of you succeeding.

3. They don’t want to fail, so they set very generic goals or don’t write their goals down.
This is similar to not setting goals except that you ensure there is 100% chance of succeeding.

4. Adults in the western world are busy people and don’t have enough time to work towards goals.
This is not a good excuse – we need to correctly prioritize our time.  If we care enough about something we’ll find the time to get it done.  We may need to sacrifice some things but that’s the cost of success isn’t it?

5. Goals are considered to be for nerds and ‘self-improvement’ weirdos.
This may not be a popular excuse but it does exist.  I know that because I used to give that excuse myself.  ‘Who sets goals anyway?’ I would mutter to myself.  The answer?  People who want to get somewhere set goals – so get over it!

6. People don’t think they need to set goals because they’ll get there without them.
For some things (and for some people) this is true.  They have enough talent, the right genes and are in the right place at the right time.  For most however, it will take much longer to get where you want to be if you don’t set goals, and chances are you won’t get there at all.

7.  People are happy where they are in life and therefore are exempt from the need to set goals.
Some people have no desire for progress or self-improvement.  In some things this is good and to be sought after, especially if one is content with their money or content with walking through their garden.  But you can also be in a state of contentment and about to fall off a cliff.  With fitness we need to get to a place where it is safe and healthy, and we maximise our energy levels, then it is good to be content.

Remember, if you don’t set goals you won’t achieve them.  That isn’t rocket science so I hope it isn’t news to you, but it’s definitely worth stating.  Next week I’ll be writing an article on ‘The Secret Of Setting Goals And Achieving Them‘.

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