How To Avoid Fitness Sabotage

One of my clients brought up a very good point the other day during his workout. He mentioned that every where he goes there are people trying to sabotage his efforts to lose weight. Unfortunately, this is a very real problem for those of us who have committed to a fitness lifestyle.

I have found that there are two forms of sabotage. Unintentional and intentional. The first can be dealt with somewhat easily. The second is quite a bit harder.

A lot of the time, people will tempt you to go into a situation that will set you up for failure. For example, offering to take you out for a few beers and some chicken wings to celebrate an occasion of some sort. However, it isn't done with any malicious intent. They are unaware that they are sabotaging your efforts because they haven't been told so. Typically, if they are told that the goals of your fitness program are something that you committed to fully, then they will leave you well enough alone. Hopefully, they will congratulate you on your efforts. Some may in fact look up to you for it.

Dealing with people that you know are intentionally trying to make you fail is much more difficult. Mainly, because it often comes from the people that you are closest to. There are many people who fear change. If a loved one sees their significant other reaping the physical and mental changes that come with a well-designed fitness program, they can get frightened that you will leave them behind. They don't want to change and they don't want you to either.

So, what can be done about it? Well, like the answer to most things, it is about communicating. Expressing how you feel about your commitment and how it relates to that person. Living a fitness lifestyle is not easy, but well worth it. It certainly isn't any easier when people are trying to sabotage you all the time. Communicate to those people why it is so important to you. Above all else, remember this; you have made a commitment to yourself to be healthy, happy and successful. Always take comfort in the fact that you are doing what is right for YOU. As a fitness coach I remind people of that all the time.

I myself have a coach. A business coach. He’s pretty well-known in the Tampa business community. The guy is just absolutely fantastic at what he does. When I meet people at networking events we sometimes talk about this gentleman. I have come to find that people either love him or hate him. Hate may be too strong a word, but you get the idea. Anyway, I know why people love him. He makes them successful in their business.

The people that hate him seem to have one common trait. They are not as successful in their business as they could be. And the reason isn’t because they don’t work with my business coach. The reason is because they refuse to do the hard work that it will take to improve themselves. Then in turn, they project the anger they have towards themselves onto this gentleman. Because at some point, without directly telling them, this coach of mine made them very aware of that fact. People don’t like that realization and don’t appreciate the fact that he made it so abundantly clear.

As a person who has made a serious commitment to their own fitness you are doing what it takes to improve yourself. So, I want you to be prepared. You may have to leave some people behind. You are taking yourself to the next level. You are joining an impressive group of people who do the good old fashioned hard work that it takes to get there.

Albert Einstein once said, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” Unsuccessful people say, “I can’t.” Successful people say, “I can and I will.” What do the people you know say?
More importantly, what do you say?