How to Adapt To Any Situation For Fitness Success
One of the biggest blocks people need to overcome in their health and fitness journey is to realize that not everything is going to go the way you think it will.
"I don't expect it to" you might say. However, after 14 years and thousands of clients later, knowing that and actually accepting that when it happens are two different things.
Often when things don't go as planned people's good habits fall apart.
The person who is most successful in life/fitness/health isn't the one who is so discipline that nothing goes wrong, it is the one most adaptable when things do.
"It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change." -Charles Darwin.
Not accepting this is creating an "all or nothing" approach and that is exactly why you continue to be frustrated by your results.
Lets break down a few lessons that allow you to be adaptable, make progress and still live your life.
1. Have a routine, but be flexible. What does this mean? Be clear on what you are aiming to accomplish (lose 20 lbs) and how you will do it (manage calories and protein, walk more, lift weights 3x /week)
Optimism isn't just about having a good mindset, its about knowing what you're trying to do and carving out a path to do it.
Being adaptable means that when you are on a work trip you still prioritize the things that will move you forward. For example, you can still prioritize protein and manage calories even while going out to dinners with the boss. Again, the routine is managing calories and protein, being flexible is being able to do that no matter where you go.
Recently we evacuated our place in Asheville, NC because of hurricane Helene and we spent a month in IL on my father-in-laws farm. 700 miles from home in a new environment (3rd floor apartment in the mountains to farm house in the middle of 1000 acres of cornfields) with a newborn and no idea when we’d be coming home. . It was both great and challenging. Instead of being overwhelmed things weren’t how I like them, I took it as a challenge to show up the best way I could. This meant getting at least 1 mile of running in every day, buying meats and vegetables (because I knew we’d be dining out more) and drinking more water. I took my everyday habits and adapted them as best I could to the inconvenient situation.
It comes down to simply remembering what you are trying to do and then actually doing it no matter where you are.
2. Resilience. Even with a plan and flexibility, you will still make an occasional choice that you don't feel great about. Welcome to life. It isn't perfect.
Its not about avoiding failure, its about what you do next.
Instead of being discouraged, look at what was wrong and look to learn from it. Each "slip up" is actually an opportunity to bring awareness to your actions and learn, not a reason to throw in the towel and give up.
3. Problem Solving. Look at each situation outside of your control or comfort level as an opportunity. When I find myself in a less than ideal situation regarding my health or life I will ask myself:
"How can I do what I intended to do anyway?"
This offers a unique opportunity to really grow and evolve. I can't overstate the importance of this practice.
Sure, you may be traveling for 10 days. How can you get 10k steps each day anyway?
This will put your brain into problem solving mode and open up your whole life to new ways to grow.
Don't expect perfection, instead just be intentional.
Being able to adapt will be the single most important aspect to your success in your life and fitness. Without it you will just be left with excuses and reasons why you aren't making the progress you'd like.
So in short, know what you're trying to accomplish. Have a plan to get there, and use each inconvenience as an opportunity to practice doing it anyway.
Remember, progress over perfection.
Until next week.
