DO WHAT YOU KNOW: IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU

There’s a lot that could be taken from the last post on DNA-PK; which, to put it simply, taught us that in some people, the gene that is responsible for converting carbohydrates into fat is basically turned off – allowing them to eat pretty much what they want with out the added weight gain.

At first, I think a lot of people, myself included, had the initial reaction of frustration. We’ve all known people who eat as if there’s no tomorrow, yet they still look slim and lean and muscular. One of my best friends growing up once ate an entire cheesecake by himself yet still had a six pack at the pool the next day. Thinking about people like that – and I’m sure we all have at least one person like that in our lives – can lead us to feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Or even worse, it can make you feel almost hopeless in your quest to get in shape, leading you to just throw in the towel.

Why should I work so hard to exercise and eat right if my body is just going to work against me?

That’s one way of looking at it. But in my opinion, it’s the wrong way. We’re not here looking for excuses of why we can’t do this – why we can’t reach our ultimate goals with our health, wellness and fitness. We’re here to see the obstacles in front of us and find solutions. We’re here to better understand what it is that OUR individual bodies need so that we can achieve the results we’re after.

Once my frustration about this gene wore off, I began to think about it in a different light – one that I hope others will do as well. Instead of being frustrated that your body might not react to McDonalds the same way Chad Ochocinco’s does, be grateful that you are now aware of WHY it doesn’t – which can enable you to make the conscious decisions to choose the foods that work for you body.

I know that may sound odd, but go with me on this. I saw this a dozen times while I was a personal trainer. My clients would start to compare their results to their friends and if the two didn’t match up, they became frustrated. The reality is everyone’s body is different. For some people, being thin and lean comes naturally. For others, it takes months of dedication and hard work. If those were the cards you were dealt – like I was – rather than being annoyed at something we can’t change, take control of what you know and make the changes to your diet/exercise that are necessary.

Long story short guys, it’s about knowing your strengths and feeding off of those, not your weaknesses. Don’t compare yourself to others, because there will always be someone who is faster, or stronger, or leaner, or more muscular. The journey to health and fitness is a very personal one. We all have different motivational factors. We all have our own favorite exercises or activities. And we all have our own favorite foods. We are unique in that sense. So why waste the time and energy on what others are doing? Focus on yourself – on how your body reacts to certain foods, on what exercises you enjoy, on what makes you excited to stay fit. That’s the key. It’s about you.

Today’s Transformation Challenge: Watch the video below. Although Marcus Buckingham is talking about work with his strengths based teaching, the application to health and fitness is nearly parallel.

Fitness is about loving it, finding what you enjoy from the process and focusing on that. After watching the video put together a list – it could be long, it could be short – but really do it.

List out your strengths when it comes to your health and fitness. What do you do well? What do you love doing? What foods do you love that are healthy? What foods do you love that maybe your body doesn’t react well with? What are your goals? What challenges do you face with these goals? How can you over come those challenges?
Use the list as a way of better understanding what is unique to you with this transformation you’re working on. Understanding these things is the foundation of a successful transformation.

Keep working hard and keep doing what you know,

Nico