The beginning of January is prime time for fat loss articles and “get thin quick” promises… I get it, it’s good for business and really I should do it, but honestly every time I write one a little bit more of my soul dies…
Honestly, unless being 4% body fat gets you paid, why on earth would you want to weigh and measure your macronutrients? Speaking as someone who has done this, there is no bigger waste of life than weighing cooked asparagus...
I’ll just get this out of the way now: if you are classed as overweight but you’re happy - you like the way you look and feel - then you are far healthier than some lean person who can’t eat a small piece of birthday cake without crying and running 9 miles, scolding themselves with every step…
You should be happy, and you should enjoy your life. Food should never be a source of shame or boredom, and exercise should never be a source of misery or used for atonement…
Man, food is just f***ing fantastic. Pick the right ingredients and every one of your meals can be as healthy as you want it to be and still taste f***ing orgasmic! Healthy food doesn’t have to be bland… Read up a little on nutrition and learn to cook delicious, nutritious meals - that right there is an excellent resolution for 2017...
Exercising regularly is just f***ing fantastic... It will enable you to play with your kids all day and not get tired; it will allow you to finish work and still have energy to spare; over time you will look, move and feel better; it will allow you to pick up new hobbies much faster - surfing, gymnastics, salsa dancing, whatever; it will keep you out of the doctor’s office and the nursing home for an awful lot longer; it will allow you to tick off bucket list items - run a marathon, explore Machu Picchu, learn to scuba dive… It allows you to grab life by the balls rather than sit at home, panting in front of the television…
These are all good things - why would anyone not want them? There is literally nobody out there who wouldn’t want these good things... But to get these good things, clearly you’ll need to suffer on a treadmill for 45 minutes, 5 times a week, facing a wall, not talking to anyone…
Actually no, that’s nonsense. Exercise does not have to be bland, miserable and antisocial…
At Blackbrook you have constant variety - a new stimulus every time you come in will keep things fun and interesting, and since it’s programmed for you, you don’t even have to think about it…
You will get excited by your progress - crossfit has 10 physical skills, all of which can worked on and improved in numerous ways; progress has a profound effect on happiness...
You will make lasting friends - obviously this one only applies if you’re not a c***, but training buddies become drinking buddies, and drinking buddies become lasting friends…
And finally, speaking as someone who has done the whole weighing and measuring food thing and followed percentage based training programmes… I have had far better results with my relaxed approach... An approach that allows me to enjoy both beer and abs all year round… The training is fun, stimulating and it clearly works. My relationship with food has never been better. I probably drink a little too much, but f*** it, I like it so it’s staying… Why strip the joy out of life?