8 Fitness Mistakes From a Former Fat Guy

Growing up as an overweight kid without proper guidance when it came to health and fitness caused me to make all the mistakes in the book. The following are 8 observations I've made over the course of my journey from fat kid to fit athlete:

Mistake #1: I Didn't Eat Enough

The key to success with fat loss does not lie in calorie counting, but instead in boosting your metabolic rate. And so, when I hear of personal trainers or dietitians prescribing 1200 calorie diets to 200+ pound individuals, I cringe in horror. I'm no scientist, but I have enough knowledge to realize the tremendous negative effects such a restrictive diet has on metabolism and testosterone levels. Do yourself a favor and focus on eating clean, healthy foods instead of cutting calories right from the beginning.

Mistake #2: I Didn't Try Anything

A common excuse beginners have when trying to drop fat is, "I have tried everything, and nothing works." The truth is that most beginners have tried everything, for about 2 days. Beginners tend to go through this cycle:

Day One: "I'm really excited to lose weight, and I'm going to do this, this, this, this, and this!"
Day Two: "Ok, I'm ready to do this...what a great workout! I'm going to do this every single day!"
Day Three: "Ah man! I'm so sore. I'll take today off."
Day Four: "I'm so sluggish. You know what forget this, it's not worth the pain. I'm just going to drive down to Taco Bell."

Seriously now, you haven't tried anything. Stick to a program for four weeks, and if it doesn't work out, if you haven't at least lost 2-3 pounds, then come crying to me.

Mistake #3: I Didn't Set a Goal

Goal setting is probably the most difficult thing on the planet. The majority of beginners don't really know what they want. You want to gain muscle, lose fat, put one 6 inches on your arms, drop your cholesterol levels, get a six pack, boost your vertical jump, run faster, increase your bench by 50 lbs, and impress the opposite sex. Well, honestly I haven't found a program that can accomplish all of that at one, but you find one, then please shoot it over to me. I'd be the first one to try it out! In all seriousness, you'd be doing yourself a favor if you can narrow it down to one simple goal.

Mistake #4: I Didn't Listen to My Body

Listening is one of the most important skills when it comes to communication and success in life. Listening to your body is one of the most important skills when it comes to success with fitness. This skill comes from consistency, so if you haven't been able to exercise for at least 4 weeks straight, then you probably haven't had the chance to tap into what your body is telling you. Most trainees burn out too fast because they don't listen to the practical signs the body is telling them.

Mistake #5: I Didn't Drink Enough Water

You'd be surprised how crucial water is to your body. Water is necessary for the regulation of body temperature and provides a way for nutrients to be transported throughout your organs. Water also helps transport oxygen to the cells and helps remove waste products from the body. Every time you workout, you lose water. Every time use the bathroom, you lose water. And every time your breath, you lose water. How are you going to replace all that water loss? By drinking water.

Mistake #6: I Didn't Purchase the Right Foods

This relates to observation #1, in terms of focusing on the right foods as opposed counting calories. Most people just don't bring home the right foods. You need to learn how to shop healthy if you're going eat healthy. One of the biggest changes you can do is the way that you shop in a grocery store. Instead of going through each aisle individually as most people do, start off by shopping the perimeter. The perimeter is where you'll find the fresh produce and meats. By sticking to fresh options, you'll bypass the urge to buy all that packaged, highly processed, fatty nonsense that's making you unhealthy.

Mistake #7: I Didn't Cheat Properly

We all cheat on our diets once in a while, but there's a proper way to do it and an improper way to do it. The improper way is to go on a crazy binge and eat all the foods that you're addicted to. Food addiction is what made you fat. Why use a "cheat day" to binge? Instead, go for healthier options of the foods you love. Love Taco Bell? Why not make some burritos at home? Love soda? Drink some fruit juice. Addicted to StarBucks? Order regular coffee instead instead of those sugar-laden latte's.

Mistake #8: I Didn't Have a Training Partner

For most of my training, I didn't have a partner. But last summer, I recruited two friends start working out with me. Training with two other guys who were at similar fitness levels as myself helped me push my workouts to new levels of intensity. You don't need to have a training partner year-round, or even at every single training session. But its a good idea to challenge yourself once in a while by joining a group class or finding a training partner, even if its temporary. Often times its tough to find a training partner who is at the same level of fitness as you are, and is free at the same time you are, especially in this busy and stressed out world. However, make your best effort to find a good partner. You'll thank yourself for it.

Fix these 8 mistakes, and you'll be on your way to fitness success!

About the Author:

Parth Shah is an average Joe who's tired of all the nonsense he sees in mainstream health and fitness media. His thoughts, ideas, and philosophy can be found on his website, ShahTraining.com

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