With every action or change in behavior we embark on there will be great advantages, but there will also come some costs. We must measure those against each other and determine the inherent value.
I often have conversations with clients or potential clients about their physique goals. A common goal is to “get abs”. I am cool with that. Even though I work so hard on the emotional side of behavior change I love physique changes for those who are equipped to handle it. Unfortunately, abs are often a lot harder to come by then all those 22 year old IG influencers with great genetics and few responsibilities would have you believe.
For some, a visible six pack is just gonna be watching what they eat for a month and… boom! For most of us, though, it will require a lot of dedication and restriction. That’s right restriction.
“But don’t you worry about restriction leading to overeating?”
Absolutely. In most people who are working on behavior change, overly restriction food intake is like stretching a rubber band. The further you pull it the harder it is gonna snap back the other way. But if you want to wash your clothes on your torso you are likely going to have to pull that rubber band pretty hard. It is not the best idea if you are working on your relationship with food.
However, there are a lot of us out there (myself included) who are willing to deal with the restriction and tiredness and grumpiness for the end result. After having done it a few times we even start to enjoy the process. Not just the outcome. It is a practice in discipline but also in knowing when to let off the gas and when to keep pushing. For some people the upsides and the downsides even out. For many who make their livings in fitness or compete in physique sports the upsides far outweigh the down.
I preach it often, but make a pros and cons list. It really is the simplest way to determine whether to continue down the path you are currently on. It may not be foolproof but can give you a general idea. There will always be downsides to everything. Ignoring them can cause downstream effects that are exponentially detrimental to your long term goals even though they seem like reasonable short term ones. Be aware and make decisions with intent. Just ask yourself, “what is the cost?”
