Starting Your Fitness Journey

Introduction

There is so much content that is expressed in the fitness industry.

It can be overwhelming if you do not know where to start. But hopefully this short guide will help clear things up. I want to help take you through a clear path to success on starting your health and fitness journey.

Of course there are different levels to fitness and it all depends on what your goals are. For most people, it is just being healthier and using exercise to enhance your life.

It does not need to be complicated at all. If you are able to follow a simple plan and clean up some things in your diet, you can enhance your life by so much.

Lifting and cardiovascular exercise is a necessity in my opinion. It will make you feel so much better about yourself and you are able to change your body and mind for the better. There are so many health benefits associated with it and once you start, it should be the thing that makes your life significantly better and helps you in any path needed.

When you are healthy it allows you to be there for others and actually enjoy life. Health always comes first. I always think of that one commercial where the grandpa does some strength training and is now able to move around with his grandkids. That's what this is all about. Without our health, we are nothing. It’s not about chasing a specific race or exact look. It is all about being healthy and being there for others.What's a life of riches and good fortune worth if you aren’t healthy enough to enjoy it?

Part 1: Identifying Your Goals

Identifying your goals is definitely the first part to starting your health and fitness journey. Whether your goal is fat loss, to put on muscle mass, maintain, etc, they all have a road to get there. Without a clear and concise plan, it is very easy to get lost and not stick to it.

Once you are able to identify and write out what your goals are, you can begin to proceed on working towards your goal and formulating a plan or hire someone else to do that for you.

Let's say for example that your goal is to achieve muscle mass. Okay, now you start to ask the big questions and think to yourself:

What do I have to eat?

How much do I have to eat?

What type of training should I do?

What else should I give up in order to achieve my goal?

Now that the questions are out in the air, you are able to lead yourself to the answers. I would be careful to who you get advice from and to make sure that they are at least in shape themselves.

Part 2: Acting on Your Goals

As I briefly mentioned in the last part, it is great now that you have identified your personal goals. Fitness is a marathon and not a sprint. We all start at different starting points and there is no reason to go crazy about achieving your goal in a set time period. It is going to take time, discipline, and moments of self doubt. But I promise it will all be worth it in the end when you have a much greater quality of life and are extremely happy with who you see in the mirror.

When it comes to working out and potentially trying a new “diet”, I think it is great to do things in terms of 12 weeks. A 12 week plan is a solid amount of time to see if some results are happening and if there is anything that you need to change when the time has come. If you want to make good changes in your life, start with 12 weeks of committing to a plan.

2022 is starting soon and people always have their new year's resolution. Make 2022 your year. Act on your identified goals and become the best version of yourselves. You can make a ton of progress in 12 weeks and you will be surprised at what you are capable of when you just act on it.

Part 3: Beware of the Guru

Health and Fitness is one of the most manipulated markets and I feel bad for how many people get ripped off by “guru’s” who claim to have all the answers in their purchased program.

Absolutely there are great programs out there and you should invest your money in one as spending 50 dollars on an elite 12 week program can significantly enhance your life for the amount you spend. But be careful of people looking to manipulate you for bullshit programs and take your money.

Here are some red flags when it comes to a fitness and health plan:

“Eat this one thing to lose 10 lbs”

“Try this exercise to lose this portion of fat on your body”

“Lose weight with no diet and exercise”

Genuinely anyone claiming to have a secret path to getting you somewhere

One that is so restrictive it's nearly impossible to follow

These are just a few examples of things to look out for and to be smart when choosing. Exercise and diet should be simple. Follow a simple plan of recorded food and exercises to achieve results. And never ever take fitness advice from someone who isn't in shape.

Part 4: Long-Term Thinking

Sometimes our short term goals are not the best for our long term goals. Whether you are young or old, it is always good to adopt a long term mindset to make the best investments in yourself for maximum results.

This means that it is important to eat healthy, train smart, train hard, and do things that will benefit your life.

Being in great shape past your 20’s sadly puts you in the 1% of Americans… Obesity is a huge problem and something that leads to a shorter life span and a much poorer quality of life.

Make great life choices now so you can be a great example for others. If you are in great shape, you indirectly inspire that one family member, friend, or co-worker to start making the changes themselves. A healthy body and mind is contagious. Show others the way through your great example.

Part 5: Do Not Compare Yourself to Others

Another issue people get themselves into as well is comparing themselves to others online. They start working out and wonder why they don’t look like their favorite fitness model.

We all have different genetics and it is important to know that. You have to be happy with yourself and remember that the main goal is being better than who you were yesterday. Beat the man or woman in the mirror.

Simply focusing on yourself and not comparing yourself to others is how you are going to achieve long term fitness and health. There is always going to be someone bigger, stronger, and faster than you.

A lot of what you see online is all about lighting, good cameras, and apps that will edit photos & videos. Remember that it is simply a fantasy world too and that a lot of your favorite fitness influencers are also on PED’S as well…

Use this as motivation to look internally and focus solely on yourself. Now is the time to be selfish and put your health first.

Part 6: Putting It All Together

This was intended to be just a simple guide to get you thinking about identifying your goals, acting on your goals, and things to look out for in the long term game.

Health and Fitness is for everyone and something that I am truly passionate about. If I can help just one person make the change to get in shape and better their life, it will all be worth anything I write or post.

Most people want to start but feel lost and not sure where to start. Follow a simple plan and develop the skills of discipline and self love to better yourself and be proud of what you will be able to achieve.

The sky's the limit and you can (and should) reach your genetic potential with your body and focus on your health. We are living in an interesting time now and the best thing you can do is to be a sovereign individual and take complete ownership of your health.

Hope this simple guide gets you on the right path in your journey! Feel free to reach out to me for any questions or if you are interested in a training plan!

Much Love

Brian Gates