5 Common Mistakes YOU May be Making

Are you feeling like no matter how hard you work you are not seeing results or getting any closer to reaching your goals?

Everyone has a goal in mind that drives them to work hard day in and day out. CrossFit brings lots of goals to our attention and is always providing new things to work towards. Whether you are looking to lose weight, get stronger, get faster, or increase your general health all together, if you feel like you are in a rut there are some major mistakes you could be making. Here are five common mistakes that could prevent you from reaching your goals:

Image from "Rewordit"

  1. Not getting enough sleep: Sleep is when the magic happens. Your body recovers and rebuilds. Without enough sleep, your body will not have time to fully process and rejuvenate itself for the next day of work. Your body builds muscle during sleep, digests and absorbs nutrients, and recovers for the next day. Without enough rest, you’re not allowing your body time to put your hard work to use. 

   2. Ignoring your diet: “You can’t out train a bad diet.” I repeat “YOU CANNOT OUT TRAIN A BAD DIET.” We have all heard that plenty of times but it turns out, its true. Paying attention to what you are eating is the key to keeping your body working like a well-oiled machine. Fuel your body with healthy, nutritious foods that pack a lot of bang for their buck. Nutrient dense, unprocessed foods are what your body craves, and what will help keep you going. There is no point in eating empty calories that your body doesn’t recognize and cannot digest efficiently. Swap those foods out with rich natural nutrition and you will see how much better you feel! 

 3. Not eating enough: While we do want to pay attention to what we are eating, that doesn’t mean that you should eat less. You need food for fuel. Just like when you are lacking sleep, your body cannot process or recover without proper nutrition. We need calories and nutrients for energy, alertness, muscle growth and muscle repair. When your body isn’t getting the fuel it needs, it will go into starvation mode and store your unwanted fat to use in emergencies. That’s ironic, right? So while you may be sitting back thinking your doing such a good job cutting down on calories and shrinking your appetitive, your actually just hanging on to your own love handles. Just let them go; feel the freedom. You need food for energy, you need energy to function, workout, and build muscle, you need muscle to loose fat. This takes us to # 4

   4. Not lifting heavy: Remember how when you don’t get enough sleep or pay attention to your nutrition your body is not properly fueled to repair itself and build muscle? Well, it also cannot build muscle if you do not work on your strength… with weights. Yep, lifting heavy is the key to building muscle and turning your body into a fat burning machine. Put the extra weight on your bar and get uncomfortable. Its going to be tough, its going to be hard, and its going to be worth it. Just simply considering the results without the many functional benefits of getting stronger, you will see that you will loose the fat, fit into those skinny jeans, and feel better than ever. 
   5. Not having enough patience: It takes time to make a change and it takes time for your body to adjust to change. Don’t give up! It’s very difficult when you feel like you are working hard and not seeing results right away. Instant gratification is not realistic in this situation. Stay consistent, stay on track, and be patient.  Your hard work will pay off! If you feel like you have had all the patience in the world and are still not seeing any difference, you may have to be honest with your self on how well you are sticking to your plan.

Now is a great time to reflect on what your goals are and what plan you have in place to reach them. Maybe you already have a plan and need to make some adjustments to be sure you are on the right path. Maybe you have been doing the same thing for ages and are still not seeing any results. Or, maybe you are at the beginning of your journey and need some tips on making a solid strategy. Use these tips to adjust your plan, stay focused, and avoid getting stuck into a common mistake. Stay consistent and be patient. Remember all of the trainers at CFM are here to help you reach your goals. If you ever have any questions feel free to ask as well as share what has worked for you.