Success and sacrifice go hand in hand.
I graduated from West Chester University in 2006. My fellow Fit Team Originator, Jazmane Jenkins, and I always discussed our path to success. We would always talk about how we were going to maximize our fitness, our careers, and our lives. One phrase Jazz always repeated to me was “E, we are going to have to give up to go up.”
This statement is profound and true; to get something, you have to be willing to give something up.
Some folks are hurting themselves. They won’t sacrifice to build their dream body or be better athletes. But making those sacrifices is the only way to meet those goals.
1) Sacrifice Who You Are Today To Attain Success In The Future
Ursula Unfit is completely out of shape. She has not worked out or had nutritious food in a long time.
She has the mental toughness of extra-soft toilet tissue. Her sleep habits are like a party-hopping college student’s. But in her mind, she wants to become leaner, stronger, and mentally tougher. To achieve this, she must destroy her current self. Only then can she become what she wants.
I had some success as an athlete from 2015 to 2020. I held a national ranking as a master’s sprinter. And I attained much more success in 2022 when I earned my pro card in natural bodybuilding. But that only happened after I sacrificed who I was at that time to become who I wanted to be. I had to sacrifice the way I used to train, eat, and think.
This process is very similar to a caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly. The caterpillar has to sacrifice who it was for what it wants to become. It is definitely not easy, but you have to give up to go up.
To build your dream body, stop making lame excuses. Quit skipping workouts, eating badly, and not getting enough sleep. When your excuses are as high as Mount Everest, you can’t overcome them.
2) Be Committed To The Process
Becoming a healthier, better you takes time and effort.
When you sacrifice who you are for whom you want to become, it can be very difficult. Old mindsets that you have had for a long time will not go away overnight. There were times earlier in my own process when I was stuck in a certain mindset that had me going nowhere fast.
When I began my gym business in 2010, I had no idea what I was doing. For the first 4 years in “business,” my account had no income. I did not know anything about marketing or how to acquire clients. I thought that if I stayed the same, I could succeed through willpower. But I was wrong.
Even the mentally tough may doubt their success in tough times. But I am glad I stayed committed through the difficult times. Had I run away from my passion, my life would not be fulfilling.
If you want to improve your physique, you must stay committed to the process. It is hard to change your body and mind, but if you want to do it, you can. If you commit to the process, then you must accept that some rain accompanies the sunny days.
Conclusion
You have to make a sacrifice today so that you can have the success you want in the future.
I’ll holla at you next time.
The People’s Trainer,
Fitman