These 5 (False) Beliefs Can Keep You From the Body You Really Want

Here’s a shocking statistic for you…

79% of Americans report feeling unhappy with how their body looks. 

And here’s a few more that might hit a little closer to home if you’re a first responder…

• More than 70% of firefighters are overweight or obese (CDC.gov). 
• Another study revealed that more than 75% of emergency responder candidates for fire and ambulance in Massachusettes were overweight or obese (The Harvard Gazette)
• 8 out of 10 Police Officers are overweight (FBI)

In fact, a law enforcement officer is 25 times more likely to die from weight related cardiovascular disease than the actions of a criminal. 

Now, let us be clear…

We’re not here to shame anyone. The fact is two of the leading causes of weight gain are  stress and lack of  sleep. So if anyone has an excuse for being overweight, it’s the first responder community. 

But as a Thinline Hero, you’re probably not into excuses. With that said, you might have a few underlying beliefs that are keeping you from having the body you really want. 

We say that because we’ve ALL got beliefs and habits that dictate our behavior. Unfortunately, many of these beliefs can keep us from the very things we really want. This seems to be especially true when it comes to diet and exercise. 

We say we want to drop some weight or exercise more often or eat better but we have these underlying beliefs that either sabotage us or prevent us from even getting started. 

Here are 5 common beliefs that hold many people back from getting the results they really want and the simple solutions that will get you moving…

1. "I must have everything before I get started." You know the routine; you think you have to get new tennis shoes, join a gym, buy new workout clothes, find the perfect diet, and more. 

Realize that you don't need anything fancy to get started. You know what food is healthy and what isn't. Go for a walk.

2. "I'm too out of shape to exercise." Lots of heavier people believe this one. But just like you’re never too dirty for a shower, you’re never too out of shape to exercise either. 

The truth is that exercise is relative. For some people, exercising means running 10 miles. For others, it might mean walking to the mailbox and back. The key is to stress your body slightly and then let it recover. The amount of work it takes to achieve that is secondary.

3. "I don't have time to cook." There are plenty of things that are healthy to cook that take almost zero attention. Scrambling 4-5 eggs takes almost no time. Certainly less than an Uber Eats order or a trip to the drive through. You can also find hundreds of easy meal prep ideas. Do this ahead of time and then just reheat for mealtime.

4. "I don't know how to get started." This just isn’t true. Sure you can get caught up in all the things you COULD do. But really it boils down to two things:

Clean up your diet a little bit and move around a little bit more than you have been. 

Once you make an improvement in your habits, your body will respond. Then you need to change a little more. It's not necessary to have a complicated routine.

5. "It's too complicated." This belief comes from the  nutrition and fitness industry. If they kept everything simple, what would they have to sell and talk about? Diet and exercise are both actually very simple unless you're trying to make the Olympic team. Don't be fooled into thinking that your knowledge is insufficient.

Here’s the bottom line for getting the body you really want…

You need to examine your own beliefs. 

What’s really stopping you from taking better care of yourself?
Is your belief reasonable, or is it just an excuse to maintain your current behavior?

If you can change your beliefs, you can change your behavior and enjoy better results.

Start eating a little bit better and exercising a little bit more today, and sooner than you think, you'll have the body you've been wanting.

And if you need help to get going on your next workout or help with recovery,  check out our line of workout and recovery products.

Sources used in writing this article:

https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/most-americans-experience-feeling-dissatisfied-with-body-looks-from-time-to-time

https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/14_0091.htm#:~:text=More%20than%2070%25%20of%20US,and%20cardiovascular%20disease%20(6).

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2009/03/researchers-find-majority-of-fire-and-ambulance-recruits-overweight-or-obese/

https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/fbi-80-percent-of-police-officers-are-overweight/