Motivation is probably the biggest hurdle to jump when dieting. Week 1 is easy and week 2 is ok. Week 3 the cravings are in full effect and on Week 4, it ends in a gluttonous fest of all of your favorite foods that you've been denying yourself. That's probably the biggest reasons diets fail, and why I'm not a fan of them. I'd rather eat what I wanted - the trick is to learn to want the right foods.
So what does this have to do with running shoes?
A recent study followed dieters on their routines for up to two months, and while the report came out with lots of wins and fails, what really piqued my interest was the fact that a large number of people started their diet by being fitted for and purchasing new running or workout shoes. Something like 80% of them did that!
I know you're thinking 'Why does Jason care about shoe buying?' Heck, I could probably make a lot of money with this website by selling you what I thought were the top picks in new shoes. But here's the reason I don't, and the reason I'm sending you this story:
Out of those people who bought their new shoes, roughly HALF never used them. Apparently the act of buying the shoes made the dieters feel accomplished, like they had already done something - when they had really done nothing towards their weight loss and fitness goals except to spend $99.
This was shocking to me because I realized I'd fallen victim to that sort of thing myself. Not with starting a new running program or a diet, but with starting my business! I spent weeks sitting around talking to friends and colleagues about this great business I wanted to start but never got around to. This report on running shoes showed me that talking about the business was actually doing more harm than good. I felt accomplished by their praise and support, so never got around to doing it.
Don't let this happen to you. While it essential to have the love and support of those around us (and in the case of shoe buying, from ourselves), remember that at the end of the day, no steps have been taken towards your goal.
In short, get to more doing and less talking.
Not quite a fitness hack, but more like a psychological hack. I had to share this with you because once I noticed I'd fallen victim to it, I realized that we all do, probably more often that you think. So be on your guard during your fitness journey.
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