Pay Attention...

So this post is meant to be constructive, not sarcastic.  Think open minded here.   I'm not trying to talk AT anyone specific, but more towards everyone, eyes and ears please...

I'm about to solve a ton of fitness and nutrition problems/frustrations here with one piece of advice.

Want to see results???

PAY ATTENTION

That's it, that is all you have to do.  PAY ATTENTION.

You really can not solve any problems until you've identified what the real issue is...so PAY ATTENTION.

Let's say your goal is weight loss...
               How many calories a day do you eat?  What times of the day do you eat? are you stressed?  how often do you workout?  what exercises do you do?  how long do you workout for?  how intense are your workouts?  what kinds of foods are you eating?  What are you drinking?  How frequently do you consume alcohol?  How long have you been trying to lose weight?  Have you always struggled with weight gain/loss?  have you had success in the past with losing weight?  How much do you sleep?  How are your energy levels? 

Every single question from above can be spun into an hour conversation with more back and forth and poking and prodding to try and find answers...

but do you really not know how to lose weight?  seriously?  no, seriously?  If you can answer those questions you can lose weight, you just have to PAY ATTENTION.

but,

The real question isn't how to lose weight at all... the real question is how do you adapt a lifestyle that allows you to achieve weight loss that you can mindfully stay consistent to.  NOW the details matter. NOW we've identified the real issue.  NOW we can attack the underlying motivation.  Athletes have an ideal body composition that gives them a competitive edge.  Brides have an image of how they want to look on the wedding day of their dreams.  Grandparents want to keep up with their grandchildren.  

Results are not just some physical thing you attain by eating less, or working out more.  Yes, there is a science behind it but in all honesty it is not complicated.

What is complicated is the art of PAYING ATTENTION.  Attaching the psychological part to the equation.  Prioritizing your life so that what matters most can be achieved.  For parents that might mean finding the work/parenting/self time balance...because if you say your kids are your priority, you are doing them a disservice by not providing the best form of you.  PAY ATTENTION...the life balance is not simple...its really complicated.  Seriously.   No, seriously.  Balancing everything is not simple.   Life, health, fitness, love, finances, everything is seriously complicated, PAY ATTENTION.  That is the only way to start simplifying the equation.

I went to make a cup of tea for myself last night and on the box was a great quote, "There is no greatness where there is not simplicity." Leo Tolstoy

I love this quote, and it really is a great piece of advice.  When things get complicated we just need to simplify.  Life gets hectic, simplify.  Sometimes the only thing we need to be successful is to PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS.   

a less endearing quote "keep it simple, stupid." Neil Bendixen
still gets the point across. 

Pay attention, simplify all the details...results will follow