By Dirk Smith
The
internet, oh the internet… Is full of fitspiration memes with
motivational quotes pasted on a picture of someone showing off their ass
or cleavage. Between all that cleavage is no shortage of fitness and
nutrition advice on how to have a body just like that. From so called
“health tonics” (lemon water anyone?) to everybody’s special “Butt
Blaster” fitness challenges and the like. With all this information out
there, there is no shortage of resources and places to help you find
programs and advice to help you work toward achieving your fitness
goals.
Most of it is
bullshit however. While it doesn’t hurt to try new things and everybody
is unique in the way that there is no “one solution” toward achieving
anything, what works for someone else won’t necessarily work for you and
vice versa. Unfortunately my computer doesn’t have nearly enough memory
to cover all the bullshit so we’re going to narrow the focus on a topic
I have had many discussions about.
What
percentage of your effort should be devoted to diet versus exercise
when it comes to “slimming down” or getting those abs we all seek to do
our laundry on. I’ve seen many memes and “fitspiration” posts that’ll
say “70% Diet, 30% gym” or perhaps “Abs are made in the kitchen” or some
variation of that. (I mean I have looked all over my kitchen and I have
not found any trolls producing sexy ab muscles.)
As
much as I am an advocate for fitness purely for aesthetics (I am not), I
can tell you that there is no magic number of how much time and energy
should be devoted to eating healthy and exercising in order to achieve
your ideal physique. Like I said, every individual is unique in the way
that what works for me isn’t necessarily going to work for you.
But did you go through all that effort to click the link and read this far just to hear that? No.
No
matter what your pursuit in fitness, aesthetics, work, relationships,
life or whatever else. The one constant that we can all universally
control within ourselves is our effort. “80% Diet, 20% Gym” or whatever
the numbers you might see are bullshit. It is 100% Diet, 100% Gym. As in
you put your absolute 100% best effort in your eating habits and
training routine. Just like you would put 100% of your best effort in
all aspects of your life.
True
champions approach every opportunity and tackle every challenge at
their personal best. Your best effort should be applied in all aspects
of your life, and especially in the things that you pursue. Anything
that suggests anything less than your best is simply not worth your
time.
