Four things you trained your body to do may be hurting your chances of success

The human body is an amazing computer that will adapt to almost any behavior, so just because you’re getting away with what you’re currently doing, that doesn’t mean it's right for you. In fact, I constantly make the argument the American lifestyle has trained people to do things that make getting in shape less likely. Below are some things that may have become habits that are hurting your chances of reaching your potential. Try doing them correctly, and you will be surprised at the results.

Not hydrating properly

Water is the most essential ingredient for life, and your body needs to be properly hydrated, or you will not function at optimal level. Failure to drink enough water will affect your mental focus, strength, and performance, and will make losing fat and getting in shape a monumental task. It’s very easy to get used to drinking small amounts of water without noticing the negative consequences, but it could be the reason why you just can’t seem to get the results you’re looking for. A good rule of thumb is to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, and you will stay hydrated and lose weight. Start early, drink throughout the day, and track what you’re consuming to be sure you are hitting the recommended amount.

Not eating enough

Whenever I hear people say they don’t eat much because they’re not hungry, my standard response is, “You’re not hungry because you trained your body not to eat.” The body will do its best to adapt when food is scarce and will send the signal to conserve calories, and the metabolism will slow to a snail’s pace. Sadly, this has become the American way, and people find it inconvenient to take the time to eat and fuel their bodies properly. Trust me, smaller, more frequent meals spread every three hours will stimulate your appetite and start your metabolic engine cranking like an old Mustang with a four-barrel.

Slow steady-state cardio

You may think you’re in great shape because you can do long, frequent cardio sessions that burn lots of calories, but if you’re not constantly changing it up and increasing the intensity, chances are you’re in a rut. So get off that hamster wheel and add a little excitement to your workout. The body responds best to shorter, more intense sessions that keep you out of your comfort zone and force it to adapt to the workload, so replacing longer, less intense sessions with interval training can be a great way to boost results. Interval trainings mean varying the intensity from challenging to much harder, and this will work your heart rate through a fuller range, keeping your body off balance and preventing you from getting comfortable with your routine.

Fail to plan

As the old saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” and nothing could be truer when it comes to eating healthy meals. If you think you’re going to go to work, order out for lunch and eat healthy food, you’re kidding yourself. The fact of the matter is, eating healthy takes research and preparation, and most restaurants don’t offer the type of food you need to get the job done. Yes, it will take some effort, and making food ahead of time will be a little inconvenient, but the results are well worth the trouble. After a while, eating healthy becomes a lifestyle, and preparing meals will be second nature, but it won’t happen by accident; you’ll certainly have to plan ahead.

So if you trained yourself to do some of the things above that make losing weight and getting in shape less likely, try a different approach and get the results you deserve.