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Patience, Patience, Patience
Blog | November 23, 2014
“You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.” – Anne Lamott
When we talk about fitness and wellbeing, it’s not just about breaking a sweat, looking good and eating your vegetables. Okay, well it is to some extent, but really fitness and wellbeing are about redirecting the course of your life toward a healthier, infinitely more satisfying sense of who you are. This, of course, is no easy task. It not only requires diligence and hard work, it requires patience.
Patience is, of course, a term that we’ve all heard half a million times. In practice though it’s a trait that most of us find incredibly difficult to follow unless you happen to be the Dalai Lama in which case there’s no need to read any further.
Much of the dysfunction that occurs in the world of fitness – fad diets, steroids, diet pills, even some eating disorders – can be attributed to an utter lack of patience. We want a quick fix to problems or dilemmas that have been built up over months if not years. This requires us to take a steady, long-term approach in equal, if not greater, measure. As farmers are always quick to point out, you simply can’t rush the harvest. You can only work hard and wait.
Often the notion of patience seems like a boring, yawn-inducing chore. We want what we want and we want it now and there’s no point twiddling our proverbial thumbs right? What we’re forgetting is that patience can be one of our greatest strengths. And we’re in the business of building strength – body, mind, even soul.
“The strongest of all warriors are these two: Time and Patience.” – Leo Tolstoy
It is patience that allows us to steadily build our strength and stamina, to shed unwanted pounds in healthy manner and to endure, even thrive during our hardest days or weeks of workouts. It is patience that gets us through our most difficult times in life and nurtures unforeseen strength and growth that may never occurred had we settled for a shortcut.
Have you been feeling impatient lately with your diet and fitness goals or even with life in general? Share them with me. We’re all in this together.
P.S. I’d like to thank each and everyone one of you for being so wonderfully patient with the transition to the new, improved site!
Private Member |
I think if the goal is to loose weight then it is normal that people get frustrated because they do not workout or live a healthy lifestyle because they want their lifestyle to be that one, but they actually do not enjoy that yet want to see less pounds on the scale.
So maybe the trick is to concentrate on being the better version of yourself to feel really good and let go everything else. Then, there is no need to be inpatient because one will already be reaching his/her goal every single day.
Private Member |
That is such a great way to look at situations 🙂
Private Member |
la valette-du-var, france
Exactly 😀
Private Member |
I fight a lot with my patience over achieving fitness goals. My diet is my weakest spot, so even though I work out regularly and consistently, I ruin the progress with my diet…and I know it while it’s happening! I think in a situation like this, you have to get to the point where you are annoyed with yourself and are ready to change your habits. That moment came for me in the dressing room when trying on tight pants and I had this rather impressive muffin top that I am not used to having! And nearly having to go a full size up. That was the push I needed to stop with all the pre-Christmas sweets and cakes of late. And of course now I want to see results *immediately*. It is good to be reminded to be patient and consistent with the way your body works, because that’s what I’m doing all this for – a happy and healthy body!
Private Member |
naples, fl, usa
I am at the point of my transformation that it feels like any deviation creates a regression. It has been frustrating me immensely. I am fitter than I have ever been (thank you for that Zuzka) I am struggling with dropping below 18% bf. I am hungry all the time. I know this is not the time to keep dropping the ball (so to speak). It is hard for me to get my intake to match my training. Any advice for me (please and thank you) xoxo Dibsie
Private Member |
Oh, absolutely. This is my problem as well. I do find it hard to eat in accordance with my training. I could definitely use some advice with how to naturally eat right without making it an obsession.
Private Member |
uk
Maybe your body doesn’t want to go below 18% BF? If you are hungry all the time clearly your body is telling you it needs more food? Realistically are you willing to struggle and go hungry for the rest of your life? Sometimes we get carried away and take the fitness goal too far. Might be good idea to take a break and be less strict with yourself:)
Private Member |
los angeles, ca, usa
I was like too before but I am more into fitness and I love the pain from doing workouts. Just like today, After being crazy for my power walk to the gym then jumped in to Zumba class and I modified my moves into a harder one then did 2 routines from Zuzka. When I get home, I feel hungry so I ate a little but I can’t get satisfied. I ate again until I feel I’m enough. You know, our body has it’s own mind. It will tells us what it needs, we just need to listen. You could also compare our body like a car, vehicle. The car won’t go without a fuel, right? Just like our body, if we feel hungry, we gotta eat….but it’s all depends of what you are eating…
Private Member |
I find it the hardest when U have lost all the weight once and was the fittest You’ve ever been in your life & then gain it all back. Which means starting all over again. Even though I gained all the weight back I still kept consistent with my work outs. It was my diet that I kept ruining. I want 2 B fit & happy. I’ll always keep trying 2 achieve it. In my mind it’s worth it. It’s just really damaging 4 my self esteem 2 try so many times & fail 2 maintain it… Thx Zuzka 4 all ur hard work & keeping us going!
Private Member |
usa
Thank you for this reminder about patience. I feel like this is especially relevant around the holidays since stress levels can run so high at this time of year. Great insights, as always!
Private Member |
Great post and words Zuzka,
I was just having this conversation yesterday about my lack of patience at times. Particularly in regard to my vision of healthy eating and exercise. We want it all, yesterday..which doesnt really serve for peace in the present moment. At times I can get caught up in what I think health and vitality looks like and forget about the progress Im making already. Thank you for the reminder. Awesome work on the new site, it feels authentic and from the heart. Consistent content but importantly full of substance, you’re inspirational and your message helps uplift so many x
Private Member |
toronto, on
You’re welcome, and thank YOU! 🙂 I had no thoughts towards the idea that you had any part in the mess that culminated, especially towards the end with the old site. So glad, grateful, ecstatic, happy, weeee!!!, to have you, just “you” after all of these years of your hard work and commitment. Love ya 🙂
Private Member |
Yes I must admit I also have been impatient lately re my fitness goals because I felt like what I was doing everyday to be stronger, leaner and in shape, wasn’t worth it.. This because I can’t get rid of my little hip fat, because I don’t see my tights becoming thiner, because I still not see my ABS even by doing hundred of them every week… I know this is stupid cause I am also totally aware about my progress since I started following Bodyrock in 2011, then you, as from beginning of 2012… I must also remember I am 40 and body changes are slower. I also never been an athlete or a real sport addict but more a couch potatoe, so I must respect my body and accept that changes can take some time… But time to time I feel really impatient and bored.
Private Member |
Great article Zuzka! Patience, patience, patience…this is one of the words that I learned from my mother. It’s so important to have patience in everything you do! That’s the secret to succeed, I believe!
Private Member |
I struggle with patience.. and I LOVED your article Zuzka!!! I also loved the quote “The strongest of all warriors are these two: Time and Patience.” – Leo Tolstoy – i SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO need to remind this to myself. One step at a time, one day at a time. One meal, one workout.. not looking back; just looking forward….
Thank you for such a beautiful and inspiring post xx