How Big Is Your BUT?

There’s one thing everyone at the gym has in common, no matter what your story and background look like: You (and everyone else) arrived here looking for some help.

That might be fitness help, which is why most people initially walk through the door. Maybe it’s guidance with nutrition or mobility. Or perhaps you need accountability (helping to keep you on track).

No matter what form of help you need, there’s just one indicator of whether or not you’ll be successful: The size of your but.

Say what?

No, not your butt. Although we also help with that. I’m talking about your BUT.

I’ve coached hundreds of people over the years and truly, your but is your limiting factor.

Here’s how that works:

Sally comes into the gym looking for help. She’s out of shape and wants a plan to lose weight, get strong and get back to feeling like herself again. She’s adamant that she’s tried everything and desperate for any suggestions I can give her.

I might recommend that she starts with three classes a week, and the goal is just to get the heart pumping and the body moving.

“BUT… my schedule is really crazy. I’m not sure if I can do that.”

Since her afternoon schedule is, in fact, pretty hectic, I suggest that she takes the 5:30am class.

“BUT… I don’t want to get up that early.”

So I switch the focus to nutrition, and recommend aiming to eat more whole foods and less fast food.

“BUT… I don’t have time to cook and healthy food is so much more expensive.”

So I try a different idea: Let’s try to get seven hours of sleep tonight and drink 64 ounces of water.

“BUT… I hate water. Can I get my hydration from coffee and my Diet Coke?”

Oh… my… God, Sally. Look at your but. It is SO BIG.

The Problem With Big Buts.

Your but is truly the one thing standing between you and what you want to achieve. Sometimes people set goals and then create a nice little box of parameters on those goals. For instance, “I want to lose weight BUT only if it doesn’t get in the way of ___.” Or, “I’ll try to eat healthier BUT only if I don’t have to give up ___.”

Unfortunately, this makes it really hard for me - and your team of coaches - to actually help you.

The help we’re trying to give is proven to work. Whether it’s fitness, nutrition, stress or otherwise, we’re using science and evidence to provide you a roadmap to success.

And “I don’t want to” is an interesting tactic to refute the science.

BUT… I’m Different.

In full transparency, I’ll share something I struggle with a lot. I tend to be the “good cop” when it comes to coaching. I believe in you and I can’t wait to see you succeed. Even if you miss the mark a few times, I’m not giving up on you. So in that sense, I believe you’re special.

On the opposite end of that, when it comes to the science behind fitness and nutrition, none of us is special. That is, none of us are immune to needing movement and balanced nutrition in our lives. Yes, our bodies are different. For example, different bodies react differently to certain foods like gluten. I’m not saying that keto or carnivore are right or wrong for anyone.

What I can guarantee is that, in all the 7.8 billion people in the world, you don’t happen to be the one exception where fitness and nutrition just don’t work for you.

Here’s the harsh truth: There are people much busier than you who find the time to work out. There are people with crazy food allergies that find a way to eat a healthy diet. There are people with much less athletic ability than you who don’t let mental barriers stand in the way of blowing their own damn minds with what they’re capable of.

It’s Time To Bust Your But.

So how do you break through those barriers? It’s time to take good, hard look at your but. Or your list of buts. This doesn’t have to be limited to health.

Start by making a list of goals. If that seems overwhelming, pick your top three.

At the end of each one, attach your but. Sometimes the harder questions to ask is, “What’s my excuse?”

For example: “I want to get in better shape BUT it seems too hard and I have no idea what to do.”

You have to be 100% willing to be honest and vulnerable with your buts. That’s how we start zeroing in on the real hurdles keeping you from your goals and how to overcome them. Ask yourself why it seems too hard and write down ways you can work around that. Ask yourself who you can ask for help since you have no idea what to do.

Need help? I got you. Email me at monica@twrfit.com and let’s start working on your but.