When you first start going to the gym, there’s one thing that many experienced lifters may not tell you; you’re progress is going to be slow. Really slow.
Initially, your progress will be the quickest it’ll ever be. It’ll only slow down from there.
But that’s all in the beauty of lifting. There’s not just a physical part of making yourself show up everyday, there’s a mental part too.
Let’s get into how you can become more patient waiting to see progress in the gym:
1. Remember why you started
Remember why you got into the gym in the first place. You most likely started off knowing the gym wasn’t going to be an overnight fix. You knew it’d take time and be a commitment.
So remember why you started in the first place. What changes did you realize you needed to make in yourself? Why did you originally commit to going to the gym?
Use this to motivate you when you’re seeing no progress. Use it to teach you how to be patient.
2. Fall in love with the process
I’m going to give you the hard truth here: If you’re only going to the gym for the results, you’ll most likely end up quitting.
That’s because results take a long time.
Anyone you see who’s actually made progress in the gym isn’t there because they love the progress.
I’ll admit the progress is nice and it keeps me motivated especially if I’m in a gym rut. I love the progress, I mean who doesn’t?
But what I love more than the progress, is the process. I love going to the gym everyday. I love staying committed to something. I love having an outlet and a way to take care of my body that I enjoy.
There’s so much more to come out of the gym than just the changes you see in your body. You have to be able to learn to fall in love with that.
That’s what makes time fly and makes progress seem like it comes quicker.
3. Take progress pictures
For some reason, it’s often times that our eyes can’t see the progress we’ve made and yet our phones can.
I think this is probably because we see ourselves everyday so we don’t get to notice the big jump of progress we may have made. Since we’ve seen small changes everyday, without really noticing any of it.
Additionally, it’s also extremely helpful when you can compare pictures side by side. That’s when you can really start noticing progress and changes in yourself that you’ve never noticed before.
Some of my tips for taking progress pictures are
1.Wear the same outfit every time
Having a different outfit on can change the way your body looks and distort your perception of your progress.
2. Take pictures in the same lighting
Again, lighting can make a huge different on the way your body looks so try to keep the lighting constant.
3. Take the pictures at the same time of day
If I’m going to be taking progress pictures, I prefer to take them first thing in the morning.
Anything like food, water, and exercise can all change the way your body looks. That’s why I like to take my pictures first thing in the morning, when my stomach is empty and my body is rested.
4. Learn to master your mind
Yes, I love going to the gym. But don’t get me wrong, I’d say I don’t feel like going to the gym more days than I feel like going. And yet, I still go everyday.
That’s because I’ve learned how to master my mind. I know that if I skip the days when I don’t feel like going, then I’m never going to go.
Especially when you feel like your progress is coming slow, slower than everyone else’s, is when it’s hardest to get yourself going. There’s nothing to motivate you.
You feel like after hours and hours spent in the gym, you’ve still made no progress. So yes of course at this time it’d make sense to rather want to skip the gym.
But, it’s not what you’d rather do, it’s what you have to do. If you want to see the progress, you’ll actually have to show up.
This is the biggest part of seeing progress. You have to be patient with it and show up.
Master your patience. If you don’t see progress now, you never will if you quick.
You have to be ready to show up again and again and again while thinking you’re making no progress. But just know in the back of your mind, it’s these times when you’re making the most progress.