Trust the process is a key factor with your health & fitness
Results are paramount in my profession and when clients are not seeing the results they’d like, their trainer will sometimes utter the words ‘trust the process.’ But what does trust the process mean?
This phrase’s origin belongs to former NBA 76ers guard Tony Wroten who is now up on charges with 18 other NBA players for a health care scam. I guess he didn’t trust the process enough.
Trust the process is used by Philadelphia 76ers fans and is popular elsewhere in sports and culture. This phrase is used in sports when a team is enduring a stinker of a season and means “things may look bad now, but we have a plan in place to make it better.”
In terms of you and I it means slowing down; not creating an unnecessary sense of urgency and not feeling a need to control every situation. Trusting that things will unfold as needed. (1)
What Does Trust The Process Mean For Your Health & Fitness?
You all want results and to reach your health and fitness goals whatever they may be. But there are only a certain things you have control over like
Your effort
Consistency with your diet
Being consistent with your exercise
Getting enough sleep and recovery
And there are things which you have little control over like
The number on the scale.
Your body fat percentage
Number on inches lost (or gained) around your waist
Life’s obstacles and the stress they put on you
This list could go on, but you get the picture. There are certain things you have control over and things you don’t. But guess which we stress over the most? The things we have no control over. Being a trainer and a lifelong exerciser, I still fall into this trap.
Our bodies are a complicated piece of machinery and even when you’re doing all the right things, the end result is not always what you want.
And if you’re not getting results, you probably blame all the above factors.
Now there are a couple of ways this usually goes. Like quitting, making a complete change of your diet or exercise program or keeping the status quo because you’re doing all the right things.
Now quitting is not going to get you closer to your goals.
Making a complete change is going to take some readjustment and time. Not that this is bad.
Keeping the status quo, making a few adjustments and nailing down the basics is equal to trusting the process. This is where you want to spend the most of your time to support or improve your health & fitness.
Got it?
A Personal Example Of Trust The Process
Deadlifting twice my bodyweight almost took me seven years.
There were multiple injuries, a couple of personal upheavals and moving states involved. Of course, there were times when I thought it would never happen, especially when I couldn’t move without pain.
But I didn’t quit. I trusted my coach to guide me even when it seemed this goal wasn’t in reach. You could say I trusted the process, or I was one silly stubborn son of a bitch. Either way, I had faith it would happen and sometimes faith is all you need.
5 Ways to Trust the Process
It’s easy to say trust the process but how do you do it? How do you put it into action to achieve your health and fitness goals? Here are five factors which will help.
Have Faith
No, not the George Michael song but real faith in your own abilities. Because there will be times when you or others will have doubts. These doubts are fine but use them as fuel for the fire and not a reason to quit.
Only Worry About What You Can Control
Granted this is easier said than done. But when you have worries or doubts ask yourself is this in or out of my control. If it’s out of your control, remind yourself what is in your control. Like your effort and consistency and double down of those .
Measure Progress
You don’t know you’re improving when you don’t keep track. If you can track it or measure it then write it down and check it periodically. Because the mirror and the scale are only part of the story.
Recognize Failure Is Part Of The Process
It’s not going to go all your way. There will be struggles and times when it sucks. Obstacles, whatever form they take will happen so don’t be discouraged. Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and go again. Keeping this mindset helps you trust the process.
See Yourself Succeeding
If you can’t see yourself succeeding then what’s the point of all the blood, sweat and tears? Often, I’d visualize deadlifting twice my bodyweight to keep mentally in the game. I’d picture the setup, admire the weight on the bar and the scream when I pulled it from the floor.
Whatever goal you have, imagine how you would feel the moment you do it. Then remember this feeling when the going gets tough because this keep you going.
Wrapping Up
Trusting the process isn’t easy, especially when things are going against you and your goal seems out of reach. This is when you need to double down on what you can control and have faith
Because you gotta have faith, a faith, a faith ah.
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