How many people are still on track with their body transformation goals? Well the very fact that you may have made a body transformation goal on January first speaks volumes about your mindset and your mindset is one of the top two predictors of your success in any endeavour. In a small but very inspiring book called Mastery, George Leonard outlined 3 personality types The Dabbler, the Hacker and the Master. Mr. Leonard’s overall conclusion in this book was those who are on the path of Mastery are the only ones destined for success. In today’s blog I wish to apply the idea of these personality types to the quest for a lean and healthy body. Can you identify what type of personality you are? Remember awareness is the first step. If you become aware that your behaviours are not conducive to long term results then maybe you too will make that all important decision to commit to the path of mastery.

So let’s start with the Dabbler. He or she kinda, sorta thinks they would like to shape up a bit. They use phrases like “Oh I don’t really want to loose weight, I just want to tone up a bit!” and my personal favourites “I don’t want to loose my “curves” (ladies) ” I don’t want to get too big” (guys or girls)!  The dabbler is well versed in every trendy diet going. They have tried the GI diet, the Mediterranean diet, the low fat diet and what ever diet is recently in vogue among the Hollywood stars. With exercise it’s the same. They always know what is recently “fashionable” in the fitness world. They will be the first ones to sign up to a Zumba class and when body pump was in vogue they tried it before telling all of their friends to join in. They tried vibration training, Pilates and kettle bells for maybe one or two month’s tops. The Dabbler is still out of shape. The Dabbler is always complaining that no matter what he or she does nothing seems to shift the weight, the thunder thighs , the belly …whatever…The dabbler is on a constant search for the exercise class , training method or diet that will finally work.

The Hacker has a slightly different but equally dysfunctional approach. This person may be motivated by some special occasion like New Year, going on a sun holiday, getting married or a birthday approaching ending in a zero. The hacker does not plan or consult any external source for advice. They typically say “I know what works for me”. They restrict calories drastically or adopt an extreme method like going vegan. All the bad vices food wise are totally banned. Then an extreme training method is adopted. Maybe they sign up for a triathlon or go to the gym 7 days a week for 2 hours at a time. They hack and hack and hack away and maybe drop a lot of weight. Their clothes are falling off them, their faces look drawn and dark circles appear under their eyes. Then something happens to stop the hacker in their tracks. D day arrives, the wedding, the holiday the birthday. Suddenly they are not motivated anymore and the exercise stops and they are back eating “normally”. Or they get injured and can’t train or they just get so exhausted and depleted that they say “screw it”. Now they gain all of the weight back plus ten lbs more.

What the Dabbler and the Hacker do not realise is that they are asleep on their quest. The first step is to wake up. The only path to attain results that last is the path of wakefulness – the path of mastery. Maybe that’s why they call it the quest for the “dream body”. For many people it will remain a dream, a pipe dream! The path of wakefulness is the path of Mastery. When you have your eyes and ears wide open you are awake, you are ready for the truth, you can handle the truth. When you are asleep you are in denial, you surround yourself with people who support your denial. The owner of the sun tanning salon who just bought a new vibration plate and can’t tell the difference between a pectoralis and a periformis will support your delusion. He or she will take your money and point you to a corner and tell you to follow the pictures on the chart. The celebrity endorsing the latest bullshit device like the shake weight will support your delusion. Why wouldn’t they! They are making big bucks off the back of your deluded state of slumber!

Those on the path of Mastery realise the following:

1. If I just landed a job as the office gofer fetching coffee I will not make CEO of the company in 6 weeks. i.e. You will not be CEO of your own body in 6 weeks.

2. If you want to become top of your field it’s probably not a good move to change careers every couple of months. Ditto your exercise choice or nutrition plan.

3. If you want to have a happy and healthy relationship with your partner being nice and kind to them for a few months won’t be enough. Saying gee honey don’t you remember when I was good to you back in 1987 for a whole 12 weeks probably wont fly? How your body looks depends on your daily relationship with your body.

4. The typical Olympic Athlete takes at least ten years to master their sport and they get expert coaching in spite of being genetically gifted at their sport. It will take you years to master what works for your unique genetics and getting help or mentoring is the smart choice.

5. Temporary efforts give temporary results.

So if you wish to drop the dabbling and hacking and get on the path of Mastery, the only path for long-term permanent changes then get in touch today for Personalised Nutrition and Training.

Photo credit: Ron Sartini from Unsplash