by Kyle Battis CSCS, ATC, NSCA-CPT
“The Only Time You Grow Is When You Get Outside Your Comfort Zone!”
-T- Harv Ecker
If you are serious about making progress towards your fitness goals then you need to get uncomfortable. “What are you talking about Kyle,” you ask? Just stay with me and I will tell you why Discomfort really is the real key to achieving the goals you have set for yourself.
So what is discomfort? I’ll start off by defining discomfort and I will then use that definition to show you how it can help you achieve a leaner physique, improved athletic performance, or anything else in life that you desire for that matter.
Chambers Dictionary defines Discomfort as “Lack of comfort or uneasiness.” If you think about it, comfort is why you are where you are right now. Chances are you have become comfortable with a certain amount of exercise, a certain style of eating, a certain approach to your training, and a certain type of lifestyle. Dr. Phil has a saying that goes, “How’s that working for you?” If you really want to achieve better results than what you are currently getting then you need to do some things that feel uncomfortable to you.
You’ll need to step outside of your current comfort zone in order to grow. You might need to find a coach and learn how to train in a manner that will actually bring you to where you want to go. You might need to increase the intensity of your weight training sessions so as to achieve the necessary stimulus that will lead to physique improvements. You might have to adopt a new style of training that you are unaccustomed to. You might have to make some food choices that you are not used to making and not comfortable making. You might have to sacrifice staying up late and partying every weekend in order to reach your goals. You might have to do something different!
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Those people that get great results in any endeavor in life make sacrifices. Athletes that excel on the field of play make sacrifices. These achievers learn to become comfortable with discomfort. Like the Marines, they learn to become comfortable in “the fog of war.”
These people realize that in order to achieve the greatness they have their hearts set on that they will need to make changes in their lives. They might not be entirely comfortable with these changes but seeking this discomfort is 100% necessary if they are to achieve the success they desire.
So let me ask you, “Have you been too comfortable in your training lately? How about with your nutrition?” If you answered yes that is OK. But if you really want to see results something has to give. You must venture outside of your self-determined limits, outside of your comfort zone if you want to grow. Learn to embrace chaos and seek discomfort in order to grow as a person. Stay focused on your goals and become comfortable with discomfort and you will achieve the goals you have set for yourself.
Be honest with yourself. Are you 100% committed to achieving the goals that you have set for yourself. If you answered that question with a resounding YES then you should have no problem stepping out of the comfort zone and trying new things. However, if you are only 70% committed to achieving your goals then you will probably put forth an effort that is similar to your level of commitment. It is those instances where your commitment level is at 100% and you are completely willing to step out of your current comfort zone that magic happens and phenomenal results are achieved so I challenge you to find something that you are 100% committed to, step out of your comfort zone, and make it happen!
Train with purpose,
Kyle Battis
Kyle Battis owns and operates Professional Fitness Coaching based out of Concord, NH. Kyle specializes in body transformation programs, athletic performance enhancement programs, and home gym training. If you want a collection of ideas to add some variety to your training please visit www.homegymsecrets.com. You’ll have access to some amazing audio interviews Kyle has done with top-fitness professionals and you will receive a Free Special Report, “The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Building There Home Gyms,” just for visiting.
