I want to be real clear about this post. This isn’t me bragging or saying how great I am. I write this post as humbly as possible with hopes that you can learn from what it took me years to figure out. Many of my previous posts have alluded to these secrets but now I will explicitly share them with you. You may read them and think that these are not really secret. But the third secret is the one that makes them all possible. So, let’s start with the first secret…
Secret #1: I figured out the exercise I need.
Through years of working out at least three times as week, I figured out how my body likes to be worked. Through consistent visits to the gym, I figured out what it takes to challenge my body just enough to make it stronger and better. I know it takes about a month for a workout routine to be stale and less challenging. I figured out how to add weights to my lifting that tire my muscles just enough each week to make a difference. I figured out that I have to challenge myself with physical challenges regularly to make me uncomfortable. For example, one month I did a 5k run/walk each day of May. And trust me, it was uncomfortable.
The Secret: I figured out what works for me, when I need to change, and how to be uncomfortable.
Secret #2: I figured out the food I need.
Through my 21 plus years of what I call “trying to be fit,” I figured out exactly what foods work for me and how to make sure I stick to those foods. One of the main things I figured out is that Intermittent Fasting works for me. You can read about it here. The 16:8 Method works best for me. It allows me to control my calories, metabolism, and weight. It allows me to spend less time eating and more time doing the things that’ll make me better. You know I’m the 5and2Guy. So guess what I do. I fast and eat the 5and2Guy way.
I know I’m NOT going to eat breakfast, unless I’m out with family or friends or on vacation. I know “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” but this works for me. I also know I will have 2 bananas, 4 scrambled eggs, and some lunch meat for lunch on Monday/Wednesday/Friday. I also know I’m going to have 2 bananas, 1 can of tunafish, and a bowl of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup (Family Style) on Tuesdays/Thursdays. Dinners during the week are a variable, but my wife typically cooks healthy so I’m covered. Snacks will include some kind of mixed nuts, granola, protein bar, or fruit.
On the weekends, I know I need to have a little bit of freedom with food so I eat the not so healthy things like Oodle Noodles and hot dogs. And I will most likely have something with maple syrup on Sundays. I also know that I will limit any unhealthy snacks to the weekends, specifically Sunday. Lately I have been limiting myself to that unhealthy snack once a week on Sundays. So far, it’s working well.
Yeah, I know. This sounds weird, but it works for me and I figured it out. I’m very satisfied with my meals. I look forward to them, and they make me stronger.
The Secret: I figured out the exact foods that help me get stronger and healthier and I stick to them.
Secret #3: Discipline….yes…discipline!!!
None of this would work without discipline. I’ve never considered myself any kind of genius or smart guy. What I’ve figured out is that I’m a hard worker and I’m consistent. I simply play to my strengths. I knew that if I figured out the best ways to exercise and feed my body, then it would simply be a matter of doing that daily. That’s easy for me. I work out when I’m suppose to work out and I eat when and what I’m suppose to eat. This works for me. This is easy to do once you make a commitment to yourself. And I committed to myself that I would be disciplined and do the things I need to do, even when I don’t feel like doing them.
The Secret: I do the things that work for me, consistently, on a daily basis.
The Takeaway
Again, I write this post with all humility and as humbly as possible. It’s taken me many years to figure out what works for me. I guess I’m a slow learner, but I stuck with it. If you can make fitness and diet a study in your life, trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t, you can implement these three secrets and easily maintain your health and fitness.
Now, it took me over 19 years to figure this out. You may be thinking, “I don’t have 19 years to figure it out.” And that can seem like a long time. But what you’re overlooking is the improvements in fitness I’ve experienced, and that you can experience too along the way. Like I said, fitness and health is a marathon, not a sprint. Being fit and healthy is a lifelong process. I’ve told you my secrets. Now use them to make a difference in your life!!!
[…] week I wrote about The Three Secrets of How I Stay Fit And Healthy . This post covered what I’ve learned and practice to help me reach my best fitness state […]