You want to lose weight, but you're not shedding a single pound.

You want to get fitter, but you still feel drained.

You want to get stronger, but you keep getting injured.

You had resolved to work out consistently, but you've already quit.

Achieving results at the gym seems straightforward, but is it really?

Not if you ask me.

There are way more people who fail to see results than those who do.

And there's a damn good reason for that.

In this issue, I'll share an observation with you that might explain why gym results are so elusive. If you manage to turn this around, achieving results will naturally follow. Let's dive in.

Is what you want really what you need?

What you want and what you need are usually two completely different things.

Most people who come to me for help want three things:

1. To lose weight.
2. To have more energy.
3. To feel better.

In our first conversation, I always ask, "What do you think is needed to achieve your goals?"

I ask this because I want to know how realistic their thinking is.

Often, reality is far from their expectations. The answer is usually the same:

"I need a training plan and a diet plan."

Then there's an addition:

"I want to work out twice a week, a combination of strength exercises and cardio. Oh yeah, I like circuits, but this exercise I don't want to do. That one I don't like. And that other thing is not for me."

In other words, I'm presented with a wish list.

That's all fine and dandy, but what if what you want isn't actually what you need?

Imagine you go to the doctor with a complaint.

It's standard for the doctor to diagnose you first, then come up with a treatment plan, medication, or therapies.

Instead of listening to the doctor's advice, you come prepared with your own list of meds and treatments you want.

Imagine then ignoring the doctor's recommendations and following your own plan instead.

What do you think the outcome will be?

Exactly — that's what happens at the gym. Let me explain why.

You opinions aren't facts.

Opinions can feel like facts. And yet, they are not.

Your opinion says little about reality and everything about you.

How you view in the world is your perspective.

Seeing the difference between opinions and reality, is a very powerful skill.

— Bart Jessen (@Bart_Jessen) February 26, 2024

The less you know, the more you think you know

The more you learn about a subject, the more you realize how much you don't know.

Conversely, the less you know about something, the more you think you've got it figured out.

This is the core problem in the fitness industry and in conventional gyms.

Here's a fact: You know way less than you think you do.

How can I say that so confidently? Because I know it's true.

Be honest with yourself. What do you really know about physiology, anatomy, biomechanics, training science, rehabilitation, motor learning, nutrition, or psychology?

How many years of experience do you have with physical training? How many books on dietetics have you read cover-to-cover?

How many people have you successfully helped change behaviors, lose weight, rehab injuries, and build real strength?

What you've likely done is:

• Watched some Instagram shorts
• Partially viewed YouTube videos
• Skimmed an article on a website
• Read a Facebook post caption
• Heard something second-hand from a friend

In other words, you've seen, heard and read little bits and pieces here and there.

But can you really put all that into perspective? Do you have the necessary background to distinguish fact from fiction?

Are you truly being objective, or just looking for information that confirms your existing opinions?

How sure are you that you're even performing exercises correctly? Are you certain your diet is serving your goals or not?

Believe me, without professional training, there's far more you don't know than what you do know.

Can you see how this might be a roadblock to your gym results?

The world of easy and fast

If you've made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back.

Most would have tuned out long ago.

We live in a world where adults have the attention span of toddlers.

Everything has to be easy and fast — straight to the point, no depth required.

Nothing should take too much effort, and ideally, we want it all handed to us.

This principle applies to the gym and health/fitness too. This is just how the human mind works.

And companies are more than happy to play into it.

Everywhere you turn, you're tempted by promises of quick weight loss, rapid muscle gain, a pill for this and a powder for that.

The "beauty" is, that's exactly what you want to believe.

I always say: "If you believe it, then it's true to you."

But is it really true?

The only thing standing between you and your goal, is you.

— Bart Jessen (@Bart_Jessen) March 1, 2024

Are you willing to do what it takes?

Here's the crux of the story:

The only way you'll achieve results in the gym is by doing what's necessary.

I know, this sounds too simple, but it's precisely where most people get tripped up.

Do you know why?

Because most people just don't want to put in the hard work required.

I can say with certainty: if someone follows my plan, achieving results is inevitable.

Of course, as a good coach, I'll teach you everything you need to know.

I'll equip you with all the required skills.

I'll help you adjust course when needed.

But as straightforward as that sounds, very few are actually willing to do it.

Instead, they stubbornly keep doing their own thing based on advice from who-knows-where.

Social media becomes their main source of inspiration and plans.

Their consistency is as stable as the weather.

The inevitable result? No results.

Frustrated and angry at the world, they convince themselves "it" just doesn't work for them.

But remember, Methods work, it's the people who don't.

If you want to see results in the gym, do what's necessary.

Follow the guidance of an experienced professional who listens to your story, assesses your situation, maps your start point, and determines what you truly need.

The only remaining piece is your action.

You have to put in the work, plain and simple.

As Nike says: “Just Do It.”