Impatience Is Shortchanging You

The Wrong Turn Analogy

Have you ever been on your way home from work and decided to take another route because of a minor inconvenience? Maybe the light at your usual turn was red, but instead of waiting through a few cycles of light changes in that long line of cars, you think to yourself, “I’ll save a little time and take another route today!” Then you end up hitting every remaining red light, AND you come across an accident. Just like that, it’s taken you twice as long as it should have. The reality is that if you had made your usual turn, it would have only taken an extra 30 seconds.

The Fitness Journey Reality Check

Too many times, I have watched this exact scenario play out in others’ fitness journeys—the seemingly impossible decision between having abs or having round glutes. The truth is, you CAN have both, but it’s going to take a long time to get there unless you’re some kind of genetic freak. 

Sorry to break it to you, but that popular influencer you idolize is the exception… not the rule. It’s probably going to take several phases of strength building and then cutting before you can achieve that look. But that’s okay! The important thing is to stay resilient in your current stage. You have to be in it for the long game; otherwise, you are bound to be stuck in a vicious cycle.

The Bulk and Bail

Let’s say your goal this year is training for strength and size. You are in the gym one day when suddenly the Pilates princess walks by, and you can’t help but notice how she’s probably never had trouble fitting into a pair of jeans in her life. You find yourself in a panic two months into your bulk, and you’re questioning everything. You immediately decide to hop on the treadmill and cut your calories in half. Before you know it, all of the effort you put forth toward strength training over the last eight weeks was all for naught. Then you realize your physique is back to square one… to boot, you’re still unhappy, and you don’t have the abs or the glutes you’ve been striving for.

The Holiday Rebound

For fun, we’ll touch on the other scenario. You did it! You stuck to the diet, and you’re seeing visible lines in your abdomen. You are so close to reaching that goal weight. But wait… the holidays are coming up, and you haven’t had a treat in so long. You didn’t talk to your coach about a proper reverse, and you don’t care at this point because you lost the weight. How hard can it be to keep it off anyway? A few months down the road, you take a look in the mirror and realize the damage has been done. The weight came back, and it’s too little, too late to develop that maintenance phase you were so excited to establish. Now the work begins again.

Breaking the Cycle

So how does one avoid this tormenting cycle? 

For starters, recognize that it's not going to be easy, but you are capable of doing difficult things. Emotions heavily dictate our ability to follow through. Hold space for what you are feeling momentarily, but allow your WHY to carry you forward. 

Plan for breaks in whatever phase you are in and discuss with your coach how these should be structured so you can avoid burnout. Understand that what works for one person may not work for you. You might need to be in a cut or bulk much longer than your gym bro, and that’s alright — don’t be discouraged by comparison. 

Lastly, have grace with yourself as you are learning what your body responds well to. This is something that takes even pro athletes YEARS to figure out. Above all else, have patience. Enjoy the evolution, but do not rush the process.

If you're tired of hitting restart every few months, it's time to train with a plan that actually works. Book a call with me or one of our coaches at www.masterathletic.com. We’ll help you stay focused, avoid detours, and make real progress—without wasting time or energy on quick fixes that don’t last.

Amber White

Coach, Master Athletic Performance