Topic of the Week: What prevents you from reaching your goals?

Admin

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Everyone here has some sort of bodybuilding, fitness or health related goal here... Is there something in your life that prevents you or makes it really hard for you to achieve your goal? Personally, its family..but in a good way. My kids are at the age there is so many things going on in terms of parties and events that the weekends are very tough for me to keep it "clean". My neighborhood has a way of always doing things on weekends that often contradict fitness and health related goals...in other words, we grill...a lot. I tend to go hard in the week and let go on the weekend but at my age, its tough to recover. What do you have in your life that makes your goals more difficult to achieve?
 
TINYTOAD

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Right now, it seems to be all health-related issues that are hampering my ability to achieve my goals.
I'm recovering from pacemaker surgery so I don't have full use of my arm; my heart is beating out of control at even moderate levels of exercise. I'm visiting the doctor this Friday and hope to get some roadblocks removed.
-TT
 
MrKleen73

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Great question. My answer is both Excuses and Lack of Discipline.
I have a lot of legitimate extenuating circumstances that I could easily put down as factors that make it harder for me to achieve my goals. However, to say that any of them actually prevent me from my goals would be looking to deflect responsibility for my lack of discipline on the things I do not control instead of my decision making which is 100% under my control. When I choose to accept an excuse as a reason not to do something then I choose to lack discipline, and therefore choose not to reach my goals or at the very least hinder my progress toward them. This is something I had to come to grips with as a part of having ADHD and trying to gain personal responsibility for my own impulsive actions while making sure I do not EVER develop a victim mentality.

@Admin, I don't really see yours as an excuse but a choice to have more balance in your life. If you adjust your goals to have more balance as well then I imagine you are probably keeping up with them pretty well. If you still have lofty physique goals but aren't doing them due to a lack of discipline then that is not as positive of a situation as choosing to do less in this area to benefit or balance out other areas. By that I mean if every weekend you go into it planning to do better and control it but do not then it is a discipline problem. If you choose to let loose every weekend for the social enjoyment of it then it is simply a decision to have more balance.
 
MrKleen73

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Right now, it seems to be all health-related issues that are hampering my ability to achieve my goals.
I'm recovering from pacemaker surgery so I don't have full use of my arm; my heart is beating out of control at even moderate levels of exercise. I'm visiting the doctor this Friday and hope to get some roadblocks removed.
-TT
Hope you get things squared away that sounds horrible.
 
jalfrey

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I've been trying to put my finger on that myself. Leanest I've ever been was in my profile pic. That was 5 years ago and this year I had all intentions of a least getting my 6 pack back but I keep getting stuck at the top two and a shadow of the middle. I want to blame age (42), but I think it's A.)my wife is very fitness-minded and won't let me eat some of the awful dinners I did back then when I was still single and pursuing those abs (broccoli and whiskey? don't mind if I do!) B.)I've always heard this s*** gets a lot harder after 40, and C.) beer. I only have 4-6 pints over the course of a week but I know those add up. I've thought about giving that up but I think at this point in life I'd rather live a little looser. I'm not competing, a model, or doing this for money so I'll have that beer and know I'm still doing better than most.

Otherwise, my food logs, workout logs, all that is on point. Meal prep, check. I still have been fluctuating the same damn 5lbs since February.

But what prevents me from reaching my goals? Whether age or alcohol, it's my own damn fault 🌴🍻
 
jim2509

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Work related injuries - lower back/pelvis muscular spasms due to fatigue...crappy work like balance.

I should probably stretch more as well.
 
thebigt

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when I was younger I had more long term goals...now that I am 60 I try to make out a weekly schedule of workout/fitness related goals, and go day by day.

meeting goals is important- HAVING goals even moreso, imo.
 
stopstalking

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Pizza ! Lol disciple in general. I don’t have a sweet tooth at all but diet gets me all the time. I can’t pass up on foods I love, when they are in front of me.
 

mase1

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Not an excuse but choose to spend my free time with my family. Need to get up early to get to gym before everyone is awake but I am tired at the end of the day which defeats the purpose, so I backed off those morning sessions. Also the wife and I like to have some drinks on the weekends and I except that is our fault.
3 young boys and an active wife is my priority so I guess that is my reasoning. But I still look great, just not hitting my imaginative goals at those point. LOL.
 
NoAddedHmones

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Ulcerative Colitis flares... 3 steps forward then two steps back, intermittently over the last 7 years.
 
xR1pp3Rx

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injuries are the worst for me.. I have multiple re-occurring things that keep me from greatness. the hardest thing for me to deal with is my back which was injured in a car wreck when I was 14. My legs grow well but do to the back issues I'm still top heavy. Age; closing in on 50 and its getting harder in all aspects of fitness.

that said, after this years dirty bulk, Im down 40 lbs in 90 days and have gained quality mass and have no tan. I wear all black gym gear in the 100 degree heat cause I desperately try to look like a badass while I clutch onto my remaining 40's. I shoulda bought that rice rocket I was eyeing for a mid life crisis.
had I done that... Nothing would prevent me from my goals.
 
BloodManor

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Diet !! When I was younger (under 40) I could eat whatever and stay low teens bf. Now it’s hard to stay around 20 without tracking food. Plus I’m a foodie and love to eat
 
Brutefit

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Diet, being a university student I don't usually get to eat what I want, plus protein is expensive here.
Like typical Indian diet, it is primarily vegetarian luckily I like in near cost line so get to eat a lot more fish than most of the indians.
 

Tlynch

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Simply put for me....family lifestyle, lack of budget and a home workout routine that is probably lacking. But I feel I'm pretty healthy and in good shape and wouldn't trade the family for anything.
 
DaveyCrockett

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I'm a single dad and yeah just being a father and working cuts a lot of time out of my schedule.. I think I'm equally affected by lack of equipment ego and distance from any gyms...maybe Santa will bring me a squat rack for christmas.
 
EMPIREMIND

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Injuries and intelligent planning around a hectic schedule. Even with a plan it gets rough and I have to focus on what I need to do as opposed to what I want to. Sometimes I’m lucky to get a solid hour and have to make it as effective as possible. More compounds movements and less isolation work. Factoring in injuries and preventing injuries makes this challenging at time because I can’t spend 20 mins warning up and 20 mins stretching after.
 
GreekTheBrick

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Family-in a good way and health-in a bad way. The 1st one is a consious choice, the 2nd one is not, just my demon since birth.
 
jtmass

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taking care of my 3yr old son. Food to showers to brushing his teeth to anything and everything you can possibly imagine his needs would be. The only time I have his when he’s sleeping in the AM. Somedays he wakes up early. So, no gym. Somedays I am so tired from work and taking care of his needs, I just crash. I don’t usually make excuses because I hate them. But, life gets in the way and I just can’t say NO
 

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What holds me back the most is a severe lack of knowledge when it comes to proper diet and recipes to follow a proper diet. Other than that, my tricompartamental arthritis in my knees and hypothyroidism makes it difficult. Also, I’m in a small town that has bad gyms like Planet Fitness or shabby local gyms. I think that my first reasons are the biggest, but those coupled with my poor spirituality really prevents me from reaching my goals.
 

hsk

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My constantly changing work schedule make it hard to reach my goals as it makes "routine" and "consistency" difficult at times.
 

Chef1620

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I never really notice I’ve gotten off track until it’s done. Like I haven’t walking in to a work out in 6 or 7 weeks. But I work on my feet as a chef full time and then some. I’ve got off track this time gathering fire wood for winter for my family, including my wife, two boys and my father as well as my nephew at times. Sounds like a ball busting activity but few things compare to a good work out plan, especially if it’s not a full time job. And once it was done I found another reason to avoid going. But it’s not that bad. Honestly I’m leaner now for it but I also see I’m loosing muscle mass. Anyways that me. Thanks for asking and I’m sure this little self reflection should help get me back in to my gym for something more than a shower after ten hours on the line.
 

Still0311

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For the longest time it was work. I was, until recently, in the oilfield. I worked pretty consistent 120 to 130 hour weeks. The times I wasn't working I was traveling some place else to work or doing something work related. My last year in I worked 358 days. 3 of those non working days were spent in a hospital after there was a small explosion resulting in minor injuries. The year before that wasn't much different. All of that time working left me directionless when I switched jobs and had this strange phenomenon called, days off. I still looked like I worked out from all of the physical work and heavy lifting. So I didn't have the "I look like crap" motivation to find a gym. Along the way I had also forgotten how to feed myself without a restaurant menu. It's strange, but I feel like I'm waking up from a coma where I've suffered mild memory loss. Things are coming back, slowly, but it's just odd to have the one thing standing in the way of the fast lane to re-achieving my goals is being unsure. Hell, I used to train people, did coaching, designed cycles, meal plans and taught people how to overcome psychological hurdles. Nevertheless, the desire and calculated anger will serve as a key unlocking the gates to that dirty iron paved road to greatness.
 
Methylated

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Part of my cycle still making its way from overseas for 3 weeks.
 

btothefman

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Chocolate and pussy.

Chocolate just seems to have a calling over me that kills my low carb eating plans.

The puss stops me getting out of bed early as I'm waking at full mast waiting for her to stir before I hit the pink (gone are the days when I can use the charm the next morning to get her over the fact she's been rolled over in her sleep).
 

ericos_bob

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My goals are unrealistic so I never reach them.
 

Rockzilla

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Discipline, but it’s hard to have discipline when your stressed over stuff. I’m PCSing soon, wife is pregnant, still working hard and managing my team practically full time even though I’m leaving soon. Thinking about making metrics to. Trying to diet down when my wife of a little over one year now likes to keep snack food in the house, makes it nigh impossible to exercise discipline.
 
Old Witch

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Laziness and personal issues. Some depression.

What’s worst is when I see some degree of success and then continue on to fail miserably. That really knocks my dick in the dirt.

Right now I’m on a whole bunch of steroids, and totally ruining this cycle. Not getting anywhere near the results I should be and I know exactly why.

I’m not training hard enough or eating right, case closed.
 
Outofbody

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Yeah, getting over 40 has been the biggest obstacle for me. People in their 20’s and 30’s have no idea how much disappointment they have coming their way..
Not everyone should believe this. I am now in my 40s and living my best life fwiw.

Disappointments come in life, sure, but the overall aim in life should be constant growth and improvements, mentally, physically, in our work lives, personal lives, all areas of life. Disappointments should help foster knowledge and growth.

With the being said, the thing that's most held me back are a couple injuries from my 30s, but now, at my age, and with my knowledge, I am far smarter about lifting / nutrition / etc.
 
Old Witch

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Not everyone should believe this. I am now in my 40s and living my best life fwiw.

Disappointments come in life, sure, but the overall aim in life should be constant growth and improvements, mentally, physically, in our work lives, personal lives, all areas of life. Disappointments should help foster knowledge and growth.

With the being said, the thing that's most held me back are a couple injuries from my 30s, but now, at my age, and with my knowledge, I am far smarter about lifting / nutrition / etc.
Supposedly a man will be at his peak of success at age 48. That will be when he makes the most money and has the most stability and security.
 
Outofbody

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Supposedly a man will be at his peak of success at age 48. That will be when he makes the most money and has the most stability and security.
And with TRT/HRT, age is no longer really an excuse. Pain is, definitely with age, but that's why people need to fix their movement issues.
 
Rocket3015

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Not everyone should believe this. I am now in my 40s and living my best life fwiw.

Disappointments come in life, sure, but the overall aim in life should be constant growth and improvements, mentally, physically, in our work lives, personal lives, all areas of life. Disappointments should help foster knowledge and growth.

With the being said, the thing that's most held me back are a couple injuries from my 30s, but now, at my age, and with my knowledge, I am far smarter about lifting / nutrition / etc.

Love the Attitude !!
 
Hyde

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I don’t want to be fat, but I want to be strong as possible.

I need to eat more food, take more drugs, train even harder, and tolerate living too heavy with more side effects for the coming years. If I want to do certain numbers, I will need to get over being comfortable in my skin.
 
thebigt

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I don’t want to be fat, but I want to be strong as possible.

I need to eat more food, take more drugs, train even harder, and tolerate living too heavy with more side effects for the coming years. If I want to do certain numbers, I will need to get over being comfortable in my skin.
lol...you are a walking contradiction….but good luck!!!
 
Whisky

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Honestly, reading some of this I gotta say nothing is really holding me back. This summer I’m trying to lean down and I’ve struggled way more than last year as my appetite is off the charts some days (ped related) but generally I’m still moving slowly in the right direction. I’m seeing guys much older, or with illness/depression or crazy busy life’s and I’m thinking yeah, I’m really very lucky to be where I’m at in my life and maybe I. should appreciate more that I don’t have anything really stopping me tbh
 
Hyde

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Honestly, reading some of this I gotta say nothing is really holding me back. This summer I’m trying to lean down and I’ve struggled way more than last year as my appetite is off the charts some days (ped related) but generally I’m still moving slowly in the right direction. I’m seeing guys much older, or with illness/depression or crazy busy life’s and I’m thinking yeah, I’m really very lucky to be where I’m at in my life and maybe I. should appreciate more that I don’t have anything really stopping me tbh
That’s basically where I’m at - the only thing holding me back is me. It’s time to step up while I have the opportunity.
 
Ricky10

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Not everyone should believe this. I am now in my 40s and living my best life fwiw.

Disappointments come in life, sure, but the overall aim in life should be constant growth and improvements, mentally, physically, in our work lives, personal lives, all areas of life. Disappointments should help foster knowledge and growth.

With the being said, the thing that's most held me back are a couple injuries from my 30s, but now, at my age, and with my knowledge, I am far smarter about lifting / nutrition / etc.
I think you took that a bit more literal than intended...:D

I didn’t mean disappointments in regard to personal growth, life achievements or general happiness. I was just more referring to how it takes much more discipline to achieve the same physique we used to have or expect ourselves to have (naturally). For those of us that were into our fitness in our 20’s and 30’s, the game certainly takes a more challenging twist as we work our way through our 40’s and beyond.
 
GreenMachineX

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I’m 35 and I just enjoy food too much. When I take my kids for ice cream, they ask “daddy, aren’t you getting some?” And it kills me. Movie nights consist of pizza, which I also love. Movie nights without pizza just aren’t the same. Otherwise, staying injured isn’t helping. 1 bad shoulder, then 2 bad shoulders, now pelvic/lower back jacked up...since I can’t get bigger/stronger, I have to reel in the diet or I’m just going to really look like garbage.
 
Studhorse

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I really don't have excuses. Just choices. I chose to hit the gym when I can & pretty much eat semi clean. I have been blessed with great family and they come first. Up to age 32 powerlifting and Traveling softball was my life. Got married at 28. once my first kid hit 5 everything changed. I started coaching and or supporting my children and gym time was hit and miss. I only have one left at home and she has already committed to play softball in college. Not long now we will be empty nesters. Hopefully I will have more consistent gym time / diet and sleep. assuming my body holds up. lucky my wife worksout as well. I have 4 grand kids and one is now 9 and is active. I also have a 24/7 gym 3 blocks from my house.. this is a big help! Plus at my age I need more recovery time so it works out pretty well.
 
Outofbody

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I think you took that a bit more literal than intended...:D

I didn’t mean disappointments in regard to personal growth, life achievements or general happiness. I was just more referring to how it takes much more discipline to achieve the same physique we used to have or expect ourselves to have (naturally). For those of us that were into our fitness in our 20’s and 30’s, the game certainly takes a more challenging twist as we work our way through our 40’s and beyond.
I actually find things much more straight forward now in my 40s! In the past, I used to spin my wheels a lot in the gym. Now, I could be hired as a coach and personal trainer, for powerlifting or bodybuilding, or even as a physical therapist (I've earned that one through years of PT ha!). Also, I'm on TRT, so my hormone levels are of an 18yr old's, probably even higher most days. The only thing that hits my motivation are pain from injuries, but that definitely requires a lot of discipline to resolve through fixing improper movement patterns/issues.
 
SMS

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myself: self sabotaging, the unconscious behaviour which leads to get back to the place i started off everything..

There are so many things to do, that i´d like to do but can´t cause end up wasting time..

It leads me to start building more muscle, but feel like need cardio to have good performance level/health, this makes me eat more, so i end up looking fat, do shred, but then feel i need to care about health.. and need more muscle and cycle repeats. Lol

yeah its a mess..
 
Smont

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Only you prevent you from reaching your goals as long as your goal is within reason
 

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