(But probably need to)
Let’s rip the plaster off, shall we?
Everyone loves the idea of progress. Of getting leaner, stronger, fitter. The before and after photos. The compliments. The feeling of finally fitting into that pair of jeans that’s been eyeing you from the bottom drawer since 2015.
But here’s the thing…
Wanting it and doing what it takes to get it are two very different things.
- “I Want to Get Lean…”
…but not if it means cutting back on your nightly Deliveroo, saying no to midweek wine just because it’s Wednesday, or prepping food that doesn’t come in beige boxes.
Look — getting lean doesn’t mean becoming a monk, but it does mean making choices. Repeatedly. Boring, grown-up, often inconvenient choices. And the harsh truth is, you can’t out-train consistently eating like a toddler at a birthday party.
Do you need to give up everything? Fuck no. But can you keep living the same way and expect different results? Also Fuck no.
- “I’m Being Consistent…”
No, you’re not. You’re being sporadic with high levels of enthusiasm.
You smash 2–3 workouts in a week, then disappear for 10 days. You eat great for two days, then ghost your own plan the second you get stressed, bored, or hear the words “pizza night.”
Real consistency isn’t perfection — it’s showing up more than you don’t.
Read that bit again people.
- “I Need Accountability…”
Then be honest. With yourself first. Because you can’t ask a coach, a PT, or your mate on WhatsApp to hold you accountable if you’re still fucking lying to yourself.
You say you’ve been “really good” with food, but forget to log the snacks, the drinks, the “just a bit of garlic bread” moments. You say you’re doing everything right — but your idea of “tracking calories” is a half-used MyFitnessPal entry and crossing your fingers.
If you say you’re gonna do something — do it. If you didn’t do it, own it. Simple. Brutal. Effective.
- “It’s Just My Genetics…”
Yes, genetics matter. But it’s not your DNA that’s doubling your portion size or making you eat like you’re carb-loading for a marathon when you haven’t moved from your desk since 9 a.m.
You’re not broken. You’re just not being honest with yourself about the lifestyle choices you make — and that’s something you can change.
Look, everyone has a different baseline. Some people drop weight fast. Others have to fight a bit harder. But nobody, and I truly mean this, nobody, is exempt from the rules of energy balance.
You eat more than you need consistently → you gain weight.
You eat less than you need consistently → you lose weight.
The science doesn’t care if your nan had “big bones.” It’s not personal. It’s just physics.
- You Need Solutions, Not Excuses
Life is hard. We all get it. Jobs, kids, stress, social pressure, your dog threw up on your meal prep.
But the question is: Are you looking for a way through it, or just a way out?
- Don’t have time? Can you do 15 minutes instead of an hour?
- Keep binging at night? Are you under-eating all day and setting yourself up to fail?
- Hate the gym? Walk, lift at home, stick some tunes on, and dance like a lunatic in your kitchen. Just fucking move.
Excuses feel comfortable in the moment. Solutions feel better in the long run.
You have to choose which one gets to run the show.
Hard Truth: Change Is Uncomfortable
You’re not going to “accidentally” get fitter. It’s not going to happen by osmosis. You won’t wake up one day leaner because you bought new trainers, sat and thought about lifting some weights, or followed 47 fitness accounts on Instagram.
You will have to work at it. There will be days you can’t be arsed. Days you want to quit. That’s normal. But the ones who win?
They don’t rely on motivation. They rely on doing the work anyway. They just get on with it and moan and bitch about it whilst doing it.
How To Actually Move Forward
Let’s bring this all together with some no-bullshit action points:
- Audit your habits
Keep a brutally honest log of your week. Food, training, sleep, stress, movement. See what’s actually happening, not what you think is happening. - Simplify your strategy
You don’t need a 14-step morning routine and a supplement stack that costs more than your car.
→ Eat more protein
→ Get more sleep
→ Move daily
→ Drink more water
→ Be a bit less of a dick to yourself - Check your stories
The ones you tell yourself:
“I’m just not consistent.”
“I always fall off the wagon.”
“I have no time.”
→ These are stories. Rewrite them. Tell a better one.
Final Words: You’re Not Broken — But You Might Be Bullshitting Yourself
And that’s okay. We all do it. The trick is to catch yourself, call it out, and course-correct. The road to results is mostly paved with small decisions that may seem insignificant at the time but accumulate over months.
So if you’re stuck, frustrated, or feel like nothing’s working — ask yourself:
🔹 Am I doing what I say I want to do?
🔹 Am I being honest about how I show up?
🔹 Am I finding solutions, or feeding excuses?
Because once you start owning your choices, the change you’re chasing gets a lot closer.
