Today I am going to talk about the benefits of partaking in (and completing) a transformation challenge. These types of challenges come in all shapes and sizes… so first we will discuss what makes up a proper transformation challenge.
First things first, if the main idea of a challenge revolves around a supplement, of any type, throw it out the imaginary window. You know my feelings on supplements already, there are a few that work and many, many more that work WONDERS at putting big holes into your pockets and wallet.
There are a few general things that ANY good transformation challenge should have:
Well thought out and planned out workouts. These should include cardiovascular training, strength training, core training, balance training, and more.
Nutrition Program. Simple guidelines at the very least, but the most specific here the better (usually).
A level of accountability. This could pertain to the nutrition aspect, the exercise aspect, or both. Usually both is best!
It shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, UNLESS they are trying to sell you on something… so that's an easy way to determine if it is a challenge worth doing or not.
Coaching and support HAS to be included, and should be unlimited.
There should be a place where all of the challenge participants can get together to ask questions, or share knowledge with others (facebook challenge page for example.)
It should not be based upon solely who loses the most weight. Everybody knows that those people who weigh more initially can potentially lose more weight in a shorter period of time.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get into the BENEFITS!
1 - First and foremost is that you are taking ACTION, rather than making a hypothetical goal. While having a goal is a fantastic first step, nothing will happen without taking action! These types of challenges usually get people invested pretty quickly by offering a prize of some sort for the winner. While the knowledge gained through nutrition and exercise should be enough, a prize will often get people to work a liiiiiittle bit harder :)
2 - Undertaking a new fitness routine or diet might seem intimidating alone, but when done during a challenge, you know you are not alone! There are many other people doing the same thing with you, and just knowing that makes it easier. You can reach out to people for help, to ask questions, you can workout together, you can share recipes, etc!
3 - You can learn literally all you need to know about proper diet and exercise in as little as 2 months! (so long as the information/fitness program/diet protocol are presented by knowledgeable individuals and facilities). People spend years and years and countless hundreds of dollars trying all the new fad diets and fitness routines, only to find that they haven’t learned a damn thing and are more confused than ever by what ACTUALLY works!
4 - You will learn how to measure progress in many different ways. If a challenge ONLY uses bodyweight as the measure of success, or the measure of who wins, that is a terrible way to do it.
5 - You will see progress quickly, and that will help to motivate you to continue through to (at least) the end of the transformation! When combining diet and exercise, and avoiding bad foods, you will be amazed by the speed of initial changes in the body and how you feel. It happens quite quickly and that feels really good! Seeing these early on changes will help you stay motivated and wanting more!
6 - You’ll get to workout with friends and have FUN while burning calories and getting your sweat on! Lets face it, certain types of workouts can be plain old BORING. Everyone likes different types of settings, and different types of routines, so just find one you like and stick with it! If its a class setting where your friends are also there, even better! Working out with your friends also adds another layer of accountability, and if you don’t show up for a workout… you’re going to hear about it!
7 - You’ll find inner-strength you might not have known you had! A lot of times people really don’t know what they are capable of until they try… actually ALL the time. I love seeing people break out of comfort zones and smash new goals and set new records and start feeling really freaking good about themselves and what they’re doing. A challenge of this type will not only teach you many great things, but also bring you a sense of accomplishment and maybe a new view on life or other things you thought previously to be impossible or improbable.
Now there is ONE big catch with a transformation challenge… you can not simply go back to doing everything exactly the way you did before it as soon as it is done. Because before you know it, you will have reversed all of the effects of the challenge and be back at square one. These challenges are meant to be a learning tool, which you will use for the rest of your life. Apply the techniques you have learned and continue to make strides forward. Unfortunately, I have seen it time and time again where people will go 110% into the challenge, make AMAZING progress and transformations, only to then go back to exactly what they were doing before and lose all of the progress. If you don’t keep up with it, your body will likely go right back to where you started. You have to view it as a marathon rather than a sprint when it comes to your long term health and fitness!
There you have it! I hope you’ll consider joining us again this year for the Annual Fitness Fusion Transformation Challenge! Year after year our members have produces some amazing results, and I can not wait to see what comes from this year!
Thanks for reading, and GET FUSED!
Brian Lepine
Fitness Fusion
413-977-3938