You might have seen it as well: when scanning through articles or posts on social media, you can get to see a new form of training, diet or a new program every week. Some weeks you can even see something new every day. Nevertheless it is important that you finish what you have started.
Hardly Anything New
Funny thing is that mostly it is not all that new. Or it just has a new name (like ketogenic diets are not new). Or it is marketed under a brand name (like the bulletproof diet). Funny thing is is that they all work. At least to some extent and effects may vary across different people. As Dan John mentions in his books: “Everything works… for about 6 weeks.” (ref 1, 2, 3). I have to say that this is applicable to the majority of training programs and very big portion of (very) restrictive diets. More about that later.
Two Variants
The trouble is that there are two types of people not following programs: the ones that think results will continue after 6 weeks and the ones that try something new before the 6 weeks are up. The first group will stall in their progress and or results, the second group will prevents themselves from reaching the results that are possible in the 6 weeks. Most people switch before the end of a program or diet.
Why to Finish What You Have Started?
So why do I think it is important to finish what you have started? First of all it will give you the full benefits of what you have started. But most of all you will learn best if the program has given you the results it promised you. That at least is the best way to end a program. This is also moment to review if you followed the program to the letter. Many people criticise a program or diet without the following it (fully). You can only truly give an opinion on a program, once you have completed it.
The Thing with Diets
You might have seen or heard about many different diets in the last few years: Atkins, Bulletproof, Paleo, Keto(genic), Carnivore and I likely forgot a few. Most of them work because, regardless of their theory, they focus on eating unprocessed foods within their ‘rules’. The only aspect of it is that it has to fit your body, genes and availability of foods. I, for instance, would like to try the carnivore diet for a while. But the quality (and prices) of meat that is available (where I live) keeps me from giving it a try. There are also certain people who have counter-productive results from trying the ketogenic diet, since they really need a certain amount of carbohydrates in their diet. These are aspects you have to figure out and decide what works for you (see also “In Diet There is No Magic Pill“) and also what would be sustainable for you and the situation you are in. The best way to test your response to certain types of food is to stop eating them for at least 4 weeks and slowly testing your response to one type of food.
What to Do Now?
Well, first of all if you currently training with a certain program: finish it! And if you are going to try a program or diet, start with the intent to finish it. But once you have finished it. just take some time to assess what the results were for you and what you have learned from it.
You could also give my training program a go to “Start Training at Home“, or the 8 week “Fat Loss Diet“. Or when you are interested in regular training through Continuous Improvement Fitness, send an email or get in touch through the Contact Page.
References
- Intervention, Dan John, Chapter 10
- Can You Go, Dan John
- Before We Go, Dan John