How To Get Instant Gratification While Reaching For Your Weight Loss Goals

Whether or not we care to admit it, we all wish the infamous magic pill to cure all of our ailments or to reach all of our physical goals existed. Want to lose weight? Take this. Want to gain lean muscle mass? Try this. As we all know, it just does not exist. As humans we all grave instant gratification. We live in a now society that demands results at the drop of a hat. Which type of food is better for our bodies? The food that we can instantly have at a fast food restaurant or the food we take the time and have the patience to prepare? Based on this concept, this is why races (5ks, 10ks, half marathons, triathlons) are growing more in popularity.

So while instant gratification is a reality and is an inescapable evil, there are forms of instant gratification that are a good medium. They require work but will give you faster results. For example, there are no magic pills to losing weight, there are no instant results to muscle building, but you can accomplish endurance and weight loss goals with the training and participation it takes to engage in races.

Strength training is very important, however, it takes time and the results are not instantly visible – which can be less then motivating. The same can be said for cardiovascular training. The end result of the training may be macro, and for us humans it just takes too long. We want our cake and we want to eat it! And we want it NOW. So how can we balance this extreme? By finding a way to see faster results sooner. This may not be instant but it will be faster. Therefore, this is why everyone should try an endurance event.

So, imagine a scenario: You are at your first race. People around you are pumped. The noise threatens to cancel out your thoughts – even the ones telling yourself you can do it. But your adrenaline is pumping. You know you have practiced. Before you can talk yourself into or out of it, the horn goes off and the race begins. And before you know it that finish line is within your sight. You have done it! With this there is a beginning and an end, and that end is called gratification. There you have it: instant gratification through hard work with tangible results. You just ran 3.1, 6.2, 13.1 miles or completed a triathlon. The result: your time to complete the race is posted. This result is instant, you can track it, and you can get a better result the next time you do it. Your desire for gratification has been fulfilled, and you just become a stronger version of yourself.

It does not matter if you cannot run (you can walk), do not like to run (who does?), if instant gratification is what you seek, try competing in a race, and I guarantee you will be hooked.