There are 21 weeks between these photos of my client, and colleague, Megan. I could not be more proud of her results.
“Transformation” posts such as this can, and should be, hugely inspirational. It is recognition of the tremendous hard work that the individual has put in to achieve something incredible.
However, I think that it’s also really important that they are put into context and that they don’t have the opposite effect of disheartening those who feel like they are grafting away and not seeing the same progress as others. This sort of intense change may not be suitable or healthy for everyone, it requires a certain mindset and healthy relationship with food.
Here are a few things that are rarely pointed out on Social Media “Transformations.”
1. This didn’t happen by guesswork, it was very specific. Megan's personal goal was to get as lean and muscular as possible for her holiday. This goal was individual to Megan and her training and diet were tailored accordingly. I came up with her plan and she executed it. Everything was tracked and logged: training, food, scale weight, body circumference measurements and mood. Weekly adjustments were made when necessary. Results such as these require a great level of attention to detail. Of course, not everyone wants to get super lean and muscular and not everyone needs this level of detail.
2. In this case, a lot of the hard work had already been done by the time that the first photo was taken. I’ve been working with Megan for a good while now and the first photo is a culmination of hard training geared towards muscle. Without the initial work done in the first photo, Megan wouldn’t have the muscle that is shown in the second photo.
3. Yes these photos were taken 21 weeks apart. No those were not an easy 21 weeks. It’s very easy to look at the relatively short time frame, not having lived it, and think: “I could do that”. Trust me, and Megan, 21 weeks of consistent dieting and hard training, is not easy nor is it suitable for everyone.
4. The second photo is an illustration of 100% compliance. 100 % compliance to training and 100% compliance to food. Not a rep was missed, and nothing was eaten or drunk unless it was part of the plan. This is extremely hard to do and is neither achievable nor desirable for most people.
5. Megan is genetically gifted for muscle growth. She also trains with more passion and determination than anyone else I know.
6. Megan was happy in both of these photos. “Leaness” does not equate to happiness.
Take inspiration and know that you too are capable of fantastic results but that your journey will never be the same as anyone else’s, nor should it be. Decide what you want and follow a plan, and if you want it badly enough and work hard enough, you will achieve it.
