I have folks who tell me that they want to lose weight or get stronger or "get started", I always ask, "What can you handle?" sorta, "How far can you go?"
Meaning, do you know yourself? or you need to Know Thyself
Like me putting together a cabinet or something. Not gonna happen. I will ruin it, break it. I know myself when it comes to putting stuff together. I put a shed together one time. And I swear to you, during the first windy night it blew over...it literally blew away. Mr. Fixit, I am not. But I know it.
Or me drinking water, carrying around a jug and all that. Never. I hate water. Good or bad, I hate it. So I am not gonna ever put that in my diet. Ha, me carrying a jug around isn't ever gonna happen. I hate carrying anything.
Or leg assistance. Not gonna do it. Boring, and I know that I won't do it.
So it is THE question to ask yourself!
What can you handle?
If you wanna lose weight fast, can you handle low carb? Or have you tried it and felt awful and bombed out after a few days?
Or if you see a 5 day "Russian Squat Program" and really want to do it to get your squat stronger but deep down inside you know that getting to the gym that often ain't gonna happen, then you can't handle it right now.
Maybe its just about being realistic.
Maybe carb cycling is what you need. You can ease into it without suffering.
If you aren't gonna prep food, don't have a diet where you have to.
Maybe just lifting 2 heavy days on the weekend and 1 light day during the week is the answer. Because you have kids and a job and all sorts of stuff going on. Squat and deadlift on Saturday.
Anyway, it's a big deal. So you don't start and stop. So you can be successful.
