The process doesn't always equal the outcome...

'Be obsessed with the process, not the outcome'.

For anyone who has listened to me over the last few years you will probably be familiar with this statement.

I first heard it from James Clear (author of Atomic Habits) and fell in LOVE with it.

The gist is that we can't control the outcome but we can control the process of getting to the outcome.

For example, I have an ultra-marathon in 2 and a half weeks (yikes).

I can't control many aspects of how I will feel on the day.

I could have a bad nights sleep, a cold, a niggle or a family issue in the lead up to it which would all impact the outcome (result).

What I CAN control is the weekly process.

Hitting my runs, doing my strength work, managing recovery and nutrition are all things more within my control.

So I obsess over them rather than the outcome.

A more common example is for someone with a weight-loss goal.

Unfortunately we can't control whether we lose weight (or how much weight we lose) but we can control our weekly inputs or processes such as hitting our steps, managing our nutrition and doing 2-3 training sessions.

You get the idea, master what's in your control and try not to worry too much about the outcome because as long as the inputs are managed and set correctly the outcome will happen eventually!

So, if I believe in this statement so much why the change?

Well I haven't changed my view on it, I've just realised that sometimes as humans we can get ourselves in a bit of a muddle with what processes led to what results.

I had a conversation with a new sign up recently who said he needed to get back to running because that's what made him feel energised and helped manage his weight before.

Makes sense right?

Well maybe but maybe not...

He was also:

-20 years younger.

-Had no kids (now has 2).

-A Uni student with plenty time to train (he now works 40 hours on a quiet week).

You get the idea.

In my opinion his 'result' (feeling good and being a certain body composition) was probably less to do with running and more to do with the fact life looked very different.

Another example.

We get LOADS of people signing up who tell us that the most successful thing they have done was some form of slimming world or weight watchers style thing.

I am not going into the ins and outs of these programmes but while they think it was 'Slimming World' that got them results, it was just as likely:

- Having accountability.

-A like-minded group of people striving for similar goals.

-Seeing a coach on a regular basis.

So when we are beating ourselves up about 'needing' to do something we did before, just keep this in mind.

As our life changes the processes we use to get to certain goals may change too.

*This is also a reminder to give yourself a break. As life gets busier, we get older and stress mounts it becomes harder and harder to stay in shape so try and not beat yourself up too much over this.