If you're not seeing the results you want from your workouts, there are a lot of factors that could be to blame. Nutrition, sleep, stress, you name it...

But the easiest problem to pinpoint is checking in with your own effort level. It requires some honesty with yourself and often some tough (self) love, but it's worth it to get yourself back on track if you've been lagging!

![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbngSiUGNs9cVawb2QWrNS88H3XNPcyd6mQX7jcAnFGRq/image.png)
[Source](https://pixabay.com/en/man-person-power-strength-strong-1282232/)

The thing about exercise is, you really have to try in order for it to make much of a difference. Of course that means different things for different people, but pushing yourself is crucial if you want to continue to adapt, transform, and make progress toward your goals.

I know I've said this many times, but it's not easy. If it was, everyone would already be super fit!

That's part of the reason why the "7 Minute Abs" videos that are supposed to get you a lean, shredded, fitness-model-caliber body in 7 minutes of work, three times a week don't actually deliver on their promises (either stated or implied)...

The reason I'm bringing this up is that I have seen many clients throughout my career who aren't really in the habit of pushing themselves very hard, yet are the first to notice (and usually complain) that their progress is nonexistent. 

A relaxed approach is totally fine if your involvement in fitness is for different reasons - to feel good, to learn, to be social, etc., but I will say that a mellow work ethic is not so helpful if you're trying to make meaningful changes to your body or health. 

However, if you aim to try harder during your workouts you will still enjoy all of those benefits PLUS see much more noticeable changes in your overall health, body composition and strength.

A lot of us have the tendency to start off a workout program with guns blazing, and then for whatever reason our efforts taper off and we plateau at a comfortable level where we are going through the motions but not trying very hard...

It's important to recognize when this is happening and nip it in the bud, if making or maintaining changes to your body is truly what you're after. Progress takes effort, and pushing your limits is what stimulates change.

![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbfGLP76iGR9MPSBtUmd4LSCZnBN5MzibvZapX4TVHydF/image.png)
[Source](https://pixabay.com/en/sport-push-up-strength-training-2264825/)

If you're chatting your way through your exercises with crappy form and lots of breaks, all while not spilling a drop of sweat, don't expect to see your physique magically transform in the mirror. It's just not going to happen. 

Instead, fight for that one extra rep, focus on making every exercise look perfect and recruit the right muscles, add some weight, spike your heart rate, push harder through cardio... I'm sorry to say, but exercise never *really* gets any easier - you just get fitter, faster, stronger, and better, and have to keep soldiering on to continue making gains or seeing losses.

Your results usually reflect your efforts - it's a tough truth, but that's just life. 

If you feel like you're giving your fitness program everything you've got and you're still stuck in a place you're not happy with, take a good solid look at everything you're doing and reevaluate. If you still feel that way, reach out for some help.

At the end of the day, when it comes to fitness (or anything else for that matter), the least helpful thing we can do for ourselves is repeat the same things and expect different results. Continuing to "phone it in" and expecting to have the leanest, meanest body possible just doesn't really make sense... Tough love, I know, but it's gotta be said!

So check in with yourself before, during, and after your workouts. Be aware and be honest. Once you've done that, I can almost guarantee that you can find a little more gas in the tank, no matter how hard you've been pushing yourself...

How do you keep your effort level high? How to you stay accountable?

Please feel free to comment, upvote, or resteem if you'd like! :)

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