More on Focus.

Focus isn’t just for buckling down on those last, most difficult repetitions of a set.  Focus is necessary for achieving your fitness goals as well.

I’ll often get prospective clients who say, “I want to lose fat and gain muscle.”  And to this day, not one has failed to be taken aback when I respond, “Ok, no problem.  Which one do you want to tackle first?”

You mean you can’t have your cake and eat it too?

I suppose if you’re extremely overfat or a complete and total novice, you can.  But the realistic situation is that when the honeymoon period of newbie gains is over (roughly the 6 week mark, perhaps sooner), you will be forced to make a decision between one or the other.  Not to completely abandon the one goal for the other, but to place a priority on the one that is more important.

If, for example, your goal is to get lean and gain some muscle, after the initial newbie period, you would seek to try and improve your lifts when possible, but not be too disappointed if you have trouble.  Instead, most of your mental energies should be directed towards being as good as possible with diet and on making steady progress in terms of losing bodyfat.  Once you zero in on your bodyfat goals, then focus on gaining muscle.

It’s rare that it snows on a blazing hot day.  Even more rare is the phenomenon of fat catabolism and muscle anabolism occurring simultaneously in your body.  Focus on one goal at a time and you’ll find it easier and faster to attain them all.