Humility

This has to be said.

You've just joined a gym for whatever reason. Maybe a buddy talked you into it. Maybe you've finally had enough with being not in the shape you want to. Maybe you have an end date (trip, wedding etc.) and you need to look your best!

So, you've been working out for a little bit, and you're starting to get some results. you start noticing things tightening up, your weight going down (or up, depending on the goal), you're losing some fat, building some muscle, getting stronger, etc.

A couple people start to tell you that you're looking good! You're doing great! They can tell you've been "working out"!

Awesome! That is very good that people are telling you this, and that your work is paying off. Accept the comment with grace and humility.

Know what isn't awesome? conceit.

"Yeah, I've lost so much fat I look amazing!"
"I've gained 15 lbs of muscle in a month! I should do a bodybuilding show!"
"I cannot believe how ripped I am, all the girls love me!"
"Boys think I'm so hot now, it's insane!"

girls, how many times has a guy picked you up by telling you he can bench press 300+ lbs?
guys, how many times has a girl picked you up by telling you they ran at 9 KMH for an hour on the treadmill?

Let your results do all the talking. ALL of the talking.

Know how there is always the embarrassing photos of girls with their muffin tops hanging out?
Know the guy wearing too tight of a shirt so his gut pokes out?

This is the EXACT verbal equivalent.

I hate to break it to you, but people don't want to hear it. They really, really, really, really don't.

Let them do the talking for you. Let someone who cares tell you that you look great and they notice.
Let someone in the gym tell you they've noticed results from the hard work you've put in. Let the co-worker congratulate you.

Don't congratulate yourself too much.

I see this time, and time, and time and time and time and...

You get the point.

I assess myself. Of course. I look in the mirror, see where I think there is progress, and I have my coach to give me feedback too.

Keep those opinions to yourself. If you're doing great, others will take notice and tell you.

Here's another catch: There is always someone out there, somehow in better shape (running, body, strength etc) than you.

There is always someone out there in better shape than you who ISN'T parading their results around like they've won an Oscar.

I'm not trying to take away you're successes, especially valid successes. Even little ones, like giving up that junk food you thought you never could, doing a squat with your own body weight, or even making it up a flight of stairs without needing to stop to catch your breath.

Want to know how I know this?

I was that guy. I thought I was huge. Thought I was so muscular and that everyone loved how I looked.

I had a real close friend who had not seen me in a while tell me I was fat. Not big.

Think I learned? Nope.

So I leaned down. Thought I was ripped. Thought I was shredded.

Same friend looked at me and told me I was skinny.

Me parading around me "results" and "hard work" was really all for nothing, and the results weren't even worth bragging about.

This is what happens in most cases from what I've seen. The people with the least results brag the most, and the ones with the greatest results don't brag at all.

Take my advice from someone who has been there:

Let the results do the talking. Adopt Humility.