My Dad used to get me so mad.

Whatever it was, I would say, “I don’t want to.” And he would say, “You don’t have to want to.”

I was just sitting here remembering that and it occurred to me…

…99 out of 100 people don’t realize — or are unwilling to accept — what it really takes to achieve a fitness goal.  Or any worthy goal for that matter.

The reality is, any goal has very specific steps and tasks that must be taken and completed.  These tasks are not “maybe tomorrow” or “when I feel like it” tasks.  Instead, they are tasks which absolutely must be done — no matter how you feel about them.

Like a child at bath time, you don’t have to feel like it.  You don’t have to want to .  You simply must.

No matter how you feel about the specific, necessary steps to reach your goal… know that by taking the steps, by completing the tasks, even when you don’t feel like it at all, you will eventually reach to your goal.

Lock step.

Think about that…

… the next time you are faced with eating a mind and body sustaining meal, or avoiding the meal and opting for junk because you “feel like it”.

Or when you don’t really “feel” like coming into boot camp and doing the work.

Or when planning your meals seems like “too much work”.

It IS work.

It DOES take time.

It IS tedious sometimes.  But choosing not to do it just because you don’t feel like it in the moment is disservice to yourself.

Avoidance of what needs to be done is rooted in the subconscious thought, “I don’t enjoy doing this particular taks, so doing it is incorrect.”.
Not so.

We often get exactly what we want by doing what we don’t feel like doing.

The results are worth it folks.

Ask yourself…

Is there some form of self-ravaging I am engaging in which is hampering my results or slowing down my performance?

Am I doing anything which is aging me faster?

What areas of my fitness lifestyle need attention and tweaking?  Food?  Boot Camp attendance?  Sleep?  Water intake?  Foam rolling?  Stretching?  Vitamins?

Take a moment to take stock and figure out the real score.

Be brutally honest with yourself and then take action doing exactly what you don’t feel like doing.

I promise, with each action you complete that you don’t feel like doing…but which brings you greater health and closer to a goal…you will grow in self-esteem and feel a supreme sense of accomplishment and earned pride.

And it all gets easier.

Before you know it, you have new goals which were invisible and psychologically untenable to you before.  But now become worthy challenges which you embrace willingly.

And then – quite suddenly — you WANT to!

Go for it.

Cheers,

D

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I remember the day pictured above like it was yesterday.

I spoke live at the Portland Women’s Show.

Now, what was interesting is this: even though I speak live daily,  and at the time I was on the air with my fitness radio show daily, I was a bundle of nerves before I got on stage.

The truth is, I was worried.   I thought I would forget what I needed to say…or that I wouldn’t be able to get my points across clearly.

Seriously.

Before it began, my wife Beth filmed me looking like I had just seen the ghost of someone yelling, “Go Home!”.

So the announcer introduced me…

I approached the stage …

And what happened next was amazing.

You see…

the moment my mouth opened, all jitters evaporated.

The words came out smoothly and clearly.

I forgot where I was.

How?

3 words…

I

was

prepared.

No… I didn’t memorize a script.  I just happened to be speaking on a topic with which I was familiar.  And didn’t want to read a mental “script”  — or sound… you know…  forced.

So how did I prepare?

The key was this:

before the show I used the power of my imagination to “preview” the future.

I pictured the crowd laughing.  I felt my feet planted firmly on the ground.  I saw myself smiling and felt myself enjoying myself.  I pictured myself as 50 feet tall. I imagined the scene exactly as I wanted it to be…picturing the end with everyone clapping and me feeling satisfied that I delivered helpful information.  And most of all… I pictured the people clearly understanding the message and feeling happy about that.

I made it as real as I could and didn’t let a single thought of failure wiggle into my mini mind-movie.

Now why did I do that?  What’s so special about mental movies and imagination?  How can imagination improve anything at all?

Well…

A long time ago, I decided the worst that could realistically ever happen was someone would yell “boooo” from the back row.

And I’ve come to realize.. ok, so what. I’ve carefully considered the law of averages.    And you know what?    The reality is, it’s as likely to get a boo and a hiss when you are prepared and in the moment as it is to get struck by an armadillo driving a bus.  Plus,  I figured I could handle it even if I did get a boo.  My life wouldn’t be over and I would get a second chance to improve and try again.

I would live.

So, when the time came my mind was free of mental roadblocks.

Guess what?

It was great!

We laughed… I got my points across and everybody won.

Not a single boo.

How can you apply these ideas to your life?  Your body?  Your weight loss efforts?

Are you stumbling blindly into life’s “stressful” situations?  Or do you clearly envision the outcome exactly the way you want it to be?

Do you prepare for your success by establishing and following a plan?  Do you foam roll?  Stretch?  Eat healthy foods?  Plan your meals?  Go to bed at a decent hour so you can have the energy for Boot Camp?

Expect the best of yourself.  Imagine it.  Let go and get out of the way of your mind.  Make a decision.

And charge boldly forth!

Cheers,

D

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I do and this is something I read recently that galvanized me…

I was reading a book by Wayne Dyer.

In it he reminded me of how to visualize my goal.

He says, “Your imagination allows you the fabulous luxury of thinking from the end. There’s no stopping anyone who can think from the end.”

Profound.

Now, I do not claim to be the world’s MOST successful man… (whatever that means)… but I feel good.  I’m happy most of the time.  And I have been able to actualize every dream I have had.

Instead of living life adrift in a sea of unhappiness…

I sail purposely in a sea of happiness… punctuated by islands of discontent.

What’s the secret?

Well, part of it is thinking about the end… and working backwards.

What I always do is: I imagine what I really WANT… without worrying about what I imagine others might think of that goal.  Then, I work myself backwards, step by step, to where I am currently.

I never let myself believe it is impossible.  I just start taking steps.

Heck, I might fail.

I HAVE failed.

But then…

I got up and dusted myself off and took a new direction.

I have always believed it was best to…

Never let doubt creep into the imagination for a single second.

Know that all of your experience/existence is a function of your creative and programmed imagination — and that if imagination can work for “the source”, or God… or whatever you call it… it can work for you too.

Visualize who and what you want to be… see your goal as the end result exactly as you want it.

Cheers,

D

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Before I started running Portland Boot Camp, when I was a personal trainer, I heard every excuse in the book for not working out. Frankly, none of them were very convincing.

We all trick ourselves into putting off what we really need to do now. It’s symptom of a little mental disease I like to call “hidden laziness”.

Now to be fair, sometimes very important things DO come up and get in the way. You know: we get really hungry, we get stuck in a mineshaft, or our legs and arms fall off spontaneously. Funny, I even remember telling my gym coach in 8th grade I couldn’t run laps that day because I had a bone in my leg.

So. let’s set the record straight.

With the exception of natural disasters, or unforeseen trauma or serious life interruptions… there is NO excuse for not working out.

Here are 6 of the most often used excuses and what I have to say about them:

#1 “I don’t have time!”

Right. Allow me to translate into plain English: “ I am not willing to create space in my busy schedule to get in shape because I am unwilling to make it a priority.”

Let’s get real. The president (regardless of how you feel about him) exercises, Bill Gates exercises, all my current busy boot campers exercise,

Do you have less time in the day then they do?  Well you might.

But riddle me this…

How much TV do you watch?  Well, exercise during commercials.

- Take a walk at lunch.
- Run while you do errands.
- Get out of bed and exercise before you shower and eat.
- Join a fitness class or Boot Camp and get to it!

The minimum for basic results is 3 times a week for 15 minutes. . You could even split that 15 minutes into two 7.5 minute spurts.

Heck, start with short distance walking if you are really out of shape.

Do SOMETHING. Decide today to take control over your mind, body and health. You’ll thank yourself for it.

#2 “I’m too tired to work out.”

Translation: I am unwilling to make myself get up off the couch and make my health a priority.

Now, it could be real:

- Lack of sleep
- Lack of food
- Too much alcohol
- Too much caffeine
- Too much time in front of TV

But, what do all the above have in common?  They are all choices we make. It’s in our control.

And the biggest reason for not being tired all the time?  Lack of exercise.

That’s right.  It’s a proven fact and Law of Universal Energy… We get out we put in.  Once you start moving you’ll soon see it feels good. And you’ll keep going and will have much more energy throughout the day.

#3 “ I’ll start tomorrow”

Translation: I am a dreamer not a doer.

These are the people who live by the motto: Why do today what you can put of till tomorrow.

Why? Because there’s a never ending stream of tomorrows… tomorrow is when you are still out of shape, overweight, or not getting healthier. There’s only one today… and today’s the day to do SOMETHING for yourself so tomorrow you will be on the path to wellness!

#4 “I’m too old”

Translation… I am giving up…I BELIEVE I am too old..

If this is you, it’s all in your mind. It has been proven false over and over and over.

One name here: Jack Lalanne. This guy STILL works out everyday and he is, like, 93.

You build up 10 times faster than you break down… check out the website and book called “Fit Over 40″ – by Jon Benson… there is a 63 old woman with the body of a 25 year old. Her picture at the top of the page will blow you away.

It’s never too late.

#5 “I don’t know what I should eat”

Translation: I am unwilling to change my poor eating habits and feed my body healthy food.

Ladies, there is no shortage of info on how to eat a healthy diet. But I think you already know the basics.

Ice cream, beer, sugar, cake, candy, pie, cookies, bread, starch, flour, crackers, corn, excess fruit, pasta, excess grain (and for some ANY grain), items in bags, boxes, or wrappers, instant foods, processed foods, soda…

These all impact your health, insulin system and waistline negatively.

Lean meats, green and multicolored veggies, clean water, seeds, nuts, berries, occasional fruits, legumes, vitamins…

These all impact your health, insulin system and waistline positively.

#6  “I have bad genetics”

Translation: I am unwilling to even try to get fit. I am a master excuse maker.

It is unbelievably rare to have genetics that won’t allow you to get fit. I have never seen it in all my years as a trainer and fitness consultant.

You can beat any “family” links to obesity by eating right and exercising regularly.

And that is what boot camp is all about. No excuses. Just results.

Heck, I even GIVE you an eating guide.

If you catch yourself making excuses… you know it’s just your inner gremlin trying to trick you into staying the same. Don’t. You can do whatever you believe you can!

To really overcome your excuses you have to develop absolute certainty that you CAN achieve your goals.  ( I assure you, it HAS been done by many before you… so it IS certain you can do it too.)

Now the key to developing that certainty is seeing it in your mind clearly first…

But that’s another post for another time.

Cheers,

D

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

2007 & 2008 came and went. Did you give up? 2009 is still going… and every passing moment is a chance to turn it all around…

Photo by Eric Charlton

With rain stinging our hands and faces, we scaled a dormant volcano at Mt. Tabor last Wednesday.

3 miles, a couple hundred stairs, and a sprint to the top.

We reached the caldera and I was overwhelmed with the tenacity of my boot camp superstars.

While catching my breath, I said,

“You know… people who try to get in shape… who lose fat and gain it all back…who are laying in bed right now saying they will start moving ‘some day soon’… those who enviously attack successful types… those who sit around wishing for a new body to magically appear… they all believe people like us have some special quality.  Some kind of mojo that sets us apart. They actually believe that we something built-in at birth that they lack.

Well they are right.

And they are also wrong.

They are right: we do have something they lack.  But they are wrong because it isn’t something built in at birth.

It’s something they can have NOW…at any moment.

The magic power we have isn’t glamorous — or really magic at all. It would be easy to dismiss it as too simple to be true.

But it is.

It is simply: persistence.

The power to drive toward a goal relentlessly, even with setbacks and temporary failures, sets you apart.

So I applaud you.

That’s as plain as it gets.

Sure you have to have a clear goal.  Sure you have to have a proven plan.  And of course, you may need some guidance or education.

But the “secret sauce”… the thing that makes it all work  is plain old persistence.

The greatest contributors to humanity have all failed repeatedly… but they never gave up.

And I know you will never give up either.   Because you have the same power they do.  And that’s what sets you apart.

Cheers,

D

P.S.  For an incredible perspective on this topic and a list of 39 or so greats who failed and won…go to Dax Moy’s Ultra Inspiring Blog HERE. right now.  You will hardly believe the inspiring stories of famous people who rose to the top despite the odds.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Even at boot camp.  Yep.  I wrote a dud or two a few years back.

But I learned quickly how to improve and the rest is history.

I’m sure so many others can say the same thing in their lives.

That’s great.  Because I believe failure is actually a good thing.  If you look at it properly.

In my book, failure is big part of success.

Without failure we often cannot move forward.  We often have to discover what does not work to find out what does.

That’s because our brains are servo-mechanisms.  That is, they require a clear target – and then must zig-zag towards the target.  We start by succeeding a little, then failing, correcting course and succeeding a little more, failing a little more, correcting course and succeeding again, and so on until the goal is reached.

It’s a natural process.

Once you fail, you can explore new options and figure out what works perfectly.  So failure is actually a special opportunity to get where we want to go – faster.

This also applies to exercise and attempts to lose weight.

If you have tried to workout and failed,  and if you don’t know where to start, I can help.

Many of the exercises I use in Boot Camp, that burn body fat like no tomorrow, are detailed in Ed Baran’s awesome book called “Body Weight Sculpting Exercises for Women.”

It’s so good, I recently had him on my radio show to talk about why his exercises work so well.

Anyway, if you want to burn fat and get super trim, and you can’t join boot camp right now, then check it out Here. These awesome exercises will cut your time from fat loss failure to fat loss success in half.

Cheers,

Daniel

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.