What’s Going to Make This Year Different?

So by now I’m sure everyone has their list of New Year’s resoultions. How many of those goals are recycled from past New Year’s resolutions?

How are you going to make this year different for your fitness goals?

One way you can make this year different is by deciding to not go for your goals on your own. Join a support group, or create your own with a group of friends. Surround yourself with people who have the same goal; this way, you are less likely to sabotage your efforts by following other people’s bad habits. It’s easier to resist temptation when you’re not surrounded by it.

Another way you can make this year different is to keep a journal of your activities and what you eat. Studies show that when people keep a food diary, they tend to lose more weight on average than those who do not log their intake.

Write down your goals. Don’t just keep them in your head. Post them everywhere. Make a vision board. Make yourself be constantly reminded of your goals to keep you focused.

These are just a few things you can do to not fall into the New Year’s resolution trap.

More coming soon…I’m tired from training and am going to rest now

If you want motivation, watch this video

Last night I had the pleasure of watching an awesome video posted at RossTraining.com. It’s a video of David Goggins, an ultramarathoner who runs to raise money for college tuition for the children of fallen soldiers.

If you need a reason to make 2009 your best year, just do it to find out what you’re made of. Too many people go through life without truly challenging themselves. They’re happy with being comfortable. But then as life goes on, they begin to wonder “what if.”

Don’t be one of those people wondering “what if.”

If you truly want to change your life, if you want to life healthier, happier, and longer, you have to put in the work. Quit wishing and start doing. Find out what you’re made of.

Law of Attraction, pt. 2

Here’s a visualization tool to help you implement the law of attraction in terms of generating wealth. This is also a framework for you to use regardless of your goals; instead of focusing on money, use affirmations about health, weight loss, education, etc.

I will be using this to keep my mind on a positive track.

Morning Motivation

I often am asked the question “how do you keep yourself motivated to work out?” I hear various reasons from my friends as to why they don’t work out: lack of motivation, no time, it’s too hard, etc, etc. If you really want to live the healthy lifestyle, you have to exercise. No exceptions.

So how can you keep yourself motivated to go to the gym, to take a walk, to ride a bike, or do some other physical activity?

Remember, you ALWAYS FEEL BETTER after a workout than you did before. I remember days where there wasn’t organized soccer practice, and I had to drag myself out of the comfort of my bed to go work out. There are days when even elite athletes don’t feel well, or just don’t feel like working out. But, to keep myself on track, I remember how I feel after I finish my work out, how good my muscles feel, how proud of myself I am because I completed a killer workout. Don’t forget to tell yourself how great you will feel after!

Another good motivator is to write down your goals, and to tell people about them. If you write them down, you make your goals concrete, not just a thought in your head. Post your goals around areas that you see daily. Write down the steps needed in order to reach your goal; if you don’t know those steps, seek out someone who does. Tell people about your goals, because telling others makes you accountable to follow through, and it helps when friends can follow-up and track how you are doing.

If you can, find a workout partner, because they will also help you remain accountable not only to your goals, but to the workout. You will be less likely to skip out on a workout if you have someone waiting for you. If you were my workout partner and you stood me up, I would not hesitate to call you out on it!

Find out what motivates you. I have two motivational quotes that keep me on track:

“Champions aren´t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.” Muhammad Ali

“A workout is 25% perspiration and 75% determination. Stated another way, it is one part physical exertion and three parts self discipline. Doing it is easy once you get started. A workout makes you better today than you were yesterday. A workout strengthens the body, relaxes the mind and toughens the spirit. When you work out regularly, your problems diminish and your confidence grows. A workout is a personal triumph over laziness and procrastination. It is the badge of a winner — the mark of an organized, goal-oriented person who has taken charge of his or her destiny. A workout is a wise use of time and an investment in excellence. It prepares you for life’s challenges and affirms your ability to do what is necessary. A workout is a key that helps unlock the doors to opportunity and success. Hidden within each of us is an extraordinary force.” Bruce Lee

What motivates you?

When you have a passion for something…

I just read this post at RossTraining, and the video from Jack Lalanne was absolutely inspirational to me. When you have a passion for something, the rest will take care of itself. You should choose a career in fitness because you love it, not for the money. Securing my clients’ success, helping others become passionate about fitness, and sharing/learning new knowledge will be the most important things to me once I begin training (I have an interview this Friday to become a personal trainer–they’ll train me and help me get certified wish me luck! ) Anyway, check it out, and his other posts as well. Simple, effective workouts and a healthy living philosophy–it’s a great site. I’ll have a real article up for you tomorrow!