Month: June 2015

So here is a question I’ve got for you, why is so easy for some people to not try? Whether it be about health & fitness, financial goals, or maybe a personal goal to go back and get those few classes to complete that college degree. Why is it that some of us will never pursue those dreams or aspirations & some of us will? Why is so easy for some of us to give up on our opportunity to succeed?

Is it because of your childhood that you never had those opportunities where you grew up? Is it because of the high school you attended and the teaches that were teaching you? Or Is it because you have tried, tried, and tried again that every time you take one step forward that you end up taking two steps back?

I mean why is it certain people continue to get up and bust their behind to get things accomplish why the rest sit back and hope that something will just flop in their laps? Or is it simply fear of what could happen? Fear is a weird thing. For some, it can propel us to new heights because of how our past experiences have treated us. For others, it can hold us captive not allowing us to expand our thinking on how we could change our situation.

Here’s one comment I heard a lot of, “If God wanted me to have it, then he would have given it to me. I’m sorry but God gave us trees and we made things like boats, spears, horse carriages, and built homes.

I honestly believe that for most people it is actually not about failing at all because most of us have already failed at a handful of things already. Maybe you came up short being the great parent of the year but I’m sure you kids still love you the same. Maybe you wasn’t able to save money last year like you truly wanted to but you still found a way to take your family on that summer vacation. Maybe you said or did some hurtful things to your spouse but you both still have been able to figure it out over the years. Have you ever got up in the morning thinking, did someone feed the dog last night?  I bet he still comes up to you wagging his tail ready for some attention. (Hungry. . . but still want some attention)

Or maybe you have had so many moments of negativity in your life that you really don’t give positive thoughts an opportunity anymore. I’ve tried but I can’t lose weight. I don’t have time to go back to college. I don’t know anything about starting a business. And you never will this sort of an attitude!

Maybe, it just a fear of actually succeeding at something. So, instead of thinking that, “Hey, I might have a chance at this.” Your thoughts are like:

What if actually tried being a bit more positive?

What if I try and fail only to end up disappointing myself again?

What if I work really hard and nothing changes?

What if I do start changing and people around me begin to judge me?

Any of these sound familiar?

When I had this idea of encouraging busy parents like myself to get back in shape and to start having a healthier lifestyle, my first thought was I’m no personal trainer or dietician. I don’t know all the ends and outs of this fitness and health industry.

I’m not some physique model guru posting pictures on Instagram. Nope, I just some ball-headed guy that was well over 300lbs who is a dad, a husband, a coach, & a neighbor that figured out how to lose the weight without any gimmicks, pills, or potions, and keep it off. I wanted to help a few people do the same thing. So I figured if I can help at least one person to get back up to give it another try and keep pushing until they reach their goal then I accomplished exactly what I set out to do.

Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Yes, if you don’t at least try you will never get to your goal. I would rather have tried and failed instead not trying at all. Look, life is gonna get in the way from time to time and things are not gonna always work out right but that’s no excuse for not trying.

Have you let this mindset keep you from opportunities to take things to the next level? If so, let’s re-frame your “what ifs”.

What if NOW is the best time to get started?

What if I learn a different strategy that fit my personal schedule?

What if someone hold me accountable to my goals and dreams?

What if I just took it one day at a time?

What if I didn’t give up?

What would that look like?

Any of this sounds familiar?

Ok, I get it. You are tired and life dealt you a bad hand. But if you give up on your dreams what are you saying to your kids? You may be telling your kids that “You can be whatever you want to be in life.” But, when your kids look at you and ask “Hey Mom/Dad, what did you want be when you were growing up?” What’s your answer to them because ultimately it not what you are saying is going be that golden nugget that they will remember 10 or 15 years later but what you are doing day end & day out is what you are really saying.

I heard someone say that the greatest ideas, inventions, and discoveries in the world are in the graveyard because these people died with people never really living up to their full potential. These are hope and aspirations that were never followed through with.

Don’t let fear hold you back. If you have something that you really would like to accomplish, then start down the path of achieving it. Start with those baby steps to get there. It may take you six months. It may take you a year, but time is going to pass by anyway so you might as well be working towards something in the mean time. The only difference between you and person that has already reached their goal is that they didn’t give up.

So, I challenge you to keep pushing no matter how long it takes. You can do it. Keep Grinding!

On The Grind – Byron

Prior to going into any battle, any regime must have some sort of a plan on how the enemy will be defeated. So before starting any new workout & weight loss plan, you should have a plan of attack in place. And in order to have the right plan, there are a few questions you must ask yourself.

1. What’s Your True Goal? 

You would like to [do something] within this [amount of time]. Maybe it is going from a walk to a run. Maybe it’s dropping that last 10lbs or 20lbs before the end of summer. Maybe the goal you had  a year ago isn’t the same as what you want to accomplish right now.

Your goal need to have a start date & end date in order for you to measure a level of success. Identify a realistic goal.

2. How Will Reach Your Goal?

A lot people complete mess this up because they have this bright idea that if they just run everyday and do crunches at night before they go to bed that in six weeks they will look like the person with the six pack abs on the late night infomercial. I’m sorry to let you know that you probably gonna be disappointed.

Just because you know someone who had great results with a particular workout program doesn’t mean you will have the same results as them. Make sure your plan directly reflect your goals. The paths of building muscle and losing body fat for you may be different in nature

3. How Long Will It Take?

How long do you think it will take you to reach that next milestone? 30 days, 60 days, or maybe six months. The industry average for healthy weight loss is about 1.0 to 2.5 pounds a week depending on how much you are trying to lose. Pick a future date an work backwards toward where you are currently at. (Example) If you are giving yourself twelve weeks at an average of 2.0 pounds a week then you should be close to dropping 20-24lbs in those twelve weeks. Your numbers may fluctuate as you progress and may even stop at a certain point. Don’t get discouraged, muscle weighs more than fat.

4. When Will You Workout?

Will it be early morning before the rooster crows, after you drop the kids off at school, during your lunch break or sometime in the afternoon after a long day of work? This might be some trial and error with this one. Find the time that is less likely to be interrupted.

5. How Many Days Per Week?

So you might be really motivated and 6 days a week with only on rest day might fit your daily schedule or maybe only 3 days week is what currently have available. Putting yourself on a workout program that requires you to be in the gym five days a week when you can rationally only make it three or maybe four days if you really push it is a disaster waiting to happen. People still do it though and then wonder why they aren’t seeing results. Remember, consistency over a long period of time equals results.

6. Will You Have Fun Doing It?

If you are not enjoying it, then you probably will not stick to it. There are a lot of great workout plans and if you are not looking forward to you next cardio kick boxing session or doing Jefferson squats then you might want to find something that best fits your personality. Once you have identified some of these key elements to your plan, then get ramped for a full out assault to reach you goals. Check out www.bodybuilding.com for some really great workout plans to get you started. If you’re ever confused as to what’s the best one be sure you consult with a certified physician or personal trainer.

 

Stay On The Grind….

It happens to the best of us. We start out so fired up. We push ourselves to eat healthy & workout. Then it happens, the one thing we all go through. That’s right “Life”. It smacks us right in the face. Some of us it takes six months, some a year, some of us can even push for two or three years before it happens.

That’s right life. You start a new job or some new business venture, your spouse decides to go back & get that degree they so have longed for; your kids start playing some others sport and you have to get them to each & ever practice. These normal life changes can make your daily routine completely out of whack.

A few weeks go by and you find yourself saying ” Next week, I’ll be able to get into it. Monday, I’m gonna start back with Zumba. Next weekend, I should be able to get my meals prepped. I’ll be back in the gym next week. Blah, blah-blah, blah-blah. We’ve all done it at some in time where we feel like we sort of lost control and got off track.

Truth be told, it is so easy to get off track. You miss a few workouts, have a few evening desserts, or go to that one potluck where everyone brings great dishes to partake in, and bam you have put on a few pounds & maybe gained a few inches that you had been working so hard to get off.

Instead of complaining about being off track, lets do all the little things to get back in the right direction. Here are a few tips to get you back on track.

1. Remember, its a marathon not a sprint!

It took you years to put the weight on and if you have 50lbs or more that you are trying to lose, its not gonna all come off on your 6 Weeks to Shred or your 90 Day Plan to be fit. It may take multiple 90 day plans that will eventually get you there. Enjoy the journey of seeing your body transition.

2. Plan Your Attack!

No army of any kind ever goes into battle without having some sort of a plan. If you don’t know what you want to accomplish then how will you know when you have reached your goal. You all have probably seen this quote some where along the lines but it is so true “If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail. People who just wake up out bed and go about their day with absolutely no plan of how they are going to get rid of that last 10 or 20 pounds will probably be working at it for a long time. But that person who have some sort of a workout schedule, their meals are prepped, and tracking their weekly goals will reach their milestone much sooner. Keep Planning and Keep Attacking!

3. Set New Goals!

Challenge yourself to a new goal. Maybe run a 5K, a Mud Run, an Endurance Run, or enter you 1st Physique Contest.

4. Have fun!

If you are not having fun, then you won’t stick to it. Whether it’s crossfit, going to your local gym, group kickboxing class, or pressing play on your P90X video. Just figure out what works for you.

5. Get Rid Of Your Overweight Clothes!

Don’t allow yourself to be tempted with some of your old clothing. Get rid of them and don’t let those clothes allow you to keep putting on those few extra pounds. When you fill it getting snug, this might be your first sign to get back on track.

6. Get An Accountability Partner

It helps knowing that someone else understands the struggle of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Have someone that will be brutally honest with you even when it might sometime hurt but they can keep you accountable of your own goals. Don’t go through life trying do it all by your lonesome. Have someone hold you accountable to what you want to accomplish.

7. Keep Grinding & Don’t Quit!

You might get off track, you might be going through some struggles in life but the one thing you can’t do is quit and give up. Keep Pushing and Stay On Track!

 

So what will you do this week to get back on track? Leave a comment below.