It Takes More Than Exercise, Good Foods and Smiles

I wish I could tell you that you needed to do 100 squats a day
to be in perfect shape.

I wish I could tell you that all you needed to do was eat
healthy foods or just smile most of the day and you’d reach your
ultimate health and fitness goals.

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. These are only some of the
pieces.

Don’t listen to those who tell you exercise, nutrition and a
good attitude is the magic pill. It isn’t. Just doing these
things won’t cut it.

Why?

You’ll end up back where you started again. It is not a
coincidence that dieters gain the weight back. It is not by
chance that strict workout routines fade into once a month
routines. The people with even the best intentions fail when
they haven’t included one essential aspect in your fitness plan.

Before I mention what that is, I want to make one thing clear…
when you fail at your fitness, it’s not because you are a loser
or can’t cut it or any other self defeating thing you may think.
Though you’d be surprised at how many people think this is the
case. The reason you fail is because you were never given the
right formula for success.

I’m going to give it to you right now.

Successful people see the outcome. They visualize themselves
achieving their goals. Successful people picture themselves at
the finish line, 20 pounds lighter, with great skin, flexible,
and in great health.

Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, Arnold Palmer… all the great
athletes that you can think of separate themselves because they
visualize their success.

And more so than just seeing the future, they can feel it.

Think about something that you really wanted. I mean REALLY
wanted.

I remember when I was about 7 or 8 I wanted the G.I. JOE
aircraft carrier. This thing was the motherload of all toys at
the time. I can remember seeing the commercials on the TV and
imagining how the flight deck felt as I landed my planes and
moved the figurines around it. I would spend nights thinking
about the thing. I put it on my birthday list, I put it on my
Christmas list. Everywhere. I knew I was going to get it because
I could close my eyes and see it right in front of me.

But on Christmas day, it wasn’t there under the tree. I was
devastated, disappointed, I couldn’t believe it wasn’t there. It
was all I wanted.

I persisted. I asked my mother, “Are you sure you didn’t get it
for me?” She responded with a solid, “Nope.” I didn’t believe
her. I looked in the closets. I looked in the garage.

Then I went in the basement.

And there is was. Fully assembled. With a fleet ready and
waiting for the next attack.

How does a G.I. JOE aircraft carrier apply to you and your
fitness?

It’s simple. You have to see yourself in good health.

When you’re lying in bed, imagine yourself feeling good, working
out and smiling. Imagine the things you’ll say when you are in
great shape. Imagine how people will respond to you when you’re
2 sizes smaller. Imagine the type of clothes you’ll wear.
Schedule your days. Make appointments with people you’ve been
too afraid to speak to because you were too self conscious.

I mean do everything possible to make this dream of yours a
reality.

Shame on your sixth grade teacher who said to stop daydreaming
and looking out the window during class. They’ve unknowingly
squashed your ability to picture yourself being a success.

Look out the window and imagine yourself breathing in that air
after a walk in the woods or at a park.

Daydream and focus on your goal of great health. Then you can
start to exercise. Then you can start to eat right. Then you can
and will start to smile every time you think about how great it
feels to be in phenomenal shape!

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