Warning – this is a late-night rant.

I guess by the time I'm done typing it'll be an early morning rant!

Sometimes I wonder if I should tell people what they "want to hear" as oppose to what they NEED to hear.

Heck, it would make my job WAY easier!

I mean, I don't think it often - but when I do, it's usually after I hear something like "I want to lose weight, but there's no way I'm changing my diet", or "I want to lose weight but I'm not eating any vegetables." or "I want to lose weight but I can't make it to class tonight, I have the hiccups"

But don't worry, every time I think those thoughts, you know, of lying to you and telling you it's not that bad, I remind myself of my pledge to you: Be the friend that will tell it like it is, and tell you what you need to hear even if it's not what you want to hear.

Let's be honest...

I wish I could tell you that it's going to get easier.

I wish I could tell you that you'll reach a point where you will be able to stop trying and pushing.

I WISH I COULD TELL YOU TO TAKE A WEEK OFF.

I wish I could tell you that diet is overrated, that diet is not that important.

I wish I could tell you that you don't need to workout more.

I WISH I COULD TELL YOU TO EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT AND YOU WILL LOSE THE 20lb.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH.

You can kid yourself ALL YOU WANT but it won't change the FACTS or the TRUTHS.

The truth is that you have to find something within to push you, to elevate you and drive you to success.

The truth is YOU ALONE are responsible for where you are, and YOU ALONE are responsible for getting yourself to where you want to be.

Find that deep pain that motivated you in the first place, that brought you to this place, find a strong enough “why” and you will find a way to make it happen.

When you are all depleted, your energy is gone, and are ready to give up on yourself, THAT'S WHEN IT’S SHOWTIME.

When you hit rock bottom.

When you're tired of eating broccoli.

When you're tired of working out.

That's when magic happens.

That's when the separation takes place. Where we see who has it, and who doesn't.

BETWEEN WINNERS AND LOSERS.

Between someone who loses only a fraction of what they want to lose, and someone who reaches their ultimate weight loss goal.

If it was easy everyone would be in shape…

If it was easy everyone would have degrees…

If it was easy everyone would be millionaires…

But the fact of the matter is it IS NOT EASY - NOTHING worthwhile ever is.

But, let me tell you this, it's ALWAYS worth it.

I've never heard someone say "man, I wish I was fat, being this fit, healthy and sexy is a real pain".

EVERYONE I've ever talked to about weight loss, who has at one point in the past been AT their goal, has said this about that point in time: "I felt the best in my life, like everything was going for me, I felt happy, in charge and confident".

It's going to be tough, it's going to be hard, you're going to want to quit, it's going to test you, and it will be worth it.

Never stop growing, never stop reaching for the stars, never stop dreaming, keep raising the bar, keep raising your standards and strive for your goals.

Believe in yourself, you can do it.

To your success, 

Al