Not what I will be talking about…so don’t worry.
We already know what happens in the New Year, so I won't even go there. All I want to say is that if you’re going to be a statistic, why not be the .5% that stick through with their goals, as oppose to the 99.5% that do not.
What I want to do is talk about you. Yes, you.
You see, I received an email from you the other day.
Your email was one that even before you opened your mouth (or started typing) I already knew what it was going to say. In fact, even those who don't have the courage to even start the "admitting" process still suffer from the same thing you spoke about, and I know they’re thinking the same things you are. Your email covers nearly everyone. Yep, everyone. Well, except for the .5% of the world, but I don't write newsletters to them.
Just in case there's any confusion, let me magnify the "gist" of the email for all to see.
I can't seem to eat the right foods anymore.
I can't control my urges.
I can't seem to get to the gym as often.
I can’t seem to find the time.
I can't seem to push as hard as I need to.
I can't seem to get the body I truly think I deserve.
I can't seem to get the motivation I need to work out.
I can't seem to fit into these damn jeans like I used to.
I can't seem to get the energy to workout.
I can't seem to ...
Okay, I may have glorified the list a touch, maybe even added some of my own in there.
I don't mean this in a derogatory way, but there's a thought I have that just blows me away. It goes something like "How is it that someone can spend a whole year, a WHOLE YEAR working on their health and fitness and yet they don't achieve anything worthwhile?"
I know I'm direct, to the point, and don’t hold anything back but it's from a good place, and to be honest everyone else is feeding you the lie to make you feel good junk and it's not helping anyone - and I want no part in it.
I'd rather take a sharper, more direct approach, take the risk of possible hurting your feelings in order to drive you to create change, to create the life you want once and for all and prove to you that you can do it and actually deliver results. Sound fair?
Back to the point.
A year! A whole freaking year!
How many days does it take for the human body to get in shape? Of course that's all relative to how far you've gone, but for the majority draw most of you can achieve the goal you want in 90 days.
That's right, 3 months of commitment and you can be where you want to be. In my 12 week weight loss challenges we've seen people lose 70-80 pounds - and I still believe with some solid clean eating it could be better. So, in a year you have 4 chances at this 3 month life change. So in essence you really do have a lot of room for error. You can completely screw up 3 times and nail it on the fourth.
365 days to make it happen.
52 weeks to just lose a few pounds a week.
12 months to drop 15 pounds a month.
1 full year to lose 50 pounds.
And those are all extremely conservative numbers.
If I walked up to you and said how long do you need to lose 50 pounds, no one would say one year. You would throw numbers ranging from 3 to 6 months.
Why? Because we've seen so much better. We've all heard of people losing massive amounts of weight in only a year or two.
And yet, look at the average person out there who seem to constantly GAIN weight year after year. When a new year starts, you are going to see them ALL busting their butts at the gyms yet statistics tell us most will gain weight this year.
Actually, let's talk about motivation for a minute. I get some people who tell me they “just need some motivation”, and then others say “well that's great you get me all motivated but that stuff doesn't last.”
Sure, I can pump you up and get you all motivated and ready to rock and roll, but if you don’t make a conscious effort to keep that momentum going, it’s going to be short lived.
There's a reason I read so much. There's a reason my social media newsfeed is packed with motivational information – because, I too, need a daily boost of inspiration. I don't need to hear everyone's sob stories and who done who wrong, and who owes who money and the world is hard on me and ain't cutting me no slack.. That doesn't serve me or the person writing it, OR the person commenting with pity, any good.
Want to make your Facebook newsfeed loaded with daily inspiration?
Follow these guys (to name a few):
https://www.facebook.com/BrianTracyPage
https://www.facebook.com/ZigZiglar
https://www.facebook.com/BodybuildingMotivation
https://www.facebook.com/drwaynedyer
https://www.facebook.com/johnassarafpage
https://www.facebook.com/TonyRobbins
https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyGitomer
https://www.facebook.com/sethgodin
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDenisWaitley
https://www.facebook.com/DarrenHardyFan
https://www.facebook.com/HarvEker
https://www.facebook.com/JackCanfieldFan
https://www.facebook.com/drjoevitale
https://www.facebook.com/harveymackay
That's just the beginning, but you get the point. They'll offer you meaningful news feed material.
Okay, so where am I going with all this?
What's great about health, fitness and, seriously let’s face it, ALL aspects of life is in order to achieve anything substantial and worth achieving you need some... self-discipline.
Yuck. What a gross word. Self-discipline, we've heard it preached over and over, pounded into us in school, yet really do any of us have any?
I mean, you're eating healthy, minding your own business, doing some shopping when all of a sudden a chocolate bar jumps out in front of you, tackles you to the ground, rips your mouth open and dives in and before you can even gather your senses it's found it's way into your stomach, and soon makes its way onto your thighs. It's a helpless world, how will self-discipline be of any use?
You just had no self-discipline, you reached out (and no, it's not against your will because, well, they are your arms) grabbed the chocolate bar, or whatever calls your name, actually stood in line holding it (giving you plenty of time to put it back) decided you wanted the chocolate bar more than the money it cost, more than the health and vitality it cost, opened the wrapper and put it into your mouth.
Here's the kicker - this rarely happens just one time. One time is forgivable. In fact several times is forgivable. But it's daily. And for those of you who disagree that it's daily, you may be right, but it's more times than needed otherwise you'd be at your goal.
Do I need more examples or we can relate this to pretty much anything? Like not studying for an exam, not working out, not saving money, etc.
Here's the GOOD NEWS: YOU are in CONTROL.
You aren't born with a terrible case of bad self-discipline and destined to be that way forever.
Self-discipline is a muscle, and like all muscles it can be used, trained and most importantly, improved. Oh, and like a muscle it can also be lost. If you don't use it you lose it. You have WEAK self-discipline muscles!
Here's a very simple yet immensely powerful promise: If you train your self-discipline muscles you can achieve any goal that you are after.
With self-discipline you can:
- Go to the gym when you said you were going too which will result in that amazing, sexy, body you've been after.
- Eat the right foods which will give you that vitality and energy to keep up with your kids, your lover and life every step of the way.
- Study what you need to study to pass your exams with flying colors, get that diploma and land the dream job you are after.
- Read the books you need to read to improve your life and achieve that level of not just happiness but of passion for life.
- Save the money you need to save in order to take that holiday you've been waiting to take for far too long.
So on and so forth.
I haven't met a single problem that can't be solved with self-discipline because self-discipline gives you the commitment to figure out what needs to be done and actually do it.
This isn't some wishful New Year resolutions crap. This isn't some magic formula that only works for some people some of the time. This isn't something that only lucky people have. Everyone who has self-discipline in ANY area of life has worked hard to get it. What's especially amazing is once you've mastered it you can apply that discipline to ANY area of your life.
And, it gets better.
Once you have self-discipline it significantly and positively improves not only your attitude but your motivation.
When you know you've put your mind to something and have the ability to follow through with it, it puts to rest all of those nagging voices and those hindering doubts telling you that you can’t pull it off.
Self-discipline is the key to a full life on your own terms.
“Great! I'll take three boxes to go please, hold the ketchup.”
I wish it were that simple.
Here's the "catch 22"... it takes self-discipline to get self-discipline - but only a little bit.
The truth is we all have self-discipline inside of us, but we are missing a few tricks, tips and strategies to drastically increase the process.
Don't beat yourself over the head trying to figure this out, and I'm not here to re-invent the wheel, nor am I the guy to teach you how to make leaps and bounds with your self-discipline. I'm just the guy who kicks you in the butt to get out there and do it!
If you want to reach your goals once and for all then Brian Tracy is the one I recommend to tell you how it’s done. Or Anthony Robbins, you know, in that book I keep talking about! Brian Tracy has a great book called No Excuses I encourage you to check out.
Don't let another WHOLE year go by without making any progress. And don't kid yourself. If you lost 30 pounds a few months ago and it's back, or will be after Christmas, you didn't really achieve anything! All you did was work really hard for nothing. Once you reach a goal it's your job to keep it. A health goal is only worth it if you maintain it.
I believe in you, now believe in yourself enough to train your self-discipline muscles.
To your success,
Al