He thinks and acts that way because it's his way of life. He's made being fit a part of his daily routine. Example, when I started my "lifestyle change" a year ago, I did not think and act this way because I wasn't fit yet and it wasn't a part of my lifestyle. But, a year later, I'm addicted to reaching my goal, I'm still not where I want to be, but I most certainley think and act (and sleep, eat & breath) a healthy lifestyle knowing that eventually I'll hit my goal of 200lbs of ripped mass! If you don't start with your mental preparation of how and why your going to meet your goal, you'll never get there. I still have some of my beer belly (1/2 is gone) that I had when I started, yet people at work are constantly asking me for workout and nutritional advice because they see the positive changes in the way I "Think & Act". Just like good ol' Tommy V.
Sarah, CPT
· 2 years ago
Tom "let it slide" in his college days, like anyone else. He has temptations over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, like anyone else. But he also has his mindset keeping him on the "lean and muscular" (rather then the straight and narrow), once he decided FOR the fitness lifestyle and AGAINST the partying of the college days.
Many people think it seems corny to repeat their goals every day, to write them down, to stick pictures og their goal body all over the place; but hey guys: it works! Don't knock it till you've at least given it a month of honest try-out.
Absolutely believe that you are what you want, unless you don't really want to change that is ....
Jeffrey Hall
· 2 years ago
Hi Marc,
I think that once you start believing you can change, you can! For most of my adult life, I didn't believe I could change. When I tried to get fit in the past, I had limited, transitory success with my fitness. Funny thing was, I couldn't figure out what the problem was. I think a lot of fitness gurus who advocate fitness programs, methods, diets, and gadgets, were steering people like me, way off track.
Now, I know that I can do it! That's really the only difference between the old me and the new me. Since my epiphany, over the last 5 years, I've lost 60 pounds. I've been at a stable 195 for about 2 years, and I continue to improve my muscle tone and mass.
Thought processes are definitely the key to fitness. The actual change in behavior is minuscule in comparison to the change in thinking that must occur for significant, lasting results. Believe it and you can achieve it. That's my motto.
Regards, -Jeff-
rick chase
· 2 years ago
This is one of the few areas where I believe thinking can effect reality. This whole idea of positive visualization gets blown out of proportion when people begin to think they make themselves healthy and rich etc. simply by thinking (I.e. The Secret). Try selling that in Darfour or to some kid with Loukemia. They did not think themselves into those situations and it's going to take more then just positive thinking to get out of them. However, when it comes to personal fitness, thinking is 99% of the job. The healthier and more consistently your thought life is geared towards getting in shape, the more likley you are going to be able to battle self defeating thought patterns that have kept you in obesity and poor physical shape. And the better your health becomes, the more healthy your thoughts and attitudes will become so that the whole process is self perpeuating. What an amazing thing the human mind is.
pradeep
· 2 years ago
When you respect your body, you'll want to stay fit and obviously you'll think that way.. i feel sad to say that most people dont do that.. and some of them believe good nutrition alone will make them fit.. health problems are another factor.. i've tried for more than a year to get into shape.. of course i've attained it to a small extent.. but then i've a problem with my right shoulder, i believe its a muscle knot i'm not sure though.. i would like someone to post about this.. even though i've the thoughts and thinking of being fit, i'm not able to..
Kenny Mah
· 2 years ago
I'm glad I came across your article; it's helping me to make sense of my current situation. I used to be overweight and obsessed about losing weight but never put any real concerted effort into till I hit my early 20's. Now, in contrast, I find myself losing too much weight and finally letting go of that old image of my old overweight self.
Having dinner with a personal trainer friend last night, I confessed to him I no longer want to worry about gaining or losing weight or keep trying one program after another (not that there is anything inherently wrong with them), but to focus on making fitness and health a priority in my life, something as normal as waking up and brushing my teeth.
And perhaps that is the first step toward getting there, to begin with thinking like a healthy, fit person rather than someone who's always worried about his weight or how people might view him.
P.S. Have heard about the Law of Attraction before but never really took notice till now. Will look it up and investigate. Thanks.
Marc David
· 2 years ago
The comments so far are right on target. And I cannot tell you how much I personally appreciate the feedback.
Here's one from Kenny that hit home because it's so darn simple.
"but to focus on making fitness and health a priority in my life, something as normal as waking up and brushing my teeth."
Absolutely. Once you make the smallest change, you can add one more. Pretty soon your entire life is changed in 365 days. You'd literally be a new person (inside from the cell regeneration) and mentally from all the various changes.
It's much smarter to take baby steps than to try and change your life overnight. That's the #1 reason why so many gyms are crowded on January 1st, and empty by summer. Those who try and make fitness their lifestyle try and do it overnight.
It's entirely too much to change that quickly. It's like:
* moving to another state * having a family * buying a new car * getting a new house * new job * clothes
Too much!
As with anything, it's not any different with your health. Figure out what small changes you can make until it adds up to one big lifestyle change. At the end of those 365 days, you have 'changed your life' slowly and so little that it doesn't seem like a huge deal.
It's so simple hardly anybody looks at it that way.
Kenny Mah
· 2 years ago
I like the idea of making small changes every day till I'm a completely new person in 365. Small, manageable, sustainable changes.
You're right, Marc, it is simple, but I've never seen it that way before... how my own expectations before were too enormous; it'd be as drastic as moving into another state as you put it.
Right now, the Bob Proctor quote is on repeat in my head ("Act like the person you want to become.") and I will act on that daily till it becomes true. :)
Sarah, CPT
· 2 years ago
There is also the impatience factor which ruins the efforts for many people. They tend to forget that the excess fat didn't accumulate overnight, and will not melt overnight either. It takes time. As Tom says, when you fill a pool, the deep end is the first to be filled. When you drain it, it's the deep end which is emptied last. Bodyfat tends to do the same, and the human "deep end" is the belly/butt area.
Step by healthy step, that bodyfat will melt. It will have no choice.
I'll put that quote from Bob Proctor on repeat too :) great idea! We all need a reminder of how to achieve - and keep - our goals.
Eliane
· 2 years ago
Hello Marc,
Beautiful article!
Every thing is the power of "WILL" isn't it? if I will, I can, then I will. . . very sinple.
Best, Eliane.
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· 11 months ago
Has read with the pleasure, very interesting post, write still, good luck to you!
All Comments
Many people think it seems corny to repeat their goals every day, to write them down, to stick pictures og their goal body all over the place; but hey guys: it works! Don't knock it till you've at least given it a month of honest try-out.
Absolutely believe that you are what you want, unless you don't really want to change that is ....
I think that once you start believing you can change, you can! For most of my adult life, I didn't believe I could change. When I tried to get fit in the past, I had limited, transitory success with my fitness. Funny thing was, I couldn't figure out what the problem was. I think a lot of fitness gurus who advocate fitness programs, methods, diets, and gadgets, were steering people like me, way off track.
Now, I know that I can do it! That's really the only difference between the old me and the new me. Since my epiphany, over the last 5 years, I've lost 60 pounds. I've been at a stable 195 for about 2 years, and I continue to improve my muscle tone and mass.
Thought processes are definitely the key to fitness. The actual change in behavior is minuscule in comparison to the change in thinking that must occur for significant, lasting results. Believe it and you can achieve it. That's my motto.
Regards,
-Jeff-
Having dinner with a personal trainer friend last night, I confessed to him I no longer want to worry about gaining or losing weight or keep trying one program after another (not that there is anything inherently wrong with them), but to focus on making fitness and health a priority in my life, something as normal as waking up and brushing my teeth.
And perhaps that is the first step toward getting there, to begin with thinking like a healthy, fit person rather than someone who's always worried about his weight or how people might view him.
P.S. Have heard about the Law of Attraction before but never really took notice till now. Will look it up and investigate. Thanks.
Here's one from Kenny that hit home because it's so darn simple.
"but to focus on making fitness and health a priority in my life, something as normal as waking up and brushing my teeth."
Absolutely. Once you make the smallest change, you can add one more. Pretty soon your entire life is changed in 365 days. You'd literally be a new person (inside from the cell regeneration) and mentally from all the various changes.
It's much smarter to take baby steps than to try and change your life overnight. That's the #1 reason why so many gyms are crowded on January 1st, and empty by summer. Those who try and make fitness their lifestyle try and do it overnight.
It's entirely too much to change that quickly. It's like:
* moving to another state
* having a family
* buying a new car
* getting a new house
* new job
* clothes
Too much!
As with anything, it's not any different with your health. Figure out what small changes you can make until it adds up to one big lifestyle change. At the end of those 365 days, you have 'changed your life' slowly and so little that it doesn't seem like a huge deal.
It's so simple hardly anybody looks at it that way.
You're right, Marc, it is simple, but I've never seen it that way before... how my own expectations before were too enormous; it'd be as drastic as moving into another state as you put it.
Right now, the Bob Proctor quote is on repeat in my head ("Act like the person you want to become.") and I will act on that daily till it becomes true. :)
Step by healthy step, that bodyfat will melt. It will have no choice.
I'll put that quote from Bob Proctor on repeat too :) great idea! We all need a reminder of how to achieve - and keep - our goals.
Beautiful article!
Every thing is the power of "WILL" isn't it? if I will, I can, then I will. . . very sinple.
Best, Eliane.