HAPPY NEW YOU

New Years is the time that most people begin to set their resolutions. If you find yourself repeating the same "resolution", the fault may be in the way you are setting the goal. Goals should be stated in the positive. Don't say, "I want to stop eating sweets" or "I no longer want to be fat." The mind will have to process the negative in order to understand the goal. It is like that old joke: tell someone “don’t think of a pink elephant.” Now you know that all the listener has to do is create an image of a pink elephant. If you say to yourself: "I no longer want to be fat," your mind will first form the idea of being fat, before it can reverse the image. In essence you are saying “I want to be …” and now the mind creates an image of you, fat. Your mind will deliver what it thinks you want. Did you know that neurotransmitters bathe every cell in the body? Every thought affects every cell in your body. The adult brain contains approximately 100 billion neurons, interconnected in a vast, dynamic network. There are trillions of possible neurological connections in the body. So each time you generate the thought about being fat, you affect your brain physiology; your mind will try to turn this image into reality. It typically gives it to you in the form of an action. Your mind will take you in the direction you picture, whether it's positive or negative, so frame your goal with a positive picture. Take action by asking yourself what you want, and then focus on that instead.
Imagine your goal is a set of bowling pins. The gutters are there, and if you focus on them, you will wind up watching a series of gutter balls. Good bowlers focus all of their attention on the pins they want to hit. In much in the same way, successful people focus all their attention on the goals they want to achieve.

PICK EXERCISE NOT THE REMOTE

You have heard time and again that regular physical activity is important, but how many times have you picked the couch and a bag of chips instead? And what has the couch done for you?

Today you have the ability to live a better quality of life. Not just because of the new gadgets you buy but how you enjoy those things. What is the point of earning a lot of money if you do not have the health to enjoy it? What is the point of taking great vacations if you can’t even walk two miles without needing a break? Imagine the quality of your life ten or twenty years from now.

Getting older doesn’t have to mean breaking down physically. Why not aim to be in the top 3% of the population?

IS YOUR GOAL A JOKE?

“A guy calls a company and orders their 5-day, 10 lb. weight loss program. The next day, there's a knock on the door and there stands before him a voluptuous, athletic, 19 year old babe dressed in nothing but a pair of Nike running shoes and a sign around her neck. She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company The sign reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me." Without a second thought, he takes off after her. A few miles later huffing and puffing, he finally gives up. The same girl shows up for the next four days and the same thing happens On the fifth day, he weighs himself and is delighted to find he has lost 10 lbs. as promised. He calls the company and orders their 5-day/20 pound program. The next day there's a knock at the door and there stands the most stunning, beautiful, sexy woman he has ever seen in h is life. She is wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, "If you catch me you can have me". Well, he's out the door after her like a shot. This girl is in excellent shape and he does his best, but no such luck. So for the next four days, the same routine happens with him gradually getting in better and better shape. Much to his delight on the fifth day when he weighs himself, he discovers that he has lost another 20 lbs. as promised. He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the 7-day/50 pound program "Are you sure?" asks the representative on the phone. "This is our most rigorous program."
"Absolutely," he replies, "I haven't felt this good in years." The next day there's a knock at the door; and when he opens it he finds a huge muscular guy standing there wearing nothing but pink running shoes and a sign around his neck that reads, "If I catch you, your ass is mine." He lost 63 pounds that week.”
It’s a funny joke because what it actually illustrates is that if you want something bad enough you’ll do it. The guy in the joke always had the ability to lose weight, he just didn’t do it. The same can be said about all goals. The question is not whether or not you will get your goal but how bad you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it.

SAY IT TO YOURSELF AND THE UNIVERSE WILL HEAR YOU

The best motivational coach for you is you. When you find yourself headed down a discouraging path---stop and change directions. Think of a word or phrase that will assist you as you continue to monitor your focus while running, working, etc.

Like high-octane fuel for your gas tank, mantras can give you that extra boost. What you choose to focus on will work as powerfully for you as against you. Take what is meaningful to you about moving and meditate on it, sing it, say it or pray it out loud. Let the entire universe know that you’re determined. And nothing and no one will ever stop you.

YOU ARE AS GOOD AS THE PERSON YOU ARE WITH

At one of my gyms there is a poster that reads: YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PERON YOU TRAIN WITH. I think there is a bit of truth in that message.

If you believe yourself to be one of the "Undisciplined ones", then it can help you to initiate friendships with people who show good discipline, or hire a trainer. More importantly if you look for someone to simply work out with---make sure you buddy up with a person who is motivated.

Teaming up with a chronic whiner or a negative realist,only means you will spend more energy assisting them. Choose to be with someone who has an attitude that you admire. Choose to be with someone who has the character of discipline equal or more than you.

PRACTICE MAKE EXCELLENCE

Although sometimes we are quite fearful of change or something new, you are well aware there is no chance for improvement unless there is change. If you have had difficulty in some area, you must change the old patterns. So today, I am suggesting that you do something entirely different from what you usually do. Something that may be quite new to you. Although it is likely that you have done it sometime in the past. Today I am proposing that you let yourself see yourself in perspective.

Now picture yourself intellectually outside your own body with a clear view of your whole life in perspective. You have in your possession all of the wisdom, all the learning and all the understanding that you have ever gained. In this position, you're now able to influence your own destiny by re-programming and upgrading your attitude and defenses. You let yourself change wherever you see the need for growth and maturity so all your reactions may come up to your expectations as you relinquish your hang-ups.

See yourself reinforcing the normal eating patterns, to eat only when you are hungry, to see that your appetite is easily satisfied. Picture yourself enjoying food immensely but only in quantities you need to fulfill normal physiological requirements. See yourself overcoming the temptation to eat any extra food.

Practice passing up unneeded food and drink in your mind. And be delighted when you do it.

LIQUIDS COUNT TOO

There are times when someone will offer me something to eat and I will reply "No, thank you. I'm full.' And more often than not, the person will then insist I have something to drink. I find it very interesting that people do not consider the liquids they are consuming as food. "It goes in the same tank" is typically my reply. When the tank is full it's full.

More interesting that people do not view an ice latte with whipped cream as a desert. Yet calorie for calorie and fat to fat---a smoothie, mocha, Long Island Ice Tea, beer etc can be very harmful.

When it comes to fuel-think about the quality and never top it off.

DO YOU REALLY MEAN IT?

What is your health goal? What does it mean to you? Your meaning or rather the meaning you give to something, drives and motivates you.Meaning is what you feel. It gives something significance.

What does the word “meaning” mean to you? How does that fit into your personal meaning of healthy? Or being fit? What meaning do you give to succeeding or achieving a particular goal.

And what is so meaningful about those meanings? why does it "mean" so much to you? And finally, does it mean enough that you will take action? If yes,what is the physical action you will take? Now Just do it.

DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO BE DISCIPLINE

Discipline is not something you are born with. It is a mental muscle that needs constant training. Like any other muscle, if you don’t use it, it will weaken. It takes more than just wanting to be disciplined. It is an ability that must be developed and tended to. If it appears easy for some, it is because those people have cultivated it for a very long time.

It isn’t something you can grab out of the top drawer when you need it. You have to have it ready when you need it. Begin slowly by creating a reward and consequence game for your behaviors.Remember no muscle gets into shape immediately. You have to methodically build it and maintain it. All your choices affect this muscle.
(taken from my book: "Head Over Meals-Thinking Your Way To Being Thin Happy & Healthy")

NEW YEAR-SAME GOAL?

New Years is the time that most people begin to set their resolutions. If you find yourself repeating the same "resolution", the fault may be in the way you are setting the goal. Goals should be stated in the positive. Don't say, "I want to stop eating sweets" or "I no longer want to be fat." The mind will have to process the negative in order to understand the goal. It is like that old joke: tell someone “don’t think of a pink elephant.” Now you know that all the listener has to do is create an image of a pink elephant. If you say to yourself: "I no longer want to be fat," your mind will first form the idea of being fat, before it can reverse the image. In essence you are saying “I want to be …” and now the mind creates an image of you, fat. Your mind will deliver what it thinks you want. Did you know that neurotransmitters bathe every cell in the body? Every thought affects every cell in your body. The adult brain contains approximately 100 billion neurons, interconnected in a vast, dynamic network. There are trillions of possible neurological connections in the body. So each time you generate the thought about being fat, you affect your brain physiology; your mind will try to turn this image into reality. It typically gives it to you in the form of an action. Your mind will take you in the direction you picture, whether it's positive or negative, so frame your goal with a positive picture. Take action by asking yourself what you want, and then focus on that instead.
Imagine your goal is a set of bowling pins. The gutters are there, and if you focus on them, you will wind up watching a series of gutter balls. Good bowlers focus all of their attention on the pins they want to hit. In much in the same way, successful people focus all their attention on the goals they want to achieve.