Thursday - The Winning Attitude

There is a battle raging in our minds.
It's like two bulls fighting, and whichever is strongest prevails. The manifestation of this battle  is in each person's attitude toward success. Do you want it?

There are many angles to address this, but I want to focus on an item that has come up with somebody close. It bothers me. I am troubled, because I witness how his shit attitude affects his kids, and this guy does not see how this toxic poison will ruin his own children's potential.

Here is the situation...consider:
I know a guy with four kids and each has loads of potential that is never realized.
They never stick with anything, because he beats them up emotionally and mentally. Nothing is ever right, good enough or up to standard. And this perfectionism is balanced with a philosophy toward competition that says winning does not matter.

Not surprising...not one of his 4 kids has ever won at anything. They enter any endeavor in a sea blue funk, looking for reasons to lose, then quit. His oldest eventually gave up on sports and turned to drug abuse.
The others will do likewise.

It's tough to watch, because I have five kids, and they all know what is means to succeed - to win 1st place in an event and realize potential. My oldest is age 20, and he is carrying this attitude into life as an adult. I bring this up for 3 reasons.

1. I need to vent...
2. We should be aware of how we parent
3. Are our own lives affected by an abnormal childhood?

Items 2 and 3 are my focus, because I do not want perpetuate this cycle. And when I see the look of rage and disappointment  in his eyes...and the look of anguish and hurt in his own kids, I see Dad and me.

I just don't think some fathers realize how fragile kids are inside, and I pity these boys with loads of potential that  shall never be fulfilled. I want to raise winners, and I want to be a winner which means overcoming the past and focusing on a bright future for myself as well as those in my care.

It all starts with attitude. That's where both failure and success are cultivated. 

ALL IS POSSIBLE! 

Wednesday - Tapping Passion

When it comes to fitness, long term success is about lifestyle.
Too many who fail never seem to be able to make training anything but drudgery, because they don't tap their passions. Exercise and diet are separate items from their lifestyle, and that is why most fall short.

Don't become that person!

When we correlate our training with desire, we plug into an abundance that will never run dry. This is a resource unique to each individual. I train 3 hours every day...and  LOVE IT!  I enjoy my training and am passionate about my exercise and diet.

One huge excuse is "I don't have time".
BULL!
We all have time, and the average American watches 4 hours of TV every day. That coupled with all the internet surfing and texting....we all have time! The problem is few have the discipline to make the effort, and when one is passionate about something, they find the time. Fancy that!

So, what are your passions?
For me it's MMA, boxing, biking,  tennis, swimming, calisthenics and hiking. Everybody is different, and you should never allow others to define your training by virtue of ambition that is not your own.

TAP YOUR PASSIONS! 

Once you define your own zeal regarding exercise, you have joined the 10% of people who reach their goals. The other 90% is that herd of underachievers who talk only of what they did and might do - never about what they're doing now.
You, and only you author your success, and it starts by honestly tapping your passions.

ALL IS POSSIBLE! 

Tuesday - Anytime Fitness

My Health Club

I changed health clubs some time back.

I joined Anytime Fitness. One of my biggest hassles is trying to adjust my crazy schedule to a facility's hours of operation. NO MORE OF THAT! 

Open 24/7 - PROBLEM SOLVED!

Now I come and go as I please. It's been nice, and I have come a long way. You must find that special place that matches your own needs and expectations. 

Start Weight: 278 lbs Goal Weight: 190 lbs

I was always fit as a kid and participated in various athletics. I ate whatever I wanted and trained little. Fitness just came natural. I maintained this into my mid 30's, but somewhere just before age 40...something happened.

I GOT FAT!

It was a slow creep that lasted until age 45 where I went from 190 pounds up to almost 280 pounds. I was a borderline diabetic, suffered high blood pressure, high cholesterol, had to use a C-Pap to breathe at night and looked and felt horrible all the time. Something had to change, so I decided it had to me me.

It was simple but hard. I do not take any supplements or subscribe to any “diets”.

I eat lean meats, fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, nuts and low fat dairy – simple. I train both cardio and strength daily. My progress is 50% nutrition and 50% exercise. We need both issues addressed to reach our health and fitness goals.

Today, I am in my 50's with the health of guys half my age. If I can do it, so can you!

ALL IS POSSIBLE!   

Tracking Progress

Guys who succeed set goals, then write these goals down. They take action and measure these actions against results. The only way to do this is to track progress.

If we're talking about wealth, we track income and net worth. If we're talking about career, we track advancement and certain professional milestones related to your specific industry. In the area of overall health and wellness, there are many items to consider.

• height/weight
• body fat
• resting heart rate
• blood pressure
• sports performance
• exercise
• diet
• blood sugar/cholesterol 
• medical issues

Those serious about reaching goals review and study these goals, make a plan, take action and measure the results.  At day's end results are all that matter.  Notice how people who fail shy away from talking about results. They'd much rather begin any discussion with a focus on external forces they use as excuses. 

This is most people. I may seem like a broken record pointing out these folks, but you always want to be aware of and avoid the herd. They're going nowhere fast, and all are welcome on this road to failure. 

JOIN IN: 

Or not...

The hypnotizing effect of the herd makes abnormal seem normal. Winners see these washouts for what they are and become determined to break away. Oh, and don't expect anything but scorn from the herd once you become a winner. Failure hates success!

So again, achievers set goals, make plans, take action, stay motivated and track results. The end of our efforts are the payoff of great health, peak fitness and a happy life. While the herd settles for whatever life grants, the few just make things happen.

ALL IS POSSIBLE! 

July 4th - Friday: JUICING!

I bought a Jack Lalanne Power Juicer some time back to give fresh juicing a go.
All I can say is WOW! This one change in diet made a huge difference in overall health and wellness. 
Every day I generate a half gallon of some mix of fresh fruit and veggies.

Today's recipe was....

 ...apple,  kale, broccoli, red bell pepper, kale, spinach, tomato, strawberries,  red and green grapes and kiwi...

Throughout the day I make sure to intake this pure mix of health and have been for 6 years. Again, it affects my overall wellness in ways I can't put into words. My only beef with the Jack Lalanne juicer is that too much pulp is removed.
NO PROBLEM...I just add back in what I want to drink, then either discard what remains,  bake them into muffins or cook them down with whatever meal I am preparing. With juicing one can get creative.

It's your life and your health.
When we eat average, we look and feel average. It's all in your control, and when you look around at average people, do they really have the kind of health you desire?

TO HELL WITH BEING AVERAGE!

Thursday July 3 -- Sharpening The Saw

In his best selling masterpiece 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People Stephen Covey spoke of preserving and enhancing your best assets.

This involves an introspective, objective evaluation and a commitment to excellence. If we are to become the best versions of ourselves, sharpening the saw is paramount. As it relates to health and fitness, it means that you never allow yourself to peak out. Once you feel you've peaked, there is only one direction to go: DOWN! 
That's most people. 

I spoke in earlier posts about my own way of sharpening that saw once I reached my weight loss goals. I switch gears from weight loss to body re-composition and weight maintenance. Others focus on goals related to run times, maximum gym lifts or sports performance. There is no single way to sharpen the saw; everybody is unique, but the universal principle in play is to never max out without being realistic about bar placement.

In other words don't set unreasonable, non-achievable goals. 

Ineffective people quit working once a goal is reached while success oriented achievers know that a victory in just a beginning. That's the demarcation between your best and something less. Strive for the best!

ALL IS POSSIBLE! 

Tuesday - July 1: Toxic People

Dealing With Toxic People

There are times when I just hate dealing with people...
It's hard to listen to the self-induced drama and never ending flow of excuses for failure. What is it with some folks?

I try to avoid high maintenance, non-empowered people, and those in my life who prove to be toxic are cut off. Life is too short to be continuously plagued with the presence of so much human negativity. It's contagious! And here are the very types to avoid, ignore or severe....

1) Pessimists:  Nothing is ever right. They  see the bad always.

2)  Nosy Types: They get in everybody's business and make things worse - not better . 

3) Crybabies: Some people have no problem bitching about their private life openly and are always pissing and moaning about everything.

4) Drama Queens:  They make a mountain out of a molehill. Everything is a big deal

5)  Hypocrites: They hold others to a standard but not themselves.

6) Gossipers: All they talk about is other people, and nobody is ever spared - not even YOU!

7) Excuse Makers: I especially detest these types...They always have a handy rationalization for failure. It's never them....

8) Jealous Types: These folks are always tearing down their betters. Failure hates success...

And feel free to make your own list; bottom line: 

Whether to deal with these people in our lives is a choice - our choice...

You, and only you author your future, and as the author of the chapters of my life, I here-by write out those who bring pain into my happy life. Enough is enough...ADIOS! 

Resolve to connect with those who are positive, and leave the negative ones to themselves as they drown in a sea of poison...

ALL IS POSSIBLE!