| The only way you will follow through on an | | | | decision is made, all the pressure is off. My |
| exercise program is to be sold out. The | | | | philosophy is: "GOALS CHANGE, DECISIONS |
| military calls them "lifers." | | | | DON'T" |
| | | | |
| It's not about the NUMBERS! | | | | Being sold out is an attitude of the heart! |
| | | | |
| The health clubs are always racking their | | | | It's not about YOU! |
| brains trying to figure out why they have | | | | |
| such a hard time keeping members coming back. | | | | Twenty-two years ago, I attended college. |
| Most owners would argue that cash flow and | | | | Instead of studying, I wandered into a gym in |
| profit margins are the most important reason | | | | the basement of the men's dormitory. I didn't |
| to retain membership. Yes, but what drives | | | | have a bit of knowledge of how to begin an |
| customers to these health clubs? These owners | | | | exercise program, where to go to start, or |
| have lost touch with what matters most, the | | | | who to turn to for help. After about a month |
| customer! Give the customer more than they | | | | of blindly making my way through the steel |
| expect and they will continue to do business | | | | machines, buffed bodies, and stinky locker |
| with you. Selling a product or service is | | | | rooms, something dawned on me. And to this |
| about people more so than numbers on a | | | | day has kept me exercising all these years. I |
| spreadsheet. | | | | started to realize that whatever I was doing, |
| | | | it was going to impact my life more than I |
| Sink holes vs. potholes | | | | could imagine. Exercise and eating properly |
| | | | were not only going to change my life, but it |
| I want you to think of this principle in your | | | | was also going to propel me into making an |
| workout. You know it is very easy to get | | | | impact on others. You can be motivated, but |
| burdened down with all the details of an | | | | not disciplined. However, you cannot be |
| exercise and diet program. While guidelines | | | | disciplined without being motivated. |
| are necessary, at times focusing too much on | | | | |
| the numbers can and will set you up for | | | | Rewards bigger than life |
| failure. You may start to think all this | | | | |
| counting calories, reps, and keeping track of | | | | I understood there would be some good |
| heart rates are too much to accomplish. | | | | attitude days and some very bad ones. I knew |
| Unexpectedly, you start to lose sight of your | | | | some workouts would make me feel good and |
| goals and it becomes more of a job than a | | | | others where I never wanted to see a |
| hobby or stress release. You may even quit | | | | treadmill again. But, deep inside, I realized |
| exercising. This can be an immediate sinkhole | | | | that just one more day could make a |
| for you. | | | | difference. For just one more day, I could |
| | | | force myself to eat good food. For just one |
| It's being sold out! | | | | more day, I realized this was not about my |
| | | | selfish attitude and me. |
| The only way you will follow through on an | | | | |
| exercise program is to be sold out. The | | | | It's the Big Picture |
| military calls them "lifers." These are | | | | |
| people who are committed to something for the | | | | Each of you is different. You will put into |
| long haul. Are you a lifer? Could you be a | | | | exercise a certain amount of effort and |
| lifer? A lifer has a sold out mindset. He or | | | | everyone will get something different from |
| she realizes that there will be potholes to | | | | it. You cannot just package good intentions |
| go through; there may even be a sinkhole up | | | | and say, "If you do this or if you buy that, |
| ahead, but they get through it or they go | | | | you will receive this in return." It just |
| around the situation. It may take support | | | | doesn't work that way. But, I will guarantee |
| from others, but it gets done. You may not be | | | | you this: committing to exercise and eating |
| a lifer today, but you could be if you don't | | | | right will bring you nothing but positive and |
| make changes now! | | | | fulfilling rewards, both physically and |
| | | | emotionally. It could very well save your |
| Decision making | | | | life some day. It saved mine! |
| | | | |
| I was named Mr. Michigan in the statewide | | | | A promise that can not BE BROKEN. |
| bodybuilding contest in 1988. When I competed | | | | |
| in bodybuilding contests, it took me a good | | | | I have bad days. I have good days. I have |
| month to decide if I really wanted to go for | | | | days I had wish I had never started |
| that particular goal. The decision process | | | | exercising. I want fried foods some days. I |
| was well thought out. I realized the days | | | | eat fried foods sometimes. I want to take a |
| ahead would bring doubt, frustration, pain, | | | | vacation from it all. I take a vacation from |
| and at times, humility. | | | | it all. Yet, at the end of the day, some |
| | | | small voice inside reminds me of that |
| I also realized it could bring many emotional | | | | decision I made many years ago. I can't turn |
| setbacks. Was I willing to pay the price? | | | | back even when I want to. I made a commitment |
| Was I willing to change my behavior and | | | | to myself years ago: Never be afraid to ask |
| lifestyle for the hope of a future benefit? | | | | for help and realize every day to focus on |
| All those thoughts had to be debated before | | | | the big picture. |
| the decision to move forward was made. | | | | |
| However, when I made the decision to go | | | | What about you? Are you going to sell out to |
| forward, a switch was turned on that could | | | | being miserable, achy, low energy, and suffer |
| not be turned off. I could not turn back. | | | | from low self-esteem? Or are you going to |
| There is a sense of relief that comes with | | | | make a meaningful decision to get in better |
| making a decision. Perhaps because once that | | | | health? Let's do it together. |