"But Larry...!"

What is it that makes some people successful while others keep chasing it wondering why achieving the things they want in life are always beyond their reach?

It's not talent.

It's not genius.

Give up?

It's diligence.

People that are successful focus on tasks and do them with "diligence".

Here's the Wikipedia definition.

"Diligence is a zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness. Putting forth full concentration in one's work."

If you have obstacles, you might never even get in the game. Here's a common challenge I have heard consistently over the years and it's this:

"But Larry, I don't have the time."

There are some people that literally don't have the time, but most people are simply wasting time. In essence, they value other things. Let me ask you a simple question. Do you ever watch TV at night? Millions do, and why not, there are some very good shows on television. But it could be costing you big time. (And if it's not TV, it could be the internet, video games, etc.)

But isn't watching TV really a reward for all the hard work you do all day? You really do deserve to kick back, grab the remote (if it's available) and lose yourself in a good movie, catch up on your soaps, a sporting event, a cooking show, or learn "What Not To Wear"!

Look, I'm not against TV. But, I am against TV if you watch it for two hours a night and you tell me you have no free time. Even one hour a night is a is costing you, as you could be exercising.

"But Larry, I'm also too tired at night to workout".

I feel for you, I really do. I know it's hard being you. Many of you have challenging careers, take care of kids, take care of parents, own a business, run a home, coach a team, and the list goes on and on. I understand completely, but I'll tell you this.

SO WHAT? That's right, so what?

Everybody has challenges that make them tired at the end of the day. But here's something you may not realize. Everybody has everything in their lives that they value most from the clothes they wear to the cars they drive. If it's a "high value" item, good, or service, you've got it. By "high value" I don't mean high-priced. I mean on a scale of one to ten, the things you value are closer to ten. So if working out at night is not for you, then make sure you go to bed earlier so you can get up earlier, AND WORKOUT!

Yes, this change will be hard and you won't like it, but do it anyway because the benefits outweigh the discomfort. In time, you'll be glad you toughed it out as you'll have more energy and you'll lose weight. And once you make getting up early and exercising a habit, you'll be hard pressed to let it go.

People that are fit may not be wealthy and yet they may make sacrifices to belong to a gym, hire a personal trainer, or come to boot camp.

Why is that?

Because they value their health and they care about the way they look. Well, the way they look naked anyway. (However, some of us do need to watch "What Not To Wear") Quite simply, exercise and nutrition is a higher value priority in some peoples lives.

Now I realize I might be ruffling a few feathers here, but some of you need to know this. If you are struggling with your weight, month after month, year after year, the problem is most likely in the choices you make which is driven by the way you think about the choices you make. A good place to begin is to change the way you think about exercise and nutrition.

"But Larry, I don't like to exercise."

I understand. Exercise is hard work and since you were born a princess, you really should be excused from performing hard work. After all, isn't that what skilled labor is for? Perhap you could hire someone to lift your weights, perform your cardio, and eat correctly for you! (did you catch the sarcasm?)

Before I go on let's make sure you do not have any health related issues. Sometimes people struggle for years and never realize they have an underactive thyroid for example. You might want to consider seeing a medical doctor.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let's assume you are healthy, and you are still struggling for much too long. Nutrition is so often the missing link. Every time you eat something ask yourself this question. Am I bored, upset, just hungry, or am I eating to boost my metabolism and improve my health? Eating is an opportunity to do something healthy, or not. If you are eating extra food for "extra" reasons, you are most likely eating too many calories.

A little planning can go a long way.

When you go to bed at night, do you think about the next day and factor in your exercise routine? Do you have a contingency plan? How do you feel about yourself if you miss a workout? How do you feel about planning your meals? Does it all seem too overwhelming? How often do you find yourself skipping breakfast? How often do you find yourself picking up dinner at Quiznos or Panera Bread? Ouch, I bet I hit a nerve there.

Well, once again you are right on the money. This actually is very challenging.

The fact of the matter, the crux of the biscuit, the very bottom line is this... People that are successful at anything are successful because they are willing to do what other people won't do. They want the end result bad enough that they are willing to change their lives (drum roll please) AND STILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE. (see make sacrifices)

They will skip watching TV (or watch a lot less)
They plan their meals, meetings, work, play, etc.
They exercise daily and factor it in to the day.
They want something bad enough and make sacrifices and stop making excuses.
They write down what they want to achieve.
They educate themselves about whatever it is they want to achieve.
AND THEY LOVE BOOT CAMP! - Sorry, I couldn't resist :-)

No, I can't sugar coat this for you. This is simple, but it's not easy. Most people that travel down the road of health and fitness wander aimlessly. I am just a guide with a map. "Come follow me, I'll show you the way."

I absolutely love it when someone comes along and just gets it. They know that they want to be lean and fit, so they hire me as their coach. They follow the plan they lose fat in record time. Sure it makes me look good as a fitness professional, but truth be told, they deserve all the credit and they are the one's who look great!

Successful people:

Know what they want.
Take action.
Follow through with diligence.
Don't quit.

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Let's start at the beginning. In order to improve your body composition, you need to exercise and eat right. Unfortunately that's just too much of an over simplification. Exercise and eating right means something different to everybody. So I'll do my best to make this easy for you.

I've got two options for boot camp that are both also great deals. You get more value than you pay for. But if you actually follow my plan and incorporate some of these success formula traits at the same time, the results could be worth 1000 times your financial investment.

What you "Value Most" will always determine your decision.

I came to value health and helping people so much that I changed my life and my career to do what makes me happy. Try to imagine what motivated me. I'll tell you this, it wasn't inspiration, it was desperation, massive doses of it too. There were literally dozens of reasons why I needed to change my life. It didn't happen over night. It's been a seven year journey since I had the first thought when I connected with my passion for fitness.

Decide what you want to change in your life and go for it.

Don't worry about getting it perfect, just get it going!

Boot Camp or an Orgasm? 5 Things You Can Do To Feel Better Right Now!

Okay, that's a thought provoking title, and photo come top think of it. But I'll bet you are either laughing or blushing right now. Stay with me and I'll make my point.

The two things on everyone's minds lately is the economy and the upcoming presidential election. It seems that the two events ares strongly linked together in that many blame our current administration for getting us into this economic mess, and many are choosing a candidate based on the belief that the next administration will get us out. I have my opinions, but I'm not going to take up your time expressing my political views.

What I am interested in is how the present climate effects you emotionally and physically. Let's face it, this problem is too big for any of to solve and in many ways we feel victimized and even a lack of control. Whether it's the price of gas or a spiraling stock market, it's out of our control and that is just something we have to deal with. Perhaps you've been affected by the economy personally, or you are reacting to the present state of things and have changed your spending habits. Perhaps you feel "off" in a way you can't quite put your finger on.

There's no question about it, we are a nation in a funk of sorts and we don't know what the future holds. If we haven't personally been affected by the losses in the stock market, then we can possibly feel a sense that things could get worse and that it's only a matter of time before our own portfolios and businesses are impacted to a greater degree.

I can't fix the economy, but I can help you with how to manage your stress. I believe we have absolutely no control over what happens to us in life. But we have complete control over how we respond to people and circumstances. It all boils down to the choices we make. And if ever there was a time to be aware of the choices we make, it's now.

Now more than ever is the time to take care of yourself. There are so many "little things" you can do everyday that can have a dynamic impact on your health and mental outlook. And you know what? These are the same things we should be doing anyway. Here's a few to remind you.

Eat Healthy Foods:
Drink plenty of water.
Eliminate sugary foods.
Get a good night's sleep.
Eat smaller meals five to six times a day.
Eat more fruits and vegetables.

CHANGE YOUR MENTAL STATE

The best way to change your mental state is to do something that triggers endorphins. Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. They can induce an elated feeling, which can last up to 12 hours for some people and are also a natural pain killer.

There are many ways to get the body to produce endorphins. Here's a few to consider.

1) Think Positive Thoughts:
The power of positive thinking has been very effective in helping to elevate mood. Some times its a conscious process and other times it's not like in a drug test where a placebo is used. If people "believe" that something is helpful, it often works. That's a direct result of the power of positive thinking, which can release endorphins that may actually ease pain even if a medication is physically ineffective. So keep a positive outlook and don't let your brain play out doom and gloom scenarios. Try reading the comics instead of the obituaries!

2) Eat Chocolate:
This one won't help your waistline if you get carried away, but cocoa beans are a food that is close being a drug. Eating dark chocolate can trigger endorphins in the brain and make you feel better. If it's your waistline you are watching try these, they're my personal favorite. IsaDelight Chocolates

3) Have an Orgasm:
It's true, having an orgasm is a great way to get a rush of endorphins. In comparison, you may have to run for an hour to get a runner's high, depending on your body. Sex is less effort. (And, ahem, much more fun.)

4) Laugh a Little:
Ever hear the phrase "Laughter is the best medicine"? In addition to changing your emotional state in the moment, laughter produces endorphins that will increase your immune function and make you more resistant to disease. So go to a comedy club, or actually take time to read those "annoying" joke emails you receive every day.

5) Work out
People who jog regularly often talk about a "runner's high," which is a release of endorphins that happens when they hit a certain point in their workout. Overall, exercise has been proven to enhance mood. I can tell you from my own experience after working with thousands of people over the last ten years that there is quite often a huge difference in the way people feel when they start a workout with me and when they leave.

Exercise is my passion and one of the key things it has always provided is a "physical exit to release stress". I can't tell you how much that has helped me personally through some tough times in my life. Of all of these recommendations, this is the grandaddy of them all.

I can tell you a joke, give you a piece of chocolate, fill your brain with positive ideas, and give your body a great workout. Well, that's four out of five things you can get out of boot camp. As for having an orgasm, we'll leave that one up to you.

What's Exercise Costing You?

First let me set the record straight that I am not writing this post to make fun of Nintendo's Wii Fit program. Instead, I want to I simply make you stop and think about it in a different context. Consider the fact that Nintendo is first and foremost a huge corporation that manufactures electronic products that entertain. I'm willing to wager they created and launched Wii Fit because their research proved it would be a hot seller and "make money". And they were right.

I think it is important to point out that unlike other companies Nintendo is not a health and fitness company. They have jumped on the fitness bandwagon and created Wii Fit for people who are looking for fun ways to work out. Basically, there's nothing wrong with that. It's a great idea, especially if it gets you to exercise more often, and there's nothing wrong with exercise being fun. But is this the kind of exercise we need, and is it effective?

In my opinion, Wii Fit is highly unlikely to provide enough stimulus to the body to build lean muscle and improve your body composition.

I've seen evidence that the Wii Fit is doing well with the seniors market. That makes sense to me and seems reasonable as the older we get and the more de-conditioned we become, having a device like the Wii is perhaps a good choice to get senior citizens to move their bodies. Sadly though, Nintendo is not marketing specifically to the senior market. They are marketing to everyone.

I'm sure people of all ages are playing with Wii Fit. If it's entertainment and fun you seek then have a blast. But if its a leaner more muscular body you are looking for then Wii Fit will simply not get the job done and you will have spent money and wasted countless hours of your precious time and not achieve the results you were hoping for.

I think it's safe to say that this video is a pretty good example of "What NOT to do" when it comes to implementing an effective, fat loss routine.

Great points about this video -

There is no “video game” solution that has been designed with your best interest in mind.

Do not lose sight of the fact that this is a hugely successful gaming company.

And just like we have seen many examples in the Food Manufacturing industry - money is the #1 priority.

With rising obesity rates, what better product to create - especially when video games have been blamed for the reason our children are suffering from weight gain.

I conducted a little research into Wii Fit and I came across this interesting statement:

This statement was made in regard to the release of Wii Fit in America

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Nintendo has shipped approximately 500,000 copies of Wii Fit to North America, and about 2 million units to Europe. By sending four times as many units to Europe, they are maximizing profits, which at the moment are pretty incredible.

Besides, it’s not as if those American waistlines are going anywhere anytime soon. “They know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now when Nintendo will have more units available,” Pachter said.

~~~

Really makes you reconsider, right?

Taking responsibility for our health and fitness - and most importantly the health and fitness of our children - requires not just the know-how but also the ability to recognize trends like these and taking a moment THINK about the consequences of relying on them as THE solution.

Disclaimer:
If you choose to use the Wii Fit - please do so for entertainment purposes. You simply cannot get an effective fat burning resistance training and interval session out of playing a game in front of your TV. This is just something Fun to do in Moderation.

Like the video sarcastically points out - which I love - there simply is no substitute for getting OUTSIDE, moving freely, breathing the fresh air, soaking up the sunshine, appreciating life - real life.

Do you remember what REAL play was like?

I want you to consider adding some "back yard" activities you can do with your family. Have a catch with a baseball or a Frisbee, go for a walk in your neighbor hood "as a family" and make it an after-supper ritual. Ride your bikes together. There are many simple things you can do if you use your imagination. I have tried lacrosse and now practice with my son Jake. The best part is "I suck at lacrosse", so I am always running after the ball I couldn't catch!

There simply is no substitute for these types of experiences.

Wrap Up

Well if you have an extra $100 (depending on where you live) and wish to add to the entertainment center - go for it. I am not at all saying there is zero benefit to some of the offerings Wii Fit packages up for you.

However, if you find that you - and more importantly your children - are spending more time in front of the TV than you are getting outside, reading a book, taking or playing with your loved ones - then please reconsider this approach.

Bottom Line: The solution to our health and fitness needs is not found by spending hours in front of our TV each day.

What do YOU think?