Guys can be productive and live the kind of life they want to live. How are you doing on your goals this year?
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A couple of months ago I went to the doctor. Pretty odd since I’m allergic to doctors, what guy isn’t, but I went anyway.
So after the visit I got a donut and sat down to think about it.
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It didn’t take long to discover I needed to lose weight. Noooooooo the doctor didn’t tell me, the scale did. The first thing the staff has you do–as if you were not defeated enough by having to be there–is step onto the scale.
I stepped, and the scale wept. It shook. It strained. Looking at the doctor he shook his head at me. I stepped down, and the scale sighed.
Disgusted I knew something had to change, so after the visit, I got a donut and sat down to think about it. Three things came to mind to get me on the right track; perhaps they will help you as well.
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#1 Get Real.
Not to brag, but I may be number one in the world, maybe the universe if there are other life forms–at rationalizing. Looking in the mirror from the shoulders up it’s pretty easy to be convinced that there isn’t a weight problem. However, there was the number.
The scale revealed something specific. Something tangible. Something real. There’s no way to rationalize a number that’s higher than it should be. It couldn’t be avoided. I had to get real and face the facts.
That’s what we all need to do. Instead of making excuses to ignore the problem, we need to face it. That doesn’t mean we will accept it, but we will look it dead in the eye and know the truth.
Is there something right now in your life you need to get honest about? Something that needs to change? The general rule is that men like to wait until there is a problem before we move. Don’t wait for the scale of life to tell you, go ahead and face it now.
#2 Get Serious
If you’re like me, you’ve promised yourself something a thousand times and not followed through. This time was different. I decided I’d had enough. Sick of the situation and extra weight it was time to be firm because my tummy wasn’t.
It’s easy to say you want to make a change, but how serious are you? How bad do you want it? How critical is completion? For me, it was 10 out of 10. No turning back to the snack cakes.
#3 Get a Plan
Fortunately, I had started and stopped fitness programs so much I knew what needed to be done! Sitting down with a notebook I wrote out my exercise, nutrition and supplement plan. I made it ultra simple. In the past, I failed because I got too complicated. This time I went basic. The plan worked (so far).
Create it with as few moving parts as possible.
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Regardless of your goal, whether to lose weight or grow a business, you need a plan. Create it with as few moving parts as possible. You’ll last longer and go further by avoiding burnout and overwhelm.
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If you’re following a plan right now that’s wiping you out, is there anything you can cut and still get the result? Focus on the essential. Trim the fat.
Results so far? I’m down 25 pounds in 8 weeks with more to go. I’m feeling better, stronger, faster, and leaner, but not satisfied.
Get out a sheet of paper or a note card and write down what you need to get real about, get serious about and get a plan for. Here’s a bonus “get.” Get going!
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Photo: Flickr/ Ed Donahue