My husband Terry, once a top collegiate division one athlete, martial artist and dancer, recently realized that he'd added six inches onto his waist since our three-year-old daughter was born. When we first met, he had a lean six pack, but just a few months ago, he was grabbing a sizeable spare tire with both hands in front of the mirror. ''What happened? How did I get here, Tina?'' he asked me almost helplessly.
Terry knew he had to make a change, but not just for vanity's sake. He knew that if he wanted to see his daughter grow up into a beautiful woman someday and be there for all of the milestones in between, he needed to do something differently right away. So, he started the process of getting healthier immediately. How? By planning for sustainable results.
There is no magic pill or fad that will deliver healthy, lasting results. Here are the six simple steps my husband has followed to achieve his goals while having fun in the process. You can do it, too!
Step 1: Get Disturbed, Upset, Mad, Frustrated and Uncomfortable
If we are too comfortable, it gets easy to remain where we are and do nothing to improve. After all, we cannot continue doing the same things and expect to get different results, right? Terry was sick and tired of being sick and tired and was ready to make a change.
Step 2: Identify Your ''Why''
When you become clear on what your ''why'' is, the ''how'' gets easy! This is the thing that will keep you going on even the toughest of days. Instead of focusing on the process, focus on the outcome. The goal surely isn't to sweat, be sore, or change your eating habits--that's the process, and just thinking about it might be discouraging. Terry's outcome was to improve his health and energy for his family and to feel great about himself by creating his best body ever! Stay focused on how you will FEEL when you reach your goals. Keep your eyes on the prize!
Step 3: Create an Action Plan
Failing to plan = planning to fail. Carve out your workout time and activity minutes. As a busy working parent, Terry planned to start in the garage with some dumbbells 5 days per week at 5am for 50 minutes, following the principles of the R.I.P.P.E.D. Fitness Formula: Resistance, Interval, Power, Plyometrics, Endurance and Diet. He also recruited me to join him for accountability and encouragement.
Step 4: Squash Your Limiting Beliefs
When it comes to setting goals and getting what you really want, excuses inevitably all have the same value: zero. So stop telling yourself that you don't have time or that you're too tired. Anything is possible when you are crystal clear on what your ''why'' is. Tell yourself that you will make the time, that you can do it. Believe you're unstoppable, and you will be!
Step 5: Set Yourself Up to Win
Set reasonable goals in steps, with a time frame to reach each step. It took a great deal of time for Terry to fall out of shape and eat poorly enough to move up several pant sizes. Go in knowing it will take some time to undo the doing. Check your progress every so often and remain flexible because you may realize that you need to make some minor tweaks to your plan along the way.
Step 6: Take Massive Action Now
Do at least one thing every day toward reaching your goal. Check out your gym schedule. Clear some space at home or in your garage. Make sure you have the proper attire. Invite a friend. Set your gym clothes out the night before. Visualize how great you are going to feel at the end of your successful, healthy day. Do any or all of these things--the more, the better!--to eliminate your excuses.
Terry was able to reach his goals and, more importantly, sustain a healthy body and lifestyle. Your best body ever is within you right now. Push through your comfort zone, and don’t settle for anything less than what you want!
Terry and Tina Shorter are founders of the highly-effective, interval-training system R.I.P.P.E.D.-The One Stop Body Shock® (Resistance, Interval, Power, Plyometrics, Endurance, Diet), which is franchised to more than 10,000 fitness professionals and offered in thousands of fitness facilities across the country. They recently release their first workout DVD, R.I.P.P.E.D. Total Body Challenge (Acacia), which delivers amazing results with a scientifically proven, plateau-proof fitness formula to help shape and tone EVERY body. http://rippedplanet.com/
