20 Habits That Make You Fat

20 Habits That Make You Fat

Leave the past where it is... in the past!

It's sometimes tough to get over some of the negative emotions that have stayed with us since our childhood. It's actually pretty tough to get over something that happened last year. Just think of this... last (as in year) rhymes with past (as in past). It is time to move forward and create new energy. I have spent weekends... and sometimes weeks, in my own personal retreat, fighting to get over someone's negative comment.

Yes, it can hurt, but unless you KNOW FOR SURE that you can approach the person in a way that you won't offend or be re-offended, its may be time to let go. Sometimes I ask myself, will it make a difference if I say something to this person? Were they trying to offend me...or did they hit a trigger point that they were not even aware of? There are some situations, I've learned, when it is better for me to just remove myself from harm's way. Maybe, just stop going to lunch with the person instead of continuing to be verbally assaulted for the slightest misstep.

I control how I feel. I create my energy and I refuse to let others have access to it. I walk away when its time, and I stand my ground when I need to.  But I will not allow someone else control how I feel inside. Let them deal with their drama, while I move towards success. Exercise definitely helps me get there. When I run an extra five minutes on the treadmill, do an extra few bicep curls watch my weight drop while my strength increases, I know I have grown. I am empowered! No one can take that away from me.

Get it Together Brotha!

How many times have you asked... begged... pleaded... prayed for something more? How many times have you been so devastated because you haven't received it (or maybe you have)? I'm that dude who requests more, prays for more, and is sometimes lost if it arrives... when I'm not truly prepared for it. You know the saying, be careful what you wish for... you just may get it. Sometimes, in the moment, you are better off without it.

I've been asking for more of everything lately... a new house, to increase my fitness clientele, to have my own fitness location, the growth of my Beachbody business, etc. I even have a vision book, a vision board and a vision powerpoint slide show on my iPad. I have put so much energy into receiving these gifts...that I forgot to put energy into preparing for these gifts.

Do I have what I need to own my first home? I thought about this when a late payment notice arrived in the mail for my car note. Hmmm. I forgot to pay Verizon last month.WTH! Its not that I didn't have the money. I definitely had the money put away. I have just been so cluttered upstairs in the membrane.


My wife and I have a new addition to our family. A baby girl. It's awesome to be the dad of two beautiful princesses. So now when I think of my increasing fitness clientele, I wonder, when will I have the time to train them? Can I really afford (financially, emotionally, physically, and time-wise) to own a successfully fitness company?

I am in no way giving up on my dreams. They are, after all, the dreams of a father who only wants the best for himself and for his family. However, I need to spend the immediate moments, preparing for the road to success. If you are in my shoes, please stop and take a listen to yourself. Where are you right now? Are you prepared to receive your gifts? Maybe you should clean out your "basement" or your "closet" before moving forward or else you may end up with a like of junk piling up, with your dreams somewhere lost in the shuffle.

Words of the Day

Hate!


We use certain words that have more power than we could ever imagine. We use words like "Hate" and yes, I am a culprit of usage.


Dictionary.com defines hate as an intense feeling of dislike, or extreme aversion or hostility. If we have that much passion for something, that much energy to waste- shouldn't we use it towards words that create positive energy?!


A friend of mine mentioned that to me, and a friend mentioned it to him. I am already in the process of changing my lingo.


Yours!

No I'm Not Conceited...I'm Convinced

Ha ha. That was just one of my comebacks when people called me vein, conceited, a Narcissist...and the list goes on. The issue wasn't that I considered myself to be anything more than average. The issue was (and sometimes still is) that I portrayed myself as someone who was filled with confidence, who walked with his head up, and who looked down upon those around me.

In actuality, I was someone who believed in my own abilities- but had much self-doubt. I walked around exuding confidence because I was too afraid to show how I really felt not-too-deep inside. I walked tall because I didn't want to give eye contact and for others to see the fear in my eyes. The one they called 'Nestlé' (my alter eager) was the one who appeared to have confidence. I even remember telling someone that I wanted to be as confident as Ed Green on Law & Order. Ha ha. That was many years ago.

Hmmm, so where does that bring me today. Today I do have the confidence I so eagerly craved during those Ed Green years. However, sometimes I have to dig deep to find it. It's a daily struggle, but everyday I prepare myself. Others may try to bring me down, but I know what I am capable of, even if I'm the only one that believes it!

About 5 years ago, I began building up my inner strength. The next thing I did was work on the outer...my physical appearance. I got a gym membership (and used it), I bought a mountain bike (and rode it) and improved my eating habits. It made me feel better externally, which impacted my internal strength.

I looked younger, felt stronger, and then almost got an 'S' tattooed on my chest. Just kidding.

But I felt good and I still do. And now I help others do the same thing.

Can I Be Human for About 30 Minutes?

"Sometimes, for brief periods of time, I'd get lazy, eat garbage, and blow off workouts. And guess what? Life got hard again." Those are the words from Tony Horton's new book "Bring It!" No, I'm not promoting the book (although I should...I believe I would get a percentage of the sell). I'm only promoting the realities of life.


Someone mentioned to me that my "healthy" eating habits are odd (she considered it "too healthy".. I consider it to be a "normal"). I don't shovel greasy beef burgers down my throat daily, weekly or even monthly. I don't drink soda, unless it's naturally flavored soda water like Izze, and I don't eat a lot of sweats. However, every once in a while I'll go to a birthday party and have a slice of cake. In all honesty, sometimes I just crave the stuff and may bite into a burger, eat half a chocolate cake and... no I still don't drink soda... well maybe ginger ale. Does that count?


Anyway, I guess I just want to be a human who can eat what he wants without others judging. If you don't want to know my eating habits, than don't ask. All I know is that when I eat something with a lot of calories, it just means that I will work a little harder in the gym the next day. Maybe I'll do two P90X workouts instead of one. Who knows? 


Well, Me. I know. 


When I eat garbage, it's not that I've gotten lazy. It's generally my cheat day, and I definitely make up for it the next day. I had a large meal the other day, and the next day I did a partial Shakeology cleanse. I felt good, I felt energized and I didn't hate myself. 


It's almost 10pm and I'm hungry. I think I'm going to have me a glass of Shakeology right now.

My Prayers Have Become Generic

Someone recently asked me if I prayed for my fitness studio- the one that closed down. By this they meant, did I pray for it to remain open and for the business to expand. "You've prayed for everything else in your life, did you pray for your business?" She asked me.

"Of course not," I said. "That would be a little selfish, wouldn't it?"

I'd rather pray for my family and for peace on earth. I felt that praying for objects, a better body, success and money was a form of greed. Instead, I decided to just work hard, use the law of attraction, and MAKE it happen. If I put it out into the Universe, it will happen.

"I still don't understand," she said. "If you believe... if you have faith, then why don't you pray for your ultimate dreams and desires?"

I couldn't respond, because I didn't know.

For some reason, I didn't want to burden God. I didn't want to ask him for "frivolous" things like a fitness studio. I wanted to "use" my prayers to ask for forgiveness, more meaningful relationships with my family and friends, and good health."  I never want to be a burden on anyone- parents, friends and especially God. I thought it was dissolute to ask for such things.

So I asked myself, what do I pray for?

Nothing.

I used to pray for everything.  I would have actual conversations with God. I asked for love, job and financial security, and the ability to support my family, guidance, support, wisdom, courage, and self-confidence, direction, calmness, etc. the list goes on..

Sometimes I prayed so hard tears would pour from my eyes. Now, I give God two minutes of my time and I'm off to bed.

Hmmm.... I think it's about time that I turn this computer off, do some push ups and then get on my hands and knees and pray.