Step Forward!

Happy New Year!  Did you make resolutions to change habits or behaviors for the new year?  Do you believe you will be successful?  Can you see yourself achieving the things you resolved to do?

The most successful people I know are visionaries - they work backwards!  What I mean by that, is that they step forward to the end of their goal and look back.  They know the exact things they had to do to get there, and they do them.  Most people look to the horizon towards their goal, making it something that's out there looming somewhere in their future, but they're not sure exactly where it is, or how to get there.

I challenge you to step forward and work backwards!  

Grab a pen and paper, or your computer, and find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed.  Sit down in a comfortable chair, and then, step forward into Dec 31, 2011!  Imagine what 2011 looked like.  What happened?  What did you accomplish?  What great changes or improvements took place in your life?  Write down all the things you achieved during the year with regards to relationships, career, finances, love, health and fitness. Don't leave anything out.

When you were a kid, did you ever imagine you could fly, or defeat a dragon?  I remember when I was a young girl that I used to pretend that I won the Miss Teen Canada pageant!  I also used to pretend I could fly, jumping around the living room with my arms spread wide like wings!  Looking back, it was funny, but I pretended with all my might it was real and it felt great!

Imagination is a powerful thing!  Kids believe anything is possible, and they let have fun letting their imaginations soar!  Adults stop playing, afraid to be silly and have fun, and because of that, imaginations hibernate. Your imagination still exists, you just need to wake it up!

What I want you to do next is bring your imagination out to play!  It might feel a little silly at first, but you're just not used to it!  It won't take long to awaken and then you can harness it's power.  Step into Dec 31, 2011 and what it feels like to have done all the things you did.  Savor the feeling of amazing accomplishment and success!   

Your mind believes what you tell it to, so tell it to believe the best!

Isn't it interesting, how easy it is to worry and to anticipate a negative outcome?  Well, it's just as easy to anticipate a positive outcome!  Once you shift your perspective, it all falls into place - anticipating and believing the positive becomes your new mindset.

Once you believe it, you can achieve it - so here's to your upcoming year of abundance and prosperity!

Your climb to the top!

Sometimes, starting a fitness lifestyle can seem overwhelming. It’s like standing at the bottom of a high mountain, and wondering if and how you will make it to the top.

As with any goal, there are fundamental things you must do in order to achieve success. Below are things that will help you build a good foundation to ensure that your lifestyle becomes just that and not a short term goal that you quickly lose interest in.

As I always say, “Focus your mind first, and the rest will follow”.

What do you want?
Saying “I want to lose "x" lbs” is superficial. You must dig deep within yourself to find the root of your goal in order to find real motivation. Why do you want to lose "x" lbs? To fit into a bikini for your upcoming vacation? To get heart healthy? To be able to play ball with your kids again? To feel better about yourself and your body? To feel sexy, comfortable in your own skin? Ask yourself the tough questions, and don’t stop asking until you have your answers... this will be very important to your ultimate success.

How will you know when you have it?
What will it look like when you reach your goal? What will it feel like? How will it sound? These are things you need to think about in order to be able to paint a vivid picture of what you want. Did you know the brain can’t differentiate between real and imagined? So, if you can imagine it, you’ll be more likely to succeed, as your brain will believe it to be real already!

Do you have a plan?
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is key to knowing how to get where you want to go. If you have never been to Italy, you can’t just hop on a random plane and hope to get there. The same is true with achieving fitness goals.

Hire a personal trainer, or email me to find out about my Lifestyle Transformation Programs. You will need expert guidance with your fitness and nutrition in order to get real results.

Be accountable.
Find a way to be accountable. Whether it’s calling your best friend to check in after your workout, or hiring a trainer (the financial investment is very motivating, and keeps you accountable to someone who won’t let you off the hook). I expect my clients to check in with me, more frequently in the beginning of their journey. Knowing someone is keeping an eye on you, rooting for you, and is there to support you is very positive and powerful.

Don’t beat yourself up
Realize that we all stray from time to time. Don’t allow this to be an excuse to keep on straying. Lose the “all or nothing” attitude. It’s ok to be human, and if you fall off the wagon, accept your behavior, and in the very next breath, get back on the program. Simple as that. Guilt and self-loathing are wasted emotions. Pat yourself on the back for getting back on track quickly, and know that sticking with it is what will ensure your success!

If you start with these core elements, you’re sure to have a successful climb to the top of your mountain!

Keep the faith - you can do it!

Happy New You!

With the approach of a New Year, many people find themselves reflecting on the year that has passed. How do you feel about 2010? If you could summarize it in one or two words, what would they be? Did you accomplish or surpass the goals you set for yourself?

If you find yourself feeling a sense of disappointment when you think about what you wanted to accomplish this year versus what you did accomplish, take heart. You have the power to make the new year your year! However, it won't fall into your lap, so if you wait for it to come to you, bring some magazines and snacks because it's going to be a long, long time.

As you look back, you may find that it was a lack of focus, motivation or consistency that kept you from achieving your goals. If that's the case you will be relieved to know that you have the power to make the changes you seek - all you need are a few new tools in the toolbox that will help you build your future the way you want it to look!

To transform your life to the life you really want to live, you must first ask yourself "What do I want the end of 2011 to look like for me?"

The first step is to write down your goals as clearly and with as much detail as you can. It is a simple, but incredibly powerful tool to hand write - yes, hand write with pen to paper - what you want to accomplish! It's amazing how just this simple activity can open your eyes to opportunities that are in line with getting you where you want to be - opportunities you may not otherwise have seen!


Bring your vision to life!

Once you know clearly what you want, you must breathe life into it. After defining your goals, your next step is to create a vision board. Your vision board can be whatever you want it to be. A collection of pictures and words that paint a vivid picture of what you want. You may want to create it on a piece of Bristol board, using pictures and words cut out from magazines to illustrate you vision. Or, perhaps it's more your style to design it using your computer. The goal is to enjoy the process, and in the end you will have a vision board that fills you with excitement about where you will are headed! Be sure to keep it in a place where you see it every day, and it will help you to stay focused.


Anchor a positive emotional state to reinforce your passion and drive!

Looking back over your life, can you remember a time when you wanted something so much that it seemed to be the only thing you could think about, and how amazing you felt when you got it? The great news is that you can actually use this memory to help you achieve your future goals by anchoring that state of emotions!

Anchoring is simply a strategy you can use to quickly access those positive emotions again at your will. It's very easy to do, and a very effective way to stay motivated and focused!

Find a quiet place, and really go back in your mind to your most vivid memory of something you accomplished that made you feel fantastic. Close your eyes and re-live that memory in your mind. Really let it wash over you, as if you're actually there again. Remember how amazing you felt, like you were kicking the world in the butt. When you feel it, take a deep breath in, and as soon as you begin to exhale, snap your fingers, or decide ahead of time on a a sound you will hear or word you will see in your mind. Repeat this once or twice, then later (10 minutes), test it by performing your trigger (the snap, sound or word). This is how you will recall this powerful positive emotional state when you need it in the future! When you need to access that positive state, just perform your trigger! It's that easy!

Keep your goal in mind every day!

Visualize what you want, like it's already happened, at bedtime and in the morning before you get up. Set a timer for 5 minutes so you can get completely into this movie of your future! Play it in your head in great detail, feeling all the great feelings of accomplishment and stepping into that place where you've done it! This will leave you smiling, positive and invigorated! Remember, your mind doesn't know the imagined from reality except through the senses, so by visualizing your future success, you are bringing your reality closer and closer.

Now that you have these amazing new power tools, imagine how accomplished you will be looking back on 2011!

"Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing". Helen Keller