MOTIVATION 101: CHANGE YOUR VOCAB-CHANGE YOUR OUTCOME-CHALLENGE YOUR OBJECTIVE

​Greetings FITTNation!

It’s rare that I have a few minutes on a usually busy afternoon to give you some energy for the weekend to come and beyond!
Yesterday I had a great training session with two of my hard-working clients and I had to correct their lingo. When I gave them one of the exercises to perform, I heard 3 words that rank on the same level as the F-word = I can’t do it.

Before I transformed into a drill sergeant, I kindly suggested that she did me two favours:

1 – PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THAT TERM WHILE AT WORK

2 – Consider changing your words, incorporating a positive outlook instead of a negative one
Too often, we limit ourselves and our abilities by telling ourselves or worst yet letting someone tell us that we can’t do something. But how would you know unless you tried? Did you know that when we use the terms “can’t” and “won’t”, we actually limit the possibility of a positive outcome because our mind tells our body not to bother?

Yes, that’s right. When we want to do something, come hell or high water, we do it, no matter what obstacles befall us. But when that something is challenging beyond our comprehension (or we just believe that we don’t have the ability to do it), we tell ourselves to forget it and do something easier.

Mistake numero uno!

How else would you progress if you didn’t challenge yourself? How else would you get to stage 10 if you stayed in stage 1? How else would you get to your goal and accomplish your “why”? Remember that important element? The reason why you’re training?

Now, please fine people, I hope to not confuse you in what I’m saying. I do not suggest doing something that is TOTALLY out of your range thus injuring yourself and creating a detrimental consequence for yourself Nooooooooooooooo!

But what I am saying is that

a) rest assured I would never give you anything to do that is unsafe but will be out of your comfort zone and challenging, and

b) I wouldn’t give you something that I didn’t think you were quite ready for.

I’m a major advocate of safety and effectiveness so don’t get it twisted. At the same time, where you know you can challenge yourself, accept it and work at it.

Give your mind and body something to work with.

CALL TO ACTION: How can we change our mental and physical environment thus changing the outcome of our objectives in the process?

1) Review Your “Why” AGAIN! – I cannot express how important this is ladies and gentlemen. Your reason for being your best is the single most important factor that cannot be denied by anyone, including you. Heck, re-write your why if you have to! Keep it close by (on your phone, fridge, cookie jar, case of beer, wine bottle, wherever you will see it) so that you can be reminded of it regularly. And don’t just read it in your head, say it out loud! It will press on your conscience better:-)

2) Eliminate the “NOT” words from your vocabulary – if something is difficult to perform, refrain from saying “can’t” or “won’t” or any other word that will interrupt the process of your progress. Put a positive outlook on it and believe you can achieve.

3) Timeline your objectives – give yourself a reasonable start and end date to your goal. How much time will you give yourself to drop a dress size or two (or three)? How many weeks until summer is over? Be specific but be realistic

4) Be Balanced – even us fitness pros have to relax and reflect sometimes. Listen, it’s barbecue season! Enjoy your steak with friends; have that glass of wine; have fun! Just have to be disciplined to know when to say “no”. Remember: your goal is for you:-)

5) Ask for help – I may be a busy guy but I always have time for questions. Need a little boost? Hit me up! Come to a drop in (if you’re in the Montreal area) and sweat it out! Have questions regarding nutrition or training or mindset development? Ask away! My mission is to inform, not harass. I would LOVE to hear how many of you have made a positive change and what results have come from it – that’s what FITTNation is all about! That’s why I do this.

In conclusion peeps, it comes down to you – ask yourself those tough questions: how much do you want to make a difference?

Are you ready to make a lifestyle change or is this just a “summer” thing?

What are you willing to do with or without?

The choice is yours. Just know that I’ll be around whatever you decide

Until next time…

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