If I asked 100 people what it takes to get fit 99 would give me a variation of the same answer: get a gym membership and spend hours working out 5-6 days each week while following a stringent nutrition plan. In a word: discipline!
On paper this seems like a great plan.
But here’s the problem… this approach rarely delivers real and lasting results! Want proof? Visit any gym in any city and what you’ll see is the same people putting in all of that effort but rarely do you witness anyone who really lasting results.
As a matter-of-fact most people putting in this work lament their lack of results!
You see the biggest problem with implementing this “discipline” mindset is that this kind of thinking is primarily controlled by your conscious mind. It forces you to get too involved with the “how” rather than focusing on “what” you want. The human brain is the MOST powerful and complex machine in the Universe. Right now your brain is processing over 400 million bits of information.
The reason you are not completely overwhelmed by all of this is because your subconscious brain is busy filtering out most of this. The amount of information your conscious brain processes is about one-half of one-millionth of one percent of the amount your subconscious brain processes!
It’s the conscious brain that’s responsible for first coming up with your ideas but the subconscious determines whether or not things will actually be accomplished. This is because the conscious brain gets easily distracted – the average person loses focus after about 6 to 10 seconds – while the subconscious is always at work attracting to you just what you want… whether that be good or bad!
The whole key to your success in any endeavor – including having the body you really desire and deserve – is to feed your subconscious the “what” and let it go about worrying about the “how”. Scientifically it has been proven that whatever our subconscious mind is focused on – determined by the input we provide – it has to go after. This is what its purpose is and you can use it to your advantage. How?
The easiest and most effective way I have found to program the subconscious is through the use of creative visualization through the use of a Fitness Vision Board. Creating and using a Fitness Vision Board is a really simple but powerful tool when it comes to programming your subconscious mind to achieve what you want. Making one is really easy and can be fun.
1. Get a poster board or a cork board.
2. Go through several fitness magazines and cut out photos that inspire you and meet the ideal you are striving to achieve.
3. Clip out any words or phrases that seem to inspire you and of course you can always write them in by hand.
4. Arrange and glue your images to create your personal Vision Board.
A few of my clients over the years have created a Vision Board for their bedroom or their office and also turned their refrigerator into one. Many have taken pictures of their boards and carry the picture with them or use the photo as a computer screen saver. There are no right or wrong ways so do what feels right to you.
Now what? Once you have created your Vision Board place it somewhere you will see it often. You want it in your “vision” often. You will also want to take a couple of minutes once or twice daily to really focus on it.
What are you really accomplishing? Remember your subconscious brain is wired to go after whatever you tell it to and to find the easiest, fastest way there. By now visually focusing on the “what” your subconscious will start finding the best “how”.
Okay I have to admit that when I first heard of Vision Boards I was pretty skeptical. But when I read and then realized that many of the greatest people throughout history have attested to the power of visualization I decided to give them a try. The results have been phenomenal and I still use Vision Boards regularly. Each one of my boards includes my fitness goals, career goals, possession goals, travel goals, etc.
Don’t be surprised if within a few days or weeks you start to notice a shift in the ways you feel about food, exercise and life in general. Watch for signs the Universe is giving you such as a workout program that inspires you or a new Fitness Buddy coming into your life. Trust me, Vision Boards work!
Tomorrow I’ll provide a few tips to getting the maximum benefit out of your Vision Board. In the meantime get busy and get your board started today. One day soon you’ll be glad that you did!
Live Passionately and Powerfully!
Coach Phil
PS If you are looking for an EXCELLENT way to train your subconscious for results in any area of your life check out the Think Right Now program. I use these programs daily… or actually I should say nightly!
Click to learn more –> Think Right Now!
The key to getting maximum lean-muscle building and fat-blasting results lies in teaching your body to do MORE functional work in LESS time.
Here is a great way (and by great what we mean is big results in little time!) to rock your body in just 5 minutes.
Step 1. Pair 2 exercises together.
For our example we’ll use Push-ups and Bodyweight Squats.
Step 2. Have a timer handy.
Step 3. With a running clock transition between the 2 exercises as such…
:50 Push-ups / :10 Squats
:40 Push-ups / :20 Squats
:30 Push-ups / :30 Squats
:20 Push-ups/ :40 Squats
:10 Push-ups / :50 Squats
That’s it. Keep the clock running and do as many reps as possible in each time block by using the work-rest-work prinicple.
A lot of people who have tried this workout actually have told me they prefer to do it the first time using Jumping Jacks and Squats but I personally like to pair an Upper Body with a Lower Body.
You can choose and use any 2 exercises you like. Sometimes I will pair Kettlebell Swings with Burpees if I am feeling particularly fat and lazy and need a kick in the tail. Or Kettlebell High Pulls with a Push-up variation.
Beginners… you may substitute REST as one of the exercises but we really encourage you to do something that keeps you moving even if it is just a Boxers Shuffle or Marching in place.
Want to REALLY blast some fat from your body?
Here are some suggestions for maximizing the benefits from our real world laboratory (our clients bodies!)
1. Do one of these 5-minute routines in the AM and one in the PM.
2. Complete one of these using bodyweight exercises at the end of your traditional workout.
3. Replace your useless long, slow cardio with 1-2 of these sessions.
4. Mix the exercises up regularly
There you have it. 5 minutes. No excuses. The challenge has been given!
Because I care about your results!
Fit Coach Phil