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The Missing Link for Motivation |
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Do you
ever wish that you were more motivated to experience life at your full
potential? Most of us set goals and work hard only to find our
motivation fade away after a couple of weeks. But there are little tricks that
will help you harness the power of your mind and propel you toward achieving
your goal.
The Two Motivators
When you boil it down, you're motivated by two simple things:
To avoid pain (fear of failure)
To gain pleasure (promise of reward)
You are naturally geared toward one of these motivators. To figure out which,
think of the last time you accomplished a task and then ask yourself the
following: While doing the task were you thinking about what would happen if
you failed to finish, or were you thinking about what you would gain when you
finished?
Take note as to which motivator works for you - fear of failure, or promise of
reward.
Set Your Goal: The first step towards unstoppable motivation is to
determine your goal. You know you're unhappy with your body, but what exactly
do you want to change? Why is it important to you?
Perhaps you can relate to one of the following goals:
You need to lose weight for your health. Your doctor scared you
straight or maybe you've had a recent health problem that landed you in the
hospital. Your goal is to move away from the pain of sickness.
You want to look and feel incredible. You've always wanted to feel
vibrant and attractive. The idea of having more energy really excites you.
Your goal is to move toward the pleasure and reward of a fit body.
You're worried about your kids. They don't eat enough vegetables, they
drink more soda pop than water and they play video games constantly. You have
decided to model a healthier lifestyle and to encourage your kids to
participate. Your goal is to move away from the risks of a sedentary lifestyle
and to propel your kids toward a healthy future.
Train Your Mind for Weight Loss:
With your clear and important goal in mind, take a few minutes to train your
mind to achieve it. You know that weight loss comes as a result of eating
right and regular challenging exercise, so use your mind to conquer both.
Eating Right: Use this exercise to distance yourself from the
self-sabotaging foods you really wish you didn't eat, and to naturally begin
selecting healthy foods.
Take a moment to review your current eating habits. Identify the foods that
you should stop eating (hint: sweets, anything fried, refined carbohydrates,
sugary drinks). Identify the worst food that you eat regularly but know you
shouldn't.
Now imagine the healthy foods that you should eat (hint: vegetables, fruits,
whole grains, lean protein). Identify the healthiest food that you know you
should eat regularly.
Now with the image of these two foods in mind, do the following exercise
(seriously, it sounds goofy, but this will work):
Draw up the image of your unhealthy food item. This image will likely be quite
vivid, with smell, taste and color. In your mind, fade this picture to black
and white and distance the image until it is dull, fuzzy and remote.
Draw up the image of your healthy food item. This image will likely be fuzzy
and faded. In your mind, bring this picture to life with smell, taste, sound
and bright color.
Regular Exercise: This technique can be applied in a way that
encourages you to crave exercise rather than avoid it.
Take a moment to imagine how you feel after a great workout (notice the
emphasis on the word after). Remember the physical satisfaction as well
as the sweet feeling of accomplishment.
Now bring to your mind the aspects of exercise that you dislike. What is your
biggest reason for avoiding exercise? Are you too tired? Do you not have
enough time? Is physical exertion too much of a hassle? Pinpoint your greatest
complaint about exercise.
Now with the image of these two aspects of exercise in mind, do the following
exercise:
Draw up the image of your exercise complaint. The image is likely to be clear
and accompanied by the sounds, smells and sensations. In your mind, fade this
picture to black and white and distance the image until it is dull, fuzzy and
remote.
Draw up the image of the wonderful feeling you have after accomplishing a
great workout. Magnify this image in your mind. Fixate on how you feel
physically, mentally and emotionally. View the experience in bright colors and
add a sound track of inspirational music.
Why It Works
If this was your first experience with training your mind (also called Neuro-Linguistic
Programming, or NLP) it may have felt a little odd. Many of the world's top
achievers regularly use techniques like these to accomplish astounding goals.
The techniques above work because they train your mind to bring your behavior
in line with your values. Think about it, you value health, you desire to be
fit and attractive and you want to instill healthy habits in your kids.
These techniques encourage you to avoid self-sabotage and to make choices that
line up with what you truly value.
Now that you are ready to accomplish your goals, call or email me today to
start your fitness program that will greatly improve your life. |
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The Rocking Chair Test |
Need another boost of motivation? Anthony Robbins
uses this Rocking Chair Test to motivate his students to action.
Imagine yourself at 90 years old, sitting in a rocking chair and looking back
over your life.
Imagine that you never accomplished the goals that are important to you. Feel
the pain of loss and regret of not doing what you wanted to do, and now its too
late.
Now imagine that you did accomplish these important goals. Feel the pleasure of
success and gladness for what you were able to accomplish during your life.
Which scenario do you want to experience when you are 90? |
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Recipe of the Month |
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Spinach
Frittata This recipe
is a great way to eat more spinach. Frittatas make a great dinner, so
don't limit this to a breakfast food.
The key to making a low fat, high protein frittata is to replace most of the
eggs with egg whites, as this recipe calls for.
Servings: 4
Here's what you need...
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 4 cups baby spinach leaves
- 3 whole eggs, plus 4 egg whites
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, minced
- 2 red potatoes, peeled and shredded
- 1/4 cup shredded low fat mozzarella
1. Preheat the broiler and position the rack about 4 inches from the top. In a
large nonstick frying pan (with a flameproof handle, since this is going in the
oven) heat 1/2 teaspoon of oil on medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until
soft, about 1 minute. Stir in the spinach and cook until it is wilted, about 2
minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set the frying pan aside.
2. In a bowl whisk together the eggs and egg whites, salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Put the frying pan back on medium heat and add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of
oil. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the bell
pepper and potatoes and cook until the potatoes are browned, about 5 minutes.
4. Spread the potato mixture to an even layer in the pan. Spread the spinach
over it, then pour the eggs on and sprinkle with the cheese. Cook until slightly
set, about 3 minutes.
5. Place the pan under the broiler until the frittata is browned and completely
set, about 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve immediately.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 176 calories, 6g fat, 16g
carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 12g protein. |
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Fitness Together 951-302-2995 |
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Ed FerrellAs owner, manager and head trainer of Fitness Together - Temecula,
I have found that there is nothing more rewarding than helping my clients reach
their personal fitness goals. It goes far beyond helping them to lose weight and
feel better about themselves. I have seen lives completely changed when clients
learn and apply proper nutrition and exercise to their lifestyles.
No one I know has ever regretted losing weight and getting in better shape. The
improvements and enjoyment that clients experience in their daily lives as a
result of their personal training is why I do this. I may work with each client
less than an hour a day, but I known they are enjoying the benefits of their
improved energy, health and fitness all day long -- and that's what its all
about. Without your health, nothing else matters.
Contact Us
Fitness Together
31045 Temecula Parkway #103
Temecula, CA 92592
951-302-2995
www.fttemecula.com
Subscribe If this
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Links
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Holidays
none
Quote of the Month
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count,
it's the life in your years.
-Abraham Lincoln
Health Trivia
Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed
surgery in the United States. More than 90% of the people who have cataract
surgery regain useful vision.
Healthy Humor
Doctors can be frustrating. You wait a
month-and-a-half for an appointment, and then he says, "I wish you'd come to
me sooner."
Health Tip
When you skip meals, two things happen. First, your metabolism slows down.
Second, since you brain thinks that you are starving it will tell your body to
store as fat any food that it does receivet. In other words, skipping meals =
weight gain. The best thing you can do for your body, no matter what your goals
are, is to begin each day with breakfast and eat a meal or snack about every 3
hours. This will fuel your metabolism, provide you with an abundance of energy
and nutrition and allow your body to burn more fat 24 hours a day.
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