The New Year... The New Everyone!

I made the decision to compete a long time ago. I think the reason behind my success at it was knowing that there was a solid date that I had to be ready by. Not just by losing weight, but being in the best condition of my life. I needed the exact date, time and place to focus on.

When you make the decision to change your life through competing, starting a new diet, or even getting into the gym there's a piece that is usually missing. I struggled with my weight for years. The ONE time that it worked was when I had my sights set on something real. I'm not saying to go and do a figure or bodybuilding competition right off the bat, but any form of competition will help you get the results you want FASTER.

You'll have a goal, you'll know when you NEED to be done by, and if you tell all your friends and family about the challenge you're in, it holds you even more self accountable for your actions. You'll know that every cheat, every single day you miss the gym is a step AWAY from achieving your goal.

Here's a few things you can try to get your Resolution to a good start.

1. COMPETE - here are some links to things you may be able to participate in..
Transformation Challenge:
http://contest.double-tsports.com/transformation_challange/index.php
Bodybuilding Competitions: http://www.npcnewsonline.com\\

2. TELL EVERYONE!
Seriously, if you want to hold yourself accountable you better be ready to have other people push you!

3. DON'T PAY FAT TAX!!!!!
What is fat tax? It's what you pay when you go buy a gym membership and then go for about a week and stop going. It's the money you SPEND on the gym membership that you don't even use until you realize that you're too lazy to go and then you cancel the membership.

4. DRAG SOMEBODY WITH YOU!
Get your sister, your friend, your dad, your brother, your aunt, even that person from work who TALKS about working out but you never see any changes in them.. bring them right along with you. Not like a date, but maybe a "Hey, I could really use a spot at the gym some time, would you like to work out together??" thing.

5. REMIND yourself.
How? There are tons of ways. On my bathroom mirror I have in blue wipe away marker "Hey Tiff!! Get your ass up and go to the gym!" on my mousepad it says "HEY YOU! GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND GO TO THE GYM!" Those little things will keep it in your mind that you've made a decision and YOU are the one that can make it happen.

6. Start little, STAY little...
I mean this in the best way possible. If you start out simply by going to the gym and doing a half hour of cardio... and you keep doing this for months... YOU WILL SEE CHANGES!!!! It's amazing what these little things can do. Just add another little thing once your little thing has become a habit.

7. Have FUN with it.
Never a day goes by that I don't truly ENJOY going to the gym. Most of the time, if I feel crappy going to the gym actually makes me feel better! It's an amazing stress reliever. If you ever feel TOO BUSY to go to the gym just do it. Have a quick workout and it will do wonders for your stress level.

I hope this can help you guys stick to your resolutions... and for the sake of my buddy Jason, I'm going to say... NO MORE RESOLUTIONS!! MAKE THESE LIFE CHANGES! You can do it.. I did it. I was a 235 pound FAT NERD.. (I'm still a nerd, but not fat anymore). Get on it!!!

Best of luck to you! Only YOU can kick your own ass!

Love,
Tiff