Archive for April 2012

Short-Term goals are so powerful.  Setting something in your mind and your will, committing to it, is challenging and rewarding no matter the time frame.  But, the longer out you set this period, the more likely we are to falter.  

I try to tell folks to plan something, put an event on the calendar that they can look forward to, train hard for, make sacrifices for.  Plan a date night, a getaway, a photo shoot, a reward-- something special!  You want to look your best, feel your best, do your best on that date.  Set it for no more than a month away.  I find, if I am trying to be very disciplined/spartan-like with my intake while continuing to train like a madman, I can do this for 2-3 weeks.  Sometimes that's stretching it.  Always, that's difficult.  But, it can be done, when I have something that I'm trying to prepare for.

I have a couple of events coming up, and I want to see how good I can be for them.  So, I've given up a couple of my indulgences.  I even put this silly piece of paper on my fridge, so that I can cross off the date every night before I go to bed.  It's a reminder, some accountability,  and a small accomplishment.  An "atta-boy" that  I made it through the day in the way that I was hoping, and I crushed it.  Try it.  Or do whatever works for you.  

Have a partner in your goal, share it with someone.  Misery loves company!  Or, maybe accountability through social media- I don't know what will help keep you on track, but whatever silly tools you need to help out, try it!

Long term goals are great.  I'm not saying don't set any.  But, shorter timeframes are more attainable to me, more realistic, and more fun...

As always, find Tips Of the Day on twitter @andymcd23, Facebook.com/AndyMcDermottFitness, or youtube andymcd23

Had a great time teaching a Fitness Instructor Certification class all week.  

Quick Thoughts:

• When you step out of your daily grind and try hard to help others, you learn more and get more
• Our bodies adapt surprisingly quickly to change in routine- even for old guys like me!  I'm not normally a morning person, but this week I had to be.  I got up at 4am so I could run before class, and then did a circuit workout at lunchtime.  Day 1- felt crummy.  Day 5, felt the best I did all week!  NOTE: In order to confirm this hypothesis, I would need to spend more time training that early in the am, and that's Not gonna happen...  :) 
• As a student, you don't have to be an "expert" in the subject matter at the end of a 40-hour class.  In fact, you rarely are.  But, soak up as much as you can and use it as a jumping-off point to learn in the arenas where you feel you need it most.
• I think we were created for relationships.  Most of the time, I train alone, run alone, ride my bike at work alone, drive alone.  But spending a week like this, where I'm rubbing shoulders with some great people, feels good.  It's fun, and I learn a LOT from these folks.
• Think about what is a "strength" for you.  A Strength does not have to be what you might be "strongest at," but it can be what makes you feel stronger when you do it.  Does it empower you, energize you, make you feel strong and capable?  Well, maybe that is a strength that you should pursue.  You will get better at doing it, because the motivation is intrinsic... 
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