Lean Bodies - Lyn Sherrell

I’m currently reading Esther & Jerry Hicks, The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent.  I’m currently on a quest to improve the overall harmony in all areas of my life..financial, physical, relational, mental and spiritual.  I think that it’s important to have harmony in all areas of life. It’s easy sometimes to give all of our attention to one area and forget about the importance of others.

Here is an excerpt that I found particularly interesting. It’s called Living the Art of Allowing…..

Let Go of the how. This seems to contradict the creation process, because isn’t the whole point to control the outcome? It may seem so at the beginning, but as most of us go along, we eventually realize that the more we try to control the outcome, the less circumstances seem to work in our favor. By consciously letting go of HOW the universe will manifest our wishes, we affirm that our desired outcome is already a done deal. There’s no need to beg, manipulate, or control the situation because it already exists in perfect form. We simply need to let go and trust that the universe will deliver it to us in the most beautiful and beneficial way possible.

“A dream becomes a reality in 4 stages; dreaming, wanting, planning, and doing. Courage is the glue. If you don’t have courage you will never want it bad enough to plan. If you don’t have courage you will never plan it well enough to do. If you don’t have courage you will never fulfil your dreams. If you do not fulfil your dreams, you may not have the courage to dream again.”   Author Unknown

I’m about a week and a half into my quest to be more of an overachiever and a little less of an underachiever. The first few days my body was in “WTH” mode and then finally rebelled last weekend…I took not one but THREE naps within one 24 hour period. Luckily I have since recovered and have been successful at keeping my naps to a minimum.  One thing I’ve learned is that my biggest problem in all areas seems to be procrastination. I am the queen of putting things off until “tomorrow” so in my efforts to improve, I am replacing my “tomorrows” with “TODAYS” and see where that leads me.

TODAY I will dwell on the POSITIVE.

TODAY I will dedicate my time and energy to my diet and training

TODAY I will take the time I need for me–to do the things I need to do.

TODAY I will know that I CAN DO THIS.

TODAY I will be PATIENT with myself and others.

TODAY I will reach out to someone who needs a little ENCOURAGEMENT–next time it might be me.

TODAY I will ENJOY my successes that are and DREAM of those yet to come.

TODAY I will be sure I am prepared for tomorrow.

TODAY I will focus on the ACCOMPLISHMENTS I have made and the obstacles I have OVERCOME.

TODAY is the only day I have any control over. TODAY I choose to make it good, to be happy and serene.

TODAY will be a GOOD day!!!

I think one of the greatest tools we have learned is one we don’t consciously realize. Remember the old saying “practice makes perfect?” Through the accountability and support of our family, friends, coworkers, forum members etc.,  we have been practicing CONSISTENCY, and CONSISTENCY is a valuable tool if any of us are serious about succeeding and meeting our goals.

Consistency builds STRENGTH. As much as the day-after-day dedication to our  training, done at the proper tempo, using the proper muscles, has brought about changes and strength in our bodies and as much as eating the proper foods/supplements at the proper times has brought about the changes and strength in our metabolism; the consistency we have experienced by doing these acts has brought about changes and strength in our mental and emotional attitudes as well.

Consistency eliminates STRESS. Every “on” day makes the next one easier. It eliminates the stress by taking the decision out of the situation. When to eat and what to eat are no longer an issue. If you have your training planned, your food prepared and on hand, it is much easier to say that little word “no” when presented with the temptation to cheat or to skip a workout. In fact, we create of lot of our stress by being INCONSISTENT.

Consistency brings SUCCESS. With consistent “on” days that soon turn into weeks, the pounds and inches begin to melt away and the strength gains increase —–> SUCCESS! With the pounds and inches melting away, our bodies are healthier —–> SUCCESS! With healthier bodies, we look and feel so much better —–> SUCCESS!

So since all of you know how much I like quotes, I found one that I’d like to end with:

“When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet, at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it - but all that had gone before.” — Jacob Russe

Help I’m surrounded by overachievers!!! I find it funny that someone like me who is an staunch underachiever has found herself smack in the middle of a circle of friends who are the consummate overachievers. Is this the universe’s subtle way of telling me that laziness is not something that I should so easily embrace; that it wouldn’t kill me to push myself a little bit harder and try to accomplish more on a daily basis? Hmm..or maybe I just have annoying friends. Either way, a recent exchange with one of them has gotten me to thinking about upping my game a bit.

Like I said, this all came from a recent exchange with an amazing, yet extremely competitive friend of mine. We were discussing how we get along so well although our personalities are so different. We joked that if my apartment complex were to catch on fire, I’d grab my shoes, car keys, and my purse and be out the door. She in contrast would see how much stuff she could get out of the burning apartment, in the least amount of trips before the firetruck arrived and then probably rub it in the neighbors face that she got out more stuff all while keeping her heart rate below 140 bpm.

So I’m thinking, am I missing something here? Well, I’m about to see for myself. I’ve decided for the next 6 weeks starting today I’m going to push myself just a bit harder and see what happens. I want to see how much change can be brought about by making maybe one or two small changes a day. I’m going to apply this to all areas of my life not just diet and training since my life is more than just diet and training, but I know I’ll benefit in those areas greatly as well. I’m thinking of the next 6 weeks as like basic training/bootcamp for slackers. Hopefully I’ll emerge as OverAchiever First Class.

Funny, part of me is really excited about this, but another part of me just wants to take a nap.

I found this online and I think it’s a great motivator for those times when you just want to throw in the towel, have an unplanned cheat, or skip the day’s training.

“I will act now. I will act now. I will act now. Henceforth, I will repeat these words each hour, each day, everyday, until the words become as much a habit as my breathing, and the action which follows becomes as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids.

Success will not wait. If I delay, success will become wed to another and lost to me forever. This is the time. This is the place.
I am the person.”
- Og Mandino

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing.

Motivation determines what you do.

Attitude determines how well you do it.”

“Cause I wanna win!!!”…this was a text that I received from a friend this morning. Funny how something presumably so simple and insignificant can really make you think about the big picture. Many of us set goals in life but what struck me about this text was that the objective was so clear and so concise. I think some of us get all bogged down in the small details and we lose sight of the big picture or the big picture becomes too crowded and complex. Sometimes I think simplicity is a good thing…set a goal and do whatever it takes to reach that goal; because in the end we all wanna win.

Wow, this time last week I was baking, packing, and getting ready to head down to Charleston for the Jr. USA’s. The main reason I enjoy going to these shows is of course to support the competitors and second to be able to get together with people that I’ve met through the LBF board and have established friendships with. It’s always so exciting to meet and hang out with people in person that you chat online, talk on the phone with, and text on a daily basis. Nothing compares to actually spending time with them in person. I am very fortunate to have established so many wonderful friendships outside of LBF.

Having said that, I’ve noticed that being a spectator at these shows has allowed me to reap benefits that I never really even considered. By not being a competitor, I am afforded the chance to just sit back and watch others and I take full advantage of that opportunity. I cannot begin to explain the motivation I get from these shows. There is something about the comaraderie and support that these competitors give to each other that is downright infectious.  The word competitor really doesn’t seem to fit because although they are competing against each other for placement in the show, they are always encouraging and supportive to each other. I had never seen so many “competitors” cheering, hugging, and helping to uplift each other.

Lastly, another surprise benefit that I seem to get from these shows is a boost of motivation with my own goals. There’s nothing like seeing hundreds of people at their absolute physical best to make you take another look at your own goals and decide what you need to do to get yourself to the next level.