So, let’s just get right to it. What do you think is the real secret behind my client success? Well, if your answer was my above named training and nutrition system, then your answer is wrong. Yes I believe that it’s an incredible program, but unfortunately it’s useless if someone is unwilling to enroll on it AND stick to it, right? So, it appears that the most important component of changing your body is finding the motivation to achieve your goals in the first place, and that’s the main focus of this article today. I am going to literally walk you through the initial consultation and three step goal setting process that many of my clients undergoe before they start working with me. This is so important to your weight loss success that I will now require it for any new client to be considered for joining my program.

Before I get into this goal setting process, I just need to get something off of my chest. I know a lot of people think goal setting is just a cheesy, useless thing. Unfortunately, these people just don’t get it and frankly if you are one of those people, please do us both a favor and stop reading this article and go buy another useless weight loss book or pill because I simply cannot do anything for you. I can only help people who want to learn. I simply cannot help people who already think they know it all and think they are too good to take some time to figure out what the hell it is that they actually want to accomplish. The bottom line is that the most successful people out there, and I mean not just weight loss success, I am talking business, lifestyle, etc., are shamelessly goal driven. The most successful people in the World know exactly why they want to do something and harness that super motivation to figure out how and by when they want to go about accomplishing that. Furthermore these super achievers’ plan and prepare for every possible roadblock they will encounter in their path to success. This is what I want to teach you how to do today, so let’s get to it!

Step One- The Why: Why do you want to do this?

This is where it’s time to get real. In almost every initial consultation I do, when I ask why they have contacted me today, here is the typical blanket response that I first hear:

“Well, I just want to get healthy and lose some weight.”

Nope, I don’t buy it. Sure, I know they want to lose weight and be healthy, I mean who doesn’t, but really WHY do they want to do this? I mean, what is it that’s going to get them up at 5 am to get their morning workouts in or take a couple of hours on Sunday to plan and prepare their meals for the upcoming week? It sure isn’t “being healthy” because for some reason this just isn’t a very powerful motivator for most people (though it should be).

Let’s face it: everybody, including YOU, wants to look better naked! Stop giggling, you know it’s true and frankly that’s okay because the desire to improve one’s appearance is the most powerful motivator there is. This shouldn’t be such a big surprise since the main life mission of humans, or any species for that matter, is to procreate. This is instinctual. And obviously, looking better makes this more of a reality.

So, after a little digging, I find out the real reason why they have come to see me; I find their past or pain and then establish their current and future ambitions. Some people want to be able to mow the lawn in the summer with their shirt off and not feel self-conscious. Others want to get back into their favorite pair of pants that they haven’t been able to get one leg into for the last five years. Then there are those who want to look and feel more attractive to ignite some passion back into their relationships and/or put for their best image at work. And of course, my personal favorite is preparing for big events that have built in deadlines. Wanting to get as lean and tight as possible to look hot in that dream bikini while on holiday, or when visiting family you haven’t seen in two years to blow them away with your new body, or being a classic beauty in your wedding dress on the big day, it all works! This is the stuff that gets people fired up and ready to commit to making some real changes. How do I know? Well, I just shared with you the exact “WHY’S” of some of my own clients.

So, the first thing you have to figure out is your personal WHY. To make this even simpler for you, just answer this question: what are your physical dreams? Once you establish this, everything else is easy..

Train Hard, Eat Smart!

Marc

PS- Stay tuned for parts II and III later in the week…

If you are wanting to lose weight fast and attempt to do so by drastically reducing your calorie intake then you are asking for serious trouble. If you have been on diet after diet and still are no better off, or worse, you now weigh more than when you first went on a diet then you must realise that the diet failed you!

The sooner people come to grips with the fact losing weight for the summer, and beyond, is going to take hard work, discipline, patience and a plan based on science and not guesswork. If it was easy, everyone would have six pack abs.

As a fitness expert I seem to fight an uphill battle. Everyone wants the results, but few are willing to do the work.”

So to help make losing weight the “right way” easier and get you that beach body for the summer, I’m recommend you follow my four top tips:

1) Create a realistic plan. The focus of which should be sound nutritional habits and regular exercise.

2) It’s crucial to weight loss success not to have “trigger” foods lying around the home – the temptation is often too great. Remove from the home any junk food that will lead to eating unnecessary calories.

3) Enlist the help of a friend or colleague and encourage one another. Be sure this weight loss “buddy” is as equally as determined as you.

4) Most importantly, be realistic. The excess pounds did not appear overnight. They don’t disappear over night either.

Train Hard, Eat Smart!

Marc