Project 141: HEALTH

Don't worry, I'm not going to give you a routine of exercise and a diet to follow in this blog article. Hopefully, you have already discovered that in my approach to expanding "Project 141" to these areas of your life. It's not about HOW MUCH you are doing but, simply, getting into the habit of doing SOMETHING in these areas each and every day for the course of a year. 

Some may feel that I need to put "health" at the top of the list but, again, I put them in the order that I have for a reason. It really doesn't matter how physically fit you are or how good of health you are in if you are missing out on your connection in your spiritual life and if you are not working on your personal development. Oh, I know it makes a difference as far as how long you MIGHT live. But you still won't be living the life that you COULD live, friend.

I'm not a dietician and I struggle with my weight. I've had success in the past, even losing 100 pounds over a 13 month period but, like many, about half of that slowly came back on me. Hey folks, I LIKE TO EAT! And, on top of that, the kind of stuff I like to eat tends to be your "southern-type" foods...fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fried catfish, fried, fried fried. 

I also have diabetes and high blood pressure as a result of eating this way for most of my life. I am doing better than I have done in the past but I still have to really focus on improving what I'm doing with and for my health each and every day. 

The #1 "New Year's Resolution" has to do with weight loss and maybe you are one of those people that have hopped on that same bandwagon year after year after year with little to no success. Truth be told, most of the time you never really put a lot of effort and/or determination into the process, right?

I do know this for a fact: What you put into your body and how much you "work" your body (exercise) makes a BIG impact on how you think and feel. Again, that is a fact!

I suggest you make a decision to do ONE thing in the area of exercise per day and ONE thing in the area of "making a better choice" when it comes to your diet. Nothing major, nothing difficult....just one thing.

Let me prepare you with this right up front...CHANGE IS NOT EASY!

Here are a few suggestions and I'd love to hear YOUR suggestions as well...

     In the area of exercise: If you are able to park your car further away from the door at work, do it. If you can, park further away from the main entrance at any store, the post office and basically, anywhere and everywhere that you must park. It's really a simple task but, friend, let me tell you, the "old you" is going to keep telling you that you don't really want to make that extra effort. But, come on...you gotta' get started with something!                                                                                                                            Also, if you do have some exercise equipment that you've turned into a place to drape your clothes, clean that sucker off and start using it! You don't have to "go crazy" on it but just start doing a little bit of time on it...do SOMETHING! For example, I have a "Total Gym" that I bought several years ago and was really doing good using until I hurt my back one day and had to stay off of it for a while. But, I didn't need to stay off of it for as long as I did. It was hard for me to convince myself that I needed to actually DO something instead of just telling myself that I "needed to". When I was working out on it before, I would spend about 30 minutes on it and, to be honest, now with a different job, I really didn't want to get up 30 minutes early to do that and I sure didn't want to come home after a day of work to do my workout. So I decided to reduce the amount that I had done before and simply get up 15 minutes earlier for my workout. The main thing is that I am forcing myself into getting into the habit of doing the exercise and, on top of just getting into the habit, I know it is doing me some good physically.  There are all kinds of things that you can do just to get into the habit (that's the key, do not let this be a 1 or 2 week effort) of doing something once a day over the next year. Just get up and walk around your office during the day. Yes, take the stairs instead of the escalator even though your "old you" will tell you not to do so. Hey, you CAN do this and it WILL make a difference!

   In the area of making smarter food choices: Again, remember, I struggle with this BIG time! Like I've already said, this does not have to be something dramatic that causes you to get stressed out but it does need to be something. For example, popcorn is not that big of a deal but I was eating at least one bag - and sometimes two - every night. I stopped that a long time ago. Interestingly, I did have a bag a couple of weeks ago and, guess what? After I finished it, I really wished I hadn't eaten it. It didn't taste that good to me and I actually felt "blah" when I was done.                                                                        I like sweets! I haven't restricted myself completely from that but I am trying to do better with that (remember, I am a diabetic) than I have in the past. A few years ago I had my wife cut her cake recipes in half so that I wouldn't be tempted to eat so much cake when I asked her fix me something sweet. And now, I've even gotten to where when I ask her to do that, I will eat some on the first night and end up asking her to take it to her mom and dad. I don't want it any more.  

Things that you may consider small are really what I'm talking about here. Just like the exercise, it's all about getting in the habit and THINKING about what you are doing. Are you in the habit of going through that coffee shop drive-through in the morning and getting one of those "milkshakes-disguised-as-coffee" drinks? Maybe start off not doing that for even one day and then two and...eventually you will break the habit of that expensive (money and physical) habit. 

Here's another for you that may be hard for you at first because of how "addicted" you may be to it...cut out colas of any kind. Sure, you may need to do the gradual reduction thing like I mentioned in the previous paragraph but, at the same time, you may want to just drop it "cold turkey" and see how quickly you begin to feel better.  Again, you CAN do this and it WILL make a difference!

This expanded use of "Project 141" is designed to help all of us operate at the "best us" level that we can and doing better in this area is a vital part of that process.

I want to hear from you. What things can you help add to the list of "doing something once a day" that would help and maybe even inspire others? If you would, you can leave a comment here but I would prefer for you to go to my Facebook page and leave your comments there. 

Next, I will be discussing this approach with our relationships. I hope you will join me.

Until next time, always remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #11: Where Are YOU Going?

"You have to know WHERE YOU ARE before you can know 
how to get WHERE YOU WANT TO BE." - Mike Spillman 

Whether you use a map or use your GPS, the above quote applies as you travel. In order for you to know which route to take to get to your desired destination, you must first know where you are - your starting point.

Of course, a physical trip going from here to there is not what is being addressed in this blog article. Regardless, the same idea applies to your life and your desire to reach your "destination" of your dreams and goals. 

For example, you may desire to make $20,000 per month. In order for you to know what needs to take place, you must first know where you actually are with your current income. If you are already making $15,000 per month then you know that it won't take a lot of adjustment to make up the difference. However, if you are only making $8,000 per month, it is obvious that you will need to take different action in order to achieve your desired goal. Perhaps, like an actual, physical journey, understanding that you have further to go may simply mean a longer journey. So it would be in this example for desired income. Wouldn't you agree?

Is your goal to improve your mindset and become more positive? For one, you must get more specific than that. That's like saying, "I want to go somewhere tropical." Sure, it gets you thinking about a generalized idea but you must narrow your thoughts down in order to get more specific and to know how to actually get where it is that you want to go. Make sense?

"I want to lose some weight." Again, how much weight you want to lose will greatly determine the actions that will be needed to achieve your goal. You must also take into consideration whether or not you wish to do so in a healthy manner. All of these factors matter.

Don't wait until January 1st to start "mapping out" your course. Determine what you wish to achieve (where you want to go) and work your way back to determine what you need to do (what route you need to take) in order to get there. 

Be realistic with your expectations and be willing to make adjustments along the way. Just like a GPS will make the adjustments to your route as well as to the "time expected for arrival" so you must do with this journey, friend. 

I'm here to help any way I can and I encourage you to reach out via my Facebook page (link below) with any comments and/or questions that you may have.

STEP ONE: Be honest and determine "where you are" today and then go from there.

As you do so, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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ACTION: The Only Way to Stay "FRESH"

 Stagnant - 1. not flowing or running, as water, air, etc. 2. stale or foul from standing, as a pool of water. 3. characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement: a stagnant economy.  4. inactive, sluggish, or dull.

And, as a matter of interest, here is a list of words that describe the opposite of being stagnant: active, alert, busy, energetic, lively, mobile, moving, spirited, working.

Allowing any area of your life to become stagnant is very similar to allowing yourself to get into a rut, as we discussed in the last article.

Honestly, no matter what your situation, you MUST do whatever it takes to prevent stagnation in your life! Remember, "No activity equals DEATH!" 

Take a look at that body of water in the above picture. My guess would be that, if there were any fish in that body of water before, many - if not all - have already died due to the lack of fresh water that would continue the life in that water. 

Many would be shocked if they were able to see a visual image like this picture as it described their own life and the lack of activity found therein. 

Just as a charging dog could cause one to be paralyzed by fear and just as the "deepness" of one's rut can do the same, so it is with taking the needed action to prevent themselves from becoming stagnant! 

However, if you desire to live a productive life and if you wish to improve your life in all areas then it is an absolute necessity that you do whatever it takes to bring in "new life" INTO your life in order for it to remain "fresh" and "alive".  

It will not happen over night and it will not happen by itself. It will require YOU to make a decision to take action and it will also require you to actually put that decision into gear by TAKING action. 

Here's the kicker...some people actually are AFRAID of their life improving. What??? I know, as odd as it may seem, there are actually people out there that are fearful of their lives improving for the better.

WHY? Well, as best as I can figure out, it is because it is sometimes easier to live a life of stagnation and  a life in a rut so that one can use that as an excuse for their circumstances. For some, it is easier to blame their lack of action and activity in their life on the very things that are a result of the lacking activity.

Strange, isn't it? But, let's get real here - what about you? Again, as has been discussed in every article in this series, YOU MUST BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF before any advancement can be made.

Read and/or listen to those that can help stimulate your mind and your ideas. Spend time around those people that do the same and spend less time - if any at all - around those that do the opposite.

You MUST begin to bring in some "freshness" to your life if it has become stagnant. You must bring in some "fresh air" to help clear out and clean out the stagnant air that you have become used to.

So, again (from previous articles in this series) what is your WHY or your PURPOSE? What is it that you wish to accomplish?

Bottom line, get moving and take ACTION because it is the ONLY way to stay "fresh".

Tomorrow, we'll discuss the topic: "ACTION: It Becomes Easier With Momentum!"

Until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Getting Rid of the FAT...NOT So Easy

 

If you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the last blog article. It leads into this article and should be read first, o.k.?

 

Too, be sure to listen to the podcast that goes along with this article - just click on either of the "podcast links" at the bottom of this article and you'll be taken right to it. Too, please be sure to share this blog and podcast with as many people as you can. Thanks, in advance!

 

Pretty much everyone would agree that, even though it is EASY to put on weight and even "get fat" it is quite a different story when it comes to LOSING that weight and trying to GET and STAY "in shape". (I hear those of you out there that are saying, "Hey, round IS a shape!").

 

Again, based on what was discussed in the last article, let's get to it and acknowledge the fact that, the longer you take the path of least resistance then the harder it is going to be to make a change and move in the opposite direction! This goes for ANYTHING that has come about by taking this path. The further you go down that path, the further it is back to where you want to be or where you need to be - in ANY area. Make sense?

 

Let's use this example that I've used several times before - the ship and the jet ski. Both of them can turn around and head in the opposite direction, right? Sure it's right! Which one can do it quicker and with less effort? The jet ski, of course. It's smaller and lighter and can just about "turn on a dime" Now then, on the other hand, that ship is going to take a bit more time and a bit more effort to get it headed back in the opposite direction. Why? Because it is so much larger and heavier. So it is with what we allow to grow larger and larger (not just talking about our belly here, friend!) by taking the path of least resistance.

 

But don't miss this point: No matter how "big" and "hard" that task may seem - it CAN be done! Yes, it's going to take longer and yes, it's going to take more effort but - let's get real here - how bad do you want it?

 

Years ago I lost 100 pounds over 13 months and I had a lot of people that wanted to know my "secret" and do what I did to lose that weight and get in shape. But, you know what? Although a lot of people SAID that they wanted to "do whatever it would take", not many were really willing to do so. A lot of people want the RESULTS (this can apply to "success" in many forms) but aren't willing to do what it takes to GET those results.

 

A mentor that I had in that weight loss business that was part of my "formula for success" was very successful in the business aspect of this company. He said that many people would tell him that they wanted to be where he was in this company and he would ask them - straight out - "But are you willing to do what I have had to do to get here?". Many would automatically say, "Yes!" when, in reality, they were not willing to do those things.

 

Another gentleman that I knew - a multi-millionaire in an insurance company that I worked with - was well known in this company due to his success. I attended a convention that had several people speak from within the company. When they got on the stage they would begin by telling everyone what they did to accomplish what they had accomplished. When this one particular gentleman got up to speak he said, "I'm not even going to tell you what I did because none of you would be willing to do what I did!" And, you know what? He was right. I found out what he did to get his business taking off at such a great pace and, friend, it was literally CRAZY! But he did it because he wanted it that bad. Many wanted his success but few - if any - were willing to do what he had done to get there.

 

Friend, it takes DISCIPLINE to "get rid of the fat" and to go the opposite way of the many that are on that path of least resistance. It takes DISCIPLINE to keep going when you feel like giving up - especially if you are trying to redirect a SHIP instead of a jet ski. Get the point?

 

No one can do it for you. You may want them to at times but, remember, getting others to do it for you is following the path of least resistance. Oh, there's nothing wrong with getting someone to help from time to time but, you can't expect (nor should you want) someone else to do the needed things for you.

 

Remember, even if you take "two steps forward and one step back" you are still one step ahead of where you were before! Easier said than done? Well, of course it is! The work goes beyond the words - the work comes in the ACTION that only you can do. I hope that this article encourages you along that path (as well as the other podcasts and articles) and that you will share your thoughts and progress with me. Will you? I hope so! I'd especially love to hear from you via the FYU page on Facebook

Until next time, as you make the daily decision to keep on working towards a better future, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University  FYU on Facebook!  Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed