There was one exercise that we all had to go through called the Gas Chamber.  The purpose was to trust and take care of our equipment.  There were 45 of us along the chamber wall with our equipment on.  Groups of 5 would step forward.  In front of each of us was a plate, and the instructor placed a tear gas caplet on it.  We were instructed to remove our equipment.

Most people had a bad reaction.  Some panicked, spit, vomited and most coughed. The gas burns the respiratory tract and the eyes.  It also irritates the skin for about 10 minutes after.

I knew going into this exercise that I was going to use my mind to tell my body to relax and stay focused on being impervious to the gas.  I had no doubt that I was going to sail through that exercise.  And, as a result, my mind, which is the software, told my body – the hardware – to relax, be calm and impervious to the gas.

I did not cough or shutter.  My eyes did tear a lot, but that was it.  My reaction elicited comments from my instructors who were a bit stunned at my reaction, as it was clearly abnormal.

The mind is powerful and what you tell it is manifested by the body.

How are you programming mind?  And, what will you do differently?

It’s no secret that we are pulling up to the dining table to face portions that are weighing us down. I was at brunch on Sunday and the restaurant portion that I received was enough to fill up four people. It’s a marketing strategy by the food industry to make the customers feel like they are getting a good value for their dollar.

The psychology is even moving to the home front.  Twenty years ago a Hungry Man frozen meat entree would be enough to satisfy one person, but is now considered an appetizer. With all the super-sizing going on today no wonder it’s difficult to know how to right-size portions. Changing your behavior isn’t easy, but very rewarding when you imagine being confident with your fit body at your next networking event.

Here are 7 Smart Steps to Right-Size Your Portions:

1. Prepare Less - Your family eats what you offer. Large volumes of food encourage people to eat more. If you’ve doubled the recipe, freeze the left-overs.

2. Eat Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner at the table - Eating these three meals while driving, watching tv, standing in your kitchen or at your computer doesn’t allow you to slow down, enjoy your meal, or give your brain time to register fullness.

3. Eat Half, Wait 10 Minutes – By waiting and listening to your internal signals of hunger and satisfaction, you can be satisfied with smaller than usual portions.

4. Always Order the Small Size - If you are at a fast-food restaurant, go for the small items. Or, choose the kid-size meal.

5. Never Eat Out of the Bag - Eating out of the box, bag, carton usually means you eat more. Dish out a portion and put the container away.

6. Have a Plan Before You Order – With tempting photos and descriptions of foods on the menu you will tend to order a dish that is enough to satisfy four people. Go to the table with a plan.

7. Share a Meal – You will be certain to cut down on the unwanted calories.

I challenge you to print out these 7 steps. Put them by your refrigerator, on your dashboard, in your bag and anywhere else that will trigger you to review them. The more time you spend thoughtfully considering what your body really needs the more you will right-size your portions.

You don’t just wake up one day having stumbled into an additional 10, 20 or 30 plus pounds. You have taken steps to get there.  And, you CAN redirect your steps.

You ARE capable of a balance between the brilliance of your business and your body.

Step up!

I slowed and asked him, “Does everyone in your company wear a necktie out in the field?”

The bug guy replied, “They’re supposed to.”

I followed, “So, why do you wear one?”

He smiled confidently, “Because I want to show up looking great!”

For the rest of my run I thought how powerful it is to show up feeling confident and “great,” and that my clients are getting lean, energized and focus for work.

And, if you want to be part of the team you can  join *Free* the Skinny Jeans Telesummit.

I’m wrapping up some copy for an upcoming project and I want you to seek out truths:

• Have you considered that you are just under the radar of your breakthrough brilliance?
• Have you had that ache that you know there is amazing energy that you just don’t have right now…but you know it’s there?
• Have you sucked your tummy in one time too many this week?
• Do you know that you’ve been called to have a great impact, but you’re not in the flow completely?
• Do wince when you think about your weight gain over the past months, years?

Brilliance is at the cellular level.  It’s not just the outer layer.  You were designed with a specific gift and if you’re not physically fit and energized then your light is not making the impact that it could.

Hey, this might not be you.  But, you know someone that fits this profile.

Our collective physical fitness is a reflection of our collective GREATNESS.

Don’t be bummed out if this IS you.  Make a change!  I’m not suggesting radical.  Just move.  10 minutes of breathless exercise with in the first 90 minutes of your day – scheduled – is significant.

People check your ego at the door and get on board.  It’s not ‘all or nothing.’  It’s about doing something…1% more than you did yesterday.

Part of my work is to believe in my clients even before they believe in themselves.  Hey, I might not even know you, but I believe you can move if you commit to move.  Imagine:

• Taking Leaps over steps to put off an energy so that your ideal clients recognize your amazing offer.
• Breathing deeply and confidently when you walk into a room.
• Having your people line up after your presentation because they want what you have.
• Never sucking in your tummy again.

Don’t shrink… Step up to your excellence.

And, bring someone with you.

Most interesting was the show of hands that hadn’t even asked for a sale by the very last day.

They were stalled – waiting for the right time; didn’t know how to ask; afraid of failing out of the gate.  This is the same stuff that comes up with many of my clients.

A Parked Car is Hard to Move

There is a common thread with many people I talk to about their fitness.  And, it’s that they are stalled.  Yep, their car is parked and they aren’t moving.  There are a medley of themes [aka excuses] that pop up.  I will list a few of them and give you my short answer to getting in gear.

“I have no time” – Let’s be real here.  There are 24 hours in a day.  So, schedule exercise like it’s a non-negotiable appointment.  The real issue is that exercise hasn’t been made a priority and the exact steps for success haven’t been deployed – a baseline, end goal, mini-goals, and the fun factor.

“I do exercise regularly but it’s not working” – After digging a bit deeper I usually find that a person is not doing the most effective or efficient exercises to promote weight loss.  Additionally, the cardio workouts are generally far off from making any real stab at increasing the metabolism to incinerate fat.  If you want your body to zoom like a Ferarri you need to push the peddle harder with specific interval training.

“I hate to exercise” - Hey, even world-class athletes have bad days and and some days are harder than others…isn’t that life? But, they persevere because they know that the end result is worth it – confident in their body, productive at work, fantastic energy.

“I don’t know where to go to get help” - No wonder!  There are so many supposed gurus touting their potions and gadgets.  As a Fitness Expert for over 20 years, I’ve seen the whole bag of tricks.  Hey, do you remember the one where you place a strap around your backside and turn the machine on?  It was supposed to melt the fat.

Get in Gear!

I’ve put together my list of 4 Body Reset exercise videos that make up a full body workout.  And, you don’t need equipment.  I show you exactly how to do them. These are the same exercises that I do in my own workouts.  I’m also going to give you a cardio workout that is short and effective.  You don’t need equipment.  I’ve laid it out for you as a ‘thank you’ for subscribing to my fitness exercise video newsletter.

I know you can do it!  I’ve worked with hundreds of people who have pushed the reset button on their fitness.  Let someone believe in you even if you don’t fully buy into right now.  It’s all about taking action – that first step.  When you see a little success your whole outlook begins to change and a new confidence moves you to being a rockstar with your business and life.

Being maximally productive to crank out products and services of tremendous value requires energy, and lots of it!  However, many people choose to invest in the accessories – website make-over, flashy power point slides, software, another training seminar, a posh outfit, etc – before considering to invest in their physical fitness.

Hey, clients aren’t buying your stuff (website, powerpoint slide, elevator speech)…really.  They are buying what you are able to uniquely serve up that impacts their lives.  How about offering them your best?  Which begs the question:  Are you truly giving from your best position?

Leaders Who Are Smashing it!

I work with many successful speakers and trainers.  They are all passionate about their work and their commitment to physical fitness increases their energy to blow away the competition.

What is clear to me is that after investing in their physical fitness my clients’ specific content doesn’t change.  They don’t all of a sudden get more knowledge to pass on to their customers.  However, the energy around delivering their message does increase.

Cost of Your Handicap

If you’re not making time for personal care and creating a holy hour  it is not only hurting your optimal health but your ability to serve your customers and get paid for doing it well.

Holding space for regular exercise will raise your game.  The truth is that if you are educated, disciplined and focused on the goal of being physically fit the end result will be that you look and feel dynamic.

After the Honeymoon

After, the courting phase with your fitness wanes and the lusty newness wears off the real challenges set in.  Travel, family and work obligations look more attractive.  But, mastery over your weight, strength and energy are achievable.

I encourage you to get a mentor or buddy to hold you accountable.

And, I’m in the business of building champions.  What I know for sure is that everyone has a champion inside.  But the champion inside of each one of us requires that we make the choice to step into our big girl shoes each day.

Step up!

I did.

Click here to read it if you’re ready to step it up with your Big Girl Shoes on!

Best of Energy!

Ashley

Todd Durkin Mastemind Members in attendance (Left to Right): Julie Wilcox, Deb Vincent, Vito La Fata, Jeanie Callen Barat, Troy Fontana, Trina Gray, Larry Indiviglia, Me, Todd Durkin, Randy Hetrick

As a member of Todd Durkin’s Mastermind I got to sit in on his 3 Day Mentorship sessions this weekend.  As usual,   Todd always over delivers and his keynote speakers are always top in the fitness field. 

This weekend’s keynote speaker was Randy Hetrick founder of the TRX Suspension Trainer and Fitness Anywhere. One of the conference attendees asked Randy to share his biggest life lesson from 13 years as a member of the USN SEAL teams. 

Randy’s reply, “Lead from the front.”  He never asks his team to do something he hasn’t already done. 

Randy closed with Fitness Anywhere’s mission, which is to democratize world fitness by being able to distribute the same exercises that Drew Brees does to everyone. 

In my experience he is doing this very well.  Drew does the single leg squat suspension and is on a mission to finish strong this year down in New Orleans.  I have brilliant women doing that same exercise in my boot camps. 

If you get a chance to listen to Randy speak on branding – I say run!  He has a brilliant business mind.