Yes. I CAN.

I talk a LOT on here about "Attitude is Everything" and I have realized how true that is - especially this year. This year I've made so many strides, in my attitude and outlook in particular. Many of you write to me saying thank you for motivating me, but I've always said, "Kids, I have my down days, I have many moments of doubt.....I just motivate MYSELF to get out of them." Sometimes, I lean on my friends and they pull me out of that doubting mode. 

If you can do one thing for yourself right now- do this. 

ELIMINATE THAT PHRASE "I CAN'T" FROM YOUR VOCABULARY. Don't allow yourself to say it, and when you catch yourself saying it, STOP and change that sentence to "I WILL" or "I CAN".

You CAN do anything you set your mind to. Don't EVEN try to tell me otherwise. Don't EVEN give me any lame excuse. Kids, money,  job, equipment- I don't wanna hear it. We all have EXCUSES for not fitting in a regular workout program. 

EXCUSES DON'T CUT IT. EXCUSES won't cover up your flabby belly when you want to go hang out on the beach with your friends. EXCUSES won't help you climb 10 flights of stairs without dying because the elevator broke. EXCUSES won't let you stay more active and flexible as you get older than some kids in their twenties. 

EXCUSES SUCK. Break up with them.

I had said for years "I can't run.....I get cramps every time....". Look at me now. I've run my first 5K and I'm training for my first 1/2 marathon in December. And I have no fear. 

EXCUSES are simply a mask for fear. And FEAR is what will keep you living your life in a small bitty comfort zone of lameness, instead of reaching out and grabbing life and OWNING IT.

GO BIG OR GO HOME.

I ran at the hotel gym yesterday at like 5pm. Why does that time matter? Because it is later in the day. Because I had eaten a lunch around 1:30pm. And those are two excuses that have impeded my training in the past- "oh I'm getting cramps....blah blah blah". Instead, I got on the treadmill and owned it. I kept talking about "I can do anything". There is a verse in the Bible that is one of my favorites, Phillipians 4:13 I Can Do All Through Him Who Strengthens Me. Amen on THAT one. 

I'm not preaching at you kids, but when you doubt yourself, when you have FEAR of "I can't do that!"- that's not God, that's not ANYTHING you should be paying attention to. Look at it in whatever way you want, but that voice wants you to quit. That voice wants you to settle. That voice will prevent you from living your best life and getting your best most fit body. 

Don't listen to that voice. Understand and recognize that this voice- is not YOU. Put a face on it, of someone that gets on your LAST NERVE. I know who that is in MY life for sure. And when I hear that voice, I talk right back to him and say, "OH YOU DON'T THINK I CAN RUN TWO MORE MILES?? WATCH ME. OH, AND GUESS WHAT?? I'M NOT DOING 4.5 MPH, I'M DOING 5MPH NOW. TAKE THAT!"

Yesterday I did my first 2 miles at 4.6-4.7. I then did the next 2 miles at 5mph the entire time, and the last last 1/4 of a mile I did at 7mph! WOOT!! The second I raised the speed that voice came into my head, "Oh no, you are going too fast, you WON'T be able to breath, you WON'T be able to run this fast without getting cramps...." I STOPPED THAT VOICE RIGHT THERE. I focused on my breaths- I said to myself,  I WILL. 

AND I DID. I OWNED IT.

And the dude on the treadmill next to me was in awe. Just sayin. 

Do you look at great abs like this and think "Oh I could never get my abs like that....I'd just be happy with no muffin top...". STOP IT. Think Big. Think chiseled. That's what I AM THINKING. And I'm putting it out there that I will do it. And SHOW IT TO YOU. Watch me.

You can do more than you think. DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF. Set the bar higher EVERY WEEK. EVERY DAY. DO MORE. BE MORE. 

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What is your biggest fear (in training) and how are you going to CONQUER IT?