My best advice for weight loss success
December is a month for giving and sharing, and this entire month I am going to share with you my personal list of “BESTS”…
I only know of 3 people who I consider to be truly successful in business.
None of them became successful by taking shortcuts. None of them were the “right place, right time” stroke of luck success story either.
In fact, they all became successful the EXACT same way.
They used the EXACT same method that worked for me in my life, and its the EXACT same method that will work for you no matter what you goal is.
All 3 people had to move outside of their comfort zone in order to become successful.
I had the same thing happen to me…twice.
The first time was when I was in my third year at university. Back then my goal was to bench 300 pounds. Both my workout partner and I were mid-200 benchers and 300 seemed like ‘the ultimate bench press goal’.
By the end of my 3rd year I was benching 280 pounds. It wasn’t 3oo, but I thought it was pretty darn good. After all, in my group of friends, I was one of the top benchers.
That summer I decided to stay at University and take some extra courses.
I can remember the first day I went to the gym during the summer semester – It was a COMPLETELY difference crowd.
My usual crew was not there, instead the gym was almost empty, except for 4 or 5 guys who were A LOT bigger and A LOT stronger than me.
Adam, Steve, John and Big Jer were all 50 or 60 pounds heavier than me, and they were ALL high 300 pound benchers.
At this point I had 2 options:
Stay in my comfort zone, workout by myself and try to hit 300 pounds on the bench.
Move out of my comfort zone, Start training with the big boys, and accept the fact that 300 pounds was no longer an acceptable goal.
I picked the later. It was uncomfortable. Actually, that’s not true. It was darn right SCARY.
But I’m glad I did it.
By moving outside of my comfort zone 300 pounds was no longer a mental block, and by the end of August I was bench pressing 355 pounds for sets of 2.
55 pounds more than what I previously thought was the ‘perfect’ Bench Press.
This was the first time I reaped the rewards of moving out of my comfort zone.
The second time was when I walked away from my career in the supplement industry.
I had a great job, a great title, a massive office, financial stability, good co-workers, a great staff, even the commute wasn’t too bad.
But I knew it wasn’t what I was meant to do.
I moved out of my comfort zone the day I resigned. And while this isn’t a rags to riches story, I am now doing something I love. And this wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t move outside of my comfort zone.
Most likely it is YOUR comfort zone that is keeping you from reaching your goals. ESPECIALLY if you goal is weight loss.
Doing an extra 20 minutes on the elliptical two or three times a week isn’t going to help you become noticeable leaner – What it IS going to help you stay in your comfort zone.
Switching from a white bagel to a whole wheat bagel for breakfast isn’t gong to help you lose weight- all it will do is keep you in your comfort zone.
The number one reason why most people have not tried Eat Stop Eat is because it is too far outside of their comfort zone. They miss out on hitting their weight loss goals simply because they are afraid to try something different.
Make a commitment to move outside of your comfort zone. Do the things you need to do to become successful.
Here is THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I have ever been given:
If you want to be successful you have to do the things that unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do.
Your comfort zone is what is keeping you from attaining the success you want. Move out of your comfort zone and you will FORCE change and you will see results.
Unsuccessful people do the same ineffective things over and over because they are the things they are comfortable doing. To be successful you have to break this habit.
BP
What a great post and it’s so very true. I haven’t yet tried fasting for that very reason. But next Monday I intend to do it. Thanks for the motivating and inspiring post.
Libby
So true! This is exactly my problem. I’ve been stuck at ~250 pounds for over a year. I’ve made some effort, tried some different approaches, during this time period. I haven’t been totally lazy. But none of it has truly worked (I might lose 5-10 pounds, plateau, and then give up) because I haven’t pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I like eating a certain amount of food and I just can’t get myself to eat significantly less than that. It’s a huge mental/ psychological block.
Yeah, that one hit home. I need to take that advice to reach a few of my personal goals. Thanks for the kick in the butt Brad!
So true…
Good rule of thumb… look at the people that AREN’T where you want to be… and do the exact opposite.
… like that Seinfeld episode…
Hey Brad,
Well said. I’ll make sure to think of this post when it’s 5am and I have to get up and get things done but I don’t want to get out of bed.
Great job.
Chris
I used to have a comfortable job, but not exciting, my career wasn’t going anywhere and the years were just passing by, so I walked away from that job and started my own business. That was waaaay out of my comfort zone but its the best thing I have ever done.
The same thing happened with my workouts. I found myself in a comfotable pattern doing the same thing in the gym every day. This is when my progress ground to a halt and I realized I hadn’t made any real improvement to my body in years.
I realized that life was moving on with or without me, so I better get on with it.
Now everytime I notice myself getting too comfortable in any part of my life I know its a good time to check and see if there is something more or better I could be doing.
John
Great post! It is said that a good Coach is someone who gets others to do things that they do not want to do in order to become who they have always wanted to be.
Thanks Brad!
So many people lead lives of quiet desperation, because they are frightened of taking a risk or change.
There are 2 main reasons why people don’t do something about their health. They are:
1. Money
2. Commitment
No matter what their excuse it always roots back to one of those two. Either the money to exercise and eat healthy foods is there or its not. Not much can be done there, but where commitment is concerned that must come from within.
“If you want to be successful you have to do the things that unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do.”
I need to find somewhere to engrave or etch that. It has struck me today with particular poignancy.
It took me at least two months to commit To ESE, battling back and forth with myself. Commitment to something so different is tough. Those words are so true. Great post
Hi Brad, I just made a great move from the comfort zone (I did not realize that).
I also give people advice on health care and weight loss success, learning a lot from you.
Surely waiting for the coming results but realizing that have lots of changes to make for best results.
Many thanks
Rosana
Nutricionist
great stuff, I so believe that but I have trouble getting the less motivated of my TKD students to move out of their comfort zone. This is where I need help – motivating people that want to improve is where I am good, motivating people that perhaps don’t want to improve is where I need help.
James
James Davis
buyXsocks.com
Very good. I love it when weight loss advice is not what people want to hear, and that’s what this is. Of course it’s not what you want to hear, it’s hard work!
This article by Tom Venuto always motivated me during my year of transformation:
http://www.naturalphysiques.com/cms/index.php?itemid=40
Thanks Brad!
Great post and great advice. The comfort zone is no place to be.
thanks for posting this. it speaks so much to me that it would take a few chapters in a book to describe it. thanks again.
Great points!