The day we were born is the day we started dying. It’s kind of weird to think of it like that. But it puts things into perspective. It puts time into perspective. Today we have a guest article. I rarely approve guest articles on the site – if you haven’t noticed – but Keith was both persistent and helpful in the process.
Enjoy this article by Keith Lai.
So I hear you want six pack abs. I hear you want ripped arms and a massive chest. I hear you want to build a body that puts a Ryan Reynolds/Chris Evans hybrid to shame.
Well that’s great, man. That’s really, really great. I want an Aston Martin, a private island, and a fully functional Iron Man suit.
Where we both succeed is in reading about what we want and how to get it. Where we lack is in taking action.Both goals are possible. Definitely. But more than anything, both goals require a shit ton of work. We need to be willing to sacrifice something else we want to achieve this ultimate goal.
When I first started working out, I knew nothing. So like everyone else, I read countless amounts of fitness websites and magazines. The amount of information I absorbed was insane.
The sad thing is I didn’t do a damn thing with that information for 6 months. Reading is easier than applying. I felt good about myself that I was reading the material. I felt like I was productive. I was happy. Then I realized that getting a great physique isn’t just about growing my knowledge base. As much as I wanted to believe it was an easy process. It isn’t. I had to get working.
Your time is limited.
You are going to die.
If the average human being only lives about 80 years, that roughly translates to about 2.5 billion seconds. When you put it into numbers like that, not only is it scary, it makes you realize that your time is truly limited. Your clock is counting. And it’s counting DOWN!
Think about it, every moment wasted is another second shaved off those 2.5 billion seconds.
I don’t say this to be depressing, but your time to build your dream body or achieve any other goal in life is running out faster than you think.
It boggles my mind how so many guys try to act like their time will never come. They act as though time isn’t an issue and that fighting for dreams can wait because there will always be a tomorrow. One day there won’t be a tomorrow.
Many will decide that they want to transform their body. Decide they want to embark on a muscle gaining or fat loss journey and hit the ground running.
The following pattern usually follows: success for 2-3 weeks, followed by a few days off. A week off. Then failure. Their failure is typically attributed to temptation with food, a poorly designed training program, or simply a lack of motivation.
The 1% of the guys that do succeed in building their dream bodies are guys who have perseverance. I’ve seen it over and over again. The reason for failure isn’t a lack of knowledge, resources, or even a lack of a quality support-system. Failure almost exclusively hangs on limited or diminishing motivation.
The guys who succeed are the guys who show up in the gym no matter what. These are guys who’ll stick to their diets like a magnet sticks to metal. They realize that time is truly precious and that life is too short to live with a crappy looking, performing, and unhealthy body.
If you think you have time, then you’re in for a rude awakening.
Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
“Oh, I’ll just start tomorrow.”
Really? Sooner or later you’re going to run out of those “tommorows.”
When we’re younger – in our 20’s and 30’s – we fall into the routine of saying, “I’ll get it done tomorrow.” It’s not until we’re a bit older that our mortality is finally realized. By then we can’t do everything we wanted to do or accomplish when we were younger.
Before you know it, you’re going to be a 79 year old grandpa. You’re going tell yourself that you’re going to start eating healthier tomorrow, but guess what, you can’t because you’ll be dead.
Stop delaying your goals and dreams.
Why do you keep delaying your goals?
Start now. I can 100% guarantee that you’re not going to regret it.
You see, that stale bag of greasy chips that you’re eating right now is only a temporary source of pleasure and happiness, lasting only maybe 10 minutes tops.
But if you’re able to lean down to 8% body fat, you’ll have something that 99% of the world won’t have and I’m pretty sure that being lean and ripped will make you a lot damn happier than eating a bag of chips.
Setting your goals like a mortal
Remember, you’re not a immortal. So stop setting such unrealistic goals and expectations.You’re not going to wake up tomorrow and have the body of a Greek god. No, it’s going to months of insanely hard work and dedication.
If you want success, set big goals but also set short mini-goals in between. For example, if your goal is to lose 50 pounds of fat, then reward yourself every time you lose 5 pounds. By setting goals this way, you’re creating goals that are short yet attainable.
Don’t sell yourself short, the only things gods have that you don’t is time…. and maybe the ability to fly.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Keith Lai is the author of the fitness blog FitMole where he teaches the you the best way to build your dream body. You can follow him on Facebook here.
