What's Your Story?

I was reading a post by Anthony Robbins via LinkedIn yesterday about the stories people tell themselves. He mentions, for example, someone's story might be that they can't lose weight because they are big boned. "With that as your core belief system you are not going to find a strategy... A disempowering story is one of the things that controls people and makes them stuck in their beliefs."

You can imagine how negative stories impact the choices we make on a daily basis. If you choose to believe you can't do it, you will not work towards accomplishing your goal. I think the greatest gift any parent can give their child is to give them the script that allows them to believe that they can achieve their full potential and then more. This belief will lead you to choose the right strategies that will get you there.

Changing your story is not easy - it's what you've told yourself, consciously and unconsciously, for 10, 20, 30+ years.

How do you start changing your life story?

- Identify your core beliefs; listen to the assumptions you tell yourself (I am stupid, I am too slow, etc...)
- Start slow and experiment with new ways of doing things (ex. if you think you are not intellectual enough, start reading a book you never thought you would)
- Check-in with your progress and adjust your assumptions
- Continue experimenting and pushing yourself beyond these new beliefs

It seems very easy listed as a 4 step process, but you get the gist...challenge your beliefs and prove yourself wrong. Give it time - you cannot undo a life story overnight.

Anthony Robbins ends his piece with the following thoughts and I couldn't agree more:

"Change your strategy, change your results. Change your story, change your life."

New Projects

My head is full of new ideas...and I'm working on different projects. Can't wait to reveal some of them!!!

In the meantime, I worked out for 30 minutes after work in the gym. I did 20 minutes of treadmill and some sit-ups. My speed on the treadmill was more then I've done in the past and my breathing and stamina were keeping up. Very happy!

Have a great evening everyone!

What are some of the projects that are keeping you busy at the moment? Are they in line with where you want to be going?

Television Detox: The Results

Well my television detox is completed...and I survived!!!

I actually learnt to appreciate the silence of my home when the television was turned off. In the past 5 days I was able to advance on a number of different projects, and that was probably the biggest payoff. I even made great advances on one project in particular...more to come on that very soon!!!

Having said that I have no plans to sell my TV anytime soon!

There's a Top 3 List to Watch Less TV and a Top 3 List Why You Should Watch More TV

Top 3 Reasons to Watch Less TV:

1 - You save money on snacks...you are so busy doing other things you don't have time to stuff your face mindlessly while watching TV!
2 - You get to connect with people you haven't spoken to in a while...instead of connecting with your fictional TV friends
3 - You get ahead on your to-do list

Top 3 Reasons to Watch TV:

1 - TV sounds are a great background noise - much better then the sound of your own voice :-)
2 - You get ideas and inspiration for your future projects
3 - Sometimes you deserve some time off to relax without thinking about reality

When is the Best Time to Exercise?

Although my TV detox has offered me more time in the evening over the last few days (2 more days remaining!!), I still struggle with one question: when is my ideal time for exercising?

I use to get up early in the morning and go to the gym before work, but with my new job and the increased traffic I'm already getting up at 6am. This past spring and summer I use to go out for a run in Old Montreal at lunch time. With my new job and the gym on premises lunch workouts could be an option, but not outside (I work right by the airport. Although I would have plenty of running space on the tarmac!). Once I get home from work I lack the energy and motivation to face the dark cold outside. But, staying a little bit later after work and working out has been a good compromise so far.

I think for me right now I need to get it done either during lunch time or after work. This might change in the next few months, but this is what feels right at this point. I know myself and I would choose sleeping in the morning over working out and I would only end up disappointed in myself for not getting up to workout.

For people like me who have never been world class athletes who are use to the rigorous workout schedule, you have to listen to yourself and try to assemble the winning conditions. For me it's about maximizing my free time even if that means shorter workouts. Something is better than nothing (and that's what would happen if I only set out to workout in the morning).

Another winning condition that has worked for me is actually putting it in my calendar and acting like it is a real meeting I have with a client. I wouldn't cancel with a client at the last minute. I also minimize the risk of having someone schedule a last minute meeting because my calendar seemed free at the time.



There is no right answer. Everyone needs to figure out what works best for them at that point in their lives. Once you figure out what's best for you, you then need to figure out what motivates you to keep doing it, but that's a whole other topic!!

How can you assemble the winning conditions in your life to get the things you want to do done?

What is stopping you from assembling these winning conditions? Is it worth it?

Results from 2nd Day of Television Detox

In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking. Sir John Lubbock

So yesterday I started my television detox...and so far so good....

I do have to admit I was anticipating how the evening would go yesterday, and in the end I was very happy with myself. I wondered what am I going to do with myself? Am I going to be able to just be...just be with me?




With the television off I was able to do a number of things including a home workout that included a number of lunges, squats and a few repititions of the "chair" (ie. leaning up against a wall and sitting in an imaginary chair - try it you'll see how imaginary exercise can be a challenge).

I also had time to read a book I had started months ago and work a bit on my blog and other projects. I'm happy that I was able to get all that done. I have so many projects in my head and just putting them off for another day in order to do something else will not accomplish anything.

Next update coming soon!

Where do you choose to spend your time? Does it truly make you happy?

Lots of Television, But What About the Workout?

Sometimes the only running I seem to be able to do is running after time...and it's a race I don't always win!

How often have I told myself that I didn't have time to get a workout in my schedule?
Often. But, how many times has this actually been true? Not as often.

My big time wasting culprit is that big black box in my living room. For many years I lived alone and my tv became my constant companion. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've sometimes caught myself turning on the tv before I even had a chance to take off my coat.

Contrary to me Carl Savard, a friend, used his television as a mechanism to find time to exercise during his weight loss journey. He would get his cardio exercise done while watching different television shows, including the Biggest Loser. 10 months and 100 pounds later his life was forever changed. Despite the demands of being a working dad of 2 young kids, he found the time to do it. Instead of sitting on his couch watching tv, he used tv as an exercise tool.

I came to the shocking realization that I can be watching tv up to 34 hours in any given week. This is not something I'm proud of. I could be doing so many different things I never seem to have time to do during that time. But instead I'm being static and not working towards realizing my goals.

And so I've decided that I'm going to try a little experiment...5 days without turning on the television...Yesterday, I wasn't sure when I was going to workout this week. Well that isn't a problem anymore!

I'm anticipating the empty house and how just being with myself will go, but I'm also looking forward to getting the important things on my to-do list done.

What is your time waster?

Mind Over Body...The Mind is a Muscle Too

Today was one of those hard days at work, and so when it came to going to my aqua spinning class tonight my motivation level was not very high.

Usually, I can work myself pretty hard in my aqua spinning class and get a good workout. For those who are wondering what exactly is aqua spinning or aqua cycling, it’s essentially a spinning class in a pool. The bikes are in the shallow end of a pool and we do a series of different exercises. Water serves as our resistance. It’s actually very cool and a full workout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GJI-nn_1fA&noredirect=1

I’ve been going for a few weeks now and I know how hard I can push myself. Tonight, though, within 3 minutes my legs were already sore. In the exercise where we count how many turns we can do I was under what I can usually accomplish.

My mind and body were tired tonight and it showed.

It’s a reminder how the mind is a muscle we need to exercise and keep healthy. There will be tough days and during those days it will be harder to obtain the physical level you are use to. That’s ok. It’s one day and it’s behind me now. I just need to remember that one is just as important as the other.