1. Acknowledge the rule of least resistance.
By default, your subconscious-mind, the ruler of your body, is a lazy entity. It follows a simple universal rule that is found in chemistry, physics and other natural phenomena: the path of least resistance. That is, your sub-mind will seek the path of least energy. If it can avoid doing something, you bet it will. It won’t get off its ass in the morning to go jogging. No. It has to be trained over a very long period of time (to build an habit), but until then you must make it do what you will.

2. Ignore your inner dialogue.
Now this one is very important. We all had those inner dialogues when you know you have to do something like to go running in the morning and start looking for excuses: “It’s cold outside you’ll get sick”, “You look awful when running, what will the people say”, “I am too tired today, I went to sleep very late last night. If I go now, I’ll be very tired all day.”, etc., etc., etc. In most cases (like 99%) these statements are false excuses. Even if your inner self was right 1% and you DO get cold after running: the positive build-up of your will is far more valauble than having cold for a day or two.

I have found a solution that works for me like a charm: I just ignore these dialogues. You cannot stop them: at least, in the beginning (when you build an habit they will disappear gradually. But YOU CAN ignore them). Just listen to your inner whining while starting what you have set to do. Mostly, the dialogue will disappear within the first 5 minutes as your sub-conscious realizes that you are un-bribable and cannot be talked out of your goal. This is really amazing. Who would have thought that you are NOT in control of your own body, by default. You have to take the control by power. Power of will by ignoring excuses.

3. Set goals and make them public.
The Runner’s Magazine suggests signing up for a competition regularly and making it public (among your family and friends). It doesn’t matter whether it’s a small or big one. This will kill two rabbits with one stone: First, you will be more motivated to go out and train since you have a definite goal and date to train for. Secondly, your submind will be more cooperative because it does care whothers will say should you flunk the competition after promising (publicly) to participate.

Don’t let anyone, incluiding your inner self, to talk you out of your goals!

1. Focus on the basics and the rest will follow by itself

Each of us has different roles and interests in our lives. So, it’s hard to say that something that is good for me will be the same for you or somebody else. That’s because we are so different, have different background and aims. However, there are certain “areas” in your life that do apply to everyone and have a great impact on anything else we have to deal with.

So is diet and fitness, which will increase your self-esteem, give you tough lessons on persistence and goal-setting, teach you control over your ego not to mention the huge changes in your body and mind that will give you more power and concentration for your tasks. Hence, this very “basic” change leads to a series of positive changes in the rest of your life and will consequently have a huge impact in other areas such as relationships, work, etc.!

Fitness for life

So, by taking care of your “physical core”, which could be as simple as 10 minutes workout/day and staying away from crap-food, you can achieve tremendous chain reaction of positive changes in your life. That is what I (as a guy with financial background) call a superb investment of your resources with astronomical returns. Which leads us to the second principle:

2. Do not spend too much on junk or save on quality.

Don’t waste your resources (time, money and effort) on useless things. Get the most out of them. BodyTweaking was built on the idea that staying fit could be completely free. That you can be healthy without buying all the fitness junk that is being heavily advertised all over the TV, internet and magazines. Now, we still think that there is no quick-fix for years of bad habits and that you can’t get a quality body and mind overnight. Quality that lasts has to be built gradually. Step by step. This natural progress will teach you lots of things and will change the way you think and see yourself tand your daily issues, forever. It’s a bonus for living your life as it should be lived

On the other side, you shouldn’t get into a scarcity mindset. If there’s something you need and you know it will be of a huge benefit and far more useful that the price you are paying, then you should definitely get it! For example, take some good cross-country running shoes for $300 that will last for the next 8 years. That is by far better choice than buying $70 shoes that you’ll have to trash in one year. Not to mention the knee problems and bad running experience which could lead you to give up completely. All for trying to save money today with catastrophic results in the long run.

3. Don’t be short-sighted. Keep in mind the big picture

Follow your workout plan and keep in mind the vision where you will be in two years instead of worrying why you didn’t lose those 3lbs before the pool-party next weekend.

Step by step, with your head up, your predator’s eyes and your mind focused on the desired result. Onward, bodytweaker!