How To Be In Great Shape In Six Months

 

Jason just cannot get any momentum with his workouts. Every day and week and month are exactly the same.

And so are his results. Nothing changes.

He would like to say he looks and feels the same as a few months ago but the reality he’s in a little worse shape and doesn’t feel as good about himself. He was stuck in a rut.

Then he decided to make one specific change by asking this question:

What shape do I want to be in six months from now?

He really thought about this question and gave it a serious answer.

Jason realized six months will come and go anyway so why not put a focused effort on this period of time to see some positive results.

He knew that in six months, if things continued to go the same, he would probably weigh a little more and feel just a little worse. And he was determined to make a change.

Have you ever been there? Where you simply had enough and ready for things to change?

There are Four Steps to Getting in Great Shape in Six Months

Step 1 – Picture the End Result

Jason had a mental image of his physical goal. He wanted to drop 20 pounds and actually see some definition in his body.

He had watched so many “transformational infomercials” that he thought “if they can do it, why can’t I do it too?”

He saw many people in his physical condition (and many even worse) and had in mind exactly what he wanted to look like six months from now.

Once he had this mental image of what shape he wanted to be in (other than pear-shaped), he was ready for the next step in the process. He was now motivated.

Step 2 – Realize the Importance of Nutrition

Next Jason had to accept that whatever he did with fitness would not stand alone. His food habits would need to change.

There was a direct correlation between Nutrition and Fitness. He knew it and now needed to accept and embrace it if he wanted to truly change in six months.

In the back of his mind he knew that between his lazy workouts and poor eating habits, there was absolutely no surprise of why he looked and felt the way he did right now.

Jason didn’t need a nutritionist to whip him into marathon shape. He just had to open his fridge and cupboards and begin to have a sense of the obvious of what needed to be thrown out and avoided.

He then followed the nutrition guide of this workout program which gave him everything from what not to eat to what to eat and even a detailed nutrition plan he could follow day by day and meal by meal.

He just needed to realize and accept this would be a partnership between nutrition and fitness.

Step 3 – Have a Clear and Focused Plan

Jason knew he couldn’t go into this goal with squishy ideas and come out with strong results. He needed a plan.

He chose to purchase a home workout DVD program for his fitness plan. It was 90 days and perfect for his six months to be in shape goal. (for ideas, check out P90X3 / Body Beast / Insanity Max:30 / Les Mills Combat)

He also needed to make a very important decision: would he take small steps to ramp up or would he just dive right in?

He knew himself well enough to know that it would take him a week or so to psych himself up to really stick with the program.

If he dove right in, he would be sore for a week, hit the fridge in the middle of the night, and be so discouraged he would quit.

So, he decided if would take exactly one week to begin tweaking his diet and doing a few minutes of the workout routine that would prep him for the “official big starting day.”

He had a plan and was going to go in “eyes wide open” and not turning back.

Step 4 – Measure Your Results

Jason wanted and even needed to see results to keep going.

But he was also realistic that it took him years to deteriorate so he wouldn’t see instant results in days or even a week or two.

This was important for him to accept so he set his expectations accordingly. He knew he would “feel better” before he “looked better.”

He also knew that his weight was an arbitrary number and how he looked and felt was more important than ultimately what he weighed.

So, once a week, he would weigh himself then take a picture of his progress. He knew that seeing his body all of the time he wouldn’t necessarily see the changes over time.

But a picture would be the steady proof week after week after week to show him the results he so desired.

And to his surprise, seeing the results only committed him all the more to his transformation!

Closing Challenge…

Jason’s story isn’t finished yet. But he’s working his plan. He’s following the steps of picturing the end result, realizing the importance of nutrition, has a clear and focused plan that he’s working, and he’s measuring his results.

Motivated, busy professionals need goals. But we also need to be challenged. We don’t want to be just like everyone else and definitely not worse! We may be killing it professionally and getting killed physically. Is that you?

So, here’s your challenge. Can you become Jason? When you just read his story, did something inside of you want to change?

You can do exactly what Jason is doing. He’s just a little ahead of you and could serve as your guide on how to be in great shape just six months from now.

Remember, six months will come and go no matter what you choose. Why not look and feel like you know you need and want to in your life? You can do it!

Closing Question…

What will you look like six months from now? Exactly the same, a little worse, or will you be in great shape?