L.L. Cool J. - LL Cool Js Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle: A Full-Circle Guide to Developing Your Mind, Body, and Soul

This book is dedicated to Scooters mom, Frances.
Your toughness rubbed off on him
and his toughness truly helped me.

LL COOL J

It all starts with a simple question: Who am I? Rapper? Actor? Father? Son? Fitness buff? There was a time in my life when I could have answered that question without hesitation, delivering a well-rehearsed line from any talk-show couch or red-carpet lineup. My response would have been one or all of the above options.

Then a funny thing happened: I got a little older. I began to realize that as a younger man, I thought I had the answer to everything. If I only knew then what I know now. I never thought Id say those words, but after 4 decades of life, Ive come to realize I dont know as much as I thought I did. That little question no longer seems simple.

Thats what led to another realization. The answer to that seemingly simple question couldnt be encapsulated in a label or a line I could add to my rsum. It required a deeper understanding of myself, a level of self-awareness that I had yet to achieve, and it wasnt going to land in my lap, either. I had to go get it, and it wasnt going to come from an external source, whether the media, my advisors, or even my family. It had to come from a place inside me.

I decided I needed an overhaul, and not just of my body this time. I wanted to develop a clearer frame of mind and also get back in tune with my spirituality. Reclaiming this essential part of me that has lain dormant for so long, combined with my passion for sculpting my body and eating properly, could, I felt, not just change me but transform me into the best possible version of myself.

My journey to become whole is what inspired this book. Its the natural successor to my first book, LL Cool Js Platinum Workout, because where Platinum Workout focused on the body, P360 develops the total package.

Think of P360 as a guide to strengthening the three pillars that make you who you are: your mind, your body, and your soul. Its taken me 40 years to recognize that all these elements are tied togetherthat you cannot be strong in body without being strong in mind and spirit. Now Im ready to share these insights with you to help you develop into your most fully realized and powerful self. Whats important to me is that you understand not just how to be fit and healthy but why you deserve to be fit and healthy. Once youve made that breakthrough, youll find it easy to commit to a 360-degree package of mental, physical, and emotional health.

You will start the P360 program well before you set foot in the gym or eat a single serving of food from the nutrition plan. The very first step is changing the way you approach success by learning to manage your expectations and to think bigbut start small.

Once Ive put you in the right frame of mind to achieve your goals, its time to get that body on par with your mind with the kind of simple but highly effective workout youve come to expect from me. To complete the P360, Ive laid out a comprehensive diet designed to complement the Platinum Workout that not only shows you what to eat but also teaches you how the food you put in your body can dramatically affect your results in the gym.

But getting physically fit and committing yourself to a healthier lifestyle is just the tip of the iceberg. So many people seem to focus only on the body. Theyre only interested in the aesthetic. Thats the equivalent of sitting down meal after meal and eating nothing but meat. No vegetables. No starches. No liquids. Not even dessert. Invariably, your body will begin to suffer because its not getting everything it needs to function properly, and eventually youll develop deficiencies so severe that even the benefits the meat offered in the first place will no longer do you any good. Now take that principle and apply it to your whole life. I firmly believe that the depth of your character and the extent of your patience are as important as the size of your biceps when it comes to being a complete, well-rounded individual.

For the last 8 years, I have been going through a physical transformation, a process I undertook for one simple reason: I was unhappy with the way I looked and it began to affect the way I felt. I vividly remember standing in front of the mirror and, for the first time in my life, being unhappy with what I saw. My body was changing, and not for the better. I began to feel insecure. I didnt feel like myself. The disappointment I felt when I looked in the mirror started a tidal wave of emotional resentment. Then it hit me. I didnt trust myself. I was no longer my own go-to guy. This wasnt the vision I had for myself.

So I did something about it. I vowed to lose 40 pounds, and with the help of the workout plan in LL Cool Js Platinum Workout, the first book in my self-improvement Platinum series, I lost 40 pounds.

The feeling of elation and satisfaction I experienced from the transformation of my body quickly made me realize that the benefits of being in great shapeand feeling good about the way I lookeddirectly affected how I felt physically and emotionally. It was my first glimpse into the interconnections between physical fitness, mental clarity, and spiritual wellness. And now with Platinum360, Ill share with you what Ive learned on my journey to becoming a complete, highly functioning person.

So who am I? For starters, Im just like you. Ive got dreams and goals; Ive had triumphs and failures. I go through the same highs and lows that you do on a daily basis. And just like with you, if I dont work out and eat right, my body starts to suffer. Im the kind of person who wants to get the maximum out of life. And in order to do that, I knew I had to change the person I saw in the mirror, physically, mentally, and spiritually, because that person, no matter what the reflection suggested, wasnt complete. He wasnt getting the most out of what life put in front of him.

So I did something about it. And with Platinum360, youll learn how you can, too.

Im writing this book not simply to tell you what to do and how to do it but also to motivate you. Regardless of what I may look like on the cover of this book, theres always some area I think I can improve on, and I wont ever be completely done with this transformation process. So were in it together. Think of me as your partner on this journey.

CHANGE MY RAP NAME
I used to be known as J Ski, but when I went with LL Cool J, it felt like I took a creative leap. It ended up being timeless.

SIGNING WITH DEF JAM
I made my dream come true. Its what got everything started.

PURSUING ACTING
It was another way I could express myself creatively. It also meant I no longer had to rely on just music.

STARTING OTHER BUSINESSES OUTSIDE OF PERFORMING
I really began to see my true business potential. From there I became financially liberated.

GETTING IN SHAPE
Outside of the obvious health benefits, it changed my life 100 percent.

I am a driven personif I do something, I want to succeed at itand I know you do, too. Nothing would make my journey more rewarding than to see you follow the road map Ive laid out here so that you can look and feel better as a result.

Our bodies reflect our mindswhen you feel good about yourself, inside and out, theres no challenge too great for you to face. Youll be back on your A-game, feeling positive about yourself and ready to go boldly after your dreams and live the life youve imagined with vigor, energy, and passion. By following the Platinum 360 program, youll see a metamorphosis in your body that you never thought possible in such a short time. Youll look in the mirror and know that the trip was well worth it.