Copyright 2014 by Kevin Bruce White
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Table of Contents
So I guess this is my introduction, the part of the book where I answer the unheard question, why did you write this book? Perhaps the better question isWhy are you reading this book? At any rate, well revisit why youre reading this book later. However for now, Ill give you a few of the endless reasons I started typing out my thoughts and advice. Id like to think it was the annoying but comical phrases that constantly regurgitated from clients and friends alike. Im sure youve heard them, or possibly spewed them out yourself.
Kevin, Ive been exercising every day and Im still not losing weight. This coming out the mouths of people who had worked out for a whopping three days! Oh and here is another one that I heard close to a million times.
How come my friend eats junk food all the time and looks awesome? To which I would reply, Well, a hummingbirds metabolism is so fast, it can eat up to three times its bodyweight in one day. Do you also compare yourself to a hummingbird? Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on yourself
Okay one more and then Ill get back to the introduction, I promise.
Kevin, I need to lose 25 pounds in 2 weeks for this wedding, can you help me? There was always a few seconds of silence following this verbal madness, usually accompanied with a bizarre look upon my face, and finally there was my response I am not a magician, nor have I ever performed magic in my life. So please tell me why youre asking a personal trainer to perform magic?
Thats just a small fraction of what I heard every day over the last 25 years, and rightfully so because I was a personal trainer and fitness consultant. I took in the questions, and answered them always, even with an occasional eye roll. With that being said, no matter how taxing it became hearing those questions time and again, it was far outshined by the joy I received witnessing friends, clients, and colleagues revitalize their lives by improving their fitness. On the other hand, nothing frustrated me more than watching people who were either misdirected or not self-accountable fail repeatedly trying to get in shape. This followed by the dreadedI might as well give up Im never going to get in shape. I guess ultimately it was witnessing people go through that feeling of being defeated that made me think, Im going to write a book that gives the reader a prescription for getting in shape and preserving it
This book will teach you the S.C.H.O.O.L. approach to better fitness. Its my formula for remembering the key components needed to quickly get in shape, and preserving it. The acronym S.C.H.O.O.L represents structure, consistency, habits, overcoming obstacles, and lifestyle. This approach eliminates the over thinking involved in trying to get in shape, and replaces it with clarity. You will come to realize that there is a reason theyre called fad diets and workouts, and in most cases they produce temporary results, regardless of who has endorsed them. In addition, youll learn that it takes less than 2000 hours to get in shape and revitalize your spirit. Thats right 2000 hours! That equates to 83 days, or about twelve weeks to revive your body, mind, and way of life. Moreover, youll become conscious of how easy it is to stay fit forever.
So take a stroll over to the nearest mirror, look at yourself, and think of every possible reason why you want to improve your health, figure, and lifestyle. I dont care if you think some of the reasons might be stupid, pointless, or even absurd, go write them down. If they came to mind while you were standing in front of that mirror, then to you, they must have some type of significance. Then write down all the things that you are accountable for in your life. Think hard, maybe its your spouse, children, job, or school. Once youve done that, find the consequences that you avoid by remaining accountable to these particulars. For example, not committing to your job could lead to unemployment, and not committing to your partner might lead to the single life. Its these types of repercussions that raise awareness and accountability, and remind us that we might ultimately have to answer to our boss or partners. However, when it comes to being self-accountable for improving our fitness, so many of us fail because there is no one to answer to, except ourselves. Remember that you only have one body, and if you dont take care of it, it will not take care of you. Also realize, if you dont have your health, you dont have anything. Make a pledge to yourself, make yourself accountable, read every chapter of this book, and reap the benefits of a new you!
Onto Chapter One!
During the introduction I mentioned a formula that I came up with called S.C.H.O.O.L.
Structure, Consistency, Habits, Overcoming Obstacles, and Lifestyle
This acronym is a tool to remind you of the important factors needed to get and stay in shape. Ive dedicated each chapter of this book to one of the components above. In this chapter Ill discuss how important structure is, and how the lack of it can destroy your entire game plan.
Im sure youve heard of many diet plans and weight loss programs, and Im sure several of you have tried them with no success. Perhaps some of you tried them, got results, but in time went right back to where you started. Im not going to sit here and bash these programs because a lot of them have produced great results for the people who have tried them. Take the P90X programs, many people have had a tremendous amount of success with these programs, and theres a reason. Not only is the program good, but its a program that creates structure for the user. Yes, the workouts are great, and there is a variety of cross training involved. However, for 90 days youve got everything laid out in front of you, and all you have to do is follow it, no thinking involved. The program consists of a nutrition guide, fitness plan, calendar, and series of DVDs demonstrating a variety of techniques. Just push play follow the workout and nutrition guide, and Bam 90 days later youve made some improvements. On the other hand, what happens after 90 days? This is where so many people fall apart. You bust your ass, follow a program, start feeling better, lose some weight, and then somewhere along the way you become lost.
Somehow your motivation starts to disappear, or you become more and more distracted. Then eventually you relinquish your structure completely and its over. Sound familiar? Well, youre going to learn how to take that structure beyond 90 days, and make it a permanent addition to your life. One of the first things you need to know about structure isits your structure. Everyones structure is different, and trying to lay out your game plan the way someone else does, could set you up for failure. You have to find your happy mediums with exercise, nutrition, and sleep. Following someone elses exercise plan or diet because they look awesome, or they just recently lost a bunch of weight, is a quick way to disappointment. Lets start with your diet, because nutrition is the most important part on the road to getting in shape.
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