Last Saturday, I was getting ready to drive to San Diego for a day of fun, when I got a phone call that the building in Los Angeles that my gym is in was ON FIRE.

Needless to say, I got to San Diego late that night. I was scared for a minute, but thankfully, the fire was put out, and the gym is fine.

So, I’m thinking about how we all have these metaphorical “fires” that pop up day-in and day-out, and how easy it is for this to derail a well-intentioned fitness routine.

But it doesn’t have to.

Here are 3 simple ways to keep on top of your health, through all the craziness that life throws out there:

FIRST

Set accountability for yourself. You need to make your health a priority.

Let other people help you do this.

Contract with a friend that you will work out on certain days/times of the week, and will send them a text message every time you have completed your workout. And if you don’t, agree to give your friend $100. Your friend will keep you accountable.

Or, you can hire a personal trainer who will put you on his schedule and charge you whether you show up or not.

SECOND

Make a specific plan about where you will work out, when you will work out, and what you will do. Write it down, and schedule it. Now that you’re on the hook to your friend for $100 each time you fall short, you should be motivated to make sure it happens.

THIRD

Get clear about the long-term value of keeping up a consistent fitness routine. Realize that if you are able to get just SOME results over a 4-week time frame, even if the results are minor, if you keep that up for a year, you will get 14 TIMES the results after a year as in that 4-week period.

For example, if you just eat a slightly healthier breakfast and train with weights for 30 minutes once a week, you might lose 2 pounds over 4 weeks. That seems slow. But, if you keep that up for a year, you’ll lose 14 times that amount, or 28 pounds.

Compare that to most people who get gung-ho and lose 10 pounds in a two weeks. After a year they’ve probably GAINED 4 or 5 pounds. And with your simple plan, you’re down 28.

Then, three years later, when your friends have gained 10-15 pounds, you’ll be either down 84 pounds (!), or you’ll have decided to stop losing weight to maintain an excellent, lean body at a good weight for you.

People pay thousands of dollars to cosmetic surgeons for far less results. Is your health and achieving this level of results worth giving $100 to your friend every once in a while?

He’s my most recent personal story of looking at long-term value…

In the last four weeks, I’ve worked at facing a lifelong habit of stress eating. I’ve made just a couple of small adjustments, and the results haven’t blown me away… I’ve lost only about an inch off of my waist. Maybe even less.

However, the changes I’ve been making are permanent, not short-term. And that means that now, over the next year, I could lose 14 inches off my waist with me being on “autopilot.” Of course, that’s crazy talk, because there’s no way I can lose another 14 inches, but that idea comforts me because of this: I know that I’m not going to gain it back.

Also, I’m feeling much better in ways I can’t quantify.

I want you to feel and look amazing, too.

Try these three ideas out, and let me know how they work for you. I look forward to hearing what happens.

I’ll talk to you again soon.

To health and life,
Chad

P.S. If you have a story to share of how you’ve successfully stayed in shape while being crazy busy, I’d love to hear it and share it with everyone here. Or, if you’ve been unsuccessful at a fitness routine and want some advice, leave a comment and tell me your story. If I think that there’s value for others, I’ll include your email (with just your first name) and my reply in an upcoming newsletter.

P.P.S. If you want us to work with you one-on-one at our private training studio in Los Angeles, we are accepting applications for a few openings. Go here and apply to be considered now.

Disclaimer: All material provided herein is provided for educational purposes only. Consult your own physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition. Copyright 2008 Myogenics Fitness. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited without express written permission.