BodProg

If you are honest with yourself about your fitness goals and you truly want to accomplish them, it is critical that you hold yourself accountable. One way that I hold myself accountable is I have a folder on my desktop entitled "BodProg". Having a folder in which I keep track of my progress easily accessible on my desktop keeps me extremely motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Don't worry about weight anymore, focus on the visible results, since that is primarily what your goals are, to look better, right? When you stop focusing on the scale and start focusing on your appearance you are forced to face your insecurities head on. It's easy to quit when you're looking at a number on a scale that you can easily detach yourself from. But what you see in the mirror is nearly impossible to detach from. This is why it is such a powerful motivator. Body insecurities carry many emotions with them. When you force yourself to face them on a daily basis, you are more likely to stick to the plan and continue making serious healthy changes in your lifestyle.

I take a picture of my physique on a weekly basis. It's not because I'm obsessed with myself, it's because I'm obsessed with progress. Taking weekly pictures holds me accountable to a lifestyle that I am committed to maintaining, a lifestyle that results in low body fat and chiseled obliques.

We all have an image in our heads of what we want our body to look like. The problem for many is that the gap from where we're at to where we want to be is seemingly too large and will take too long. In the long process of struggle, we lose our motivation. In order to bridge that gap, we must become obsessed about what we want, all day everyday, not just during our workouts but while making food choices throughout the day.

Here's what I recommend to stay on track and reach your goals.

1. Take a picture of yourself on a weekly basis saving the picture as the current date. For example, the picture above was taken today and saved as 071211 (July 12, 2011).

2. Create a folder on your desktop entitled BodProg, or whatever works for you. Save all your pictures to the folder.

3. Before every meal, and every workout, take a look at your most recent picture and make a decision right there whether you are going to force progress or learn to love yourself the way you are (which is good too if you can honestly do so, but if you can't, FORCE PROGRESS).

4. Once you have decided to force progress, visualize your goal, and proceed with passion and consciousness. Make conscious decisions about everything that goes in your mouth. Ask yourself "Is this doughnut in alignment with what I want my body to look like?"

5. Love yourself by feeding your body large amounts of vital living foods that are full of minerals, vitamins, enzymes, anti-oxidants, and water.

6. Hate yourself by pushing yourself through a punishing workout that is guaranteed to inspire change in your body. (NOTE: don't really hate yourself, but use your insecurities and desire for change as a deep motivator to push through your limits)