“I can’t afford that!” “I’ll never look like that!” “I’ll never have that!” – Sound familiar?

Why is it that so many of us put limitations on ourselves of what we can and cannot achieve with both our body and our mind? Growing up poor I knew that we couldn’t afford much. Training as a natural athlete, I knew that I would never look like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvestor Stallone. And working for minimum wage for the first ten years of my working life, I knew that I would never have a fancy car or elaborate mansion. But I also knew that none of those things were important to me. What was and still is important to me is to be able to afford the things I need, control the way I want to look, and obtain the things that I want to have. Therefore it was (and still is) important for me to have unlimited belief so I wouldn’t set my own limitations on myself for what I could achieve.

Turning Thoughts into Reality

I truly believe that the mind is our most powerful tool while at the same time our most valuable asset. And I believe that having a strong mentality enables people to accomplish and do great things. This is why I’ve always stressed that diet and exercise is 80% mental and only 20% physical when it comes to weight loss and transforming one’s physique. Unless you have a physical disability or severe illness that limits the amount of exercise that you can do, there really is no valid excuse as to why someone cannot lift weights regularly and eat cleanly on a consistent basis. Everyone has to work, everyone has to deal with family obligations and everyone has to find time to workout and eat properly. So then why is it that so many of us struggle with these obstacles while others are able to work around them?

Moronic Meatheads

You know what I really can’t stand? Caffeine Constipated, Gym Junkies who constantly ridicule and shame people online who don’t “Make The Time” to diet and exercise. Yes, you can hashtag “It’s a Lifestyle” as much as you like, but you’re not impressing any of us. All you’re doing is pissing us off with your better-then-us attitude. Your body might look great but what do your finances look like? Money isn’t everything, but think long and hard before shaming your next CEO, Doctor, Lawyer, etc. Because I can almost guarantee that many if not most of them are making quadruple the amount that these so-called “Fitness Enthusiasts” are making through their gym selfies and booty gains. And yet, you rarely if ever hear any of these people online shaming or critiquing these Gym Rats’ financial records.

Changing Your Mindset

I’m not going to try and change your mindset when it comes to diet and exercise. Perhaps it doesn’t even need changing. Perhaps you are already content with your workouts and nutritional plan as they are. Perhaps you train harder and more frequently then most people do. Mind you, perhaps you don’t. And perhaps you want to change your lifestyle for the better. And perhaps you need to help. And if you are in fact one of these people, then I want you to know that you’re not alone. I meet and work with people all the time that struggle to gain control over their diet and develop a consistent exercise routine. It’s not easy to develop new good habits and it’s even more difficult to break old not-so-good habits. However it can be done.

But How?

Check out part two of my two part blog – “Turning Limited Beliefs into Unlimited Beliefs” next week and I’ll tell you.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance