Say "I will," not

"I will try."

Say "I chose to,"

not "I have to."

Say "I can do this,"

not "I don't know if I can."

Learn to interrupt negative

self-talk and replace it with positive statements. Your negative self-talk

has not worked. It has led to failed action. It is time to find new thinking

to replace the old.

Have you in the past thought

and said, "I'm so depressed I'm going to eat this carton

of ice cream"? You temporarily felt better, but were miserable later.

Do you often try to start a new diet or exercise program on Monday? Perhaps

this has been a pattern that hasn't worked. Find a new thought process.

Don't wait until Monday.

Your new best friend could

be a set of new thought patterns. Your actions are the direct result of

your thoughts and decisions. Some folks may need the help of a doctor,

therapist or personal trainer to acquire new ways of thinking about fitness.

If you need help, then get professional help to conquer your old patterns

and replace them with new ones.

Determine goals that come from

a deep down desire. What do you really want? Define goals on paper, outlining

day-to-day paths to success.

Pick a goal that is measurable.

Create milestones and mini-victories along the way. Visualize yourself

achieving your goal. Follow through with persistence, passion, and positive

consistency.

Instead of "I'm too

tired," say "I'm tired because I am not exercising. I am

guaranteed to have more energy when I exercise."

Instead of "I don't

have time," say "I have the same 24 hours as everyone else who

is exercising and feeling good."

Instead of "It's

too hard," say "It is easy to exercise now when I can, rather

than try to exercise later when I am heavier, ill, or injured."

Instead of "I'm not

in the mood," say "I have not regretted exercising in the past.

I know I feel better when I have finished exercising."

Lifestyle can be managed in

a variety of ways - ways which neither feature deprivation nor torture.

A healthy lifestyle can only be built through positive thinking. If you

are satisfied with being stressed and overweight, so be it. But if you

want to change, do so!

Invest time and energy into

your mind, and the results with your body will surely follow.

It is up to you as to which

direction to take. A healthy lifestyle is not a sentence to deprivation

and torture; rather, it is an attainable goal of high energy, productivity,

reduced stress and overall well-being. Remember that it is never too late

to improve yourself. Are you 20, 40 or 60 years old today and out of shape?

In five years you may be 25, 45 or 65 and still out of shape. But you

could be 5 years older and in shape.

The choice is yours. There

are countless roads to take to your new destination. Ask someone to help

you find the road that is right for you.

Questions about fitness and

training may be directed to Mike at gitfit @bellsouth.net and will be

answered, either by e-mail or in this column.

- Mike Calderallo

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