Cloudy Days and "Just Barely Training"

"A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day."
- Ancient Proverb

I cringe when I hear, "It's obviously going to be another one of those days." What is this person doing? They are setting up an expectation that the entire rest of the day will necessarily be a disaster. What do you think they will find at every turn? Disaster. The sad reality is, people that think this way never see the results of their own making for what it is- self-fulfilled prophecy. Instead it is interpreted as validation of their ability to spot disaster before it strikes.

When your imagination begins to paint an expectation, your mind goes to work to complete the picture, and your subconscious-driven actions follow. What picture are you setting up to be painted at the top of every morning? Psychologists have determined that your first interaction with someone at the start of each day will have more impact on your state of mind than the next eight interactions combined. Studies also show that it takes seven positive inputs into your mind to overcome one negative input. What do you think you are doing to yourself and your day when you start your mornings with a prophecy of doom? This is why I make sure my first conversation of the day is with myself and that it is strikingly positive. This way, I take control of my day's destination.

If you are rolling your eyes by this point, then re-read the above passage with an open and realistic frame of mind... reflect.

Train, But Just Barely
Any degree of training is better than nothing at all. But you can only get out of something what you put in. Remember, losing weight isn't just a matter of going to the gym once a week. It also involves lifestyle changes. Take a walk on your lunch break, park on the opposite end of the parking lot at stores, and do more yard work (your girl will love the new you).