Getting fit after being fat can be hard. After all… we chose to eat too much, eat the wrong food, indulge to deeply in the richness of chocolate, drink too much wine or beer, and load up on carbohydrates. Those were our choices, even though we knew deep down that we might have to pay the “Life Style God” later in life.

Anthony Robbins shares a great example of the realization for change. He says that we change when the pain of a situation becomes too much. When the pendulum has swung too far into the pain zone, a.k.a. extra pounds, then we will align with the pleasure of how we will feel to get fit.  Robbins is one smart cookie. Dang, I’m hungry.

Going into the gym just the other day I saw this sign that the good folks who work there put up. The point of the sign was to indicate that working out is like a construction zone. I see the construction zone idea as improvement happening. Here are the six pointers on the directional sign.

1. Opportunity

Look at it how you want. You can embrace the opportunity to get to the gym and invest some time sweating, or you can take the opportunity to skip the gym and go get that hamburger. Opportunity is turned into action when you choose to put one step in front of the other and head into your workout. When it is all said and done you will feel good about your choice and probably have increased your energy levels.

2. Inspiration

Ask yourself… who are you getting fit for? Your best answer is always for yourself first. To live better with more energy, vitality, and longevity is a great reason and should be the spark that creates inspiration in your mind. I suggest you use anchors such as affirmation, accountability partners, good role models, and an uplifting book to keep your inspiration high.

3. Respect

If we choose to be lazy and avoid the hard work in life we are robbing ourselves of happiness and self-respect. I once heard a Ringo Star song where he sings that nothing comes easy. He was referring to success in life. We need to invest time, effort, and a dogged determination to learn something valuable, apply a vision to our determination, and take massive action to move from where we are today to where we see ourselves being in the future. When we invest the time getting fit, even though it might be hard at first, we are respecting ourselves.

4. Leadership

And who is watching you… Do you bring home food that is stuffed full of sugar, gluten, carbohydrates, or empty calories and then stuff your face in front of your children or your spouse? What images are leaving with them? This is not responsible leadership. You need to set the example and live healthy. Take the risk be living healthy and chances are they will lead just like you.

5. Motivation

In the past I had a motivation problem. I would begin a project, goal, or action really well and then when the shine of it faded fast. My interest level waned. What I needed was a lift or something to motivate me to continue. One device you can use is a picture. For example, you can find a picture of someone with the same level of fitness you are seeking and carry that card with you everywhere you go. When the shine of going to the gym fades, pull out that card and think about who you are out to become.

6. Success

This happens when you see the end first. Go ahead, look out ahead to your ideal weigh or muscle mass. What do you see? When you can transform this future image into reality, that is success.

So, I want to end with more on success. The way I have done it is to take time to meditate on what I want in the future. I will dream a little dream and play it inside my mind in the form of a movie. I am looking at the image and I am bringing forth the emotions this future state brings.

Once I am crystal clear on my future, then I backward plan. This happens by setting a goal. This goal becomes my target. In the realm of fitness the goal may be a weight target, a body mass target, or strength target. What ever I saw and felt in my vision for the future works here. If you try and force something different it will be like driving a car on square wheels.

Now that you have your vision and your goal, think about the steps you need to climb to arrive at success. List all of your steps and then prioritize to the smallest or easiest step first. Then begin!! Take immediate action. This is the beginning of success.

One final note on success no matter if it relates to fitness or some other worthy endeavor, you will have moments of ups and downs. Accept that these moments will happen and choose not allow them to completely stop you. Get an accountability partner that you can trust to help you stay on course.

I am glad I went to the gym on this day to see the cool sign that those nice people put up for encouragement and as a motivator. We need signs like this daily to keep us thinking forward.