Dan Nitro Clark

  Why are some people healthy, happy, and fit and others are not?  It's simple. There are those who "do" and those who "do not."  It's pretty clear which category the fit people belong in and which those who struggle with obesity fall in.  But the more importantly: Why and how are some people able to stick with programs and others are not?   

Personally, I've been training all of my life and HAVE managed to "stick with it" for over 30 years. What's the secret?  Well, instead of giving you a Top 10 List — which we've all read countless times – I thought it'd be more effective to share with you a "real-life experience" that will illuminate what I think is the absolute best way to stick with any exercise program. 

It started a few months ago when a very good friend of mine (we'll call him Dave) begged me to help him lose weight and start some type of exercise routine.  I hemmed and hawed and was reluctant to because I didn't know how serious he was, but also because I was seriously over-extended and didn't have time to help him. I had just started writing 2 books and was in the beginning of creating a program called "Ten Thousand Pounds" which is my and my partners take on tackling childhood obesity in America.  But Dave wouldn't give up.  He relentlessly hounded me to help him, and it's literally impossible for me to turn down someone (especially a friend) who wants to better their lives by becoming more healthy and fit.

I finally agreed to meet him at the boxing gym a couple days a week at 6:30am — even though it is the absolute "worst time" of the day for me — because I get my most productive writing done in the morning between 6:30am and 1pm.  Normally, I cherish and guard that time with a religious fervor. But I figured if I could make an impact on his life, it'd be worth it. 

Dave started off like gangbusters. In the first month we banged it out and he got GREAT results. He lost 25 pounds, his cardio increased, and he dropped 6 inches from his waist! Now, that's what I'm talking about!! It was a big sacrifice but I felt for me it was time well spent. I am helping him change his life!!!

Then a funny thing happened during the second month. 

Dave's enthusiasm started to wane and he dropped from 4 times a week down to 2 times. I did everything a workout/accountability partner should.  I motivated, inspired, castigated, pleaded – whatever it took to get him to the gym; nevertheless, he didn't even show up for our first workout of our third month. When I pressed him as to why — he came up with the normal laundry list of excuses: Tired, had a meeting, it's hard, was out late the night before, and the classic: "you like it, it's easy for you."

What Dave doesn't realize is that I have all the SAME excuses as he does:  I'm tired, I've got a meeting, I don't have time, I don't want to, I was out late the night before.  

The difference is fit and healthy people ACT in SPITE of their excuses.  

Does that make sense? 

If there's one thing that I can share with you that has made all the difference in my life, it's the simple secret of ACTING IN SPITE OF YOUR EXCUSES.  Be a person of ACTION and learn to IGNORE that voice that tells you: it's too hard, I'm tired, I don't want to; and LEARN to take ACTION in SPITE of it. 

If you do this one simple thing, if you learn to act in spite of your excuses, I promise you it will make all the difference in your life.  I know it has in my life.  

Now go and be brilliant!

Dan Clark

Btw – that's me below not listening to all the excuses, and jumping on the back of crazy damn bull and riding it.  In this case, I probably should've listened, because I quickly discovered getting off the bull HURT a lot more than getting on it!