Just a couple of years ago, Utah's Ernie Nix, a 397-pound,
46-year-old middle school principal with multiple serious health
problems, found climbing a single flight of stairs a struggle. Inspired
by a strong emotional-trigger event, Ernie initiated a personal
weight-loss program that resulted in his losing 217 pounds and running
his first race -- a 26.2-mile marathon. As of this summer, he has now
completed three marathons with another coming up this week and a fifth
scheduled for October with an ultimate goal of qualifying for Boston.
Ernie now has the stamina and determination to take on challenges that would have been inconceivable a short time ago. Besides training for and running the aforementioned marathons, he's in the midst of practically single-handedly starting up a charter school. More specifically, he has spent 2009 supervising the construction of the school's building (they broke ground in January); writing the curriculum (there is no assistant principal or other administrative staff to assign this to); and hiring the staff for Excelsior Academy in Tooele, Utah. The school is due to open this Fall with about 650 students, culled from 1,000-plus applicants, and as you can see, it's pretty much a one-man show to get this done. There is little doubt that the nearly 400-pound version of Ernie could never have begun to take on such a monumental challenge.
In interviewing, studying and writing about men and women such as Ernie Nix, who have completely transformed their lives through massive weight loss, we've found that although there are many ways to lose the weight and keep it off, all successful weight-loss programs have three essential components in common. Let's call these three foundational elements Mastering Weight Loss 101:
Ernie now has the stamina and determination to take on challenges that would have been inconceivable a short time ago. Besides training for and running the aforementioned marathons, he's in the midst of practically single-handedly starting up a charter school. More specifically, he has spent 2009 supervising the construction of the school's building (they broke ground in January); writing the curriculum (there is no assistant principal or other administrative staff to assign this to); and hiring the staff for Excelsior Academy in Tooele, Utah. The school is due to open this Fall with about 650 students, culled from 1,000-plus applicants, and as you can see, it's pretty much a one-man show to get this done. There is little doubt that the nearly 400-pound version of Ernie could never have begun to take on such a monumental challenge.
In interviewing, studying and writing about men and women such as Ernie Nix, who have completely transformed their lives through massive weight loss, we've found that although there are many ways to lose the weight and keep it off, all successful weight-loss programs have three essential components in common. Let's call these three foundational elements Mastering Weight Loss 101:
- BELIEF -- You must believe that it is possible for YOU to lose the weight and that it is worth the effort. This belief in the possibility that you can be a successful loser can be developed by reading and listening to stories of others (and hanging out with those) just like you, who have successfully lost the excess pounds and KEPT THEM OFF! Their stories over time will build the conviction that "if they could do it, despite all the sundry obstacles they had to deal with, then I can do it, too!"
- AN EMOTIONAL TRIGGER -- Knowing that you should lose the excess fat and thinking it would be nice to weigh less, look better, etc. is not enough; if it were, we'd all be svelt. You need a strong emotional trigger (a compelling reason) that impels you to action and drives you to keep the weight off. For some it is a disease condition or the threat of one and the desire to be well. For others it might be the vision of their playing, skiing, biking with the kids, grand-kids and great-grandchildren. Whatever it is, it needs to be something that by focusing on it, you build an ever more powerful burning desire to lose the weight so you can have it -- live it.
- AN ACTION PLAN -- Finally, you need to choose a plan of action for losing the excess fat and keeping it off. It could be the Weight Watchers program, Julia Havey's Vice Busting Diet Plan or any one of the myriad of other weight-loss programs. Do some research and find one that's right for you and is sustainable (some diet programs will hurt your health if kept up too long). As long as you have the belief and an emotional trigger (steps 1 & 2), any well-designed, healthy-lifestyle-centered program will do the job.
And now we'd like to invite you to claim your free Fitter After
50 / Fitter For Life e-newsletter when you visit:
[http://www.FitterForLife.com]
From Ed Mayhew, author of Fitter After 50 and other books, CDs, and videos on how you can make falling apart as you age merely an option -- NOT a mandate! Why not make the rest of your life -- the best of your life? http://www.YouCanGrowYounger.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ed_Mayhew/167099
From Ed Mayhew, author of Fitter After 50 and other books, CDs, and videos on how you can make falling apart as you age merely an option -- NOT a mandate! Why not make the rest of your life -- the best of your life? http://www.YouCanGrowYounger.com
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