Ever had that feeling you are on a roll? Since our last group (telephone) meeting on March 15th, I have been getting e-mails daily from many of you who are already making inspiring and significant progress.
In this posting (below) you will find:

1. Reframe your blame
2. Action steps with your nutrition
3. Important steps regarding your fitness 5. How to Invite others, without nagging, to join us

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1. MAKING UP YOUR MIND: REFRAME YOUR BLAME
In accounting we have two very interesting terms; Let’s together consider "sunk cost" and "opportunity cost."
In essence, sunk cost is a cost that has been incurred and cannot be reversed. Think about this for a minute, a cost that will never be recovered... never! So does this sound like an item where much energy should be spent worrying? For example, when I was just beginning my successful journey to lose my 140 pounds of excess weight in less than nine months, do you think it would have served me well to contemplate the countless other "diets," "exercise programs," or "broken New Year's resolutions" over the past twenty five years where my resolve was not sufficient to finish what I started? Do you think pondering on my weaknesses and self-doubts would be a productive use of my mental energies given the fact that, currently, there was not a single thing I could do about any of that? Sunk cost is something that will serve you well only if you take the healthy, forward focusing view that "no matter how I got here... I'm here! Now, what can I do, today and going forward, to get me from where I am now to where I want to be."
Now, opportunity cost is the cost of an alternative that must be forgone in order to pursue a certain action. Put another way, the benefits you could have received by taking an alternative action. So, August 26th is 155 days from today. That day is going to occur whether or not you do anything to move closer to your positive vision of your ideal physically fit future. So, the opportunity cost is that there is at least one person walking this planet (me) who believes that in the next 155 days you can transform your health, fitness and gain an unstoppable lifetime momentum in permanently maintaining your health & fitness goals for a longer happier quality of life.
So, whether you join us in The Fitness Race or not, it is my call to action to you to sit down and write a page or two focusing on your ideal vision of yourself focusing only on things you can control and describing yourself in vivid detail. Jump out to this time next year and describe what you look like, what you feel like, what your clothes size is, what others' comments are about your achievement, what other balance in your life now exists due to the momentum created by this wonderful accomplishment in your physical health. If there are others in your life you care about who are struggling with their weight, describe the positive impact and progress they have made as a result of their inspiration in what they have seen you achieve.
Do yourself a favor, sit down in within the next 24 hours and write-out your positive vision of your ideal future... then forget the past, focus on the future and those things within your control.
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2. ACTION STEPS WITH YOUR NUTRITION
- Consider eating less calories per sitting (less than 400 calories whenever you eat)
- Don't go more than four hours without eating at least 100 calories
- Don't eat an hour before bed time (two hours will serve you best)
- Drink ten glasses of water per day
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3. IMPORTANT STEPS REGARDING YOUR FITNESS
Schedule a call with your doctor to evaluate whether, in their opinion, there are any obstacles to increasing your physical activity.
Then, get your calendar out immediately and block at least four hours of training over the next seven days. Example, block off a minimum of 48 minutes of continuous physical activity (where your heart rate is raised to the point that you feel the effort and that healthy glisten & glow on your face).
Every day you do train, make it your goal to email me at rapidresponse@thefitnessrace.com with the amount of time you trained, what you did, and how you felt the effort.
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5. HOW TO INVITE OTHERS WITHOUT NAGGING:
TALKING POINTS FOR YOU TO USE TO INVITE OTHERS TO OUR MEETINGS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR WEIGHT:
The Fitness Race meetings are about; learning why diets don't work... and what to do about it and to create a realistic and implement-able plan of action regarding improving your health and fitness.
Here's why:
The meetings are led by someone who's done it.
Mark Little was a 313 pound diabetic, who frequently took wheelchair assistance at the airport... and is now doing four triathlons a year. You'll be surprised how simple and compelling his story is of struggling for more than 25 years, then making up his mind and resolving to create a process to "take charge of his health and fitness." Mark will show you exactly what he did, and believes you can do it to.
Mark believes others can and will do what he has done because…
THREE REASONS TO BELIEVE:
Reason one: Mark went from class III morbidly obese (the highest rating) to normal weight... in less than nine months
Reason two: He went from barely being able to walk across the street... and is now doing four triathlons per year
Reason three: After 25 years of failed attempts at dieting and losing weight... Mark figured out a simple four-step process that anyone can follow
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Here's to your success,
The Fitness Race Team
P.S. Everyone "struggling with their weight" is encouraged to join the teleconference (even if you're not ready to make any commitments). You'll enjoy an inspiring story of a person who succeeded after many failed attempts.
P.P.S. Invite someone onto the call who might benefit from one-on-one mentoring by an individual who has actually lost 140 pounds and kept it off.
P.P.P.S. If you've never struggled with your weight, but care about someone who has... come learn some steps to help without nagging.
P.P.P.P.S. Belief in "what's possible" might take-over within you!

One of my very favorite compelling and motivating speakers is Jim Rohn. His message in a talk called "The Challenge To Succeed" was very inspirational to me as I gathered my resolve to lose 140 pounds of excess weight that I had accumulated over 25 years. His logic was inescable to me and was one of the many factors which led, finally, to my resolve to lose all that weight... and keep it off.

I notice that "Challenge To Succeed" is now available in mp3 format (to listen to on a little mp3 player while you're training). Jim Rohn is available as well as John Maxwell, Bob Proctor, and many other great motivators who's messages will help you maintain your resolve as you "take charge" of your health & fitness. There may be a few places to get these great messages in an electronic form that you can download easily & listen to while you're training, but here's the websiteI like best to download some great motivating messages...

Greetings from gorgeous Alta, Utah

My new body never ceases to amaze me. I've always loved to snow ski, but it was tough when I weighed 313 pounds. Being so top-heavy was rough on skis. For some reason, the altitude affected me when I was heavy, too. I frequently felt flu-like symptoms at higher altitudes.

Well, now is different! At 173 pounds I went on our annual ski trip to Alta, Utah this past week and ski'd every day. The amazing thing is that in the old days, if I went skiing for a day, I had to take the next day off to ice my sore muscles and then soak in a hot bath to be able to walk and move around again. This year, after all my athletic training four or so hours per week, I ski'd every day this week and not only didn't take a day off in between, but never even felt sore. I can't believe how adaptable the body is. Once you begin simple improvements in health & fitness, the body rewards you with noticible improvements in performance.

As a result, my friends Bill Bachrach, author of the best-selling book Values-Based Financial Planning, and Steve Moeller (pictured above with me), author of the best-seller Effortless Marketing, both expert skiers, gave me some excellent coaching down the most aggressive slopes I have ever ski'd.

My new body is allowing me to go places and do fun things that will help ensure a lifetime of health & fitness.

TheFitnessRace.com Meeting Notice

Are you ready for the "next step" with The Fitness Race?
Here we go…
In this e-mail (below) you will find:
1. Our next two meeting notices
2. Your next step with your resolve
3. Action steps with your nutrition
4. Important steps regarding your fitness
5. How to Invite others, without nagging, to join us
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1. NEXT MEETINGS:
THE FITNESS RACE TELECONFERENCE
Thursday March 15th at 7:00 P.M.
This teleconference is for anyone considering participating in some way with The Fitness Race in 2007. New folks are welcome to join the call.
On this teleconference we will cover:
- Brief background of the objective of The Fitness Race
- What participants should to be doing right now.
- What those who are "undecided" about participation should be contemplating at this stage
- How to prepare for our March 29th group meeting (7:00 P.M.)
- Tips on how to make a decision about your desired level of participation
- Open discussion & Q&A to address questions from those on the call.

TELECONFERENCE DATE:
Thursday March 15th at 7:00 P.M.
(SPACE IS LIMITED: We only have 40 available slots on the conference line, so please E-mail me your desire to be on the call and I’ll send you the teleconference phone number and Conference Access code.)
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OUR NEXT GROUP MEETING:
THE PARTICIPANTS & SPECTATORS WORKSHOP
Thursday March 29th at 7:00 P.M.
This workshop is experiential, not a lecture. Plan to roll-up your sleeves and experience exercises designed to help you make the connection between your health and fitness desires, your values and those things that matter most to you. The Participants & Spectators Workshop is for anyone considering participating in some way with The Fitness Race in 2007. New folks are welcome to attend.
This workshop will be up-beat and fun (no beating yourself up about the past, you’ll Focus on The Future… FTF)
At this workshop you will:
- Participate in an exercise to detail your most important values
- Establish specific health & fitness goals that motivate & excite you
- Benchmark your current situation (simply in order to measure your dramatic progress)
- Establish immediate action steps for the following two weeks (until our next get-together)
THE PARTICIPANTS & SPECTATORS WORKSHOP
Thursday March 29th at 7:00 P.M.
Amerisuites
Main Floor meeting room
(steps from the front desk)
2750 Greenspoint Parkway
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
(Near the Corner of Higgins Rd. & Barrington Road)
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JOIN US FOR THE FITNESS RACE TELECONFERENCE
DATE: Thursday March 15th at 7:00 P.M.
(SPACE IS LIMITED: We only have 40 available slots on the conference line, so please E-mail me your desire to be on the call and I’ll send you the teleconference phone number and Conference Access code.)
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PLEASE CUT, PASTE & E-MAIL THIS TO ANYONE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR WEIGHT.
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2. MAKING UP YOUR MIND: YOUR NEXT STEP WITH YOUR RESOLVE
This is ENTIRELY in your world; you OWN this one completely. You control your resolve. Only you can make up your mind to do something. Taking charge of your health and fitness is a significant decision since it will require determination and a change in behavior (which is always uncomfortable).
My best advice for you:
Schedule time on your calendar to "get very quiet" and meditate upon the gap between where you are now and where you want to be with your health & fitness. Make notes of what you discern.
Ask for help; seek Higher Power assistance.
Contemplate that there is at least one other human being around you (Me) who believes that you can make dramatic progress improving your health and fitness, and… who, if you’re serious, is willing to mentor you in achieving your fitness goals for your own reasons.
Consider whether the effort required of your goal is worth it to you. After you achieve your goals I predict that, like me, you’ll look back and feel that out of 168 hours in a week that the six hours effort per week (5 hours of training & 1 hour of encouragement & accountability), was a "piece of cake" (I couldn’t resist).
Coming from someone who has lost 140 pounds, I can tell you that, as with all significant life change which leads to improvements, discomfort is generally a positive leading indicator of success. The fact that you’re willing to implant changes in behavior is evidence that you are serious about being healthier and fitter.
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3. ACTION STEPS WITH YOUR NUTRITION
- Good: Make a list of the things you enjoy most which are low-fat, low-calorie and healthy. Then create a plan to eat ONLY from that list for three consecutive days (at the very least)
- Better: Do the above AND resolve to eat that way until the next time you and I see each other.
- Best: Do all of the above AND email me your commitment to do this for accountability and encouragement (rapidresponse@thefreedomexperience.com).
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4. IMPORTANT STEPS REGARDING YOUR FITNESS
List three things that you will do during the next week to increase your physical activity in ways you are certain will not injure yourself. Then, E-mail me your commitment to do these three things… for accountability and encouragement (rapidresponse@thefreedomexperience.com).
Take the physical activity self-assessment to appraise whether, in your opinion, there are any obstacles to increasing your physical activity in support of getting healthy & fit.
Schedule a call with your doctor to evaluate whether, in their opinion, there are any obstacles to increasing your physical activity.
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5. HOW TO INVITE OTHERS WITHOUT NAGGING:
TALKING POINTS FOR YOU TO USE TO INVITE OTHERS TO OUR MEETINGS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR WEIGHT:
The Fitness Race meetings are about; learning why diets don't work... and what to do about it and to create a realistic and implement-able plan of action regarding improving your health and fitness.
Here's why:
The meetings are led by someone who's done it.
Mark Little was a 313 pound diabetic, who frequently took wheelchair assistance at the airport... and is now doing four triathlons a year. You'll be surprised how simple and compelling his story is of struggling for more than 25 years, then making up his mind and resolving to create a process to "take charge of his health and fitness." Mark will show you exactly what he did, and believes you can do it to.
Mark believes others can and will do what he has done because…
THREE REASONS TO BELIEVE:
Reason one: Mark went from class III morbidly obese (the highest rating) to normal weight... in less than nine months
Reason two: He went from barely being able to walk across the street... and is now doing four triathlons per year
Reason three: After 25 years of failed attempts at dieting and losing weight... Mark figured out a simple four-step process that anyone can follow
==================
JOIN US FOR THE FITNESS RACE TELECONFERENCE
DATE: Thursday March 15th at 7:00 P.M.
(SPACE IS LIMITED: We only have 40 available slots on the conference line, so please E-mail me your desire to be on the call and I’ll send you the teleconference phone number and Conference Access code.)
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These meetings are no-nonsense, but never beat-up on anyone. There’s no nagging or criticism… simply advice & guidance from someone who took charge of his weight issue without drugs or surgery. His goal is to pay-it-forward by sharing what worked well for him.
- No dieting
Mark's describes his simple plan to "not exceed the speed limit" with your eating
- Ditch the term weight-loss
Mark encourages us to think in terms of getting lighter and healthier... "when I’m training on my bicycle, for example, I care less about my weight, and more about how light I can be on my bike so I can go faster with less effort," says Mark.
- Ditch the term exercise
Learn how to have fun... be playful (like when you were a kid). Think in terms of "training" not workouts
- The plan for encouragement
Accountability has a negative connotation... Mark will show you how, done properly, accountability is really nothing more than no-nonsense encouragement (from someone who really cares about you)
- The plan for discouragement
Learn this key strategy...having a plan in place for those times when you're weak or vulnerable or not making the progress you want
- "Rock solid" belief and confidence
Learn the amazing things humans can do. Learn how you can take charge of your fitness... and how to gain the belief and confidence necessary to do the work required of your goal
- "Tire kicker" training plan
Learn how it's okay just to come and listen to Mark's story for inspiration... it took him 25 years of positive reinforcement before The Sprit moved him to action. So come just soak-in the story
- Advocate Training
Learn practical tips on how to help someone in your life, who you love or care about, who is struggling with their weight
- Learn Mark's four step process to "take charge of your fitness"
(This process works with any huge goal in life)
- The sheer simplicity of what really works will strike you. When you hear how practical and implement-able you may just be tempted to "go for it!"
Let me explain. The keys are:
- No dieting... but eating better
- No exercise... but picking up your physical activity, having fun or training for something. You'll enjoy
- Inspiration based... guilt, nagging nor regrets work when it comes to getting healthier and fitter. You'll learn how to set a goal and accomplish it for your own reasons.
- No Failure... learn how nearly everyone can improve their health and fitness in some way. Discover how to celebrate progress (rather than beat yourself up for not being "perfect")
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JOIN US FOR THE FITNESS RACE TELECONFERENCE
DATE: Thursday March 15th at 7:00 P.M.
(SPACE IS LIMITED: We only have 40 available slots on the conference line, so please E-mail me your desire to be on the call and I’ll send you the teleconference phone number and Conference Access code.)
After the teleconference, for those wanting to start the journey towards greater health & fitness, Mark will agree to "stick with you" this year and help you accomplish your 2007 health & fitness goal. He'll mentor you through the same process he used to lose 140 pounds of excess weight.
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IMPORTANT:
If you can't attend, but are interested in learning more:
e-mail rapidresponse@thefreedomexperience.com
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Here's to your success,
The Fitness Race Team
P.S. Everyone "struggling with their weight" is encouraged to join the teleconference (even if you're not ready to make any commitments). You'll enjoy an inspiring story of a person who succeeded after many failed attempts.
P.P.S. Invite someone onto the call who might benefit from one-on-one mentoring by an individual who has actually lost 140 pounds and kept it off.
P.P.P.S. If you've never struggled with your weight, but care about someone who has... come learn some steps to help without nagging.
P.P.P.P.S. Belief in "what's possible" might take-over within you!
P.P.P.P.P.S. FTF

Encouragement from Mark Victor Hansen

Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of the Chicken Soup For The Soul books, offered encouragement to The Fitness Race today. I bumped into him at a luncheon today, we have never met, but we got to talking and I mentioned how I had lost 140 pounds strictly through improved eating choices and increased physical activity. With that he opened his sport coat and declared that he had recently lost 30 pounds and was focused on his health & fitness. Good for him!

He sends his best to all those "taking charge" of their health & fitness by participating in The Fitness Race. He signed my Chicken Soup book with the following inscription:

"Mark,

I'm so proud of your thinness.

Cogratulations,

Mark Victor Hansen"