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We are often held back from going after our goals because of the unknown and the fear of the unknowns. I had some thoughts I wanted to share this morning that were on my mind during my morning cardio workout.

Here we go….this isn’t really a transformation. It is simply a matter of goals at the time and education. The picture at left was 8 or 9 years ago. I wasn’t competing at the time, and hadn’t in a while. My training never stopped. The only goal was to lift hard, lift heavy, and get as strong & big as possible. It wasn’t about looks…and it still isn’t. To that end I was hitting my goals. I tracked my nutrition then too, and was conscious of food choices to reach my goals. Eating was not a free for all; my goals were simply different. I also did not track things as closely as I do now nor did I have the extent of the in depth knowledge that I do now. I knew a lot then, but learning is am ongoing process. 💪 The picture on the right was taken at last year’s DFAC World Finals. It was my best condition & presentation to date and I am out to improve upon that this year. My goals are simply different & my knowledge is at a different point as well. 💪 Both pictures are real & genuine & simply two snapshots along a continuum of a passion that has burned for 25 years. 💪 Everyone is on their own journey, writing their own chapter, and at different places in their story. There is no right or wrong and one is not better than the other. 💪 It took me a while to decide to share this. Ultimately, both were parts of my journey and equally important and productive. With each phase accomplished, I have set new goals, greater goals, and must align my focus to reach those goals. Its not about looks, popularity, or current fads. Its about the burning desire to follow my passion, do what I once thought impossible and be better than I used to be! #RiseandConquer

Today is the day!! This is your day. You chose what to do with it, how you will spend it, and how it will go. You can make the most of it be deciding to do so. 💪 It is not a chore or burden. It is time to live, enjoy life, and pursue your happiness. 💪 Be grateful for what you have. Appreciate how far you have come. Know where you want to go. Narrow your focus, out your head down, and work to get there. 💪 Achieve greater. Be better than you were yesterday. Take the risk. Take action. Confront the obstacles. And…#RiseandConquer

Monday’s Motivational Mantra – “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”― Nelson Mandela 💪 It’s always unknown before it’s done. Even the next minute is unknown until it is over and past and we know how it was spent. It is not something to be feared and held frozen by that fear of the unknown. Rather we must turn the tables and look to embrace it and command how the unknowns will go. 💪 Action breeds results. Take the leap of faith, begin an action, and watch the unknowns become known, the path we couldn’t see at the start becomes clearer and we gain the confidence to see it through until it is done. You don’t think you can do something? You don’t know, but in making the attempt you find you are more than capable, even if the path is not straight. You may have to work harder, learn more, work differently, but it is possible. With every action you gain confidence and power and momentum to keep going and see something through until it’s done. 💪 Embrace the challenge of doing something greater. Make the impossible become possible. Own it and dictate the unknowns rather than being frozen by them. Attack with a relentless pursuit knowing you can and you will accomplish what once seemed impossible. #RiseandConquer

Monday’s Motivational Mantra – “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.” – Marianne Williamson Why not us? Why do we stop ourselves from living our full potential by caving to the thoughts of what we think we can’t be or do, rather than focusing on the thoughts of what we truly can do and be? Be you. End of story. Forget the expectations, the filters, the judgment of others. “Your playing small does not serve the world.” We are significant and that significance can only be brought to light if we stand up and live it to its fullest. Own who we are, where we are, and all that we are and will become. We are powerful beyond measure. #RiseandConquer

The only way to get past what holds you back is to face it and conquer it. To struggle is not a bad thing. It is necessary for growth and progress. Accept it and use it as a means to explore all your thoughts and plans. It will lead to clarity and with clarity brings action.

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Whatever is holding you back from your goals, whether fitness and nutrition related, personal goals, work goals….whatever it is confront it. Understand why you constantly put it off or ignore it and then plan to attack it head on. Left alone that one thing builds to become a much greater obstacle than it really is. 💪

Embrace the struggle. Allow yourself to go through it in order to gain that plan of action to get through, past and beyond that point. Progress is the goal and it isn’t always meant to be comfortable or easy.

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Rise and conquer & let nothing stand in your way! @naturalprofitnesscoaching @shieldsofstrength @barbellapparel

Saw this the other day and it has a great message that applies outside the gym as well. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether you made the “lift”…(or fill in the blank). What matters most is that you made the attempt with everything you had within you. It’s the doing that breeds success, not the result that determines success.

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Apply yourself to whatever it is that lies ahead of you, whether it be a job, a chore, school, yard work, or a training session. Give your best effort and commit to excellence. #RiseandConquer

There’s always going to be an excuse….don’t excuse yourself. You have goals and it is important to keep that commitment to yourself in order to meet and exceed those goals.

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I’m traveling over the holiday weekend here and so made the commitment and plan ahead of time of exactly how I would enjoy the time yet stick to my goals. 

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Meal prep and planning were the biggest task to work out, but remember this is a lifestyle by choice and not a punishment. Yes, there are plenty of food options and different variety than when I plan my meals at home. The reality is….no one really cares what you’re eating but you. Know what you need to do to hit your goals and do it. Ice cream, for example, has macro nutrients and portion sizes. You can track them and work them in to your day’s plan I’d you choose to. There are definitely some sacrifices to be made but again, a little planning and understanding your needs and goals will go a long way.

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Ultimately, it comes down to you. You are in control, even when away from home and out of your routine & comfort zone. You control what you eat. You control whether you fuel up with the right nutrients and the correct balance of nutrients. You control whether your training stays on track, or if you change it up to fit your situation for a few days and add in a different type of training. In today’s leg workout, I got to use equipment I have never used before, just because it was there! 

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You also are in control if you choose not to stick to your commitment to reach goals and give in to whatever excuse you can accept and rationalize. 

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It all comes down to you. Variety, planning and flexibility are key to moving forward and keeping yourself accountable in any situation. If I can do it, you can do it. #RiseandConquer @dymatize @dymatizeprewo @shieldsofstrength @naturalprofitnesscoaching

Its not “Can you?”, but rather, “Are you going to?” You may not necessarily “feel” like it, but if we only worked on goals when we felt like it we would never accomplish anything of greatness. ~

Today was one of those days where although I woke up this morning fired up to get in the gym tonight, as the day’s events wore on my intense focus was a bit off. Not coming to the gym was never a thought. The work was going to get done with every ounce of focus, effort, and energy I had in me. Because physically I was more than ready. ~

I run through my own mental checklist when feeling off. Did I eat properly to fuel my body for this workout and for my goals this week? YES! Did I get enough sleep, rest, and recovery last night and the days in between workouts? YES! Am I warmed up, stretched and ready? YES! With that checklist all clear then the only question left is, ”Are you going to do what must be done & be an unstoppable, undeniable force & conquer every rep, set, and exercise?” Yes! It’s me vs.me, or you vs.you and there is no one to stop you but you! You don’t regret the work you did!

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Now…”whatcha gonna do?”