Why is Finishing the Year Strong a MUST For You?

I have a lot of reasons WHY I want to be in better shape in January 2010, the usual….fit in my clothes better, and so on. But, I have one answer that I think will answer all the questions that you ask, all at once, Tom. I MUST make changes to my body and my mind, because I’ve changed into a person that I don’t recognize or like anymore. I’m not just saying that I don’t like myself physically, but I don’t like myself emotionally and behaviorally. Without getting into a long, drawn out explanation, I am not my usual ‘self’. I’m short-tempered, grouchy all day long, have changed into a selfish person, not focused on any one thing for too long and generally want to be left alone. I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything. This is not the real me! I want to get back to the self that I know and love–the loving, kind person that my family and acquaintances know that I am. I KNOW in the deepest recesses of my brain that this excess weight is the reason that I am ‘acting out’. I MUST get rid of my excess weight because I feel if I don’t, I will be permanently changed for the worse.

1. My commitment to improving & maintaining my health pays dividends in all areas of my life: personal, professional, emotional, recreational, and more2. Like the power of compounding interest, the decisions I make TODAY have a profound impact on my FUTURE3. I transformed my body from March to the present–far too much work already invested to ever look back4. Just married – My wife deserves the healthiest husband possible…NOW5. I can and will be the changes I want to see in my life6. The world will always need reminders of the power of discipline and hard work7. I need the constant reminder of my ability to continuously improve8. When I go on my (delayed) honeymoon in March 2010, my wife deserves to enjoy observing other beach goers’ whiplash9. I threw away all those Large sweaters…no hiding the gut under extra layers of clothing this year10. The holidays are a supreme trial of willpower, and the odds are against me…when better to prove what I’m made of?

Why is it a “must” for me? People around me need to be shocked as to how poorly most people take care of their bodies. Our bodies are amazing pieces of equipment and when we do right with them, they can do amazing things. The dynamics of getting stronger and healthier in my late 50’s is just so thrilling, I can’t keep it for myself. As long as most people still don’t get it, I must stay at it and get faster, stronger and leaner, they need to see and be convinced I have what they want and will listen to me. Meanwhile, I am so badly hooked on marathoning and I have been getting get better with each try over the last two years and my goal now for the new year is to qualify for Boston and run the Boston Marathon at age 57!

I am ready today. I am done telling myself that I will start tomorrow or after the holidays. I want to be done after the holidays. I am ready to be ahead of the game for once, not one step behind. I have been trying to reach my goal for the past year. I have made great progress and even finished a half marathon, but I am still not living up to my true potential. I must reach that potential to finish what I started two years ago. I WANT to be ripped. I WANT to be healthy, and full of energy to expend on my family! I have been putting my children and my husband’s hobbies before my own health and happiness for long enough. My kids need a strong role model, therefore; I MUST prove to my family and myself that if you put your mind to it, it can be done. No matter what the obstacles or life responsibilities if you want it, you CAN have it. But you MUST take it. For you and nobody else. Nobody else can tell you what you can and can’t achieve or what you need or don’t need, it’s up to you. I will be turning 30 in 2010 and I will be in the best shape of my life by this milestone! I want this because I deserve this, and I deserve to have what I want!

Limited as it is, each of us should fully enjoy the time we are given. Six weeks until January 1 does not seem like much, but why live another six weeks lethargic, depressed, and unhealthy–let alone MORE lethargically, depressedly, and unheathily as many are wont to do around the holidays? Not me. I know that my health is the one asset that can’t depreciate in value. I know that physical health is an essential component of my own mental, emotional, and spiritual health. And (with Tom’s help) I know how to drastically improve the quality of my life without compromise. Why wait six weeks for a better life? Why wait six weeks to start anew, with the hordes of superficial “health” nuts with their miracle pills, fancy (and unused ) gym clothes, and bad attitudes?Finishing 2009 stronger than I started it (and stronger than I am today) is an absolute must for me because, frankly, I absolutely MUST enjoy every moment on this mortal coil. I MUST remind myself that healthy, lifelong habits don’t come and go–diets do. I MUST start 2010 strong so that when I do this again next year, I’ll be even stronger for 2011.I must because I say I must, because I know I must, and because I know I am the person I want to become. Bring it.

I turn 50 in 2010 and I want to be in the best shape I can be, I have already procrastinated from having 18 months to accomplish this to now having 11 months…why wait any longer? START NOW! Because I feel so much better when I work out!

WHY I MUST start now and not wait until January 1st, 2010:I have proven that for me, the battle is more mental than physical. And mentally, I am ready NOW. So why wait six more weeks when the challenge has been presented to me now? This is exactly what I need, thank you God for this tool and friend in Tom Venuto! Thirteen years of binge and purge behavior has weakened me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I taught myself that food was my fix for any lack in my life. And the layers of fat that began to cover my once beautiful body became a warm blanket to a cold and harsh life. Many life hurts, tragedies, sicknesses, and disappointments distracted me from the fact that I was disappearing under that blanket of fat and food. For three years I have made New Year’s resolutions. And slowly over the last three years I have began to heal. I have stopped purging. I have decreased my binge episodes drastically. Instead of once or twice a day it’s once or twice a month. Still not good, but I am learning! I am allowing God to renew my mind daily. I am allowing myself the desire of being beautiful again, inside and out! Between March and August of this year I lost 25 lbs. While I have not gained any of it back between August and now, I have not lost any more. I am far from winning this battle with food and fat! I am 32 yrs. old, mother of two, wife of one gorgeous and fit man. I have a long, full, fit, life ahead of me to live and I want to live it extreme! I know and believe that after this sixteen year battle, 2010 is the year I experience true freedom. I MUST be in full momentum come January 1st, not just starting on day one. As I mentioned before, I am ready NOW! There is a quote that I have used in business often that applies to where I am at right now beautifully: “You must learn to translate wisdom and strong feelings, into labor.” Time for me to get to work! I truly believe that if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. I want to switch sides of the American Obesity Epidemic, and then pay it forward. Become part of the solution, and help others the way you Tom Venuto are helping all of us every day. Thank You!

For the last five years, I’ve been on an emotional and financial roller coaster ride that has been due to divorce; bankruptcy; foreclosure; unemployment; starting and sustaining a start-up business while continuing to work part-time, and the death of a partner, best friend and business partner. All of these incidents were outside MY control because they were all influenced by other people, whether they were ex-spouses, employers, banks, attorneys, customers, or distributors. I am 35 years old and have for many years held a picture in my head of the body I know I SHOULD have and COULD have. I will no longer think I SHOULD and COULD have it, but that I MUST have it. All my life experiences in the past 5 years may have been out of my control, but getting in the best shape I’ve ever been in and having the body I MUST have is all within MY CONTROL.I have never been one to wait until New Year’s to make a resolution. I’ve always believed it was purely procrastination, lack of the MUST attitude, and holiday feasting and shopping excuses. I decided a few years ago to always start my weight loss program before the New Year just in spite of the whole “resolution” concept. My problem has been finishing the job. I start motivated and enthusiastic, but then after reaching a certain weight that I’m comfortable with I allow other things to become a priority, and ultimately never finish my real priority – to be in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I am finishing 2009 strong and starting 2010 on the right foot because it is something I MUST have. The goal is within my total control, and I will be happier and ready to fulfill my other dreams in 2010. By being in better shape the first week of January 2010 than I am now, my mind and body will be ready to meet the challenges of 2010. Being an entrepreneur and small business owner is a challenge in itself, but to grow into a multi-million dollar business is a huge undertaking. I will be racing against other entrepreneurs in the Make Mine a Million Dollar Business contest in 2010, and will be ready to win that race after I’ve accomplished my ultimate goal – to be in the body I MUST have. Making my body and mind my first priority is a MUST now.

I used to be in good shape. Now I’m not.

A couple years ago I worked as a Hiking, Mountain Biking, and Kayaking guide at an adventure Spa. My days were full of sun, fun, health, and happiness. I used to run in races for fun and planned on eventually completing an Iron Man Triathlon.

With the tanking economy, my guiding job was no longer a career option. Being trained in computers, I went back to the office where I now sit behind a computer in a windowless office all day, every day. At first, I maintained my fitness and health. However, over time I got lazy, soft, fat, and out of shape. Recently, my co-worker put a pull-up bar in our office door as a motivational challenge. I was horrified to discover I could barely do 1 full pull-up! Also, over the summer, I got so depressed I completely gave up. I ate crap and sat on the couch like a stereotype brought to life!

To really drive things home, a couple months ago, my older brother, also in the computer industry, had a heart attack at only 39 years of age. He had a 5-bypass open-heart surgery! In the process he discovered he also has diabetes.

After my brother’s surgery, I realized that I am at a junction in my life. I can keep on this pathetic path, literally taking my own life in my hands, or shape up, enjoy life, and have a long life to enjoy.

Finally, I’ve come to see that my current state is unacceptable. I no longer have self-esteem and am literally afraid that if I try to go back and do some canyoneering or rock-climbing, I’ll be to weak and end up killing myself! I AM going to do the Holiday Challenge! I AM going to hit my target weight! I AM going to build and strengthen all my muscles. I AM going to be able to look at myself in the mirror again without retching. I AM going to have peace of mind, knowing that I’m actively preventing a future of diabetes, heart attacks, weakness, injury, or worse. I WILL be healthy! I WILL accomplish my goals!

I need to finish this year strong, as strong as i can be! Why? So that next year i can “start” from a higher level of fitness and get better, and stronger, and leaner..This whole thing is just a goal setting.. the ultimate goal.. “get in the best shape i can be”. It’s like this: till the end of the year i’ll do the best i can so that at the beginning of the next year, my best now would be considered my worst then. So that i can continue to improve more and more.. more than last year, less than next year!It’s usually thought that during the winter break you get fatter, you eat a lot or more junk than usual and so on. I do too.. Or at least i used to. Not anymore! I must change this!.. There may be more calories than usual, but more calories means i must train harder!Like everybody, this year I’ve had some periods of time when I didn’t work/train hard enough, maybe I was sick or maybe I was just lazy. Now’s the time to make up for it and start right NOW. Not next year.. NOW! If i start again with excuses “i cant do it because..” i’m sure i’ll have other excuses next year and so on..THAT’S WHY I MUST DO IT NOW!

I MUST DO THIS because…over the past decade I became out of shape. I fell into the married weight gain trap then 2 kids later couldn’t recognize myself physically or mentally. Since January 2009 I have gone through my second pregnancy ending in my second c-section, 3 months later an emergency gall bladder removal and the time it takes to heal from these surgeries. I will be 40 in April 2010 and I am determined to prove that you can be fit and confident even after medical issues, spouses, children and full time jobs! I must do this because I made my choice to live life to my fullest potential and be a role model to my children and an inspiration to others who think they can’t make their dreams come true and let outside forces limit their potential.

Hey Bob. Thanks for mentioning that. Each person has a different gut response to words and while the response is similar for most, no two people are alike.Most people feel that “should” is really weak. It implies that its something that needs to be done, but youre not going to do it and perhaps youve been avoiding it.Many feel that “have to” or “need to” is stronger language, but not up there with MUST. For most, MUST is strong. But for some it still doesn’t have he strongest emotional resonance.In NLP they call these words modal operators of necessity and they teach that language and words can be very powerful. I NEED TO, I HAVE TO, I MUST, I WILL, I AM GOING TO, try all these words/phrases and use by all means, what is the strongest for YOU. The end result will be the same.. . you’ll be healthy, happy and in prime shape!tom Venuto

Why is finishing 2009 STRONG an ABSOLUTE MUST for ME?Because I have a goal to meet! I’ve been struggling with a plateau and want more than anything to CRUSH it! Over the last 3 months I”ve hit a plateau and I’M tired of it!Beginning Sept. 08, as I turned 39 I decided to change my life. Tom’s Burn the Fat Ebook helped me on my way. I was 39, 5’4 and 249 pounds and had never walked a mile in my life. I was frustrated, depressed and angry at myself for allowing me to hurt ME as much as I had. I had allowed a very unhappy childhood to define who I was, and also crush my self esteem. My goal was to lose 100 pounds before my 40th birthday on September 1st, 2009. My second goal was to go from a size 22 to a 14. The 3rd goal I had was to stop making excuses and shifting blame.Applying the skills I learned in Burn the Fat has allowed me to lose 71 pounds over the last 14 months. I recently turned 40. I didn’t reach my goal of 100 pounds in a year. This is why I absolutely MUST finish strong. I don’t want to go into 2010 with this goal unattained. I know I can do it! I must do it! I did bust through my goal of being in a size 14, now I’m currently in a size 10 jeans. For the first time in 15 years, I’m no longer the fat friend. I’m leaner and stronger than ever. I can’t allow a plateau to hinder me from reaching my goal. Over the past 14 months I’ve ran 700 miles, and have learned to love strength training. I would have never dreamed I could have done that a year ago. I can’t let 30 pounds stop me from keeping a promise I’ve made to myself.I have many people watching me. It’s important that I be a positive role model to many of the women I teach. I MUST do this because I realize my life is not just my own. My success will also determine the success of those around me who I inspire and encourage to keep pushing forward in their goals, whatever they maybe. I MUST SUCEED in 2009, so I can be a role model in 2010. I have daughters and young women I mentor who need to see what it means to be a strong ,healthy ,beautiful woman, inside and out.I want to start 2010 at goal, so I can look at myself in the mirror and say “Angel, not only did you get goal 2 & 3, you kept the promise you made to yourself. BECAUSE I DESERVE TO LOVE MYSELF THAT MUCH, I’M WORTH IT! then I’ll be able to stand up infront of women I teach and say ” If i can, you can..and they will believe me. That would be the very best Christmas present I can give myself.

This is a TOTAL MUST for me to finish 2009 Stronger – Steady On – emotionally, spiritually and physically!The REASONS WHY I want to be in better shape are for my family and for myself – To go into 2010 feeling stronger physically and more confident with a Can Do attitude – ready for the challenges of a new career! and Not Feeling defeated before I even start!I MUST do this NOW because I do tend to be more of a procrastinator and I look forward to the challenge of breaking this routine and go into the New Year feeling like I have already accomplished something – not waiting until the New Year begins to plan my accomplishments :-)

Why I MUST do this.2009 was a year of discovery for me. I have been working out for a couple of years now, and this was the year that I realized my potential. I conquered weighted pullups, when I had never even done regular pullups. I began bench pressing weight that I never dreamed, and the same for deadlifts and curls. I discovered a lot about myself this year physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I began to develop a more positive outlook, and it has improved my life. I also was downsized and am currently seeking employment, but it made me stop and think about what I really want. In December, I will be starting on a Masters Degree in Health Psychology at the age of 57 after working in Information Technology for 28 years.I want 2010 to be an even grander year, and a realization of dreams that I had forgotten and passions that I never even knew I felt. At the beginning of 2009, I felt that this would be a year of major changes for me. I want to finish this year strong so that I can begin the next one strong, and reach heights I never dreamt possible.

vanity…I’m 56 so my procrastination days are behind me. working out keeps my RA in control so that I can enjoy life…also strengthens my heart…but then we’re back to my high school class reunion and vanity. Since I’m silver, I may as well be a silver fox! I’m working to get into shape to competein the seniors category when I’m 60, so the clock is set!

I have never had a problem being overweight, the exact opposite actually. Im not entering this contest to get lean, but to pack on some lean mass! I have been trying to do so for so long, but being an Ecotomorph makes it not so easy. I think this challenge will be the train to push me to stack on some lean muscle while keeping the Bodyfat low! I can’t wait to start! P.S. I have already started trying to beef up the forearms by ditching my lifting straps(330 lbs deadlift X 2) Raw!

I plan to finish 2009 how I mean to start 2010. In style, wearing clothes I look fantastic in, feeling sexy and desirable, and knowing that I can show the real me that’s been hiding away inside layers of fat for the last 18 years.I must do this to prove to myself that I am worth every ounce of the love that people insist on throwing at me; to prove to others that I am as happy on the inside as I try to portray on the outside; and to prove to my family that I do go that extra step and CAN finish something.Gone are the days of doing things just for everyone else. This is my chance to do something that is completely for me. And I fully intend to arrive at my goals confidently, on time, and with pride.Let’s burn people!!!Katx

I am who I am. Therefore, I should not be FAT because that is NOT ME.

I need to start 2010 on the right foot because this is the rest of my life we’re talking about!I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 4 years ago, and had ballooned up to 250 lbs, now back down to 215. I’m separated from my husband, and looking forward to a life on my own, about ME, with some trepidation and a lot of enthusiasm. I want to continue on the path I’ve started.Money’s tight. I could use the coaching and the support. I hope you pick me!

Tom,I MUST finish the year strong because thus far I’ve lost 25lbs of fat. My girls (ages 6 & 8) are watching their Mother transform herself into the person she’s always wanted to be. I MUST finish the year strong because I owe it to myself to put ME first – which I never use to do. Well not anymore. My kids are watching and learning and I want to make sure that they learn by example, good example. I want them to know that it’s not only okay, it’s vital to take care of self so that you can take care of others. We only have one life but that’s enough if you do it right. I MUST do it right.

Because I am a lively, strong woman and I can show my son what a healthy lifestyle looks like on the inside, as well as the outside by example.Because I don’t need to wait until January 1. I am ready right now.Because I want to feel empowered and prove to myself that no challenge is too big to overcome.Because I want it all. And I deserve it.

I went from 341 pounds to 295 pounds in 4 years and kept it off. This year I lost focus of my goal but even though I went on vacation in May for 2 weeks in Puerto Rico plus a 7 night cruise in September, I managed to maintain the weight loss because I continued to do a lot of cardio. I haven’t reallly done any strength training in the 4 years I’ve been losing weight but If I did and knew what I was doing, I would acheive my goal more quickly.Well, 2010 is upon us but the 2009 Holiday is around the corner. I don’t want to procrastinate and wait for 2010 to get my act together and risk a Holiday weight gain which will put me in a situation worst than what I am in now.I want to lose this weight for good, build my self esteem and achieve everything I ever wanted in life, career, romance etc.I wish everybody my best!!!

Why I must – I’m 52 years old and, although not heavy, really want to be in shape. I started going to a gym 2 years ago and did well until a couple months ago, I quit smoking and all of a sudden I had no energy! I must get motivated! I must get in shape. I must make some changes to my gym routine, I think I could get into body building. But I must find that motivation and I think that Tom could give that to me. I must find a way to keep it going, much better than it is now. I must make some changes! I really must find some new ways to eat, I’m a very picky (awful) eater. I don’t want to make another resolution, I just MUST DO IT NOW! Lastly, I must look good on my yearly vacation in April!

In Australia, Xmas and New Year represents the start of our summer holidays. I spend so many months trying to get into shape ready for the summer holidays, only to blow it at parties and functions leading up to and including xmas and new year. I then spend the remainder of my summer holidays regretting ‘blowing’ it, and feeling like I need to cover myself up in public. This has been happening to me for 20 years. Not this year !!!

Tom has presented a challenge todayhaving to do with how much I weigh.Where should I be on New Year’s Day?With how much of my health am I willing to pay?I know I’ve procastinated far too much.2009 I’ve let be my crutch.I continue to eat near all that I touch.My health is suffering because of such.Tom is asking”Has it become now a must?”If not now, my pants just may bust.So it seems at this time to be only justto take out my sneaks and blow off the dust.I don’t want to be an old fat henwho isn’t atrractive to any old men.So if not now, I must ask when.My answer is certainly 2010!If I don’t do it now, the when?I choose to be healthier in 2010.

Tom,On New Year’s Eve I like to reflect back on the year. What I’ve done, what I haven’t done and what I want to do in the future. On January 1st of this year I started my first true quest for leanness. It work great and I prove to myself that anything was possible. However after I achieved my goal I suffered a pretty bad back injury and was sidelined from training (which I love so much!). In that time my waistline grew and my confidence fell. When my back healed and was well enough to train, I started back again but I was 30 pounds heavier and obviously my body was not in the shape I left it. I was an emotional wreck and my nutrition followed the same pattern. Finally I put my foot down and said no more. I looked at myself in the mirror and told myself that on New Year’s Eve 2009 I will be in the best shape of my life. A complete opposite of what I was at the time. I wanted start the year off at my leanest to prepare me for the great year ahead. Tom, this is why finishing the year strong a must for me! Although I’ve come a long way from where I started and I’m pretty lean right now. I want more! I made a promised to myself and want to be absolutely shredded just like you.

sir,First and foremost i would like to thank you. Because you are doing service to many needy persons freely.i would like to reduce my weight and belly.so i dont want to postpon it further. more over my joy new no bounds when i saw your guidance and your way of free service.Thanks.

I stopped by here tonight because I thought I had some really good reasons – I’m not going to bother because I have been genuinely blown away by most of the answers I see here. You people are amazing and I applaud you for your words- best of luck putting those words into action.

I bought the e-book and entered the challenge because I wanted to be in the best physical shape possible. I know I have muscles under the fat, I just want to know what they look like. I have the weights, I have the time, I have no excuses. My desire is to be a role model to the next generation because the status quo is not acceptable. We are spending way too much money on the problem of being overweight. We need to use our voices and our bodies to show others it is possible to not only be in good shape, but be in great shape. We must do this for the future generations. Being overweight is unacceptable and unhealthy. We have to do something to stop the trend. Thank you for the opportunity to share in this challenge. May you all finish strong and be role models in your community. Karen

I MUST do this because……my husband and I want to start our family…I am tired of watching others achieve their health and fitness goals instead of actively pursuing my own…the couch is getting butt prints worn into it…there is so much to look forward to in life and I want to be my best for all of it!…NOW beats the heck out of later!

We all know it’s for the best to start now finish strong and the good will follow into the new year. The question is not why? but why not? Who wouldn’t want a healthy mind and bodyfor themselves? Anything that is a must is not hard, it’s when your given a choice that it becomes hard. Don’t give yourself that choice and know that you must do it.

I am 19, and I have never been in the average weight range–almost obese, my entire life.While I did not have control of it when I was perhaps a grade schooler (simply because I did not know better), I very much had control in middle and high school. I’ve tried to diet through calorie restriction my entire life. I was lazy. I hated exercise.Now I have control of my entire life in college, and my laziness permeated into other aspects, since nobody is here to force feed me. I skipped class for sleep. I ate junk rather than cooked. I let my room become horribly dirty. Laundry piled in loads.My athletic friend bought me a copy of your ebook as a birthday present of sorts, saying this is what got him started. I didn’t even look at the book until August of this year. When I did read it, though, I read through everything. Something clicked in my mind, and suddenly I was no longer lazy.I am working out every day. I am doing homework before play. I am cleaning my room and cooking for myself. I do laundry once a week. Because my mentality changed, every aspect of my life changed.I look back at myself in horror now. I do not want to go back to how I used to be. I must continue this attitude of change, otherwise I may revert to a lethargic monster. Because I am nowhere near where I want to be with my body, it is imperative that I end this year with a bang and begin the new one full throttle.

“‘Someday’ is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.” Tim Ferriss I love that quote. I’ve been overweight my entire life and it has always been ‘someday’ I’ll get in shape. I’m tired of waiting for some mythical day in the distance. I want my absolute best life now. I want to go on an airplane and not worry about if I’ll be comfortable in the seat. I want to go out and have someone actually look me in the eye rather than being ignored. I want to be healthy and fit enough to run, not walk my next race. I want to ride bike trails for fun. I want to be able to keep up physically with other people. I want to do something difficult and become a different, better person because of it. I want to stop settling and start living.

“Life is not a dress rehearsal.” That has been my motto for the last 3 years which started when I got divorced. I am a single mother of 2 beautiful girls. Not to go back too far, but I was always heavier growing up and very self-conscious. When I got divorced, i lost a ton of weight, obviously not the healthy way, though I did exercise 4-5 times a week. I just wasn’t eating well. I turned things around and began exercising intently and started training for triathlons. My first triathlon I came in 7th in my age group, and my second I was 10th. i was thrilled. I had never before felt so strong and fast. I was in better shape than I had EVER been before. Unfortunately, I took it too hard and injured my hip. Two doctors, 4 MRI’s and still no diagnoses. Thankfully, I have a team of people trying to help me get back to running. I have been weight training and able to take classes but I definitely have a new outlook on fitness – stay healthy enough to be fit for a long time. So, my point with 2010 is that I recently moved into a new home, my own, changed careers, and started a lot of new projects. There are no more excuses not to take life’s opportunities and run with them. Move is over, divorce done, girls doing great, new home, new lease on life. I’m ready to ramp up and have a great 2010 and being a healthy, fit, and happy woman is number one in my book for myself and my girls.

Starting 2010 in better shape than I am now is an absolute priority for me. I have battled health issues for the past 3 years due to excessive training and following a high protein diet. It in effect caused me to have 2 hip arthroscopies and hormonal problems that require hormone replacements (and significant weight gain) and I am only 33 years old. Not to mention all the digestive issues that I also have battled in that time. Doctors couldn’t give me answers to what is causing my hormone deficiencies or digestive issues. I had a feeling my diet was a major contributor. I now after much trial and error have realised that cause of my issues have been that I got my body into a very acidic state. After following an alkaline diet (pretty much vegan diet which is the total opposite of what I used to eat)with drinking alkaline water I am feeling brilliant and the weight has finally started to come off. I am even going to try weening myself off the hormone replacements in early 2010 but the goal until then is to get my body back into shape while still rehabbing my hips. It has been a very frustrating road for the past 3 years and I intend to change that now I have found answers. Look out 2010 here I come!

There is no must – must leaves room for a possibility of not. The reason I will improve my fitness through out the end of this year and into the next is so I will avoid the ‘fate’ imposed upon me by genetics and my life up to now, and live my life as I have been for a while now, losing excess fat, strengthening the core and building muscle to compensate for joint damage. Six years ago I “needed” a new hip, a new knee, and had several bone spurs on my spine and other places, as well as numerous squished disks. The doctor’s answer was morphine and more morphine and longer acting morphine. After a two year fight with the medical community, I dumped the morphine and the doctors and the couple hundred pounds the morphine added to my five foot seven inch frame. Today, I am walking better and have less pain than with the “medicine” so for me, I will continue to follow my program both exercise and diet wise and I wish to give Tom Venuto a hearty round of thanks for having posted enough information for me to plan a successful program around my own special needs. I am doing this not because I don’t have another choice but because the other choices are not good ones. I know what has helped me, why would I stop?

Because I’m SICK OF IT! Sick and tired of moving one step forward and then two steps back. Sick of looking in the mirror and asking “where did my hot body go? O yea, I ruined it!”I am just so tired of feeling guilty about my eating habits, my on-and-off workout routine, and my general state of mind. I want my pants to fit nicely again! I want to feel confident when I’m showing some skin! I want to portray what I am on the inside- I’m resilient and intelligent and capable.. except when it comes to changing behavior, now THAT is a challenge. But I can do that!!I have so much knowledge about working out and eating right. i know what to do, I know the math, I know the techniques, I know what it takes, I just have all of these mental blocks holding me back! I need to put URGENCY into my goals and kick MY OWN BUTT because right now I am slugging back and forth between being “good” and being “bad”- which is crap. I shouldn’t have to convince myself to be “good” it should be automatic and fun! I would love it. I want that. I have to have that. Bliss= being in full control.I’m sick and tired of not liking what I see in the mirror, all along knowing that I CAN do BETTER than THIS! Ive done it before, now it needs to last because enough is enough!!! I MUST CHANGE NOOOW.Waiting for the new year to change is just a slap in the face to myself. It’s me telling my body “you’re not important enough to care about right now. You don’t matter enough to be a priority. I’m going to abuse you for the sake of “holiday” and THEN I’ll think about being good to you.” BS! That’s just downright insulting. Why should I be so cruel to myself? Don’t I deserve more? Waiting for a future time to start being “good” is just another excuse to fuel the fire of inaction and fear. “I’ll be ready then”, “I’ll think differently then”, “I’ll have more time then”, blah blah blah. Tried it all, said it all, nothing of it is true. NOW is when I MUST do this.I apologize if it’s a bit frantic, but reading the post just got me fired up because you are so right and I am so sick of this battle with myself. I need to do this and I will. Thank you for listening and thank you for being there for all of us. Also, thanks for bringing this idea of getting in better shape over the holidays. I always let myself go, and that really makes no sense.

I MUST finish this year strong and start out 2010 on the right foot because I’m “almost” there now, 14# away from goal. Eight years ago when I turned 40 years old, I was at my highest recorded weight at 260#. I “dieted” and “exercised” for 6 years and lost 18#. In the past 2 years I’ve found an eating plan that works for me and I’ve begun seriously exercising. In April of this year I hired a personal trainer and have seen wonderful improvements in my health, strength and endurance not to mention my appearance. To date I have shredded 106# (I was at 116# gone, but 10# has crept back on). I MUST finish this year strong and plan on a goal of at least 14# to shred. The reason I MUST finish the year strong and MUST start the new year on the right foot is because I have skin removal surgery (extended abdominoplasty) scheduled for January 6th. I NEED to have a handle on my eating habits if I want my “new skin” to continue to fit my new body in the years to come. I cannot afford to regain the weight. I’m working on a personal trainer certification at this time and I’m also a registered nurse – what a better example for my friends, clients and patients than to be fit and in shape myself?Debbie Corey

Finishing 2009 STRONG is an ABSOLUTE MUST for me because…I will lose those last 15 pounds of pregnancy weight. I will fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes again. I am ready to blow my husband’s mind with how good I look! Starting 2010 on the right foot is an ABSOLUTE MUST for me because…I will begin black belt training in 2010 – and I want to be ready. The REASONS WHY I want to be in better shape the first week in January of 2010 than I am today are…I am through with the belly fat. I am done with the jeans that are two sizes bigger. I am through fighting with food. I will eat and enjoy good food that is good for me and will enhance my beauty.

Why MUST I finish this year strong? Because NOBODY else is going to do it for me! I’m 17 years old living with my family in Ontario Canada and since purchasing the BFFM E-Book last year, it seems that the entire world has conspired against me in reaching any sort of training goal. One thing after another would come up be it financial issues or mounds of school work, and honestly the pain of staying the same, I’m sad to say it had to take this long, has finally become more unbearable than the pain of changing. After some serious reflection and figurative kick in the pants, I’ve realized one thing…when everything possible CAN and WILL go wrong and come against my success, it means that part of my future and destiny, and even those of the people around me, greatly depends on the success in that specific area of my life. The greater the opposition in life, the greater the VICTORY over the situation once the effort to change is put in! I MUST come out of this year stronger and in better shape than ever because I know for a fact that with that success under my belt, I will have the authority to influence change in the lives of my family and friends for the better. As I constantly hear my dad say, “You can’t lead where you won’t go!” It takes true selfish care for one’s self in order to show that same great intimate level of appreciation and care for others. I MUST do this because my life and the lives of the people I care about most hang in the balance. My father and sister are slowly but surely approaching higher bodyfat levels and I hope that through my success and new, healthier lifestyle, I can offer myself as a personal model/example to them that it is possible to be in great shape no matter what!Here’s to us all being Stronger Men in 2010 :D…okay and women too :P

Hi Tom,Thanks for the invitation to your competition. I had set fitness goals for this year that I am close to, however I am struggling to see them out. Work, injuries and illness have really started to wear me down. This contest has come at the right time for me, one final push to get me to the finish line.I’m not interested in winning the competition or the prizes, to me this challenge is to for me to win MY competition and reach the fitness goals I set at the start of the year.Thanks Tom, you have re-lit the fire, I will finish the year STRONG!JC

The Must, the driving factor has become my focus. With all of what’s going on in my life, 3 businesses, 5 children (one autistic, 2 older home schooled), Cub Scout leader, and peewee football coach- I have to lose weight, gain strength, endurance, and optimal rest and relaxation. I’m 53 now, and when I see myself with 17 and 18 year olds when I’m 61, I know that my must is to live to 100 like my grandmother did. I have to see the improvements in my children’s lives and the achievements of my musically savant autistic son who so loves his piano and keyboard and his worship music. I want to see my next oldest play college football and have his own business, and my oldest daughter’s kids become as successful as she is and my next daughter play college golf and open her restaurant. and see my oldest son run his marathon in NY. All of this I know is possible if I do what I know to do. Listen to my MD wife and exercise everyday, lift 3 days a week, walk every day, eat well and organic if possible, supplement to weaknesses, juice and fast like I did when I first got saved. And teach again how to kick addictions ( I was an alcoholic and drug addict for over 15 years). Yes indeed I MUST get well. Shedding 100 pounds in the next 24 months is my goal, the first 20 by February. Thanks for the challenge and win or lose, God bless the work you do.

Emotionally I hit one of the lowest points of my life this year. It was either give in, be weak and let everything beat me, or buck up and push through to make a new life for myself. I seriously questioned if I still had it in me to start over….again. Baby steps, and a great deal of determination started me back on a positive track. I started to work with a personal trainer with kettlebells after never having done anything other than walk and bike for exercise. Little by little I started to recognize myself in the mirror again and feel a little zip coming back. I wasn’t overly heavy but have lost at least 15 pounds, have just completed an 11 day cleansing program and seriously feel better than I can EVER remember.But…beyond all that I have a daughter that just suffered a major emotional blow herself which will have some lasting implications on future plans she had in place. I can honestly say that my life this year is being a great example to showing her that she can do anything. She has watched me piece it all back together and knows that she can as well.I AM going to continue to heal and find new and exciting ways to get healthier and stronger.I feel that new year’s resolutions are bogus, and am thrilled that I don’t need to play that game. I am way ahead of that curve.Bring it on!

may 2007 i sat in a wheel chair for a couple of weeks waiting for knee replacement surgery.i was 44.5 yr old mom of three step mom of two grandma of 8 and i was LIVING TO DIE!!! my worse nightmare coming true! 5’1 297 pounds on numerous meds high blood pressure type 2 diabetes depression you name that was me.fast forward to NOW! no high bp no type 2 diabetes no depression, NO MEDS!! why becouse i am now living to live!!tues i weighed in at 185 pounds i cycle 30- 50 km a day back and forth to work. work out 5 days a week at the gym & eat healthyi had the two knee replacements and all i heard was “you cant do this you cant do that, all from the dr’s and other proffessionals. well guess what I CAN TOO!! AND I DID!!i accomplished several goals this yr including a century ride for habitat and i ran for the first time in my life a couple of 5 km’s i rollarbladed with my grands for the first time this yr (actually many times this yr lol. i still have a “weigh” to go, lol and i will get there. my 5 yr old grandson will told me i was his hero , me? somebody’s hero and all becouse i decided to stop living to die and get what he calls ” exercised! loli am finishing 2009 strong and will go into 2010 a helluva lot stronger than i am now, becouse i can!!

I had lost my weight 6 years ago, developed cancer and was on cancer treatment for 5 years after going through Chemo, Radiation therapy and medication for 5 years. During this time I gained back lots of fat (as expected to by the doctors), but I was able to keep my weight off better than they thought. I finished my medication April 22, 09. Thus I have spend the last 6 months working very hard and dilegently to get it back off again. I have done well, but I need to be accountable and I must have this in order to keep fulfilling my GOAL!! I have NO intentions of slacking off over Christmas but recognize the importance of community and support in these difficult endevours. Therefore I feel I have worked hard enough to earn a spot. I am very focused right now.Debi

Good questions Tom. For me finishing the year strong is very important. I want to have a good head of steam heading into 2010! I want 2010 to be the year where the rest of the weight fades away. I want 2010 to be the year where I run some 5 and 10K races. I must do it for myself and my family. There is no time like the present. I want my family and friends to see the work I have done and hopefully be inspired to do it themselves. Bring on the Holiday Season!

Since Jan 2008 I quit smoking and decided to be on a path to be healthy and be in better shape. I have always been skinny from smoking my whole life and since I quit I am putting more and more weight on no matter how much I work out and eat well it still goes on!! I quit smoking when I was 18 and the same thing happened after a year I gave up and started smoking again and now I’m 31 and I am DETERMINED to have an even better body then I did and feel incredible as well! I came to this e-book in August on line when I was reading up on another get slim quick fix again that my mom was doing. I bought the book and have been applying the information chapter by chapter. I even print out ten pages and go to the gym and read it on the elliptical.I have been getting results but sometimes I go backwards and it has been frustrating but for the first time every week I know why now! I just finished the chapter on the alcohol and I figured out that might be one of my biggest problems. So my next step is to completely detox and then only drink in moderation because losing this weight is so important to me and going back to smoking is not going to happen this time!! I have 30lbs to lose and 20% body fat to lose total to be at my goal. I know I can do this and even if I can be 1/3 their by Jan 2010 I will be very happy with myself!!

I must finish 2009 strong because I can no longer live in contradiction of my core values.Age 30 and 30 pounds overweight, I have struggled with binge eating disorder for the past 13 years, and even underwent inpatient treatment in my early 20s. I have abused and tortured myself by starving and overtraining, then overfeeding on nutrient-poor food and becoming stay-in-bed-for-days sedentary. What was initially a salve for emotional pain became a deeply entrenched habit, and I began to believe that I would never be in control around food.Through all of this I received a degree in kinesiology, became a massage therapist, and recently completed physical therapy school. I am fascinated by the human body and have dedicated my life to helping others alleviate pain and regain function. As a brand-new physical therapist, I am shown every day that our capacity for change and improvement is infinite, if only we do what it takes to make it so.In the face of this proof, I found myself growing increasingly agitated and annoyed with myself. Here I was, steadfast in my belief that my patients could get better, yet choosing to believe that I would forever be a slave to my food fears. I started to feel like a fraud, and I abhor dishonesty. I finally admitted to myself that I’d yet to put in the work necessary to overcome my eating disorder. So, I reread Stephen Covey’s ‘7 Habits,’ realizing that I needed more than just a diet plan for permanent change. Despite my educational background, my nutritional knowledge was nil, so I researched online for information.I came across Tom’s blog and quickly checked out ‘The Body Fat Solution’ from my library. This book has done more for me in the past month than five-plus years of psychotherapy. This is partly because I am finally willing to do the work, but also because Tom addresses the lifetime of food beliefs that get accumulated and then explains how to dismantle them. For the first time, I feel that I have the information I need to surmount my food issues, and I’m finding that the techniques are also effective in other areas of my life. It’s as if I have at long last found a light bright enough to shine in my closet of skeletons. Now that I’m finally able to see inside it, I’m finding that, though it will require a lot of elbow grease, the mess isn’t half as bad as I feared.I’m one month into my new life plan, and have burned 4 pounds. I have discovered the joys of meal planning and cooking, two activities previously foreign to me. I’ve learned that my body loves being fed nourishing, well-balanced meals and that I can feel sated, even in a caloric deficit. My workouts have improved. I feel that I am a more effective therapist. Most importantly, my integrity is intact, because I’m doing the work it takes to reach my goals.

I HAVE THREE REASONS WHY I MUST STRONG FINSIH THE YEAR AND BE READY FOR THE YEAR 2010 AND THE REASONS AREREASON NO (A)GOAL SETTINGS: BEFORE I STARTED THIS PROGRAM I SET A GOALS TO BE ACHEVIED, I DID NOT START THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE OTHERS ARE DOING IT NO, BUT HAVE A GOAL AND THOSE GOALS ARE:(1) TO BE HEALTHY: WHEN I MEAN TO BE HEALTHY I DONT JUST MEAN TO BE ORDINARY HEALTHY BUT TO BE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTHY.(2) TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE: I ALWAYS KNOW THAT LOOKING GOOD IS NICE, SO I LIKE TO LOOK GOOD AND SWEAT BEFORE THE PEOPLE AND ALSO TO SHOW CASE MY SELF TO OTHERS(3) TO BE PHYSICAL FIT: I ALWAYS KNOW THAT PHSYICAL FITNESS IS GOOD TO HUMAN LIFE AND ALWAYS LIKE TO BE PHYSICAL FIT.(4) TO BE HAPPY: DUE TO THE GOALS I SET I ALSO KNOW THAT WHENEVER AM MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTHY THAT I WILL BE HAPPY WITH MY SELF.REASON NO (B)DETREMINATION: DUE TO MY DETERMNIATION TO ACHIEVE MY GOALS I MUST STRONG FINISH THE YEAR 2009 AND BE READY FOR 2010.I SET THIS GOAL IS NOT JUST FOR A SHORT TERM BUT FOR A LONG TERM AS LONG AS MAN IS STILL ALIVE, IT IS A GOAL SETTING BY MYSELF NOT BY OTHER PEOPLE OR BY FORCE.REASON NO (C)MOTIVATION: I ALWAYS MOTIVATE MY SELF BY TELLING MY SELF IF YOU CONTNUE WITH THIS PROGRAMM YOU MUST HAVE A REWARD EITHER FROM ME OR FROM PEOPLE AROUND ME BY ADMIRING MY LOOKING.FINIALLY, I MUST FINISH THIS YEAR 2009 AND AM ALSO READY FOR THE YEARS AHEAD BECAUSE I STRONGKY BELIEVE THAT A GOAL SETIING IS A GOAL ACHIEVED THROUGH DETERMNIATION AND MOTIVATION THANKS. GLORIA OKOLO

I must finish strong in 2009 and start 2010 even stronger because I will finish strong. It is a promise I am making to myself right now. There is no one more important to make that promise to than myself. I am worth it and I am worth being the strongest person physically and mentally that I am able. I promise this to myself alone; no one else counts.

For me, finishing strong in 2009 and starting 2010 on the right foot is a must for many reasons. In my last few years in the Navy, I let my weight creep upward because of my job. Now, I’m in law school, and let that become another excuse to not be healthy. Now, it’s time to get my weight and health back where it needs to be.After law school, I will be going back into the Navy as a JAG–as long as I pass my physical and physical fitness test. As of now, it will be close. For something as important as future employment to support my wife, that is not good enough.And I will not only be supporting myself. I will be supporting a new baby, due in June. I don’t want to start fatherhood out of shape. I need to be in the best shape of my life to have the energy to do my part taking care of the baby. And the fact that there will be a baby to support makes getting back into the Navy even more important.I also want to make sure I’m around to be a dad as long as I can. I have acid reflux, which only gets worse as my weight goes up. I’m sure that losing enough weight will make the problem not as bad, or possibly even go away. In addition, my blood pressure is higher than it should. I can’t be there to support my family if I drop dead.So there are many reasons to do this. It’s no longer that I should…It’s that I must. I’m looking forward to it.

Why I MUST and WILL tackle this challenge as a daily journey towards achieving a “hard-out” workout, feeling successful; “YES I DID IT”, “I LOVE IT”, gaining that unstoppable, powerful feeling of knowing again the automatic motivation that comes with consistent, persistant determination and a drive to WIN that cherished prize – A person I once again and forever can be proud of.Thanks for the challenge, Tom.-Debbie (from Kiwi-land)

Over the past couple of years, I have had successes in my life. Winning my first job as a professional software developer (with no college, mind you) three years ago. Quitting smoking for good two years ago last month, and so on. And I’ve told myself those were complete acts of chance. Reflecting back on those successes though, I realize I was dead wrong. Luck had nothing to do with them. I did those because at the time it was a MUST.In 2006 I was working retail and hated my job (especially when my boss was one of those ~Love the Retail Empire~ types and gave me hell almost to the capacity of children dying in Africa of starvation, all because an endcap I filled wasn’t fully stocked and priced. Believe it). While I was a decent programming amateur, I had zero experience. When an opportunity to join a company as a junior developer arose, I was dreading that first interview. I had nothing but a blank resume and a 2% chance at getting that job. But I screamed at myself that I MUST do this, for better for worst, “all in balls out” if you will. I cannot stomach this dreadful life in retail. And apparently that MUST converted to a killer interview where I pushed and pushed on my skills developed as a self-taught programmer, and somehow got the CIO to look past my empty resume. And the rest is history.Fast forward to 2007, smoking for 8 years had begun to take it’s toll on me, I was sick all the time, I had no energy, and I knew it was smoking that was doing it and had known the whole time that I SHOULD quit, and had tried to quit with patches and gums ,but I always rebounded, because I felt miserable without cigarettes. But in October of 2007, the cost, the smell, and the sickness just became too much until I screamed inside my head that I can’t stand this and I don’t want to die and I MUST DO THIS!!! And so I did. I threw my last pack away, I drank gallons of water, I continued my research on smoking and addiction(learning the science of addiction really helps). And I was miserable for weeks on end. Sometimes I was even in tears, because I felt like I lost my best friend. But I constantly reminded myself of my resolve, and how I MUST do this, and I started doing other activities to take my mind off of smoking and slowly day by day learned how to live life again without a cigarette.So now here’s 2009. I just started a diet and exercise program last month. I’ve cut out all fast food. Eat a balanced diet of protein shakes and lean protein and an abundance of vegetables. And exercising 6 days a week with Swimming, Elliptical, Running, Weight Lifting (and even Wii Fit, the yoga is the sh**) So far in two months I’ve gone from 255 lbs to 226, and it’s been a struggle. Limiting my intake, forcing myself to go the gym at lunch instead of eating out with co-workers, and braving through holiday parties w/o binging or even drinking. It’s incredibly difficult. I’ve dealt with headaches and all around feeling like crap because I’m not stuffing 3,500 calories down my throat anymore. But I continue to research healthy cooking (I also watch “Supersize Me” on my phone at least every other day. Here’s that learning the science of addiction again. It keeps the dangers of fast food fresh in my head, which comes in handy as I drive past the millions of McDonald’s on the road). And I keep telling myself that I MUST do this. I’ve been telling myself I SHOULD lose the weight the desk job/quitting smoking/inactive lifestyle has brought, and three years of SHOULD has yielded nothing. But now that I know that I MUST, it’s becoming a reality. And watching the scale drop bit by bit, and watching the belt loop get shorter and shorter, and fat practically melt off of me only shows proof positive that MUST was the answer.Oh and to top it off, if the rate of fat loss continues, I’ll be close to my target weight by the end of January. Most people will have just gotten started by then. MUST definitely brings upon progress :).

i will end 2009 stronger because i deserve to be as healthy and fit as possible. it is a choice i have made to be the best i can and to live my life to the fullest with everyday being better and better. the next year will bring even more to my life from my choice everyday to stay fit, stay on task and focused to what is important for my mental and physical self.

After some research I found out that more than 75% of people who set New Year’s resolutions will break them within 3 months and almost one-third will break them by the end of January? Whether your goal is to stop smoking, lose weight, get in shape, break bad habits, pay off debt, or find true love; most people end up being another statistic.Register today for the FREE New Years Resolution Extreme Makeover Telesummit at: http://www.mynewyearsresolutionsextrememakeover.com/

2009 was an extremely successful year for me from a physical standpoint. After reading “Burn the fat” as well as every other article Tom wrote that I could get my hands on, I wound up burning more fat than I had ever done before.It started off as a challenge to myself to feel comfortable in a swim suit come beach season, but Tom’s enthusiasm for bodybuilding was really infectious and grabbed me as well.I’ve done summer diets before, but I had always stopped after a couple months, my muscles never looked as defined as they did this time, and most importantly, I finally felt in complete control of what I looked like and I was really enjoying everything about it. I didn’t have to eat food I hated, in fact my whole attitude towards food changed. Better still, after being diagnosed with depression I found that liking my appearance made daily life a lot more enjoyable.So why do I need to finish the year strong? While on one of my jogs, I was suddenly struck with a profound thought: I realized that there are certain things I would like to give my two children, but many of them are out of my control. However the way I look and how healthy and happy I am is something that I can control with work and consistency. Setting that kind of example for my kids, while giving myself the confidence that comes with being fit and strong is why I have continued to work hard for the last eight months, and why I need to finish the year strong.

I am training for the Olympics! I am aiming big. I have only been fencing for 8 months and it is my dream to get into the South African fencing team for London 2012. I must achieve this because I am a little older than the other people and have not been fencing nearly as long as they have! I have found my passion and I must pursue it, because I am able to. I do not consider myself naturally gifted when it comes to sport, but my Professor once told us that if you work hard enough, you can make anything beautiful! So I work towards my goal every day and why should I allow myself to backslide during the holiday with the illusion that I will have more fun, because I probably won’t. Alcohol and excessive eating are no longer important to me. They only lead to regret anyway. Nothing can replace the natural high I get from really exerting myself in the gym or on the fencing piste and actually seeing progress. The only way to achieve my goal is contiuous improvement, to be stronger than I was yesterday! No procrastination = No regrets…~Jane Stamp~

This is the second phase of reclaiming my life from the unhealthy ways I’ve been living for many years. I’ve been following a healthy lifestyle from the beginning of this year till now. Why should I undo all the progress I’ve gained because of holidays? I’m doing this first for ME and my family then everyone else involved in my life (friends, co-workers etc). I want them to know and see that you can enjoy holidays without deviating from healthy lifestyle.

I want to fall in love with myself

I am 5’10” tall. At 180.5, I have a BMI of 25.9…I should weigh 174.2 or less according to BMI. I am 6.3 lbs above the healthy range.That said, I know my body. I know that I have more muscle than most women. I know that I have a larger frame than most women. I can carry a weight in the higher end of any height-weight scale, and look good and feel good. (It helps that I carry extra weight in all the right places, too.) I feel my best somewhere between 165 and 175.I have been 205 before, and had no energy for anything. I didn’t like the way I looked, and I didn’t like the way I felt.I have been 145 before, and not only lacked energy, but often felt dizzy and lightheaded because I was starving myself to maintain a number on a scale.20 years ago, when I was in college, I weighed 170. I felt good, and I was ok with my looks, but somehow I got it in my head that I should weigh in the low 130s, and made myself sick in the process. I wasn’t able to get below 145, but I had secondary amenorrhea and began passing out in my classes. So I rejected the extreme starvation plan, and started to eat a healthier diet. My cycle returned to normal almost immediately, and my weight returned to the 170 level within a few years. For most of the rest of my 20s, I hovered in the high 160s to the low 170s with very little effort. Then I got married, and 10 years of not paying attention over the holidays, and making the steaks and potatoes that my husband liked, rather than the chicken and vegetable stir-frys I used to live on allowed my weight to creep up. Then one year, on January 1, I found myself over the 200 mark. The holidays had put me way over the limit I had for myself, even during the holidays. It was time to make a major change. I started eating conscientiously and working out again that January first, and got back to the low 170s in about 6 months. And stayed there, until the holidays came around again.For the last 5 or 6 years, I have been riding the holiday roller coaster. Blow off going outside for a run once the weather gets cold, blow off going to the gym once the clocks change and it is dark outside before and after work, blow off salads once they just don’t seem as appetizing come winter, etc, etc, etc. Eventually, all my good habits go to the wayside, and I end up in a downward spiral of a piece of this and a piece of that…whatever shows up at the office or is served at holiday parties. And every January 1, I would find myself back to that 180 mark…the new maximum limit that I set after promising myself I would NEVER let myself hit the 200 mark again.I turned 40 early this year. On January 1, I was again looking at 180 on the scale. But this year, I didn’t just drop 10 pounds in a month like I had in years past. My motivation and resolve would last a week…then go by the wayside for 2 or 3, then start again…but it would never stick. I couldn’t stay focused. I couldn’t stay motivated. Was it because of the stress of work and the economy? Maybe. Was it because of turning 40 that made it so much harder? I don’t know.I wasn’t able to drop down to the 170 mark this past year until I was hospitalized for 2 weeks in June. I was in ICU the first week, attached to an IV for food. It was 10 days before I could eat real food, and even after I was cleared, it was difficult to eat. On the one hand, I was happy to see 170 on the scale again, but I was not happy to see that it came from a complete loss of all muscle tone after 2 weeks immobilized.Once again, I told myself to ignore the numbers on the scale, and focus on my health, and on my strength. I couldn’t eat very much at first, so I focused on quality. I made workouts out of every day tasks…getting up and taking a shower was a workout. Cooking for myself was a workout. Pulling my own oxygen tanks behind me whenever I left the house was a workout. As soon as I was off the oxygen and felt strong enough, I went to the gym and got back to working out. After several months, the weight crept back.So, now I am facing yet another holiday season. Only this time, I do not have the confidence that I can easily drop the 5 or 10 pounds that I have been habitually putting on. And at 180 already, I cannot afford to gain it!I NEED to do this now! But I know I can’t do it alone, not when I am surrounded by the same bad influences I am surrounded by every year. I need the help of this competition…the energy that comes from others that share my goal, the motivation that comes from the potential rewards of recognition and/or prizes, even though the real prize is my own pride and self esteem, and mostly, the boost in self confidence that can come from achieving a goal I set for myself, even if it means I must overcome the nagging souvenir pains from my June hospitalization as well as overcome the mental attitude that my age is now a limiting factor.I want to feel 10 years younger. I want to look ten years younger, too. And in 10 years, I am going to want to look and feel 20 years younger!So why MUST I do it now?Because today, right now, I am ready to blow off all the excuses I have made in the last year, rather than blow off the things I should be doing. I just had corrective surgery TODAY, and the stitches will be removed next Wed, but that won’t stop me from getting started!Because I need to focus on my diet and exercise so I do not get depressed during the holidays. Proper diet and exercise is the best mood altering solution around!Because I know that this year, the 180 I see on the scale is representative of more body fat than muscle than it ever has been. I want my old body BACK! After a solid month of feeling the weakest I ever have in my life this summer, and taking time to let my body heal, I am ready to get back to feeling strong again!Because it doesn’t matter how much muscle I have if I can’t see it under a layer of pudge! I don’t care what the scale ends up saying…my measurement of success will come from the mirror, the tape measure, and the skin folds!I must do it now because passing up an opportunity such as this is simply not an option!

I’m born on New Year’s day. 1st January 2010, I’ll turn 28.I put on weight stealthily as I turned 18, because I didn’t do well for my exams and had to repeat a school year. I was seriously depressed and in order to cope, I started emotional eating. The weight just crept up.When you’re 18, your metabolism drops and you’ll put on an average of 10lbs. I did exactly that. At my heaviest, I was 137lbs, 16lbs from my high school weight. Although it’s still in the normal range for my height of 5′ 1″, I was always considered as “big”. I had a double chin and a tiny paunch, and nobody considered me attractive because I was never confident about my appearance.I’ve always wanted to get back to my high school weight… but thought it an impossible. Last year, I dieted and managed to lose 7lbs, but 121lbs seems like a dream! Long story short, Tom, following your blog has given me a lot of motivation to carry on. To finish what I’ve started. I’m at 126lbs, only 5lbs away.I know many people lost more weight in a shorter span of time, but for me this was important because I was always consider slightly “rotund” or “rolly polly”. I wasn’t fat enough to have a drastic weight loss regime, so I got complacent. I was never truly happy with myself, yet not upset enough to take action either! That’s also why most people keep putting on weight, isn’t it? We keep the little lbs of weight gain year after year, and 10 years later we realize that we’re so much bigger than before!For me, I’ll take on this challenge – to be my high school weight again. Very often, it’s this tiny bit of perfection that’s the hardest to achieve, and many people will give up on it… They never achieve what they want. Instead, they stay in the “I’m okay” range, never truly happy with themselves.No more excuses this year! To demolish my inner demons and become the svelte person in my mind’s eye! :)Thank you Tom. You’ve done wonders for me.

1. Superficial reason – Turning 40 in the first week of Jan 2010 and want to be the fittest guy at my party! Also known as making them jealous.2. Meaningful reason – Not be a spectator to my toddlers. To be involved with what they do and share the experiences.

Finishing 2009 strong is a must in order to start 2010 strong. To quote Yoda, “There is no try only do.” Five years ago I was 225 fat and am now 192 lean and have no intentions at regressing to what I was. Therefore finishing 09 strong is not an option, it’s the only choice.

Dear Tom,For the last few years I have been battling a thyroid condition which has made it very difficult for me to have control over my weight, as I gained or lost depending on the direction my thyroid swung. Despite this I refused to let the fact I often saw no results from my exercise prevent me from my goal of staying as fit and as healthy as I possibly could.At the end of 2008 my thyroid swung high and has been there since. At first I managed to continue with exercising but at the beginning of 2009 I was ordered by my doctor to stop as my resting heart rate had increased to 140 with regular palpitations and they were worried I would develop a potentially fatal arrythmia. This month I had radioactive iodine therapy to treat this and I am now waiting for the sudden fall in thyroid function to go on replacement therapy.Now that my heart rate has started to come back to normal I am determined that next year I will get my health and fitness routine back on track. For the last year, although I have lost weight, I have also noticed shocking declines in my fitness, strength, stamina and flexibility. I have started to have a recurrence of insomnia, something I haven’t suffered from in years, and am constantly fatigued.I realise that this time it’s going to be a much longer road back to fitness than ever before. I’m starting slowly, with yoga and walking, but am horrified at the level of decline in the past year. I really feel like I’m starting from the beginning again. I hoping that getting back into the routine of daily exercise and starting to build up a basic level of fitness before the end of the year will allow me to start 2010 at a position of strength. I can’t afford to wait for 2010 to commit to a regular exercise routine, I MUST start now.I am determined that I will get back to a regular exercise routine and I will get in shape. I shall be damned if I let my thyroid defeat me!Debbie

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of momentum in these things. When you get the year off to a good start – training when you ought to, eating like you should – the next week’s effort flows naturally from the groundwork laid down the previous week. By the time you’ve strung together half a dozen good weeks you actually get quite ‘excited’ about the progress you’re making. The momentum you create becomes a driving force carrying you from one week to the next. Letting yourself down becomes less and less of an option.In contrast we can all attest to the effects of getting off to a bad start. Trying to make progress when there’s nothing to build on, when the momentum is all negative, is so difficult. When it takes over a month to go from your first workout of the year to your tenth you never get to start a workout with the feeling that you’re making progress and getting somewhere. On the contrary, you’re forever starting over from scratch and lagging behind, always off the pace.Inertia is the tendency of a body to keep going in the direction in which it’s going. By extension, negative inertia is a useful way of describing the tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest. This may be a rule of physics but it perfectly describes how we all behave emotionally. We all know how hard it is to start training again when we’ve missed a week or two, and how natural it feels to train when you’ve been training regularly for a while. Finish 2009 strongly and you’ll start 2010 well. Do that and you’re already well on the way to having a good year.

finishing 2009 strong n lean is a must 4 me because:2010 will mark d beginning of a new phase of my life n i want 2 start it lean n strong. i come 4rm a culture where being fat is majorly blamed on genetics,of all my sisters,am d fattest n accpted dat dats aw it will be,i want 2 put an end 2 dat.in my own way(through my physical testimony) i want 2 challenge dat way of thinking. its been holding a lot of people especially women in captive for too long. i want 2 prove 2 myself first then others dat the status quo shold be challenged,dat i am in charge n will continue to be in charge of how i look. plus doing this will mean starting 2010 on the right foot as the confidence that will emanate from the success of this decision will affect other areas of my life”since i was able 2 do this,i can pretty much do anything i want”. i dont av a major competition or anything of the sort coming up,but something even bigger:the challenge 2 see myself having the body of my dream,the one that av only seen in my dreams. in 2010 i want to stay fit,lean and strong and not start getting fit then.pls dont mind my use of shorthand so 2 speak. 10nks 4 all u’ve done already(all av ad 2 go by are the things u write). am very greatful.

It’s a must for me because I need to feel that I have achieved something this year. Being physically stronger will also make me feel psychologically stronger and in a positive frame of mind that I am able to achieve things and in turn set myself some life goals for 2010.

Why?Question we ask ourselves every day, over all kinds of issues. I worked – mostly – through the RTP training – but I found I lost it after about 56 days – and basically stopped doing anything. I’ve kept it under 160 for a while now (since July) but I can feel it creeping. (I’m 5’6″) I love the way I feel/look/act/everything when I am fit and I have been fit in the past – but I haven’t had a PUSH to get back at it and this it IT! I like the competetion – and the support – although I am competing against my own bad habits. I need to do this and it will help my husband – who also fell off the workout wagon – set an example. I want to LOOK GREAT AT 48! (which is next year) Even better, I want people to tell me I DON’T look 48 – Count me in!

After losing 50 lbs a few years ago, I felt so much better. Even though I was no where near a healthy weight, I felt better. I’ve maintained a workout regimen, but the food temptations got to me too often to keep the calories in less than the calories out. Six days ago, my weight on the scale showed a measurement that I haven’t seen since on the way down from losing the original 50. Deep sadness washed over me. I stood staring and realized that “good enough” wasn’t good enough any longer.I immediately turned to the “tried and true” that BFFM has been for me, and am grateful to say that the rock bottom I faced last week was the impetus for being in the position I’m at now. My plans have been formulating all week, each day some additional progress made toward my goals. I can’t wait for the new year. Now is my time.

Even though we know that time is continuous, the end of the year feels like the season to tally up our successes and failures for the previous twelve months. The year ahead always seems like a new beginning, yet when it arrives, no magic has arrived with it. It’s still one day at a time on the journey down fitness road. If I succeed, that’s the key – eating right and excercising each day. At the end of every successful day, a mini-goal is acheived.Finishing the year well and starting the next is so important because it’s our nature to look back at what we may or may not have accomplished and to believe we can do better in the future. Everything works against our fitness goals during the holidays. More opportunities to overeat the wrong kind of food. More demands on our time, leading to more seemingly valid excuses not to work out. More stress having a physical impact on our efforts to forge ahead. To finish the year well and start the next on course represents a major psychological victory, given the forces working against us.Why is it important for me? For the same reasons it’s important to you. The details and circumstances of our lives may be different, but the bottom line is always the same: we want to live life to the fullest, feeling and looking the best we can for ourselves and our loved ones.

At 30 I quit smoking, no excuses just a bit of weight gain and I accepted that. I was just so happy to have quit such a bad habit that 10 pounds of body fat was no worries. Now I have spent 4 years beating my head against the wall trying to rid my body of 10% fat… I finally found the BFFM about a month ago. I purchased and read the book all weekend. I have had a personal trainer for a year and a half and I decided, being that yes, I’m stronger but, I still can’t see the muscle, that I would stop everything I was doing and start this program. I am struggling but, I feel in control. I am determined to lose this 10 pounds of pure fat that has been holding onto my stomach like a leech. Next year I turn 40 & I will be at my best mind, spirit and body by the 1st of 2010… this is my End Year Resolution!With Christamas coming I know that everyone is going to ask me, “what are you doing, you look so good”, I can buy them the program and it will be the best gift they’ve ever received from me! I am truly thankful for all of the information in one book that makes sense and is do able! Cheers & Happy Holidays!!!

Because my goal sheet which I just read for the second time today says “It is January 3, 2011, my 50th birthday, and I’m in the best shape of my life.” I will end 2009 and start 2010 the way I will end 2010, with high motivation, intentional and balanced behaviors, and most of all high energy. And I will end 2010 the way I will live the rest of my life. No more will I be the heaviest person in my family and I refuse to be a skinny fat girl. No more whatever comes approach to living, but balance and planning will define my life.

About 2 years ago, my Dr put me on phentermine which I was on for a year. I quit it because I felt I was becoming addicted and wasn’t learning how to eat healthier or exercise regularly.I have now lost about 25 pounds on my own, but its constantly an uphill battle. 8 weeks ago I started walking every day, it was very hard at first to keep doing it daily, but now I want to walk instead of just “I should” walk. I’ve only lost 4 pounds, but I’ve lost 2.5% body fat in that time!!!! Plus, I feel so much better – healthier & stronger.I’m tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what I see, not going out with friends or to my kids’ activities because I’m self-consious. Not even making an effort to make friends anymore. I don’t like who I’ve become emotionally & mentally because of my weight. I can’t stand looking at myself in the mirror, or buying new clothes because they never fit right. My husband is so supportive and always tells me I am beautiful – I want to feel like I am!My sister is getting married next year, and at first didn’t want me as a bridesmaid because I was too ‘fat’. IT IS TIME for me to take control of myself & my weight. It’s way past time for me to really start living & really enjoying life as a healthier me!

The ONLY reason anyone… not only myself, should make “being fit” an ABSOLUTE MUST right here… and RIGHT NOW, is this:By waiting for the external “reason” (Jan 1st lets say) to start something that needs to already be a DAILY HABIT… I am not only adding ONE MORE LOUSY DAY… to an already existing “lousy life”… I am also actually building-up a powerful, negative, and even counterproductive set of habits that might be TOO POWERFUL to overcome, come “New Years Day”.Listen closely… because it just hit me when I opened your email Tom… In fact, forget about winning this contest for a second everybody. Here’s what you just made me realize:To believe that we can go about our lives for the next 42 days… living habitually, with a lethargic, lazy, and “Hey-screw-it-it’s-the-‘Holidays'” approach towards life… we are DOOMED, even fooling ourselves about making 2010 a STRONG YEAR, at all.IN FACT… to wait until Jan 1st, 2010, to start living aggressively about my health, what I’m actually doing is building up one more rock-solid day of “NOT DOING”, and actually RE-ENFORCING the current condition that I say I want to “change.” (and I am already not 100% happy with how I look naked, and how I feel inside.)To think then… that I can suddenly and miraculously “wake up” on 01/01/2010 and put on my proverbial “running shoes” and live my so-called “new life”?… Pshh…. it is not only INACCURATE in thinking… its downright childish, immature, and maybe even IRRESPONSIBLE to those who love me, and who count on me, and who actually need me to be healthy, happy, and wise… not only on 01/01/2010… BUT NOW…. and long after 2010!Tom, when the sun rises on Jan 1st, 2010…. I MUST ALREADY BE IN “RESOLUTION SHAPE”, or… it will probably never happen.That is why, today, after writing this to you, I will put on my “running shoes” and I will RUN… and I will run… NOW!This way, when the ball drops on New Years Eve, instead of dreading what would normally be a long and treacherous month of “new habits”, I will be looking around the room of people whom I celebrate with, and I will say inwardly, “I am already there”.Just the act of participating in this little contest made me realize: JAN 1ST 2010… IS ACTUALLY “NOW”

Tom,I already made the decision to transform my body before you even announced this contest. In addition to that I must say that my goal is not to burn fat (I just burned off 15+ lbs this past summer.)My new goal is to gain 30-50lbs of muscle in the next six months. To help clarify this goal I wrote a whole list of the things “I don’t want” so that I could use the contrast to become very clear about the things “I do want.”I just happened to be reading the list when I got your email, so now I will change them into “musts.”I must weigh 195lbs of pure muscleI must be strong, powerful, and fast.I must be calm, confident and in control of my lifeI must be a great inspirational, success storyI must motivate, inspire, and lead others to victoryI must live an exciting, adventurous lifeI must have women desiring my attractive physiqueI must talk the talk and walk the walkI must consider this the best decision of my lifeI must be beyond successful with this transformationI must be fully confident in myself and my abilitiesI must be a strong, muscular guyI must follow my passions in lifeI must be my own man and become an entreprenuerI must keep getting better with time and live a great lifeI must have faith and full belief that I can do thisI must heal my body and shoulder completelyI must perfect my posture and muscular imbalancesI must give my life to providing value to othersI must share all that I have learnedI must inspire my friends and all those who know meI must be friendly and outgoingI must think extremely highly of my selfI must live my best life nowI must be willing to pay the price of victoryAny time I doubt that I can do this, I will read this list and remember that I posted it on your blog. Anytime fear arises, I will take action anyway. I know I came here to do great things and live a great life. The time to live it is now, not tomorrow… for tomorrow will never come. This moment is all I have.Now, I MUST be getting back to work!Brandon Cook

Finishing 2009 strong will happen for me because I need to have a firm ground to start on in 2010. Having my thyroid out and then 6 months later to quit smoking, to say the least, I have gained some weight. I will finish this year right and start 2010 right because I am ready to have an awesome body, a healthy lifestyle and the ability to grow old and experiences things I have not had the chance to do yet. I have tried every diet, every pil and just happened to come across this site in the last week. I want to do this and have it work for me. I am a single mom and I want my daughter to see what a better person I can be, how much more active I can be with her and how determination and attitude can change so many things in one’s life. I will show her the endless possibilities available to healthy people and make many memories with her doing them! I want to do it now because it will only be that much harder in January, I am 32 and have waited long enough, and they say, “there is never a better time than the present”. The last year has been filled with self indulging, emotional eating, hormonal changes and habit breaking. Quitting smoking was step one, step two is to loose the weight, have a gorgeous toned body and become the image that I have thought of year after year. I want to make myself jealous when I look in the mirror!:)

Hi Tom,Thank you for this opportunity.Why is finishing 2009 STRONG an ABSOLUTE MUST for you?- I have battled my weight my whole life. This year I started living my life and decided to be proud of who I am and commit to making myself a better, healthier fit person, rather than working on being skinny.- What do you know, it has been working, I am losing weight (mostly fat) while getting healtier and stronger.- Changing my mindset has made all the difference in my life so finishing strong to me means continuing to work at living a healthy life.Why is starting 2010 on the right foot a TOTAL MUST for you?- I must continue my journey, I have goals to reach and 2010 is the year I will reach them.- I want optimal health this year so that I can start a family and raise them in a healthy environment, eating healthy foods and maintaining a active lifestyle.What are the REASONS WHY you want to be in better shape the first week in January 2010 than you are today?- I MUST be in better shape in Jan 2010 because that will mean that I have committed to this lifestyle and all the positive changes I have implemented.And, why MUST you do this NOW instead of being a procrastinator and waiting until January to make a New Year’s “resolution?”- I have never been good with resolutions. If it is a resolution it means that it is a fun to do … not important- If I do it now …. it is a commitment that I will maintain … through the year and all time rather than for a year.Thank you,Paula

Thank-you so much for offering up this challenge!! It is so empowering!!Me? I MUST finish healthier and more fit this year to inch me closer to my fitness goals, 30 lbs of fat loss, and a body that rocks!! I have a three year old who never quits, so he CAN’T have a mom whose body does. We camp lots, and this summer we WILL be going on an interior camping trip, which involves canoeing and portaging. I MUST be able to carry my pack, his pack, the canoe and him (maybe not all at once!!). I MUST succeed. I WILL not accept failure, I want it too badly. For me and him, for the rest of our lives.

BECAUSE I CAN, PERIOD.Because I am the master of my own fate and I make my future. Because I hate cheap excuses and because I like the challenge.Because I KNOW almost all others will FAIL, and that puts me into the ELITE FEW.

The reason I must change, is because I don’t want to settle for average anymore. I deserve better, and so does my family.

I need to get rid of fforty pounds,but realize it has to start with a first step.I have hopes of doing away with several medicines a try to help some friends after I have scusse to show them. Harold

MOTIVATION=A CALL TO ACTION=I MUST FOR MEEvery year we seem to say “Next year will be better”. As if the future is a magic wand that will undo the harms of the past. This year has been emotionally and physically draining for my family and I have been hit the hardest. Weight gain, emotional strain, multiple illnesses. We say that “Next year will be better”when what we are really asking for is anything that is better than today.Where is my motivation aimed? I can beg my family to make changes in their lives so that they will feel better. I can beg that they eat better for healthier lives. I can say that I need to eat better, etc. as an example to my granddaughter.I can beg and plead with the woman in the mirror to start something to better herself tomorrow. As I stare at that woman I see that the external body is a mere reflection. True vision comes from within.I MUST FOR ME look to the woman in the mirror and tell her that her future is NOW, not tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what anyone else does. True motivation comes from within. The external body will only become what I want it to be IF the internal person MOTIVATES.So as I type this e-mail I will close with: I MUST FOR ME.

Why must I start now and not in January?If I can’t start now what on earth makes me think I can start in January. I have put off making health changes in my life for the last decade and if I don’t start now, I will wake up one day and realize that the time has past, I will have procrastinated the day of healthy living until it is everlastingly too late, and my destruction will be made sure. I have sought all the days of my life for that which I could not obtain; to be strong, lean, and healthy by exercise alone. I have justified donuts, chips, soda, and second helpings, all under the false notion that I could work it off in the gym or by pounding pavement, which thing is contrary to the laws of nature.Why must I start now?Because NOW is the time to be strong.Because NOW is the time to be lean.Because NOW is the time to be healthy.NOW is the time to run and not be weary, NOW is the time to walk and not faint.NOW,Not January,NOW.

“Oh, I’ll work out tonight. Tomorrow. Ok, tomorrow morning. No, I’m just going to play on the computer for a minute. Ok, after dinner. Before school. Oh, I’ve got to do the dishes. The baby needs changing.”Always later, always tomorrow, always in a little bit.In one week, I’ve learned that there isn’t always a tomorrow, or a later. My brother in law is in the ICU after an accident.A friend took his own life.A family in my hometown lost their 10 week old infant to a deranged women.All in one week.This isn’t even for the contest really. Just realize, there isn’t always a tomorrow to do it.Do it now, or risk not doing it.good luck.

Why do I want to do this 2 reasons First to prove to myself that I need to take time for me that I am worth it. Second is to show women that a woman in her soon to be late forties can look this good. I absolutely can’t stand it when a woman says well it is harder or I can’t do that because I am 40 something or 50 something. We can do it.

Success for me means ALWAYS finishing what I START!I started this year strong and I intend to finish it strong!I still have goals to reach and there’s time to do it!I MUST do it and I WILL!

2009/2010/2011/2012…Jan/Feb/March/April…Mon/Tues/Wed/Thursday…I will be on this earth for a limited time, but it cannot be defined by a calendar, or a clock. Those are simply artificial measurements created by the human brain to help grasp the enormity of this statement.The only thing that I MUST do is live my life to the fullest at every opportunity.Today I will work my muscles to keep my body flexible, my joints fluid and my muscles strong. I will walk through my neighborhood to awaken my senses to sights, sounds and smells found only under the canopy of a tree, or in the shadow of a puffy cloud wafting by. I will laugh with my friends, and hug my son. I will feast on spinach, kale and garlic from my garden. I will read a few pages of a novel while savoring a piece of dark chocolate.And as I do each of these things I am mindful of the moment that I am experiencing. Not in a ZEN kind of way, but in a grap the world by the *ss kind of way.I try not to look back with regret on opportunities that seem to have passed me by, instead remembering that those too have added value to my life.I MUST make these and all choices now, today, because health, well being and happiness are twined around me like a cloak of life . Through away the calendar, unplug the clock and get down to it right NOW!

Tom,I have many reasons why I WANT to do this. But now that I’m 31, I realize that if I don’t change them to MUSTs, then nothing will change. The reasons I MUST do this is for my health, and the security for my fiancee.She suffers from hypothyroid, and PCOS, and due to her high insulin resistance from her mom, if she doesn’t lose the weight she will become insulin dependant in less than 3 years from now.I have a family history of heart disease, alcoholism, obesity, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes. Of those I only suffer from obesity thankfully. But that still isn’t good enough. Back in August of 2006 I weighed 285 lbs, and diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. We explored surgical options, even BiPAP machine. But I could not get use to falling asleep to sound of the machine turning on and off every few seconds driven by my irregular breathing, so I only tried it for a week, and then put it in the closet.Since then I have cut down in portions, and am now approximately 230 lbs and about 37% body fat. I still wake up to not breathing (sleep apnea) and still snore but my fiancee says it is a lot better.I MUST lose the fat and become stronger so that I can run around with the kids we plan to have, so I can run for more than 1/4 mile w/o getting winded. I MUST do this so that I don’t inherit the health problems my family history says I will be doomed to have if I don’t change.I want to be better for myself, my family, and my future wife. I want to live to be 90 and literally grow old with her. It is for these reasons and other more vain ones that I am doing this challenge.PS. We are getting married in May, and we both want to be smokin’ hot! like i said.. vain ;)-Tom W

I must accept the fact that age is not an excuse to be complacent. I must accept the fact that 10 extra pounds is 10 to many. I must accept the fact that carrying around any extra weight is contributing to hip pain. I must accept the fact that 5 extra pounds turns into 10 extra pounds and that 10 pounds will likely turn into 15. I must accept the fact that losing 10 pounds will lower my blood pressure and that I am responsible for my health. I must accept the fact that I can be healthier each day. I must accept the fact that I choose what I eat and how often I exercise. I am capable of being at my ideal weight, to have less joint pain, to sleep better at night,lower my blood pressure and to be able to strut my stuff on Jan 1 2010.

This is a great topic. I think you are spot on with you points and I think this is a great site. I will def recommend this to my friends. Thanks for your effort. I am also trying to help people with their fitness goals so I would greatly appreciate all the support you can give and I will be sure to do the same for you. My site is http://www.axworkout.com Thanks again and keep up the great job you are doing. People really need to know the truths about fitness.

I am 64 years old. Next year I turn 65 and will start seriously thinking about retirement. I have always struggled with my weight (I have six siblings and they are all overweight, three of them severely). Over the last few years I have gotten my act together to a certain extent and lost 20 pounds, plus getting in better shape. But I still have 15-20 pounds to go. I feel like it is now or never. I do not want to end up as a fat old sad sack. I want to be able to enjoy my retirement, be active, and do fun and interesting new things. I have given up baking holiday cookies, but it is still all too easy to let go during the holidays and lose a lot of the year’s progress. This time I am going to start the new year feeling good about myself and ready to lose the last bit of weight, be in the best shape of my life, and ready for new challenges.

1.Because time won’t wait for me!I want to fulfil some minimum objectives before I sink into oblivion.2.Because I find it ridiculous to wait for something that might never come!3. Because the best time is now,the best place is here and I enjoy the best online company and ethical support!4. Because I am mentally prepared in the best possible way to achieve this!5. Because I see so many unprivileged people struggling even to survive that I find it extremely easy to achieve these modest fitness goals.6. Because as time passes and the margins get more and more narrow I know that I don’t have the luxury to be indecisive!7. Because everything is wishful thinking if we don’t assume conclusive action.Action distinguishes real men and women from the procrastinating masses!8. Because my body is the horse of my spirit!It carries my spirit patiently everywhere.I intend to use this horse for many many years and I need to have it ready for everything and in a perfect condition.Doesn’t it deserve my very best attention and care?You all have my love from Greece!

It is an ABSOLUTE MUST right now and not in Jan. because I and my entire family have been sick for the past three weeks and have had no physical activity. I WILL get back on the wagon and finish stronger than I started. I have had three children in three years. My oldest is 4, my youngest 1. I am a skinny “fat” person. I come from a family of unhealthy eaters that don’t work out. I am the first one that has regularly stuck to a fitness plan but I have not been able to transform the “fat” part of me into muscle due to repeated pregnancies and lack of the proper education which I MUST learn from BFFM. I WILL prove to my family that we can BEAT our genetics which seem to favor flab over muscle. I WILL show them that having children is not the end to a fabulous body. I WILL be healthy. My husband is taking me on our first vacation (since our honeymoon) and without our children, somewhere warm in Jan. or Feb. and I want so badly to be able to wear a bikini with confidence for myself and for him. He doesn’t have to work very hard for his body; his is naturally fit with little body fat. I struggle so much and I am in this alone in my family, but I MUST and WILL transform my body NOW and not in Jan. So many people give up right now and treat the time between Thanksgiving and New Years as a food/fitness vacation. It is not, it is simply two days out of several weeks and I WILL NOT give into it. I WILL conquer it. NOW is the time and I am COMMITTED.

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” I will be better this week. Why wait another 50 days or so. Now is the time!I read this quote by Vincent J. Lombardi

The reason I MUST take getting in shape during the Christmas season is to prove to a little girl that I am in charge and plan to be from now on. She has to be guided with love and patience, but she has been spoiled for far too long. It’s time for her to understand that the best love is through good health and good decisions both physically and mentally. Of course that little girl is the sabotaging part of my mind and I guarantee that this season she is going to grow up!

The most important reason why I must get into shape is my 6 year old son. I am almost 40, and I want to be around for him when he hits major mile stones in his life (graduating high school, getting a college education, getting married, starting a family of his own, etc). The second most important reason being, that I want to finally feel better about myself, and feel like I can actually accomplish something worthwhile in my life, and feel great about it. I want to be able to fit into my pre-baby clothes again. I have tried all sorts of different diets, but never had any success.

Why must I finish this year strong and start next year on the right foot???* Body fat percentage and waist measurement putting me at risk of diabetes and other nasty diseases? Tick!* Lacking in energy? Tick!* My eating habits, body perception and low self esteem are setting an extremely bad example for my teenage daughter? Tick!* My belly fat substitutes as a floatation safety device but I’m too ashamed to get into my bathers let alone the water? Tick!* I’m a chick who hates shopping for clothes, but can’t fit into anything in the wardrobe. What the? Tick!All the usual and very good reasons, however the reason I must do this is because ‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and again and expecting a different result.’And I’d rather be strutting about wearing a bikini in Jamaica than wearing a straight jacket in padded room!!!

Finishing STRONG in 2009 is an absolute must for me. I have so many holiday parties to go to, I know that if I do not stay strong, I will be extremely disappointed in myself. This is the one thing that I CAN control!I am going to run in the Chicago Marathon in 2010. In order to do this, I have to be in the best shape of my life….I am ready, willing and able to accept this challenge!I believe that I can always be better tomorrow than I am today. I want to be stronger in January than I am today because that means that I worked my ass off in December!Being strong now is a must….I will not let the holiday drinks and goodies get the best of me! Besides, I have to look amazing on New Years Eve!

I MUST finish 2009 strong. I MUST start 2010 off on the right foot. I ABSOLUTELY MUST be in better shape the first week of January 2010 than I am today (specifically I need to lose 22 lbs of FAT), and I POSITIVELY MUST do this NOW, not later, and definitely not as a supposed “New Year’s resolution”. Why MUST I do these things? I MUST do these things for two simple reasons: to restore confidence in myself, and to fulfill my duty to my country. Allow me to explain:I MUST do these things because I’ve been trying to do them for the past two years, and for the past two years I have failed. I am sick and tired of failing. In every aspect of my life, except this one, when I decided to do something it gets done. When I set goals, I reach them. I am not perfect, of course. There have been times when I have failed. But all those times I picked myself back up again and learned important and essential life lessons through my failure. And those failures only made me stronger and more determined. Not so with this. Food is my Achilles heel. I can’t seem to resist it. Every day I tell myself, this will be the day, today I’m going to get it right. And every day I fail. Not_any_more. I know I’ll still make mistakes, and I know I won’t get it perfect, but today is the day I stop lying and I stop failing. Today I begin my 50 day Holiday Challenge, and it will be the beginning of a new life for me. This holiday season will be a time of training myself to do it right, and to get it done. And it won’t end at 50 days. Oh no, I MUST start practicing the correct life habits RIGHT NOW.I MUST do these things because it is my duty to my country. I am in the Navy/Marine ROTC program at my college, and there are certain weight and physical fitness standards that I must meet. I have a duty to my NROTC Unit, to my commanding officer, and to my country. I must not only meet the standards, but I must maintain a body that is healthy and in top condition so I can carry out my duties with excellence and pride. This is not simply about weight and physical fitness, it is about responsibility and self-control. It is about developing myself, mind and body, into an officer worthy of serving in the United States Marine Corps, the finest fighting force in the world. It is about faithfully serving my country and my people, and sacrificing my own comfort and desires in order to protect this great nation. Something as small as over-eating can affect something as big as national security.That is why I ABSOLUTELY MUST and WILL take control of my life this holiday, build healthy eating habits, and become a stronger, faster, lighter, more toned, and better looking individual. Bring it on.

I MUST finish 2009 STRONG and start 2010 on the right foot because that’s the type of person I need to be. To be happy and give myself what I need in life I MUST push myself to be strong and healthy – when I don’t that’s not who I am and I won’t end up where I want to be.

Hi Guys,I am 45 and have just returned from Hong Kong where I played my first international game of hockey (field) for Australia.I achieved selection for this tournament at our national vets championships in Darwin July 2008, and was in great shape for that tournament.Since then I have allowed one thing or another to get in the way of my fitness levels.I tore my Quad muscle in the first 20 minutes of my debut match and then only managed to play small parts in the rest of the tournament.I am sure that this injury would not have occured if I were better prepared.Therefore if I am to regain selection in the national side I MUST be in peak condition for our next national championships in October 2010.Therefore I MUST start the foundation for that fitness Now.As I am still recovering from my injury, I MUST turn my attention to basic strength and aerobic excercises that do not involve running.So I MUST and WILL start (already have actually) Core and upper body work as well as swimming.I don’t care about the prizes, I did not even read them, this is all about the MUST.Here is to a better fitter faster 2010 of Hockey!!!

To PaulG, your last paragraph about the 2 types of people in this world is my new fave saying – so, so true! Tiffany FG (swimmer)

I am a member of Sandhurst Tug of War Club, one of the top Tugof War Clubs in the World. I have been trying to break into the ‘elite’ team of pullers – the guys that have won three World Championships and more domestic honours than I can count – for the past two years, but have never quite made the grade.Make no mistake. To compete at the highest level of Tug of War, you need to be a World-class athlete, as fit as any professional sportsman or Olympic athlete.At last year’s World Championships, I was able to show my pedigree while on-loan to another Club, narrowly missing out on a medal. Now is the time to prove it with my own Club.Our season starts in April, by which time I have set myself a target of weighing between 80 and 85kg (176 – 187lb), not easy given I am 6′ 4″. I think my body fat percentage will need to be less than 10% to achieve this.My plan is to hit the weights hard from now until the end of the year. really build up some muscle, while maintaining my endurance abilities, but not worry about weight. So long as enough of the right nutrition goes in, I’m not going to deny myself treats.In the New Year, I will probably weigh 95kg/210lb and 20-25% body fat (I usually do) and will have three months to skinny down at 1kg or 2lb per week. I will need good muscle mass to help burn the calories and discipline to enjoy fewer treats than I indulge in now.I will be a World Class athlete in 2010 and that is why I must finish 2009 strong.

Hey Tom,I have started 2009 telling myself and my roomate that this was our year, especially since 2008 was one of the most dreadful years I have had in my entire life.However, 2009 has not changed…..I am in a place in my life where every single door is being slammed in my face. My job doesn’t look to good for the future as the company i running up non stop debts to try and close deals that has left the compnay with having no money to pay for salaries. Come April of 2009 I was weighing come close to 300 pounds, which is far heavier than when I played football in highschool and some in college.I have decided to take my training seriously where I dropped to 254 pounds. I know I have lost weight already through hard work, however, I have a goal already for june 2010. a goal that I cannot afford to have two weeks off at all from training these next holiday period of 50 days. I would love to mention the goal but this is something close to me and only my wife and family are aware of this. However, if it happens you would be one to know as your newsletters are all helping.Julio Franciulli

Finishing this year strong is a must for me because the other day I woke up and realized that I have been on a 4 year diet. In the past I have over eaten with the excuse that its the holiday season and everybody over eats. The problem with that mentality is that everybody won’t gain 7-10 lbs because some folks are smart enough to maintain a healthy life style during the holidays by eating correctly and exercising routinely. I can honestly say that I am fed up with starting a new diet frenzy every January 2nd only to end up stressed for the rest of the year about my weight. I could never give up but why put myself in a position to have to worry about it? Finally it’s my time to do what’s right and I am going to use the knowledge I have gained in 2009 wisely by remembering all the work I did all year towards becoming a healthier me!Good Bye January 2, 2010 diet, I won’t need you this time.

Why must I take this challenge? Simple, because everything in me tells me that I can’t do it, so rather than prove to anybody else I first must beat myself! Let’s do this!

This year has been great:1) I finally presented my graduation test… though I finished all my courses 4 years ago…2) I achieved the maximum work goal I had… which was to be reached 2 years ago…3) I could at last finished easily a spinning class (I WAS asthmatic)… though I promised myself that I would do that 3 years ago…And a lot more, but this year has been “THE” year for me to put excuses aside, stop procrastination and silly cant’s… I have always known that I can do what I promise myself to, but this year I turned my thoughts around and said to myself: “oh, really, are you so confident that you really really can reach all your goals??? PROVE IT.” And I have!!! I have always admired the lean bodies, I am not that fat, I have never been fat but have never been lean either. I am too proud and love myself too much to let myself down… so I MUST REACH THIS GOAL. I know I will… but I am not just confindently trusting that I WILL. I AM working hard to be my best self, and again… I DO NOT LET MYSELF DOWN!!!Thanks a lot Tom, you have really changed my life.Thanks a lot to the community, reading possitive things is the best part of the team.

As Chet Holmes says: Keep doing what you always do and you will keep getting what you always got.If we want to look good, we have to work hard. It all starts with your mind set there is no better time to start then now.Start with you mind, then exercise, improve in the Kitchen and as Toms says expect results.

Why is finishing 2009 STRONG an ABSOLUTE MUST for you?Finishing 2009 is an ABSOLUTE MUST for me because it is so the opposite of what I have done in the past. I want my body and mind to be different from this moment forward. I have been overweight most of my life. I have reached my goal (weight wise) before, but in the past I have gained some back. I have been working off the same weight for a while now. My workout records show that when autumn comes around I stop weight training. I know this is the only way to transform my body and mind. This year I have made a pact with myself to KEEP GOING!!! So far this is the longest I have trained consecutively. I am feeling proud of this but I NEED to continue throughout the holidays. I need to prove to myself that I can do this.Why is starting 2010 on the right foot a TOTAL MUST for you?I must start 2010 on the right foot because I need to be in control of my life, my mind and my body. Each one of these areas affects the other, especially my body. When I stay focused on my health, shape and weight everything else just falls right into place. I am 47 years old (will be 48 on Christmas Eve) and want to enjoy the rest of my life in shape. When I get through this celebratory time of year continuing with my program, then I will know I can continue and reach my goals.What are the REASONS WHY you want to be in better shape the first week in January 2010 than you are today?I want to be in better shape come January 1st because I deserve it. I have worked hard my whole life to understand this process. It is finally clicking. Your book, The Body Fat Solution, has put me on a good path. I want to be in great shape. I want my body fat percentage to decrease. I want to be a role model for my children. I plan on living a long life and I need to be healthy.And, why MUST you do this NOW instead of being a procrastinator and waiting until January to make a New Year’s “resolution?”I MUST do this now because this is my new lifestyle. You don’t start over a new lifestyle, it is just something you live. I want success now. Why should I put it off? This is for me and my life. I do everything for all in my family. This is my time to take care of me so I can continue to take care of them!

I must start my journey today. I have to finish 2009 with a stronger leaner physique. Most people would laugh if they knew I used to be a competitive bodybuilder seven years ago. I was big and ripped. Those days are long behind me as I graduate college and entered the “real world”. Every year after college I have gotten fatter and fatter. I have wrecked my metabolism from yoyo dieting and am currently 230lbs with around 22% bodyfat. I cannot wait until January 2010 because I will be 5lbs heavier and a higher bodyfat. I will look at the holidays as my last chance to eat good food before my diet which really leads to gorging. I have been in this nasty cycle every year. This year will be different. After reading this article, I began to clean up my diet and even added cardio to my weight training regimen. I must be in the habit of fitness and allow myself a nice meal on thanks giving and Christmas without extending it into a weeklong binge. I can start the year leaner and stronger. I will start the year leaner and stronger. I will not binge and I will not put this off any longer. I am making a lifestyle commitment and I will return to my former physique.

I have just completed a personal 9 weeks eating and exercise challenge and honestly feel fantastic – I lost 3kg and 5cm from my hips and waist. A lot of research and hard work went into those goals. The same day I ‘finished’ this goal I had set for myself (not that I was going to stop!) I found out that a week later I will need to have major abdominal surgery (on 24/11/09). I was absolutely devestated, there were lots of tears and immediately I though all of my hard work will go to waist. BUT I’ve had time to think now and instead I am taking the attitude that I’m going in fit so I’m goign to come out the other side the same. I have put all of my measurements which I am really proud of up on my wall and I am determined that come January I will be back at those numbers, and more importantly I will feel amazing again. I know I will go backwards a long way first (after the surgery) and that I will have to work doubly hard to get there, but I know it’s do-able, I am giving myself no choice – I want it that bad and it will be so worth it.

WHY I MUST DO THIS NOW: I have been active in ultradistance cycling since 2001. Ultradistance cycling being events longer than 200 miles. The season roughly runs from March through September, with the ultimate length (750 mile) events occurring in July through September. The events are not really about finishing first, but finishing within the cut off time.The same body fat pattern has occurred from year to year. During January and February, I drop weight and body fat. From March through September, my weight and body fat remain essentially constant. Then during the last quarter of the year, it increases. Like most, the majority of the increase occurs during the holiday season. Once the New Year begins, the cycle starts over.Unfortunately, each year my average weight and body fat have crept up. My early season loss has been less than the end of season gain. Controlling my weight and body fat has become more challenging since developing a hypothyroid condition in 2005.Beyond carrying excess body fat, my overall placement has moved from the upper half of the pack to the back. I’m now at the point that unless I make changes, I will no longer make the cut off times.There is an early season qualifier held in San Francisco each January, which includes a good climb. Although I have made that climb many times over the years without problems, last year I had to stop 3 times and rest. My goal for this coming year is to not just to complete that climb without stopping, but also to complete the event under 10.5 hours. It is doable, if I start now. That is why I must start now!

It’s a must for me because I’ve wasted half my life as a slave to disordered eating and thinking. I turned forty this past spring and so many things are starting to come into focus. It was this time last year that I was going to do one of those other twelve-week challanges; but I set myself up for failure and allowed myself to quit. Again. NO MORE! I want this so badly I can see it, feel it, taste the victory. I must show my son the way to go; I must make it enticing for my husband to join. I must for me. Thank you for leading us.

I am 34 years old. I was a high school and collegiate athlete, but 10 years driving a desk have taken their toll. In high school, I varied between 212# (Basketball) and 230# (Shot-put) depending on the season. In college I hung around the #230 mark most of the time, except for the start of my sophomore year when I dropped down to 200# after a summer of working out during the week at summer school and working the Farm in Texas heat on the weekends, but I shot right back up as soon as Baseball season hit full swing. I did Baseball for a couple of years, then I went to Engineering school and did intramurals. After school, I tried to stay active, but things slipped away. I have been bouncing around the 300# mark for the past 5 years. Weight Watchers got me down to about 260# but it didn’t last. Now I know why. The declining caloric intake shut my metabolism down.I have a wonderful wife and 2 amazing young daughters (4 and 1). I had reached the point in my life of not being healthy. I had become obese by pretty much all definitions, but I was still stronger than most people. My resting heart rate was up around 85. When I was in good condition it usually hung around the 50-60 mark. My father had gotten on my case because he did a blood sugar test on me several years back and I hit 111. I should never hit above 110. I had eaten exceptionally bad the night before, but that was no excuse. It still wasn’t enough to break me out of the behavior. I have partied a little (sometimes more) since getting out of high school, and I do LOVE a good, thick, rich, flavorful beer, but I have gotten to the point that more than 1 or 2 beers, I have a terrible hangover the next day. I’m starting to think that this is due to blood sugar issues. I’m 34 and athletic despite being obese, I’m not succumbing to health problems when I have a gorgeous and wonderful wife and 2 amazing little girls that will need to walk down the isle someday well into the future.I started 2009 making changes. I was living in a 2 bedroom apartment with my wife and daughters while on a contract in Dallas. I was working about 60 hours per week (sometimes more). I didn’t make time to go the gym, but I did decide that I needed to be more active through the day, so I started sitting on a stability ball at work, at least some of the time. We had set breaks so I spent those walking around the building (even when it was cold). I started eating a little healthier. I didn’t make much headway, but I held my ground. In the spring we moved back to our house in Tulsa. Work was crazy, but I made a commitment in June to compete in the Scottish Games at the Oklahoma Scottish Festival in September. This is something I had been thinking about doing since 2003. I joined the gym near my house and started doing some basic strength training with cardio for warm-up and cool-down.The end of June hit and our world got rocked. My wife had two nocturnal seizures and the Doctor ordered an MRI which found a benign tumor pressing on her brain. They started her on anti-seizure meds and steroids to prep her for the craniotomy. Two days later she broke her ankle walking down the steps into our garage (the meds made her light headed and less stable). Later that week they removed the tumor successfully. Everything came back clean. 4 days later she was out of the hospital. 3 days later she had an aneurysm partially hemorrhage and was rushed back to the hospital in an ambulance. The doctors found bleeding and an indication of a possible aneurysm. They told us that it was “possibly and aneurysm” and they would do an angiogram to look more closely. It was an aneurysm and it was repairable without another craniotomy (which probably couldn’t have been performed at that time due to the swelling caused by the removal of the tumor). The next 12 days were excruciatingly slow. 5 of them were spent with her in the ICU where the girls couldn’t see her. Every day we had to worry about the blood products breaking down and causing the vessels in her brain to spasm and cause a stroke. She had to take huge horse pills every 2 hours for 3 weeks to prevent this.I SPENT MORE TIME IN THAT HOSPITAL IN A 1 MONTH PERIOD THAN I EVER WANT TO SPEND IN A HOSPITAL AGAIN.That hospital was my world except for the few short hours I was able to take the girls and do something fun. The rest was shuffling between Hospital, Work and Home.This is all back close to normal now. But life will never be quite the same after this experience.Back to WHY THIS IS A MUST.I was running short on time to prepare for the Scottish Games, but for some reason this seemed like the thing I MUST DO to bring balance to my life. I’ve performed very well at maintaining some level of health in order to participate in a competitive sport. Golf and Softball are fun, but they just don’t cut it. This is different I get to use my above average strength to do some really fun events, and make some really heavy things fly. I practiced with a local group for about 2 months before the competition I had signed up for. I researched and studied, that’s what I do, I’m an Engineer. At the practices, it quickly became apparent that I shouldn’t compete with the Beginner class (even though I was a beginner), so I was moved to the intermediate (B) class. I trained harder as the event approached. I started doing some Olympic Lifts (that I hadn’t done since high school) and other specific training. I was successful. I competed hard. Came away in 4th (Last) place, but just barely. I took 2nd in 2 events and 3rd in 3 others. After the competition was over, I realized several things about my conditioning. I had terrible stamina and my legs were gone. In High School I rode 60K bike rallies regularly and I could Squat 515#. Those were my strengths. IT WAS TIME TO TAKE MY BODY BACK. More research more training. This was the end of September. I went back to what had gotten me started in High School. Pyramid. Get your Max in 3 major lifts. (Bench, Squat and Pull Downs). Then do sets of 12-10-8 for 50%-60%-70% of that max for the first week. Week 2 10-8-6 at 60%-70%-80%, and so-on. By week 4 you are lifting your old Max 2 times. Well, I was lifting my old Max 6 times by week 4. Time to step it up. This is about the time I came down with a cold. Read something about zig-zag nutrition that made a great deal of sense. Dug some more and struck GOLD!!!!! BFFM. I bought the e-book and began the nutrition program that day. I couldn’t stop reading it. I discovered my goals and my affirmations. Everything Tom says echoes exactly my past experiences and explains why things work or don’t work. I was 309# and based on AccuMeasure 30.5% body fat. I had weighed in at 317 a couple of months earlier. In my first 6 weeks I have dropped to 294.6# and 26.25% Body Fat. Four inches of my waist is gone (went from 51” to 47”). Like I said before I started BFFM when I had a cold. I almost always end up with a sinus infection when I have a cold. The cold just went away and I immediately had more energy than I had in months YEARS. The initial transformation has been incredible. I AM HUNGRY FOR MORE.I am 100% RESPONSIBLE for my ACTIONS, my WEIGHT, my STRENGTH and my PERFORMANCE.I am reaching the most aggressive weight and body fat goal possible by the end of phase 1 (279# or less and 23% Body Fat or less) before my 11th Anniversary 1/9/2010I am Burning at least 2 POUNDS of FAT per week and it feels great.I am living longer by removing the Fat from my Body.

I just turned 50 and am facing hernia surgery in 2 weeks. I bust my butt in the gym and pay the price at the dinner table. Always. I’ve got more muscle density, shape and vascularity than ever. I maintain less than 11% bodfyat. Always. I go on vacation and behave “respectably”!! Finish strong? I “expec”t to be squatting and deadlifting by Dec 31 and look good in my suit New Years Eve. Fat and flabby? NEVER again!!!!Thanks for reading,Sd

Finishing 2009 strong is an absolute must for me to put me in position to attain even higer goals for 2010.2009 has been a roller coaster ride for reshaping my body. After completing a marathon in mid October 2008 I decided to ditch the endurance athlete lifestyle for a bodybuilding one.2009 began with a building phase that built muscle but also came with quite a bit of fat. In June I decided it was time to begin cutting my body fat to under 10%. It has been a long slow process with plenty of ups and downs.I am happy to report that the last four weeks I have made great strides. I started measuring my body fat percentage in August and was at 20%. My November measurement was 10.5%. My goal is to go through the upcoming holiday season and drop another percentage or two of body fat and ring in the new year with another building phase. This time doing it the right way without adding a great deal of body fat.I already set a goal for 2010 to gain 10 pounds of muscle, while maintaining my body fat at no higher than 10%.I realize it’s a lofty goal, but based on how I’m finishing off 2009. I have no reason to doubt that after turning 39 in December of next year I will end the year 2010 in the best shape of shape of my life.Here’s to everyone ending 2009 on the right foot and blowing the doors off their health and fitness goals for 2010.Stay Srong,Kirk

It is MUST for me because I dont want to be “laughed at” anymore. i was 59kg at the time of my marriage. But during my first pregnancy i turned into 89 kgs. After delivery till date i m 85kgs. I hv lost my confident specially at my work place. I want back my joy, health, confidence, attraction, zest for life back. For the last two years i m trying to be in shape but now its a matter of ‘DO OR DIE’ for me.

Why I must end the year strong and get in shape?For my body, mind and soul. I have always struggled to stay fit and was quite fit after working hard for 5 years to get in shape after having my third child. I was 36 at the time. At 43, I felt great! I was working 70 hours a week as a nurse practitioner in a pain clinic, and felt I set a good example for my patients. When I discussed the importance of physical rehabilitation with them, I was speaking from my heart and did not feel hypocritical. I would train for 1.5 hours 5 days per week. Life was still terribly busy, but I felt that I could usually handle my patients, family and friends.My patient’s are generally, kind, sick people who have been given poor advice somewhere along the way. Finding the fortitude and correct words to re-educate them and provide hope was my daily challenge.At 43, I found out I was pregnant!!! This was very much of a surprise to myself, my husband and my 3 sons. I went through the pregnancy without problems, but, as with all my other pregnancies, I gained a tremendous amout of weight. My baby boy is now 17 months old and I cannot shed the last 20 pounds. I struggled with horrible post-partum depression and went back to the gym too soon, injuring my shoulder and arm.So I must again, find the inner strength to put the business of life aside for about an hour a day. I MUST set a good example for my children, patients and husband. I must regain the energy to enter this next stage in my life. The energy, stamina and clarity of mind gained with regular exercise is better than any pill. I cannot be a hypocrite and tell my patients to go to the gym and physical therapy but not do the same for myself. I need to regain my focus and behaviors that helped me to manage the business of life, while having the energy to manage my family and care for my patients.The bottom line is NO ONE will do this for me but me!!! I am responsible for my well-being. No one can carry me to the gym or change my schedule or prioritize my life but me!!

When I was a 15 years old boy, my 2 years older friend took me to a weight lifting club.I fell in love with the barbell at once and for all! All those 57 years this love has been in my heart.I must admit, that I was not totally true to my loved one, the Bar Bell.I used to have a near contact with it mostly during my summer vacations from the school, but those 3 months were not enough to keep me in top condition all year round until next vacation. What I gained in strength was nearly all gone before I started a new summer training.Then, many years afterwards, a new friend suggested, that perhaps I would like to follow him to see a bodybuilding Gym, which I gladly did right away.I started training by a new method instructed to me by the owner of the Gym.He suggested a split routine to me, which strengthened me in a few months in a lot more effective way, than my former weight lifting the Olympic lifts.Well, life is not a linear and straight way, so every time, when I trained hard and was satisfied with my fast development in strength and muscularity, I had to quit training! There were different reasons for that, but happily after a few years of no active training I found my true love again and started a new era of enthusiastic workouts.I used many different methods, because in every new Gym there were different views of, how to train effectively.Here in Spain, where I have been living for the last 9 years as a retired man, I have moved again many times from place to place and let the Gym owners give me their training programs, I have been working out in 4 different Gyms for a few months. Lately I have been owning my own little private facility to do my workouts. I have a big machine with 3 Stations, a pressing bench and 2 long straight bars, one Z-bar and 2 short bars.I have been studying my past written notes and training programs as well as Joe Weider s advice. With this information I am quite convinced, that what ever I am going to do, will give me a lot of strength, stamina, muscle and trustto increase and develop in spite of my age. My goal is to be stronger than when I was in my former top years for over 40 years ago, if God lets me live and have continually my back begotten health.I am not only expecting to be better in next January, but at 75, even at 80!All depends on the undeserved kindness of my Creator and my own attitude and determination!I have been astonished at the comments, that many people have given about my age. Usually they think, that I am a liar. I am 72 years old now…I can run up hills and stairs very fast without dying or getting breathless too quickly. I recall the time, when I only could walk slowly with very short steps feeling a great pain on my lower back after lying in bed for 6 months straight!Never give up, my friends! Move it!Best Regards with high hopes for a better future!Aimo