You and I, we do it for the results.  Why else would we do it?  Some people think about being fit.  We hunt fitness down and capture it like prey.

And when we do there is nothing better than when…

Fat has been lost…

Muscle has been built…

Strength has been gained…

And a new attitude rules the day.

Getting to Where You Want to Go

We know that not a single small improvement is made without a tremendous amount of work.  The fact is, if you want good results your training, nutrition, and lifestyle choices have to be great.

If you want great results they need to be outstanding.  If you want outstanding results you need to crush your self-limiting beliefs and be relentlessly consistent with your outstanding actions.

When you’ve worked your way from where you were to where you are—assuming where you are is better than where you were—then there is only one thing that can bring you down.  Regression.

When You Arrive, ‘Burn the Boats’

The only way to ensure you never sink back to the place you once were, the place you worked so hard to get away from, is by cutting off all ties to that place.

The phrase ‘Burn the Boats’ is one of my favorites.  (I’m pretty sure it, along with an image will wind up a future tattoo somewhere on my body.)  It stems from the legend of Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes who in the early 1500’s defeated the Aztecs in Mexico.

He and his men made a commitment to do what no one before them was able to do.  As legend goes Cortes got his men to commit by burning their ships.

Victory, the Only Option

 Cortes made it so there was no turning back.  It was either win or die.

Commitment is nothing more than a decision.  You have to decide in your mind to the ‘Burn the Boats’ and eliminate any prospect of retreating back to where you came from.  You need to leave the old you behind.

Even if you’re not yet where you want to be.  Burning the boats means you can only move forward.

It’s a Mindset

Though it might not be a life or death situation like it was for Cortes and his men. Implanting the idea that it is (and it very well could be for some) can have a significant impact on your subconscious.

You’d be surprised what you can do.

And if burning the boats in your mind doesn’t work then try burning your clothes!  If you have no larger sizes to fall back on then you’ll always have to find a way to stay in the smaller ones you’ve got on now.