Strength for Life

The Opposite of DIET = TI < EDHow to eat more and weigh less

Dieting sucks! And yet, at this moment nearly half of the US population is engaged in an ongoing struggle with food.

You can flip dieting around and stop focusing on deprivation, on less and embrace the freedom to eat more and still weigh less.

For most, a diet is a period of suffering, deprivation and a moment to moment battle between willpower and desire. Certainly not a long term success strategy for life. As I share in my book, Strength for Life, you can free yourself from this battle with the “10-steps to Dieting Freedom” in chapter 11 but today I want to go farther and expose the major flaws of the dieting mindset.

You see, dieting as a strategy for losing weight is at best half the equation. It’s focus is on limiting your total intake (TI). It’s got nothing to do with the other half of the equation: the energy you use through exercise, movement or your metabolism (Energy Depletion ED).

Trying to get thinner with nutritional limbo—eating less and less—is like trying to budget your way to wealth. Controlling your expenses does not wealth create. Want more wealth, create more value, offer more, generate more. Just the same, want to enjoy eating more freely? Take real action and use more energy in your life.

Dieting works on the simple (and relatively if not entirely accurate) concept that losing weight has simply to do with consuming fewer calories than your body utilizes each day. Thus, if you eat less than you “burn” you will utilize energy reserves which is in some part body fat.

Like I say, this is a relative truth for not only are all calories NOT created equal but when using ONLY calories in (Total Intake in this equation) to regulate fat loss, it’s a slippery slope. Try a little too hard to encourage fat loss, drop the calories just a wee-bit too low and the body will freak out and start holding more fat.

The opposite of dieting—and the more sound, sensible and complete solution for weight loss is to emphasize Energy Depletion (ED). It’s simple, rather than simply trying to eat less than you burn each day, focus on burning more calories than you eat. For when you’re (TI) Total energy Intake is less than your (ED) Energy Depletion you’ll lose weight. And as bonus you will be gaining a leave of fitness, a stronger more energized body.

This may seem rather obvious as I point it out but be honest… how often have you been told and or wanted to believe that it’s ALL about the diet, it’s about intake? It’s not. Effective, sustainable fat loss requires that you manage both with some level of clarity and mastery.

When Good is Bad

How are you feeling? “Alright, fine, good, can’t complain…” and all that.

When asked, “good,” or some blend of it (see above) is what we report over 90% of the time. With the intent of causing alarm, I’m here to tell you that “good” may not be all that good at all.

This common, normal, every day “good,” is a long ways from the vibrant, high energy state of “Great!” you deserve to be enjoying at this moment. Good is what most have become used to—what we accept without question. Why? Because you don’t know there is a “Great!” there for your taking. And why would you? Most of us haven’t enjoyed the abundance of energy that comes with “Great!” since we were kids—we’ve no memory of what “Great!” feels like.

If it’s been that long since you’ve experienced your full capacity, this should sound like some sort of fantasy or over-hyped promise.

It’s not. That I promise you. 

The hallmark of this “every day good,” stated another way, is not suffering: No serious ailments, illness or pain. Thus, “Good” is not the presence of something great but rather the absence of pain, illness or discomfort.

Come on! Logically you know there’s something more to life, but what?

While “good” can feel great when you’re just recovering from the flu, it can’t be the pinnacle of your existence. When you go from “can’t lift my head up weak” and sick to feeling good, “good,” can feel “Great!” Right?

When you experience just how “Great!” you can feel, this “good” you’ve been settling for will feel as off as being sick does now. For “good” is in the middle—it’s not sick and it’s not “Great!” Problem is until I mentioned it you didn’t know it was so—you had no reason to suspect that this wasn’t great.

Now you have reason to suspect there is a “Great!” waiting for you but only through experience can you truly know.

When you’re tired of settling for “good” and ready to start living life from a higher level—from “Great!,” you can make this change—and fast. This is what the 12-Day Total Body and Mind Reboot in Strength for Life does. I call this first phase in my program, Base Camp for it’s primary function is to re-energize and rejuvenate your body and mind—by cleansing, clearing, flushing and restoring—thus, priming your body for Transformation.

Thousands of people have already reported enjoying vibrant energy in a few short days by doing for your body what you do periodically for computer: Reboot. The consistent feedback from people who have done, or are doing, Base Camp is that they just feel “Great!” Most say that didn’t know how great they could feel—and wish they’d done this sooner.

Now you know what they didn’t—that you are but a few days away from getting back to feeling “Great!”

32 Million Examples of How... Awareness Changes Everything

$32 million is a lot of money.

Imagine in your pocket you hold a winning Powerball lottery ticket ready to be redeemed for $32 million.

There’s just one catch, you don’t know it’s there. You have no (ZERO) idea whatsoever that in your pocket at this very moment is more wealth than you can imagine.

Will you reach in your pocket and discover it? Maybe something will spur you to remember you purchased this ticket. Or perhaps you’ll toss your pants in the wash and it will become just some meaningless scraps of paper in your laundry.

At this moment your life is as it was in the moment before. Nothing has changed. You’re facing the same struggles, battles, worries and challenges as five minutes ago and pretty much the same as yesterday, last week and even last month.

Yet, you and I know that this imaginary “you” is sitting on what may very well be the key to your freedom, joy and happiness. All you have to do is become aware of it.

Sure, this is a dramatic example but then again is it? What if we are all just one epiphany away from uncovering the key that will set us free. Perhaps it’s all really as simple as becoming aware of that which we don’t know we already have. 

:: List to My Live Seminer: The Strength of Awareness ::

Could it be that the key to your fitness freedom, to your best body and more importantly to your best life—a life of happiness, joy, love and freedom is both as difficult and as easy as becoming aware of it.

I subscribe to this oft quoted undeniable truth that awareness changes everything—and if you’re read my book, Strength for Life, you already know this.

The Shape of Dara Torres’ Life

Already the proud owner of 9 gold medals, she went to her first Olympics before the Tiger Woods, of the pool, Michael Phelps was born and now she’s qualified to swim for the US in Bejing by winning both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle—swimming’s premier sprints.

Unless you’ve been away on a very deserted island, your iPhone rendered useless by a spilled pitcher of marg’s, you’ve heard about Dara Torres’ nearly superhuman performances at the tender age of 41. 

No question, Dara Torres is at full Strength

If you’re in your 20’s, it’s pretty cool to see someone “nearly your mom’s age” kicking-ass like this. If you’re in your 30’s her record setting performance may bring relief and hope that 40-something isn’t all “that bad.” And if you’re in your 40’s or beyond, Dara’s strength is elevating, inspiring and perhaps a bit of a wake up call for your own life potential.

For it seems that for many, once across the big 4-0, age becomes the central reason (aka excuse) for why they are struggling to get in (and stay in) shape. I’m not one of those opportunistic hype-sters you often find promising you there’s no such thing as age. Age is real—what’s not is the way it impacts most people, much more rapidly and drastically than it should.

Fact is your

life, my life, everyone’s life has a shape. Unfortunately most people’s lives are shaped like a cross section of a speed bump. They rise up, arch over and through their peak and don’t wake up to their declining condition until they’re well into the descent. It doesn’t need to be this way. You can change it, at any age.

How to Create a New Shape to Your Body and Life

In Chapter 2 of my new my book, Strength for Life, I explain how we’ve been conditioned to accept this early and unnecessary demise—and how you can change The Shape of Your Life, both figuratively and literally, in short order.

Why We Struggle with Fitness

Summer is near. And you know what that means… time to push the “get fit” panic button for ‘tis the bathing suit and beach season. Even if you don’t do the beach, it’s nice to feel good about wearing some seasonal appropriate clothes.

This has me thinking this morning about why so many of us are inclined towards a fair-weather relationship with fitness. The pattern is to go through stretches where fitness is on the back-burner then suddenly, it’s full tilt fitness! We’ve got to get fit and we want results now.

Fit is generally something we’re “trying to get.” It’s an endless struggle, a mountain that is always being climbed but rarely being summitted (I know, that’s not technically a word but you get the drift. It’s a little of my mountain climbing speak coming through).

Why do we keep buying into the new diets, reaching for the latest, greatest next fitness hope?

There’s a lot going on here; the way we run our lives, our motivation, our commitment, our true intention, etc. These all play a role. But there’s something else, an aspect of our relationship with fitness, with ourselves, which underlies and transcends all these.

Why Today is the Wrong Day to Start Your Fitness Program

Jack LaLanne is the original fitness guru—enthusiastic, motivating and authentic. This is simply the way he is—it’s not some persona created for TV.

Today, you can hardly turn on the TV without getting a dose of some over caffeinated, ponytail slinging, tattoo sporting fitness guru screaming at you to get moving, NOW!

Well, today I’m going to tell you why those who implore you to get moving now, to start getting fit today are wrong.

And I’m not just talking about the way they say it—but the fact that this over hyped, urgent approach to fitness is counterproductive to the desired result. For most it will actually set you back—quite possibly the #1 hidden reason for fitness failures.

From Stress to Stress
If you’ll follow along with me, I’d like to make this experiential. Here’s what I need you to do:

It's Something You Need to Read

Oh, not sure I told you. And if I didn't…

I’ve got a new book out.

Do you care? Should you? That’s the issue at question here.

Over the last two years I poured my mind, heart and soul into this book. It consumed my focus, my time and challenged me in ways I never imagined possible.

Ah, but why does it matter to you?

Fair question. I’d be lying if I didn’t say at times I do feel like you should buy it because creating it nearly killed me—as if some how "my personal purple heart" means something to you. Of course, I realize that this is my life and writing this new book was my choice.

Having been so deeply entrenched in this project for last few years, it was a blog post by Seth Godin that invited me to take another, deeper dive into this question: “Why is my new book important for you to read?”

In a recent Blog Seth posts:

“Here's an interesting dichotomy:
 
Watch this because I’m in it
vs.
I’m in it because you’ll enjoy watching it.
 
Or,
 
I published a book so I need you to read it
vs.
There’s something you need to read, so I wrote about it.”

Point well made. Great distinctions.

Given that I’d recently eagerly sent a copy of my new book to Seth with, I couldn’t help but take this as a bit of a personal challenge.

So what’s my answer:

First thing that pops into my head is that this is a “reality fitness book.” No, not reality like those not-so-reality TV shows but reality as in real—meaning it’s authentic—and genuine wisdom tends to transmit and transcend the subject, serving to inspire excellence in all areas.

Strength for Life is the product of my 20+ years in the field of practical application of fitness, nutrition and mental performance. It’s a work of service and passion by a busy entrepreneur, husband and father. It’s not a rah-rah “fitness-fantasy” book by a spandex wearing made for TV trainer nor another celebrity fitness book ghost written by the usual suspects.

And that alone makes this work unique and more accessible to real people. A decade older and an equal number of years wiser, means a more holistic, sensible, balanced approach. The result: 33% less time training, a simple, successful nutrition guide and all around life-enhancing program that works from the inside-out.

But, what’s in it for you?

As my book does sit on the shelves of the Health & Fitness aisles, typical thinking would be to show you some delicious photos of bodies which have gone from yuk to yum.  No doubt an effective strategy. One my bro used with great effect with Body for Life, to the tune of nearly 6 million books sold.

Nice work! But I passed on the bathing suits for two reasons: One, with the success of Body for Life it’s become standard formula—everyone has done it—and it would be to follow to closely. And secondly, because strength is more than skin deep—it’s an inside out path to your best life that I offer here and I didn't want to be another one sending you on the wild goose chase to be someone else.

And as you would expect, Strength for Life also includes a brilliantly effective and optimally efficient “12 week Transformation” phase should you desire a leaner, stronger, more energized body and mind. In it, you benefit from a decade of transformation wisdom—for there’s much to learn from both what worked and at least as much from what failed. This could well mean a greatly improved chance of making a successful “Transformation.”

But what if you’ve got the body you want or want the body you’ve got?

How about this…

Simply read one chapter—and you will know that Strength for Life is not another fitness “to do list” but an inspired calling that will wake you up and guide you to embrace your life to the fullest. It elevates you beyond health, out of the “good enough” mentality that is sabotaging America’s greatness and presents the first, true next-level solution to the “code-red” personal and public health crisis that is undermining our individual and collective strength and wellbeing.

<< Download a Preview Chapter Here  >>

In Chapter One, Beyond Health, you come face to face with the silent killer: Health. You learn how our obsession with health has lulled us to sleep, allowing millions to settle for less from life. This is an insight so stunningly clear when you see it that you either embrace if like the rising sun on a crisp spring morning or fervently reject it like a 4 am wake up call after a late night. There’s just no in between.

As for “Strength,” there’s no question that this title presents a challenge for at a glance many will mistake it for a muscle book. But it takes only a few pages to see beyond this narrow view and gather that strength is more than skin-deep.

Is Your Financial Goal to Avoid Bankruptcy?

Now that’s a crazy question, right?

You wouldn’t do it.

Yet, this is precisely what you're doing when you accept "health" as your “good enough” standard for personal wellbeing.

As you will learn in Strength for Life the tragic reality is that to the vast majority of us health is quite literally defined as the “the absence of disease.” We may like to believe we want more, that we desire more vibrant health but the painful reality is that we’re settling for just "not being sick"—satisfied to avoid physical bankruptcy.

“No, this just can’t be,” you say. “Not me.” 

It seems wise, a good thing to be “healthy.” However, when your aim is to "avoid illness," you stop when you stop at "good enough." That’s how goals work. 

The problem is quite simple: With health you’re not aiming high enough rather you're settling for less than you deserve.

There's Strength in Seeking Support

My book is out... Wooo...

Now comes the harder part, getting people to pick it up. Oh yes, and open it.

At moments I think I'd rather be Houdini—less challenging. And as anyone who knows me, knows, it's not my strength to seek support. Hence the reason why it was an amazing feeling to find the following email my wife, Angie, had sent out to many, many friends.

It's not easy to ask for help but as part of my conditioning program, I'm asking you to help me, and help yourself: Buy a Copy of Strength for Life. I'd tell you why you must but once you open it, you'll know immediately why.

ANGIE'S EMAIL :

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear friends and family -

I need your help... more in a moment.

As most of you are well aware, the last year of our lives (besides
welcoming our new daughter, Lilly, and enjoying our son Nathaniel) has
been dedicated to Shawn's new book, "Strength For Life," which is to
be officially released from Random House's Ballantine Books next week.

This work of passion took Shawn nearly 2 years to write, beyond the
40 plus years that he needed to compile the wisdom. I believe this is
undoubtedly his magnum opus.

What’s Red, White and Green Allover?

"Sometimes I just think funny things."

That's one of my favorite lines from Arthur, starring the late Dudley Moore.

Seriously, this blog/joke just popped into my head this morning while I was in the midst of a nation wide radio tour.

The answer: my new book, Strength for Life.

It’s read (okay, "red" – is it any wonder this is a better joke when told?) from cover to cover by anyone who dares read page 1.

That much I’ve confirmed today. There were a couple hosts who just "mailed it in," assuming the book to be just "another fitness" book. Ahhhh... They had to do--and I think they got a different vibe when we spoke though. They may be reading it now.

But what I confirmed was that anyone who gave a chance—who even got into page 1 nearly devoured the book.

It’s white... that one’s easy. The paper, of course. But what about the Green?

What’s green about Strength for Life?

It’s green because it’s NOT a waste of precious paper. It’s not a bunch of filler and fluff produced simply to capitalize on a moment of fame or a TV show. It’s not the work of the “usual cast” of characters who ghost write most fitness books.

I admit to trying to use some “professional help” to write this... for a while. I can tell you know, that was a BIG mistake. With a "standard" fitness writer this book was headed towards the "usual results." The same paper thin message—with no heart and soul.

Instead, I opted for the real thing, painstakingly pouring my life and passion into Strength for Life—taking it one important line at a time, distilling the wisdom until it sparkled  with clarity and life.

I’m excited for you to experience it.