I do not understand people who dabble.  What is so hard about being dedicated to something?  When you start down a path, why not finish what you started?  To me, total dedication is a concept that is alien to alot of people and it frustrates me.  I see it at the gym constantly.  People come in here and there, but they don't dedicate themselves to the discipline of getting themselves into the gym.  Dedication is required for a change to happen.  It is this way in every area of life.  Dedication isn't an option for me, it is mandatory.

I cannot stand it when people only give a half effort when they do something.  I've always been the type of person who dedicates some time to whatever it is I am doing.  I read and study and learn.  I guess that I just expect too much from other people.  I don't see why it is too difficult to read up on a process before you execute it.  Planning is everything and if you don't plan that's the same as planning to fail.

"A life lived with integrity – even if it lacks the trappings of fame and fortune is a shinning star in whose light others may follow in the years to come. " Denis Waitley

I do feel that attention to detail is an important trait in life and in transformations, but I also think that we can become too involved with our own stats.  In fact, I will admit to you that while I did some informal measurements, this past Sunday was the first set of formal measurements I'd done in 4 weeks.  Life was too busy and I didn't sweat it.  I knew that the more important aspects of my program were hitting the weights and eating.  I've been doing those, so I was confident that the results would come and they did.

My son, daughter and I hit the gym together today.  It was the first time my daughter has joined my son and I in a couple of weeks.  They do the same exact workout as me.  The intensity level for all of us was high.  My son made a comment to me prior to the workout that he doesn't like looking back at his last workout to see the numbers he reached the last time.  He says he feels that it gives him a target to shoot for and that he gives up once he hits that target.  I thought about his comments and then proclaimed that none of us would be looking back at our previous workouts and we would see what the results would be.

Believe while others…
By William Arthur Ward

Believe while others are doubting.

Plan while others are playing.

Study while others are sleeping.

Decide while others are delaying.

Prepare while others are daydreaming.

Begin while others are procrastinating.

Work while others are wishing.

Save while others are wasting.

Listen while others are talking.

Smile while others are frowning.

Commend while others are criticizing.

Persist while others are quitting.

"I don't have the time."

"I will be starting next week."

These are all excuses that I've heard for not working out.  Each time I hear these things I wonder when the time will be right for these people.  The reality is that it will probably never be the right time for any of them.  The key for everyone is to just get up and do it.

When the original Group Shred began I was in an interesting spot in my life.  I had been doing the New Rules of Lifting program for several months.  The Group Shred was exactly what I needed to push me into a full fledged effort to change my body.  I didn't think about it at all, I just jumped in and got to work.  While I don't believe in telling people to do exactly what I've done for the most part, I will say that just jumping in seems to be the best way to get started.

"A life lived with integrity – even if it lacks the trappings of fame and fortune is a shinning star in whose light others may follow in the years to come." Denis Waitley

I've seen positive changes in every single area.  So far I've already exceeded the goals I had for this mission.  This is what a High Intensity Workout can do for your body.  You gain lean body mass, lose fat and increase the size of your muscles.  This all results in a Larger Engine and you wind up with a body that burns more fat than it had before you started.  Now I can proudly proclaim on my new site that I managed to gain 12 lbs. of LBM in just 8 weeks and it will be 100% the truth!

"Are you bored with life?  Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours." Dale Carnegie

During the game we would yell "Sterling, where's your position?" and Sterling would correct his position.  This was true of every player on the ice.  It made it quite simple for the players to do the right thing.

Watching this unfold got me thinking about exercising with proper form.  Using correct form in exercising is the same as playing your position in hockey.  When done correctly you get good results.  To me, using proper form is part of working hard.  Anyone can go to the gym (or hit the ice) and be sloppy.  That will get you nowhere fast.  In order to use proper form one must pay attention to what they are doing at all times.  There must be an attention to what is happening during the repetition.  You must be able to correct your mistakes as you are working out. The ability to work hard will garner great results in the shortest possible time.