When you learn how to cultivate and harness your FOCUS, you unleash a powerful force within your body and mind that literally propels you to succeed.

The above was an excerpt from an email Tony sent and those words jumped out at me. This brought to mind how important it is to focus.

Staying focused is not an easy task. There are so many distractions that can cause us to lose focus on your tasks or goals. I remember running track in high school and my gym teacher told me to focus on running and reaching the finish line, and do not look ever glace over my should to look at the person running next to me. You know it actually works! I believe I won every time I did this!

Life is full of changes, and at times it may be difficult to stay focused. But when we get these distractions it is so important get back that focus. I think that is why it is so important to write down your goals. Writing down your goals gives life to your goals, it's there for you to look at, for others to look at, you see it everyday, you stay focused because you internalize it and nothing can stop you to success.

There are a number of things I do to help me keep focused. These can apply to almost every goal but since right now my focus is my upcoming competition I have to "keep my eyes on the prize"!

1. Writing down your goals. We all know how important it is. Not only writing them down but having reminders such as pictures of your goal.
2. Removing distractions as best as possible. I usually make sure that I don't have any food that I am not suppose to eat in the house.
3. Planning ahead. I make sure that my meals are planned and are ready to eat so that I do not get cravings.
4. Communication your goals. Enlisting your family and friends for help. Stay away and avoid people who are not supportive.You do not want to be around negative people who are not supportive.
5. Tracking your progress. You definitely want to know how you are doing so it's important to track your progress.

I am sure there are more things but right now I can't think of anything else and it's time for me to workout, so I got to go and Stay Focused!

Don't Give Up, Perfection Lies Within!

This image of a kitten lifting weights, not only is it the cutest picture, but the caption
"Don't give up...perfection lies within" made me think, mmm!
One of the definitions of perfection in the dictionary is "the act or fact of perfecting". I think most of us are continously striving to become better. Within us is the need to become better individuals. We all have an idea of what perfection means to us. We may admire someone we perceive to have a "perfect" or ideal body. This is often different for everyone. To be perfect is within all of us and allows to be improve and better ourselves. Some believe that perfection does not exist. Maybe this is a way of allowing us to continuously strive to improve and better ourselves.
Because "your perfection lies within your imperfection".
As I prepare for my next competition, I have to continue to train hard and eat clean so that I can be the best I can be. I have to stop comparing myself to others and instead focus! Focus on each rep when I lift, focus on eating the right foods and focus on practicing my poses. If I focus on other competitors and compare myself to them, then I will start doubting that I can look as good and be as good. Now every time I lift I am going to picture the image of the kitten and the caption "Don't give up...Perfection Lies Within".

In Dreams and in Life, Nothing is Impossible!

Many may know that I already have a Blog "Healthynfitforlife", but when Tony spoke to be about blogging on Dreamdiva's I was thrilled! I found Tony's Dreambodies website one day by chance. I had been looking for a trainer for months, maybe at least a year and stopped looking. One day I just happened to be on the Oxygen forum and one of Tony's dream divas (I really don't remember who) had a post and a link to Tony's website. I believe everything in life happens when it is suppose to happen and I guess it was the right time to find Tony.

I truly believe that dreams can become realities if you really focus and put your mind to it. At times, the dream may not come when you want it, but it will happen when it is suppose to happen. I am sure almost everyone has some dream that became real, something that they thought was not possible. It may not be anything miraculous, but something they thought was difficult, but somehow they accomplished. I can think of many things that I accomplished, and thinking back I believed deep down I really knew I could do it.

Some words you will never hear coming from my mouth are "that looks too hard or difficult". Instead, I always believe that I can do it? If someone can do it, why can't I? I like a challenge, bring it on! Just think of all the things in life that you learned that at some point you were not able to do...whether it was just learning to ride a bike, or your first full-body pull-up. After you learned to do "whatever" it didn't seem so hard afterall. You see, in dreams and in life, nothing is impossible!