Thursday 27 December 2012

Don't throw 2012 at 2013! JFTU!

At this time of year, most people look at the future and start planning for New Year..

You know the one, "New Year, New You" Guess what? This is bollocks (in my opinion)

Why do you need a new you? What's wrong with the existing you? Why do you need to change?

Here is the problem, we are being taught to think outside of ourselves. The old "I will get back at" bullshit that destroys people.

Action is the only way. Grind and fucking hard work. Forget what happened last year, you made those decisions because they were right at the time. You got a result from them, if you want a different result, then do some different things.

In 2013, set some goals that inspire, stop focusing on last year's problems. Stop blaming shit relationships or the other person, they made their choices, you made yours. Life will go whether you like it or not.

Make commitments to yourself, strong statements that mean something and then follow that up with action. Stop talking and fishing for sympathy. Act, act and then fucking act some more. Make mistakes, be human and never stop learning.

2013 will not do you a favor. It won't. The past only exists in your head. Movement is the only way, keep move forward, turn the fucking TV off and stop gossiping.

You are here once and every day you can make a difference, set some goals that scare the shit of you and commit to achieving them or die trying.

Fuck motivation
Fuck inspiration
Take no days off
Just fucking turn up!

Happy New Year.....

Thursday 18 October 2012

Why I succeed and fail

Life does strange things, it really does.....

We question everything and desperately try and find ways to explain why things happen.

I guess the reality is that things just "happen" sometimes, we have to learn to accept that.

Based on this, I want to give people a few people why I succeed and fail, this may help, it may not. You may think I am a arrogant twat, you may not, but here goes....

I succeed because....

I live my own life
I never let anyone else tell me what I can and can't do
I will walk away from anyone who tells I can't do anything, no matter who they are
I will enjoy the small things
I will be in awe of the big things
I will love myself and the one live I have
I will respect and love those who respect and love themselves
I will not gossip
I will not complain
I will use integrity even if that means upsetting people
I will apologize whether I am "wrong" or not
I will move my ego out of the way
I will feel blessed to have the things I have
I will not envy or miss the things I don't have
I will respect nature
I will work hard
I am kind
I know my mistakes
I am proud of my mistakes
I love people in all their diverse wonder
I will not rest until the job is done
I will honor my body and health
I will find myself and my purpose

And most of all, I will succeed because I fail, I hurt and I take the blows with dignity.

F@#k motivation and just turn up

John


Wednesday 10 October 2012

Party? That's bullshit.....

I must be getting old....

I have noticed over the last few years that music videos and reality TV are now sending out the message that life is one big party....

On what planet?

Don't get me wrong, life is fun and is a great adventure if you treat as such...

The problem is that these images and creations make you think that you can party all the time and live it up. There are some people on this planet that can do this,  the really, really rich people that don't need to work.

The reason that most rich people don't need to work is down to the fact that they had to work lie dogs to get in that position...

The new wave of good looking people go clubbing all the time is not real and by sitting there watching it, you don't give yourself even the remotest chance of getting anywhere near it.

I am really conscious of "preaching" hey if you want to watch "Towie" that is your bag and no one should judge you for that. The problem is the message that teenagers and kids are getting, thinking that life is one big ball of fun and parties.

It isn't, it is a roller coaster of emotions, challenges and loss. Good times and bad times. We are not teaching people how to handle the ups and downs and then telling them that life is one big party. Not cool.

Everything costs money and to earn money that gives you the flexibility to do whatever you want, takes a HELL of work, no partying, no TV and you have to have stamina.

For me, this work is the fun bit, but for most people making the decision to choose a more "positive" path, it isn't much fun at the start.

For life to be a party, it needs to be earned. Simple as that....

(Party pooper)

John

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Don't take it personal

I have a few little rules that I live by. These have developed over time and now seem to keep me from really going insane!

I have some things that I believe are necessary life skills as well. These aren't talk in schools or by most parents but in my opinion are essential to get through the challenges....

The first one is this, don't take things personally....

Tough, tough and mega tough.......

The reason not to take things personally is quite simple and again in my opinion is one of the "keys to the car"

Ready?......

People can only think about themselves......

Gasp......

Sorry, no need for sarcasm but seriously, think about it. We only judge things based on our own lives and own perceptions. Based on this, people can only think about themselves and their own experiences when they do and say things.

Here is the funky bit....

If this is true (and reckon it is) then when people attack you personally they have to base their opinion on their own experience. This means that it cannot physically be personal as no one can tell you who and what you are.

We have coached over time to believe that we aren't in control of what goes on. Trust me, you are.....

In my opinion, no one can judge you. No family member, no company and no religion. You know you and you know what you want.

Be your own person, listen to your inner self and be happy.

Don't take shit personally and keep moving.....

Cuddles

John

Monday 1 October 2012

The system works.....hang on a minute

After talking about nature, it makes me think about the system.....

Nature is a system and the good news is that the system works.....

You have to work though, if you work, the system does....

Here lies the problem, things like 9-5 Monday to Friday have been created to make us think that work and god dam it even life have structures that we need to box ourselves into.

The box you will end up in is the box that carries you to your final resting place. When that time comes, what will you have wanted to do with your "one wild and precious life"

Personally I would rather lose everything than fit into the structures that have been created to make us "labour" and turn some of us into mindless drones.

Lessons learnt here, you life is your own. Every choice you make is yours as well. Let no one tell you there is   a set path where you need to head. That includes me.

The point? Look back at the system and look at nature. Nature rewards that which is "earned" if you want the good stuff, then you need to break society rules (not the law) Things that have been designed to make you think you are not the most creative, beautiful and dam unique creature on earth.

Every decision counts folks, use it wisely. Live your own life and make your choices. The hardest thing you ever do is fighting back. Anyone who made themselves ill or broke and says life is hard is lying, I am sorry but they are lying. You know why? The excuses come easy....

If you want a good life and a memorable one, for my money at least, having no excuses and taking full responsibility for everything is the hardest thing you will ever do.

Guess what though? When you pass, you will look back and say "fuck me, I had a go"

Leave a mark, start today.....

John

Thursday 27 September 2012

Self help sucks!

I am quite a spiritual person....

I like balance, kindness and generosity.....

I can however get a little bit edgy with the whole "self help" thing......

This week I saw a couple of things that got my goat. Lets be honest, we are on the sell to a certain degree, just be honest.

Most of us have products or services that we have to distribute in order to make living.

On this basis, let's be honorable and give people support and guidance. People don't need patronizing or "patting on the head" People certainly don't need "fixing" either.

Listen I am a bad ass mother fucker that devotes his life to the service of others. My biggest mistake though is my "I am more holier than thou" bullshit. I apologize if I have ever come across this way.

This is why most modern day self help sucks beyond belief! It's cheesy and patronizing and makes me sick.

I am not right, I am just saying in my opinion that as people who choose to help people,  we should stop being false. If you are on the sell, then cool but don't give the spiritual one and look through your nose at people.

This fluffy nonsense isn't going to dig us out of the shit that we are currently in. Most "guru's" have never been there and experienced what the bottom of the barrel looks like and most people that need help don't give a sac of monkey crap what you think you are.

The classic is last weeks "leisure industry week" which showcased in all it's spandex clad glory an industry that is failing. Obesity costs this Country £16 billion per year, I don't think it's time for us to raise a chemical filled glorified milkshake in celebration just yet...

I rest my case....




Tuesday 25 September 2012

Nature or how s@#t works

Nature is awesome! Wind blows, sun rises and the tide goes in and out....

This happens and keeps happening....

So here is a question, why then do human beings think we can mess with it?

Nature doesn't make mistakes and no matter how much we feel bitter, twisted or anything, nature does what it does......

Makes you think, right?

Probably not........

Try this then....

We work in a system, nature rewards the salmon that seems up stream not the one that says down the bottom watching Eastenders.....

The system works if you do. One of the human races biggest frustrations is the inability to control nature. Makes me fucking howl, it really does.

Ever heard the phrase, "the richer get richer and the poor get poorer?" yep, it's funny that! It's designed that way brain box!

My advice is to sit down and really think about nature and the way shit works and then make your life plan.

My field is weight loss, if you eat sugar and processed crap and don't move, you get fat, you get ill and that's that.

Not personal, just nature. Nature, nature and more nature!

Bored of the word yet? Get working with the system and watch it work for you!

Tally ho!

Sunday 23 September 2012

Sex, lies and perfection

Lies......not cool. I could write about this for hours and hours

So here is a question, how many lies do you think we are told on a daily basis?

I believe we are told quite a few. Not because people are bad, just because we have evolved to believe things that really aren't true.

Let's start by the lies we tell ourselves. The first one is perfection versus practice. Have you caught yourself saying "I can't do x" or something of that nature?

I have, here is the classic I said to myself......"I can't lose weight because I can't afford new clothes" I mean, can you imagine if I believed that? Frightening! I got on with it and achieved my dreams.

How many lies do you tell yourself on a day to day basis? Is it logical that we believe we can't do something without even trying? It's amazing how we stop ourselves from making some serious progress by untrue beliefs.

I don't subscribe to the whole "You can do it" motivational mantra stuff. Guess what? If you really believe you can't do something, nobody can tell you otherwise.

The real key is having the ignorance to try and try without making it perfect until you achieve your goal. Just because you can't go to the floor on a press up now doesn't mean you won't be able to in a few weeks time.

If you are a perfectionist then (in my opinion) that is a cop out for failure. Let me give you a quote:

"Winners take imperfect action while losers are perfecting their plan"

By never trying shit because of timing or circumstance is wasting the essence of why we are here. To make every moment count!

Keep trying and remember, no one gives a crap about you do, they are only concerned about themselves.

Lying to yourself burns more than trying new things...

Trust me....


Saturday 22 September 2012

The Guru That Drank Stella

When people ask me what I do, I say the following:

"I am a personal trainer, bootcamp owner, weight loss coach, life coach, sales and marketing expert, NLP student, social media expert, online marketer, author, blogger, athlete.....oh and I love talking about myself"

I must admit I do like a good chin wag about myself, going back to transparency, my personal battle with making for those lost "fat" years has been both interesting and fun.

I can be judgmental and sarcastic when talking about weight loss and life but hey that's me. I have tried to change and I don't like it. Here lies the first lesson, being yourself is the most important thing in personal development. This is bar none in my opinion. Let me tell you a great motivational mantra that I use and is printed bold as brass on my wall at home:

"Blame no one, expect nothing, do something"

Powerful shit that......

This leads into the point of this little post. If anyone (that doesn't know me ) think that I am some sandal wearing, silver spoon, perfect, floating, fluffy guru is seriously fucking mistaken (yes I said fuck)

This journey started with a 18 stone, 15 a day B + H smoker, insecure, scared beer monster deciding to change.

I grew up in a working class family and my Dad worked his arse off to give me and my "eccentric" brothers everything we wanted. I turned this generosity into a irresponsible, overweight, dependent, lazy lump of unhappiness. My fault, pure and simple. This isn't a sob story, it is an illustration of where I have come from.

I have read books on confidence, emotional intelligence, stress, depression, people skills, motivation and also how to work with the laws of nature and the universe.

If you are reading this and you think you have had a hard life, that's cool. I will never judge anyone for the life they have led.

If you are willing to be, do and have everything you want then put your hand in front of your face, breath on it and get going, If you can breath, you can change.

To finish this semi egotistical post,what some of you see today has took years of practice, study and heart ache. It isn't easy but DAM worth it.

Trust me......

Thursday 20 September 2012

Be Transparent

So seven years ago I decided to lose weight. I never thought I could do it. I flirted with it at age 22and for about 18 months, I was slimmer than ever before. The old habits die hard though and it soon came creeping back. At age 27, in September 2005, I made the decision and off I went.

Why did I do it? Here is where the transparency comes in. It was revenge! The first drive to lose weight was to get back at a girl (so was the first time round actually)

Out of respect for everyone concerned, I won't go into details but the message is loud and clear. You need a strong reason to do something, whether that be positive or negative. Getting back at someone worked wonders for me.

This can't always be the motive as you will fail however, I found learning and helping people very quickly and this carried me through. This was my reason and I kept to myself. I didn't do what I did to try and impress someone as this never works. I will talk about worthiness issues in a later post.

What is your reason? It is clear? Are you clear? Do you know why you do things? I do some silly things and I know why I do them. I still have my "make people laugh so they like you" thing going on from when I was a fat kid. It's fun knowing yourself and being able to laugh at your little imperfections. I believe denial to be a very sad and disturbing thing to go through.

For me, health and weight loss teaches us  lot about people and ourselves. You get to know yourself better, you get to know who you want to be around. This can lead to some very tough and difficult choices.

You can't be scared to make these choices if you want to live. Seeing people that you care about ruin their health, losing life long "friends" because you have changed and the inner battle with confidence versus arrogance are all part and parcel of the journey to understand life, which, at least for my money, starts with a healthy vessel to carry you through the sea.

I will keep each post quick and easy, more to follow.....
Seven years ago I started a journey which began with a decision to lose weight. This changed my existence in a way I can't put into words. It has been a physical and mental rollercoaster that leads me to starting this series of posts today.

I have recently written a book and it didn't go down too well with the publishing agents. I am assuming that weight loss in a practical and spiritual way isn't that sexy. Anyway, back to my realization!

I tend to take a lot of things personally, it has always been my nature. This is why I get upset when I lose fans off my Facebook page! I know that what I do isn't everyone's cup of tea but it still grates on me a little bit.

So lets get this show on the road! As much as coffee induced rambling as divine intervention, I am going to write down how and why I do what I do.

There is a contradiction to begin with. I encourage people not to take things personally when I do! As I write this, I want us to work on this experience together! Ok? Lets do it!!!

Reality check first, are you happy? I mean really happy. I don't mean artifical, compensation or substance induced happiness, I mean a sense of purpose and contentment that gets you through the day.

I am nearly there, not completely but nearly. We now live a world where unhappiness is the norm though and this is partly why I do what I do. I want to help people, however I can only help those that want to be helped.

I am very fortunate to have seen my own personal light at age 32 and I will never look back. I am willing to fight and lose everything in order to fufill my purpose.

So lets keep this brief to start off with! I do what I do to help people and do not take life seriously. I cannot afford to be miserable or listen to fucking negative life sucking people telling me that I can't do stuff. I haven't got the time. I will write a series of posts about why I do what I do and how we as a people need to fight back against awful food, awful food advice and our herding into commerically led, reality TV watching, pill popping and unhappy creatures.

Stay tuned....