If I Don't Get Started, Then I Won't Be Able to Fail... Right?

Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar:

For some time now you have had this nagging little voice in your head. It comes and goes, but each time the voice gets a little louder and a little more urgent.

"Maybe if you changed your eating patterns, you would have more energy. If you had more energy, maybe your performance at work would be better and get you that raise!'

"The doctor said if something doesn't change, prescription medication is your only chance of living a 'normal' life"

"You had so much confidence in high school when you were playing sports. Where did that swagger go? Maybe if you exercised we could regain that invincibility!"

So you find yourself looking around for answers. Maybe you ask your friends what they do. You Google search 'Celebrity Diet'. You actually sit and watch the P90X infomercial wondering if those people are for real!? Whatever it is, you come across a solution that might just work! An excitement grows in you, and that little voice says 'Yes, This is it! Watch Out World Here We Come!" Then... like a right cross from a prize-fighter that you never saw coming, another voice speaks up. This voice's tone is a bit different. This voice knows you and your past too well, and isn't shy to remind you...

"You've tried other diets before. You know you will just quit by Week 2. Why get your hopes up?"

"You know those people on that infomercial are paid actors! Those programs don't work... plus it looks kind of hard. There is no way you could hang in there for 90 days!"

"You know if you start this your buddies are going to make fun of you! Plus you have pizza, beer, and poker night every week... are you really gonna show up with grilled chicken and water?!?!""

And just as quickly as it came, that first voice of hope is grabbed by the throat, shoved under the waters of fear, and is drown like so many other dreams you have had before.

If this example is all too familiar, you aren't alone. Whether it is a new food plan, exercise regimen, starting a business, moving to a dream city- many people never make a move because they are afraid that might fail. We have been programmed since we were young that failing is bad. I mean no one wanted to come home with a big ugly red F on a paper right?

So we justify it. Technically, if I don't get started then I really can't fail... right? Wrong! Not getting started is really the worst kind of failure.

Stick with me for just a second. Say you decide to start a new workout routine. You join a gym, or hire a trainer, or buy a program you saw on TV. You get it in the mail, you open it up, and you are excited about getting started. Day 1 the alarm goes off an hour earlier than normal. You struggle out of bed, you pop in the DVD, and you begin. And guess what- you are horrible at it.

You struggle to get through the warm up, your form is terrible, and you realize you can ache in places you didn't know you had! But you get through it! The next day gets a little easier, and the next thing you know you are gaining momentum and its Day 7 before you know it. Then, life strikes! You get sick, the kids have an issue that eats up your fitness time, work needs you to come in earlier or stay later. The next thing you know, 7 more days have gone by since your last workout. Your momentum is gone and you really don't know if it is worth trying again, so you don't.

So the 2nd little voice was right! Technically you failed... right? Well, that really is up to you. You did get through a week of workouts. You did reset your body clock to the point you really didn't need to set an alarm anymore. You were more productive at work, had a better attitude with the family, and felt better the days you did the program. So even though you stopped there are a few positives you could take from the week. So now the question has adjusted from 'Can I Do This?' to 'Will I Do This?'

"But... I still failed. I invested money, time, sweat and ultimately I didn't finish the program- just like I knew I wouldn't! I feel awful now for quitting. I told you it would be better if I didn't start!"

Let's say you never invested in the program. So now you don't even have a tool in the house to improve your health if you ever decided you wanted to. Your energy levels continue to lag causing strain on your relationships at work. Your health deteriorates to the point where your doctor has no choice but to put you on those prescription meds, and you realize you are paying more for those that would have on the programs and supplements to improve your situation. And as your confidence continues to dwindle, you dream a little less each day till you just accept the fact that this is real life- so deal with it.

You see by not ever starting your situation has actually gotten worse! Did the guy that failed get off track and feel bad about it... yes. But each day he has a choice to get up, put away his pride and start again. The first time he only got through one week, maybe the next go round he gets through 2. Maybe it takes him starting over 5 times before it finally clicks and he sticks it out. He starts to see results. His health improves, his confidence comes back, and he is a new person! Was it worth the 5 hiccups to finally have the break through of long-term success? You bet it was!

Do you think it would be worth starting and failing if you knew you would have someone there to pick you up, dust you off, and get moving with you again?

That in a nut shell is my story. I lost 100 pounds. My fitness journey spans over 10 years.

The reason I bounced back after each set back was because I associated myself with an online community that was there to support me. If I didn't show up for a few days to log my workouts, here came a message asking where I was, how I was doing, and that I had been missed. Wow! You talk about making an impact. No longer was I fighting this battle alone. I had support from people who had been where I had been and succeeded, and others who were in the middle of their journey as well. For me that was my secret weapon, one I would have paid a premium price for, but the amazing thing was that I got all that support for free!

So if you are finally ready to take that step to get started. I want to help you do it. I invite you to get Instant Access to My Free No-Brainer Food Guide when you visit Nelsongy Fitness