You have no doubt heard it said that “life is a journey, not a destination.” I believe that to be true, particularly so in the case of Body for Life. Body for life is a journey, and an arduous one at that.

Let’s face it–a Body for Life Transformation Challenge is likely to be one of the most difficult things you’ve ever done, if you do it right. It’s not so much the time that it takes, but the discipline and courage. It takes constant vigilance about your diet and your exercise routine, and aside from free day it leaves little room for error or laziness if you hope to be successful.

For many people, BFL can become so hard that it becomes dry, uninteresting and uninspiring–particularly during those first 4 to 6 weeks when you’re learning the ropes and waiting to see the results take place. That’s NOT what it’s supposed to be like! You are supposed to be having fun here, and you are supposed to be joyful about this opportunity!

Consider these words: “THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman….the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.”

Written by Thomas Paine, these words are as true today as they were in 1776 when they were penned. The part  applicable to BFL is at the end. We all need to remember that the harder we work, and the more we pay for it, the more dear and  glorious the triumph is at the end.

So, the true principle, in order to enjoy the journey, is to remember why we started–and to anticipate and envision the glorious triumph at the end.  And, in the case of a transformation challenge, the triumph is not over another person or another army, but over the fears, doubts and  bad habits that we accumulated over a lifetime. Those things will be gone at the end of the twelve weeks journey. And, if you choose to continue living a Body for Life lifestyle, they will never return in sufficient force to unseat you from being in charge of a victorious lifestyle. Every time you squeeze out that last painful rep, or get up 2 hours before the rest of the world, or say “no thanks” when the donuts are passed, let your mind go to what you will be like at the end of this 12 weeks. And each time you take inventory of your results at the end of that week, have a small but real celebration of those accomplishments!

No one who completes a Body for Life transformation is unchanged. Enjoy this as you go, and anticipate and celebrate those changes as they come! Please don’t sell yourself short. If you start and finish a Body for Life challenge and send in your packet, you have done something that puts you in the top 3 to 5% of those who have taken the first step and registered for the challenge. It’s worth a celebration, no matter how you feel about your finish!