Someone asked me recently, “What are the three most important things I need to know to get and stay as fit as you are?” (This person doesn’t read this website, so let me just say that he is one of those people who prides himself on being intelligent, insightful, and efficient. So, that’s why he usually fails!) Here is what I told him:

1. Never fail to work out just because you don’t feel like it. Do the workout, and then you’ll feel like it.
2. Write down everything that goes in your mouth BEFORE it goes in your mouth.
3. Do something at least once a week to help someone who cannot pay you back, and don’t tell anyone about it.

My friend was disappointed. He simply said, “there has to be more to it than that.”  My response was, “these are the most important–the rest of it anyone can do.”

I am absolutely certain that he won’t follow this advice. His whole purpose in asking me that question was to try to find the “trick” or the best “tips” to getting fit. But, the bottom line is that each one of the principles I set out for him is something that most people have completely backwards. Most people believe that action follows moods, but the truth is that you must act your way to better thinking. Most people think that a diet journal should have in it what you’ve already eaten. But, writing it down before you eat it usually changes bad habits much more quickly. And so far as helping others anonymously, most people–though they rarely would admit to it–are looking for someone to help them so they can get ahead of others–which is why they never do!