Failing Forward - Fitness Success Strategy
- By James Villepigue CSCS
- Published 03/17/2009
Forgetting the past and only looking to the future
This is listed as a beginner goal, but it can be used throughout the process of building to your potential. For any beginner about to join a workout regimen they often will either remember how their lives have been or they may remember other exercise programs and diets that have failed. In order for any program to work, the negative must be gone from the person’s mind. The only way to do this is to forget the past. Do not accept the past, forget the past! Accepting the past will make you think that it is just fine that you have failed in your physical fitness pursuits. It is not fine that you have failed because you are more important than to have failure run your thoughts.
At first it is hard to do this. A good way to practice this is to forget about recent problem situations that you cannot do anything about by dwelling on them and moving on. If you are late for work one day, then set a goal that it will not happen again and do not let it happen again. Do not ponder on what has happened in the past. In doing this you will say to yourself that “Maybe my diet and exercise program has failed, but this will not fail because my failure is in the past.”
By being ignorant to what has happened in the past you will gradually begin to accept that failure will not happen again because it has never happened before.
This technique can be used throughout your exercising career. If you fail to perform up to the abilities you thought you would perform at then just forget about your failure that day and try it at the next workout session. If you fail at the next workout session then forget about your failure and then try it at the 3rd workout session.
Approach anything in the program that you have failed at before as though you are trying it the first time. By utilizing this exercise daily when you are working out and following various nutrition guidelines you will begin to notice that any type of setback has little if no effect on your motivation to succeed.
If you want your reality to be filled with success, then only think about the successes. If, however, you focus on failures then your physical fitness reality will be filled with failure and self-doubt.
Fail Forward and you will realize your greatest fitness potential!
Keep Going!
James Villepigue CSCS
James Villepigue CSCS
James Villepigue, CSCS is an International Best Selling Author of over 22 books. Over the last 8 years, he has built one of the most successful fitness book franchises in history.
He has been involved in the health and fitness industries for over 17 years. With over one million copies of James’ books sold, he has helped many hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world—of all ages and from all walks of life—achieve extraordinary results to their body’s & their lives.
James is most passionate about sharing his mastery of getting people in their absolute best shape.
James has appeared on and is the Featured Fitness Trainer of “The Regis & Kelly Show" , The Maury Show and many other TV and radio shows. In addition to his books, he has written for national magazines like Fitness, Women's World, Muscle-Mag, Oxygen, Cosmopolitan, Self and Marie Claire.
James earned degrees from the New York College of Health Professions and Hofstra University, and is a graduate of the highly acclaimed Institute for Professional Empowerment Life/Business Coaching. He is Nationally Certified as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS©), under The NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), a certified personal trainer with ACE (American Council on Exercise), ISSA (The International Sports Science Association) and the NBFE (National Board of Fitness Examiners).
