Change Your Behaviors Today and Transform Your Tomorrow!

Today I made a conscious decision to get out of my comfort zone and REALLY mix things up! Normally I train at an overcrowded, low-energy 24 hour fitness. It is just a gym to me and nothing special beyond that.

Since I am fortunate to live within 45 minutes of the Mecca, Golds Gym Venice, I made the drive and opted out of cardio at 24 Hour Fitness. The moment I walked in, I could feel the difference. The energy in the gym was tangible. You could slice it with a knife. Famous athletes, actors/actresses, legendary bodybuilders and regular folks all frequent the gym. Each of those people wants to experience the most famous gym on the planet.

This morning it was a cardio day. I found the only open treadmill in the back corner of the room behind a stairwell and spent a few minutes walking next to actor Ray Liotta. After warming up, I made my way to the elliptical machine and began my actual workout. This gave me a much better view of the room and a chance to take it all in. Ahead of me was famous bodybuilder Dennis James pumping away in a chest workout to the order of legendary trainer Charles Glass. Stone Cold Steve Austin went walking by soon after. What a trip! I thought to myself. I was not star struck, but appreciative of the unique opportunity to be in the presence of extraordinary people doing ordinary daily things. Football star and pro bowler Brendan Ayanbadejo walked in and we visited for a few minutes. We were friends from college and had not seen each other in five years. This trip was already a success. Walking out of the gym this morning, I see Tito Raymond training a client and Shawn Ray walk into the gym with Lonnie Teper. They were coming to film a preview for Ironman Magazine about the upcoming Arnold Classic in Ohio. I was pleased with the start of my day!

The point of the story is not to name drop all my celebrity sitings. It was to show that when we do things out of the “ordinary,” “unordinary” things start happening to us! More on this topic in a second…

After leaving the gym, I went for breakfast at the Firehouse, a famous bodybuilders diner just walking distance from Golds Venice. The menu is “bodybuilder” friendly and has outstanding food. Egg whites and oatmeal were on the menu for me because I was keeping things clean. On my way back to my truck, I stopped off at Max Muscle owned by Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler. There was another adventure in store for me and I did not want to miss a meal, so I purchased 3 meal replacements.

I left Venice bound for Hollywood. As I drove down Sunset Blvd, I passed Mel’s Diner, the Saddleranch, the Standard Hotel and a host of other Hollywood locales. On up into the foothills, I continued and arrived at the trail head for the Hollywood sign. I had never been before and the sign is considered Hollywood’s best known and most photographed landmark.

With a bottle of water and a camera, I set out on an hour long hike to get up close and personal with the sign. I’m not a hiker. Never been a hiker before. I am a hiker now! WOW did those hills feel awesome on my legs! The weather was incredible. The air was crisp, the sky blue, and the sun seemed to warm me from the inside out. I really felt happy being out there. I even took the opportunity to work on my tan. How many places on earth can you have your shirt off in February and be warm?

After making it as close as legally possible to the sign, I snapped some pictures and turned back. I jogged all the way back to the bottom. Talk about tough. Trail running is no joke. It is not the treadmill. My legs are sore now!

I was reminded of an important lesson today. A seminar speaker once said, the habits that enabled him to become a multi-millionaire speaker worldwide, are the same habits holding him back from becoming a billionaire. I hope you guys caught that. He has a lot of “financial” success admittedly, but even he knows that his actions and behaviors which have brought him tremendous gain are holding him back from the next level! How is that for a re-frame!

In the past I was never a hiker and was never interested in hiking. If one hike per month meant the difference between being an ultra-fit person and an average joe, I never would have known. Hiking was not an activity or behavior I participated in or even thought about for that matter. When we look at each aspect of our life and ask how can we shake them up. What can we do to force ourselves out of our own way, we will uncover limitless opportunities.

When Bill Gates, respected businessman and billionaire, struggles with creativity, he does something about it. For an entire year, he took a different route home from work every single day! He never repeated the same route! The forced cognition literally created new neural pathways in his brain and sparked change in his life.

For you, this might mean a different running route, new foods or spices. Perhaps a new workout partner, new gym or fresh pair of running shoes. Refrain from eating the same food twice in a week. Force yourself to develop a taste for new and healthy foods deepen your menu of meal choices. This is a surefire way to guarantee ultimate transformation and long-term fitness success.

The things that got us to where we are today may just be holding us back from where we want to get in the future. The saying goes, a mind once expanded will never contract. You can’t unring a bell. For Bill Phillips, he spoke of his vision 10 years ago in Body of Work when talked about first seeing the red Lamborghini. His mind, at that point in time, had expanded and would not contract. He knew what he wanted and had to change his actions and behaviors in order to get that car; in order to attain “SUCCESS.” His achievements now far exceed the red sports car.

For all of us, everything begins with thought. We know we want better bodies, more health, younger looks etc…Now that we have some information and strategies to apply, the process seems all the more practical.

Have an AWESOME DAY!

Dr. Shaun Stuto is a Missoula Chiropractor and the founder of Transormation Chiropractic in Missoula, MT. Call TODAY and Schedule an appointment (406) 728-1250