Hey everyone, Brad here and today I've got a special treat for ya.  First off, I just finished creating my Affiliate Marketing For Dummies training site, where I show aspiring Online entrepreneurs how to make passive income on the Internet.  Secondly, and more specific to this post, one of my long time TopFatLossTrainer readers and best success stories, Michael Kory, has hooked you up with a guest blog post.

I think this will give you a huge dose of motivation, as you'll be able to see an 'average guy' who's taken this information and used it to transform his body (see abs below)...and more importantly, his lifestyle, to become exceptional.

In fact, Michael has been personally inspired to help others achieve the lean and ripped body that I talk about so often on this blog.  I thought it'd be cool to have him share some of the tips, tricks and knowledge he's picked up along the way (during his own body transformation)...so you'll probably being seeing some articles and videos from Michael in the future.   I'll let him take it from here...

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What's up fat haters?  I've always liked how Brad's started out his posts like that.

First off, I'm going to start out by saying that my name is Michael Kory.  I have been trying to get lean and ripped for the past two years and have made great changes.  At my high school, they gave us laptops and I'm sure you can imagine, if you've got an 18 year old sitting in a boring class the whole day, he will find some stuff on the internet to keep him entertained.  You're probably asking yourself why am I telling you this?

The reason I mention this is because one day about 3 months ago, I found TopFatLossTrainer and was instantly hooked, going through and reading every single one of the articles to better my knowledge.  I thought it was crazy how me and Brad Campbell had very similar views on how to get lean, ripped, and shed that fat.

I feel that a lean/ripped body was much more appealing than one of those HUGE meat heads you will see at the gym. You know what I'm talking about and have seen them before.  If you don't know what I'm saying, just imagine:  the guys that are putting way too much weight on the bench or any other machine, just to have their spotter do most of the work.

They want to get ripped, but anything that they seem to do doesn't work.  It's not that their bodies aren't capable of making a change, they just don't know the correct way to do it.

What I want to talk about today is dedication and staying motivated.  Let's start this post out with a quotation that I have always kept in the back of my mind while on my course to get lean and ripped...

"Dedication is what lazy people mock and label as obsession."

This really shows what it is all about.  People have said to me, "Michael, you are obsessed and really go overboard with all of this."  I just think to myself that it really isn't me being obsessed, it's me being dedicated and wanting to make change.

This is the kind of attitude that you need to have if you want to change your lifestyle and get ripped, lean, and lose fat.  If you want to make a change, you have to start somewhere.

When I started out back in July of 2008, I was a scrawny kid, not happy with the way I looked without my shirt on, and wanted a change.  I wanted to make a change, but I did not know what workouts to do, what to eat, pretty much anything that seemed important to getting the ripped physique that I desired.

That's why I started writing fitness articles and making videos in the first place.  I want to help people that were once in my shoes.  Now, it doesn't matter if you're skinny and need to add muscle or overweight and need to lose fat--both situations require the same mentality and positive changes in lifestyle.

I've been to all of the websites out there and I can promise you that there is no website better than TopFatLossTrainer.com.  Look around the Internet and you will find websites that don't really care about your progress and only care about one thing...money.

Brad's website was the first one that I went to where I was not asked to give money within being on the page for 5 minutes and this was refreshing.  Not to mention the information that I was getting everyday helped me get even leaner.

I remember the exact moment where I finally came to the realization that if I truly wanted to be that ripped guy at the pool, I was going to have to change my entire lifestyle.  I remember sitting outside on the 4th of July on a warm summer evening, after finishing up a plate of hot dogs and bratwursts, eating a big chocolate brownie with one hand and washing it all down with a root beer (sounds good, right?).

This was my moment, the jump start, the exact time when I started my change and I can tell you that to this day I have not had a soda since that moment.  To start a drastic lifestyle change, you too need to have your "moment."

One of those moments where the light bulb comes on and that epic music starts.  As I sat there stuffing my face with unhealthy foods, I thought to myself, "What am I doing?"  "Is eating this brownie going to help me to achieve my goals?"

Sure, the brownie tastes good, but what does it get me?

Ever since that 4th of July I have thought of it this way:  short term pleasure vs. long term gain.  I remember asking myself this quite often when I was first starting out on my journey for the lean and ripped physique.  Eating the brownie is your short time pleasure.  Sure, it may taste good now, but you're going to pay for it later because it is going to only push you further away from your goals.

By not eating the brownie you are bettering yourself in the long run, thus the term long term gain.  Not eating that brownie is hard at first, but I promise that you can do it.

Once you have your moment, you will be ready to start your journey to achieving the lean body that you've always wanted.  This whole concept is easier said than done and it takes a few months to get it down perfectly.  I remember caving in to cinnamon rolls or cookies multiple times at school, but after I ate it, I felt guilty.

Eventually this happened enough to the point where I knew that the long term gain was worth more than the short term pleasure.  Just like getting good at a sport or anything else in life, it takes dedication and the willingness to work at something everyday.  Every choice you make affects your journey.

I'll leave you guys with some words of wisdom:  To get somewhere, you have to start somewhere.  Take care and stay dedicated...

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Hope you guys enjoyed Michael's guest post and be sure to leave him a comment below.

By the way, what was your defining moment? Michael had the 4th of July pig out epiphany (no offense, lol)... for me, it was viewing some pics of myself at the beach, after returning from a vacation in San Diego (I discussed this "moment" on my Inner Circle sales page).  So what was it for you?  Or, has it even happened yet?

Whatever the moment or scenario, it generally needs to be very powerful, very clear and very much emotionally based.  It may not seem like much to everyone else, but no doubt it meant the world to you and is what propelled you to take action and not look back.  Looking forward to your feedback.

Have a great weekend.

Your Coach,

Brad Campbell

PS - Seize the moment.

To lose fat, build muscle, get a lean body or accomplish any other goals (including non-fitness related goals), it all starts with one simple component that's almost always overlooked - developing the proper mindset.  To be frank (even though I'm Brad...), the average person is so self-sabotaging it's not even funny.  The tricky thing is that most people will never discover just how limiting their own thoughts truly are.

If you don't know what's wrong, it's kinda hard to fix it, right?  If you're having troubles achieving your ideal body, most often times it has nothing to do with you selecting the wrong workout or diet plan and everything to do with you not having the correct mindset.  So if you're dying to get a lean body and wondering why you're not getting anywhere, I encourage you to start spending some time on that big brain of yours.

Whether it's reading just ten to fifteen minutes a day of an uplifting book or watching a motivational video or speech...or just spending more time around positive, successful people and less time around negative, energy-zapping complainers...you'll begin to notice almost immediate changes in your thought process.

This is BIG, because once you start to think differently, you start to act differently.  And guess what happens when you start acting differently - you got it, you start to see different (better) results.

If you're tired of carrying excess body fat and really want to sculpt a hard body that belongs on the beach in as skimpy of a swimsuit as possible (can I get an eww-wee?), then sure, you need to start doing things differently.  The problem is that most people skip the most crucial step of reprogramming their thoughts and jump right into switching things up (e.g. starting a new cardio workout or xtreme fat loss diet), but without changing their outlook.

This leads to a temporary improvement (at best) with an end result that's always going to be the same...because in the end, your mind is going to direct your behavior to match your thoughts, beliefs and whatever negative crap you're absorbing from the environment around you.

I'm going to make it easy for you to complete your "mindset homework" I assigned you, by posting some highly motivating blog posts from time to time, so that you start to open yourself up to new ideas, better ways of thinking and greater opportunities.  Here's one from the ultra successful actor Will Smith.  This guy gets it.  Start thinking like the former Fresh Prince and you'll get a lean body, make more money or accomplish any other goal you may have.

Will Smith - Reprogramming Your Mindset For Success:

I loved how Will says we generally make things more complex than they really are.  Everyone wants to find that special secret.  Nobody thinks it really can be that easy.  This really holds true in fat loss and changing your body.

And that analogy he gave about not being afraid to die on the treadmill was straight fire.  Whether you want the best body, the biggest bonus or whatever else, you've simply got to be willing to outwork everyone else.  The average person is just too damn willing to step off that treadmill and accept defeat.

Now if you watched this video and thought it was dumb and are wondering what it has to do with you getting a lean body, then you're probably one of the people that needs a change in mindset the most.  Successful people think differently than everyone else - they think better.

Like Will Smith says, it pays to be irrational and unrealistic when you're thinking about your life goals...because if you're thinking realistically, you're going to act realistically, and if you act realistically, you're going to end up with very mediocre (average) results.

I'm not sure if you knew, but we don't do average on this blog.  We do exceptional.

Your Coach,

Brad Campbell

Happy New Year TopFatLossTrainer readers...I don't know about you, but 2010 will be by far the best year of my life.  How do I know that?   Because ever since mastering the art of mindset and goal setting, I've really been firing on all cylinders.  I've never felt so positive, energetic and capable as I do today.

Actually, I shouldn't claim to have mastered mindset or goal setting, but I've definitely improved by leaps and bounds.  It's a learning process and it'll take time to change the stubborn subconscious mind.  I highly recommend you do the same - become a student of mindset, motivation and goal setting.

I don't know anyone who's super successful or has a banging body that isn't at least a semi-pro when it comes to the mental game.  If you're like I was a year or so ago, you could care less about goal setting and you probably think this blog post is a waste of your time.  Trust me, it's not.

Whether you want to make more money, become a better student or lose fat and get a lean body...you won't get far without using these powerful tools.  On the other hand, if you open up your mind and accept the fact that you need to work on the mental and emotional, before jumping right into the physical...the opportunity for accomplishment is virtually endless.

What I'm saying is that your body transformation is more about training your mind and less about training your body.  Most people get on a random fitness kick and without any thought, planning, goal setting or conditioning of the mind, start working out aimlessly, hoping to see immediate fat loss and amazing changes.

What happens to this fitness kick after a week or two?  The mind loses interest and negative subconscious thoughts take over.  It's back to cookies, ice cream, the comfortable sedentary lifestyle and more misery.  We've all been there.  Hell, I feel like I've been stuck in this rut most of my life.  And I can't tell you how freakin' good it feels to step out of this rut and just start dominating life.

When I refer to the "lean body lifestyle," I'm talking not just about how to get a lean body (through diet, training and supplementation), but way beyond that, into a whole new way of living.  Having an amazing body is just a small part of this lean body lifestyle.

Energy, attitude, confidence, self-worth, determination, focus, style and swag are much bigger and more rewarding pieces of the puzzle.  It's really hard to put into words, but I want you to experience this unstoppable feeling when you get up out of bed every morning.  And it all starts with goal setting and mindset.

The problem is like I said before...most people either think this is a bunch of fluff and try to skip this step completely; or, those who actually attempt to set goals do so incorrectly.  Because it's the start of a brand new year, what better time than to give a little overview on goal setting.

Lean Body Goal Setting - How to Dominate in 2010:

---> Goals should be realistic, but challenging.  Most people set their goals way to freakin' low and then there's always a few people who are totally unrealistic with their goals.

---> Goals absolutely have to come from within.  Seems like a no-brainer, but  I see clients who set goals based on what someone else said or what they think other people want.  If it's not your own burning desire, it's never going to happen.  You have to decide what you want.

---> Your goals have to be very specific.  It's shocking how many people out there have no clue what they want out of life.  Like, if I were to walk up to you right now, tap you on the shoulder, and ask you exactly what your short term or long term goals are...would you have anything to say?  Probably not or at least nothing that's specific and clear.

As an example, many people would come up with some generic crap like:  "I want to lose weight, be in better shape and be a better person."  Okay, but what the hell does that actually mean?  How much weight?  How are you going to become a better person?  How do you know when you've succeeded?

Here's a specific response that's much more meaningful:  "I will lose 35 lbs of body fat in 90 days and on the 91st day I will book my vacation to Cancun, Mexico, where I'll spend my days sipping Coronas and walking up and down the beach with a ripped body that makes my girlfriend feel lucky to be with me."

It's obvious that our hypothetical dude in example number two is much more likely to be successful.  He knows exactly what he wants, why he wants it and when he's going to get it by.

---> Goals need to be measurable.  This one ties in with the last point. Saying you want to look better is great, but there's no way of measuring your progress.  You need to know how you're doing along the way, in case you need to adjust your plan.

---> Make sure you goals are positive.  Notice in my example above how I phrased the dude's goal (I will accomplish x,y, and z...).  Many people make the mistake of saying:  "I'm not going to skip workouts this week," or "I won't give in to my food cravings today."  Always feed the subconscious mind with positive thoughts and messages (sounds a little self-help-ish, but it's important).

---> Every goal has to have a deadline.  This is another biggie that people tend to leave out.  Without deadlines, you're either never going to get to the end result or it's going to take WAY longer than it has to.  Either scenario sucks if you ask me.

---> Every last goal has to be in writing.  As weird as it sounds, this one changed my life.  When I started taking goal setting seriously about a year ago and began writing them down (following all the other guidelines listed), it was amazing how quickly everything started changing.  I feel like I've accomplished more in the past few months than I have in the previous 10 years.  There's just something about putting a goal in writing that makes it more official.  Also, make sure and view these written goals often.

---> Goals should be a part of your everyday life.  It's important to have 1-2 long term goals and a few short term goals, but I'd take it a step further and recommend daily goal setting.  Now, I'm not asking you to sit down and spend 30 minutes every morning creating new goals for the day...but I'm a huge believer in the "to-do list."  Spend a few minutes before you go to bed or right when you wake up in the morning and make a quick list of everything you want to accomplish for that day.  You'll easily be twice as productive.

Start following these goal setting guidelines and become a student of reprogramming your mind (not that there's anything wrong with you right now, but to improve upon your already impressive coolness, you'll want to give this some attention).  This is the first step in making that lean body dream become a walking, talking, breathing and damn good-looking reality (wink).

Make 2010 a life-changing year for yourself.  It's what cool people do.

Happy New Year.

Your Coach,

Brad Campbell

In fact, you were probably doomed from the start.

What I mean by that is this- it's nearly impossible to be successful at anything in life...let alone the difficult task of weight loss...when you fail to prepare.

You wouldn't jump into your car and drive around all day long just hoping to find a store you had never been to before...that's loco, right?

But for some reason, when it comes to losing weight and getting into shape...people tend to just dive right in, without planning, thinking, visualizing, consulting a professional, or doing anything else that would normally be carried out to ensure success in other common tasks.

Kinda DUMB...but easy to do nonetheless.

Here are 3 mistakes most people make before they even start working out....that totally throw a wrench in the ole quest for hotness:

- No clear, complete and hand-written goal. "I want to lose weight," isn't going to cut it. How much weight? What type of weight (fat, muscle, water, etc)? What size do you want to be? Do you want to be pear-shaped or hour-glassed? Who do you want to look like and why? How will this affect your life? What is your main motivation? What are you sick and tired of?

The more clear, specific and detailed you can be, the better. You can only achieve something that is predefined...you'll never get to that store if you can't remember the name and you don't have directions. Also, be sure to commit this to writing, set a date and tell as many people as possible.

Trust me, these small steps make all the difference in the world because of the added accountability you've created.

- Failure to break free from the excuses and labels. It's ironic that most people are actually going through the troubles of working out, attempting to diet, spending thousands of dollars on fitness products, gym memberships and supplements...yet, they still want to throw a pity party, play the "BAD GENES" card and insist that they're just stuck being overweight and unhappy no matter how hard they try.

Why even bother?

You need to realize that your beliefs become your reality. Most people never get rich because they don't believe it's possible...and because they don't believe it's possible, they don't take any action steps that would be necessary to become wealthy...and without action steps, how the hell would anyone become filthy rich?

Not possible, unless you win the lottery.  Wait, even then you'd have to believe you can win and take the action step of going and buying the lottery ticket.

Same reasoning holds true with weight loss or any other want or desire in life.

The first and most important step (after clearly defining what you want) is to condition your brain to truly believe that your fitness goal is possible and that you're willing to kick mad butt and do whatever it takes to accomplish this goal.

If you can't get past the "poor me" mindset and do away with the excuses...I'd learn to love what you currently see in the mirror, because that body is the reality you've validated.

- Failing to prepare. Going back to the car example...when you print out detailed directions that take you turn by turn exactly to that store's parking lot...then all that's left to do is follow and execute. There's no guesswork and no hoping things will work out.

However, most of the people trying to lose fat, tone up and look better...are the people who hop in the car and just start driving. Sure, they'll spend some time in the car, waste some gas and go through the motions...but they're never going to arrive where they were wanting to be.

Don't be that person...your body and health are too important to leave it to chance.

You need to develop a comprehensive game plan that addresses workout, nutrition and lifestyle. After this is done...there's only one thing left to do...EXECUTE.

Get your mind right BEFORE you get your grind right...ya dig?

Your Fitness Coach,

Dr. Brad Campbell, CFT, PharmD