With only 1 week to go until the kick off of the next 12 Week Transformation Challenge, one of my members told me she was going to do some reflection over a couple questions she’d asked herself, and I’ve decided to expand on those questions, and a few of my own, in today’s post.

While the “challenge” of achieving good health and a body you are happy with expands well beyond a simple 12 week period, the actual challenge is designed to build a foundation for success, and I’m only looking for serious people that truly want to achieve success. Everyone can leave their excuses at the door when they register, because the 12 week challenge is definitely NOT for anyone that isn’t fully committed to achieving results. I understand circumstances change and things come up in people’s everyday lives, but everyone has the same 24 hours in a day, and where there’s a will there’s a way as the saying goes. Participating might be enough for some, but to WIN something like this, or to even be in the running, requires Dedication, Discipline and Consistency.

Regardless of if you are doing the 12 week challenge or not, if you want to achieve any type of goal, I think it is still relevant to ask yourself some of the following questions;

#1 Am I READY to make positive changes in my life?

If you take on a weight loss challenge, or even just want to lose weight, but you don’t change any of the bad habits that put you in this mess in the first place, then you truly AREN’T ready. Wanting to lose weight isn’t enough, as just wanting something isn’t going to make it so. Not exercising, or training but not eating well, means you are only taking a minimal approach. It all begins with your mindset, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts. If you constantly make excuses for yourself, or stay in a negative mindset, then you aren’t ready. To be ready you have to take action. There is a quote that says “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.  You’ll know if you truly are ready because instead of procrastinating you’ll already be taking action. If you understand the mistakes you are making and are willing to change what you need to, then you are ready. Sit down and make a list of all the little bad habits you have that you need to change, and if you “can’t”, then taking on a 12 week challenge would be a big mistake.

#2 Do I have a positive circle of influence?

People probably really under-estimate and over look the importance and affect a positive circle of influence can have on a person. If you are ready to make changes and start achieving results, but constantly have people telling you you CAN’T, WON’T or SHOULDN’T, then that can massively impact the choices you make and actions you take. To be successful you need to surround yourself with positive people that will support your decisions and choices, and empower you to make changes. I am implementing a “buddy system” into the next challenge, as having someone to do the challenge with that is going through the same hardships, should make the experience a lot easier. Constantly offering each other support and bouncing off each other’s positive vibes could just be the game-changer you need!

#3 What did I do in the last challenge that helped me see success?

This is more a specific question for the previous contestants, though you could slightly edit this question to fit in line with whatever you are trying to achieve. For those members that participated in the last challenge, or have done anything like it before, ask yourself what you did that you know for certain aided in your results. Even if you only lost a few kilo’s, what did you do differently in the 12 week period that you had not done prior to the challenge? Write down whatever it is and ensure you take similar, if not the same actions.

#4 What could I improve on  from the last challenge, or do differently, that will help me achieve results?

Unless you are lying to yourself, you should pretty much know where you went wrong previously. Make a list of the bad habits you didn’t change v.s. the good habits you didn’t implement. Even the people that were quite pleased with what they achieved may feel like they still could have achieved more. Working out what you can improve on might make all the difference this time around. Be honest with yourself but also be realistic.

#5 Does the result outweigh the sacrifice?

Basically, you are asking yourself is it WORTH it? Are you bothered to do all that you have to in order to achieve the results you want. I think at the point of asking yourself this you’ll also answer the “am I ready” question. If you feel like all you have to do isn’t worth it then you ultimately aren’t ready and maybe you need to re-think what it is you REALLY want and what you are willing to do. Which leads me into my last question I want you to ask yourself and that is……..

#6 Do I know my “WHY”?

If you have ever watched any Tony Robbins video’s you’ll know he’s really big on this one. This is probably the most important question you need to ask yourself and you should ask it about everything. Why? Do you know WHY you want to achieve the goal you have set for yourself. As a personal trainer the most common answer I get to “what is your number one health and fitness goal”, is “I want to lose weight and get fit” or “to tone up”. Everyone wants to lose weight, tone up and get fit, but how many people actually have a WHY. How many have a specific answer in their head to that question? If you don’t know your ‘why’ then you are most likely already setting yourself up to fail, because it’s obviously not that important to you. If you keep asking yourself ‘why’, you might even discover a deep-seeded want or need that you didn’t really know was there. I can honestly say that majority of people that either don’t respond to ‘why’ or don’t have a powerful enough one, are usually the one’s that don’t achieve the results they want, or possibly even get started. You have to know what it is, want it and believe it.

I hope you will take the time to ask yourself these questions, really think about them all and write down your answers. It could be exactly what you need to get yourself on track and achieving results! ;). The challenge starts May 4th, don’t waste any more time!