I took the opportunity to visit my hometown of Charleston, SC where I spent two weeks.  I had the opportunity to exercise and unwind.  Its a beautiful thing to not have to be in such a rush all the time.

On my drive back to Nashville I meditated over the 6-month mark I had reached with this weight loss journey and how I could take things to another level.  I have some incredible ideas that I am about to bring to the forefront.  Things are definitely looking up!

Dreams mean work,

Lou Riley

p.s.  Check out the link below.  This is a product I have been using and I am really seeing some great results.  They got a nice deal going on as well:

It’s incredible to consider how powerful perception can be. We can convince ourselves of anything if we think hard and long enough about it. Sadly though, most of us allow the negative to enter our minds and become our prevailing thought. As the Law of Attraction teaches, we can make heaven or hell out of most things. So many of us have become used to disappointment. Bad things happen in our lives and it comes as no surprise. Some of us would admit to expecting things to go wrong. It’s almost as if we have built in mechanism designed to protect us from disappointment by never allowing us to have hope. This is why many of us never bother to thing big.

It’s even worse once we are in the midst of our depression. We already kick ourselves for the things we either have become or have not become. We drown ourselves in the problem and fail to give any thought to a solution. Things then begin to compound. We feel like we are holding on by the thinnest of threads with no solution in sight. Then, to pour water on your drowning spirit, you have people around you who fall right into misery’s trap. They offer no real words of encouragement. Only cliches and shallow quotes.

Such is the case with weight loss. Many have convinced themselves that being overweight is who and what they are. “That’s how God made me!” Some will explain. They have tried everything and nothing seems to work. To that, the voice in my head wonders if they have ever thought to try commitment. I don’t say this to sound rude or cold, however it has been my own personal experience that whenever I would commit to losing weight, things would work out in my favor. Sure, I could be biased, however, I have only my own story from which to relate. I would fail at losing weight whenever I would allow myself to stop believing. I had to learn the hard way. I got that covered, so now you can learn from my shortcomings.

This is why, in our moments of clarity, we must arm ourselves with positive people and positive talk and positive vibrations. These are the things that get us through the lean times. Those positive voices can be the very thing to move you forward to your next challenge. This is why I love self improvement/development books. I see so much of myself in them. They help me to better relation to people, places and things. It also helps to listen to the perspective of others who have been where you are and have made it through. I don’t focus on weight loss stories at all. Instead, I find books on how people go from nothing to something to be extremely fascinating. If you read and pay close enough attention, you will find certain secrets buried inside the pages. Those my friends are our solutions. Stop bathing in the problem. Knowledge is all around us. We only need to reach out and bring it into our lives.

Until the next time….remember:

Dreams mean work!

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 verse

Blog Post #31

It takes more than me to be able to maintain my pace. This journey to losing weight has morphed into the journey to achieve success across multiple areas in my life. Although my videos and blogs have been from a “me first” perspective, trust when I tell you that I have a lot of others who have contributed to my effort. My good friend, who initially challenged me to get back on track was at the gym when I finished today’s Big Run. I told him I just ran 3.8 miles. He asked, “how do you feel?” “Pretty good,” I said. Then he says, “well hey, come work out with us!” I realized I had no excuse that would fly in on this occasion, so after running almost 4 miles in over an hour, I then underwent another hour of weight lifting and resistance training.

I remember just looking at the weights at some point during the workout because there was nothing in me that was saying I could do it. There he was in the background saying “Come on Louis Riley,” and in my sarcastic undertone I said, “yeah, yeah, yeah….” You see, its moments like this when you learn to appreciate how the mind controls the body. I had so many thoughts of I can’t running through my head, until it was slowing me down. I kept looking for a reason to accept the “I can’t” as my truth, but nothing would stick. I knew from a place deep inside that at least, it was possible…and if it is possible, then why not try. I pushed through fatigue and soreness and I completed the workout. I must admit, I would not have pushed myself as much if I were exercising alone. ‘

In every effort of success, we need to be certain we keep certain people around us who can see our lighter side and not settle for our darkeness. We all need someone in our circle who pushes us to become great. We need that someone who believes in us even when we may not believe in ourselves. I have a few people in my life who fit this description. I would supposed I am fortunate to have them. However, it sometimes takes a lot of swallowing my ego. As I state in the video associated with this entry, I have a rather high opinion of myself. When you tell me I can’t, I automatically think I can. When you doubt me, I want to prove you wrong. So when I hear criticism, like many, my first reaction is to push it aside because I feel like I am being attacked. However, I am built for success. I know that these people come from a sincere place. I listen to their opinions and I then allow it to run through my mental process so that I can pull the lessons I was supposed to learn.

Sometimes when we drop our ego, we will learn the it was standing in the way of what we really need in our lives….

Dreams Mean Work!

There are numerous mind games I have learned to play against myself to help increase my focus. You see, once your body gets to the place where it is physically able to run, the biggest obstacle you will face is your mental ability to endure longer runs. Take today for example. I ran over 5 miles. I always run with a set of headphones on, but sometimes my music gets confused with my GPS signal and it shuts off for stretches. I have learned to let my body go and allow my mind to go to other places. Often, I take the opportunity to reflect on solutions to problems I am having. I often refer to running as a time to meditate. There is a peace that comes about once your mind and body are in rhythm. You can hear your heart beating. You can hear yourself breathing. You can even hear the sound of your footsteps upon the pavement. There are other times when you forget that you are running. Those are the best. It’s as if your body is on autopilot and your mind checks out. It is during these stretches that you build the ability to run long distances. It will drive a person wild if they start running and immediately start looking for the end. There is so much to be learned during the run. Much in the same way, there is so much to be learned during the journey of life. They actually parallel one another. Now, this is not to say that running is the only way to reach this place. There are many. However, running is what I know, therefore, it is what I choose to speak on. Only a runner can understand the peacefulness that occurs to them while out on the route. Running is an addictive drug. Once you get the right dose of it, your body has trouble doing without it. Try it for yourself and find out.

Dreams Mean Work!
Documentation beats conversation:

I knew that when I started this journey, I would need to add weight lifting to my regimen. I consulted with a mentor of mine who said he had something to show me. Little did I know that he was speaking about Resistance Training Bands. The bands offer a unique, highly mobile. low impact way to build strength. The key is proper technique and rapid movements. That was the way to burn fat and increase muscle tone. Since I have no plans of ever competing again physically, there is no need other than vanity to show I can bench press 300+ pounds (yes I can still bench press 300+ lbs!) So I became curious about using the bands.

I must say that I have been extremely happy with them. I can workout in a gym, at a park, in my driveway, in the swimming pool-it doesn’t matter! This simple, yet genius “machines” have made all the difference in my return. You may have even seen T.O. (Terrell Owens) using them in the swimming pool during an episode of his reality show. I figure if T.O. looks like that and uses the resistance bands, then there must be something more to them than meets the eye.

In fact, you will find resistance training bands at any major college sports program around the country. Some for rehab purposes, and other for speed and agility training. I’m probably waaayyy ahead of the fitness curve here, but my the way my body feels now is proof enough for me and in time, the way I look will serve as proof enough for you.

I also notice others with weight issues who come to the gym to work out. I watch them struggle with free weights. Many times, their body isn’t strong enough as of yet to make that jump. Their technique is an issue as well. I know from experience that when the body isn’t strong enough to handle a movement, it begins to compensate. It has become easy for me to watch others exercise and tell who is hurting another part of their body by lifting with the improper technique or just flat out trying to lift too much weight. I don’t say much due the lack of a relationship. One day though, I look forward to holding a few classes to teach others the things I am now learning. Resistance Training Bands will definitely be a large part of that.

Dreams Mean Work

Dreams Mean Work

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Two questions I learned from one of my professors in my Master’s Program:

1.  How am I doing?

2.  How am I really doing?

Ok, I think I can get to the real answer.  I’m tired.  Flat out tired.  I have been in 90+ degree heat for the past three days.  I help coach a baseball team that played in a tournament in Knoxville, TN this weekend.  I wasn’t able to get the type rest I needed on Monday.  However, I did get up on today and make my wayt to the gym.  I didn’t plan on exercising for two hours…it just happened!  Now my body is really feeling it.  I have twinge in my lower back that feels like it could turn into the all familiar nerve pinch.  However, I know a little trick that should keep that from happening.

My exercise routing for the day was challenging.  I know why as well.  I am still tired from this weekend.  I made a huge mistake by not getting enough rest.   No need to dwell  on it.  Stuff like this happens, especially when you are on the move.

Committing to exercise is hard enough.  When you’re not at home and around familiar people, places and things, you have to make your plans portable.   I always travel with my sneakers when I go out of town.  If I end up in a nice area, I  like to wake up and run.  Also, the exercise bands I use can easily pack up and go along with me wherever I go.   If I did hit a milestone, I’m too tired to have recognized it!

What about you?  Is your exercise routine portable?  Or can you only exercise if you are at the gym?  There’s no right or wrong here.  What works best is what works for you.  I’d love to hear about it!

Dreams Mean Work!

Last week was good for me. I found myself gaining more control over my thought process when it comes to “needing” to eat. That carried over to today. After eating a sensible first meal, my initial thought was to get more food. I thought about it for a second then decided to drink more water and have more fruit. Watermelon this time of year is like a secret weapon for me when it comes to weight loss. It fills you up and at the end of the day, heck, it’s mostly water. I realized that sometimes you have to trick your body into thinking its satisfied in order for it to be satisfied.

There was a quote I used in my last video that said in order to control your urges, you must first control your thoughts. This is week #5 of this part of my journey and I have to tell you, I am feeling stronger. I am not focusing on lifting heavy weights or anything of that sort, rather, I have incorporated a few very simple techniques that have given me incredible results. I promise in the future, I will do a video to show you what I am talking about. For now, I’ll let you know that I use a combination of resistance bands, kettle bells as well as a few resistance exercises.

I also owe you a glimpse of what I am doing to eat healthier. I have been given numerous suggestions, but you have to understand that I am the type person that wants to figure this stuff out for themselves. I will say this, diet plans are not for me. Food has always been a part of my culture and will continue to be. I’ve envisioned in about 15-20 years becoming a chef of some sort. Maybe this phase of my life is where those lesson are going to be laid? Only time will tell.

Dreams mean work!

I hope that your journey to healthy weight loss is coming along well. I have just started my fourth week and I feel pretty good about myself. As mentioned in the video, one of the side effects of doing the right things is having other areas of your life affected by it. I don’t remember who said this, but the quote hold true: “the hard I work, the luckier I get!” I am a firm believer in this principle.

I realize that the weight gain I have experienced over the years really isn’t about weight at all. It’s about emotions and thought. The day we learn how to control our thoughts, we gain a better ability to control our emotions. For many, this isn’t new information. However, I have seen few who offer a way to control your thoughts. I came across just the thing that could very well help you do that. It’s called “The Master Key System.”

The Master Key System was among the first books to use the phrase Law of Attraction, which has become such a popular term today when referring to the most powerful force in the universe. It covers everything from how to create abundance and wealth to how to get healthy. It’s author, Charles F Haanel, leaves no stone unturned.

With precision, Haanel presents a step by step guide, along with exercised to increase your ability to control your thoughts. This book was banned by the Church in 1933 and has been hidden away for decades.

Rumor has it that while he was attending Harvard University, Bill Gates discovered and read The Master Key System. It was this book that inspired the future founder of Microsoft to drop out of the University and pursue his dream of “a computer on every desktop.” You probably know the results…

It is Silicon Valley’s secret that almost every entrepreneur who made a fortune in recent years did so by studying the words Mr. Haanel penned around 100 years ago! Almost every millionaire and billionaire in the Valley read The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel. Since this book was no longer in print until recently, copies of The Master Key System became a hot commodity in the Valley.

The book was also one of the major inspirations behind the hit movie known as “The Secret” and is now known to have inspired the writing of the world’s most famous success book Think And Grow Rich. It has once again been made available. For those of you who have read this far into my blog post, I have a treat for you. The original Master Key System is written in a very cryptic, old school type language that can be a challenging read for many. However, I own a copy of the audiobook narrated in modern day terms and easy to understand. Leave a comment below if you would like a copy.

Dreams mean work!