And of course, who could be a better poster boy for motivation and inspiration than “The Boss”, Lance Armstrong.

One of the biggest highlights of my bucket list that I’ve crossed off was seeing the great man ride in action twice at the Tour Down Under in 2009 and 2010.

This video is supershort – only 1 min – but it has a great message from Lance.

Check it out

Sound familiar? Setting a goal, writing it down, otherwise it won’t come true.

It can be said time and time again.

So once more.

1) Identify your goals.

2) Set your deadlines.

3) Start taking action!

I’ve done this with my goals for the year and also for the smaller ones that I set for each new month. It gives me something to work towards in the short term as well as the bigger picture.

I suggest it’s worth your while to do the same too.

Game on for 2K12 if you haven’t kicked your butt into gear already.

The real issue is not whether we have them, or how many of them we have, the real issue is how we deal with them.

Do we just throw in the towel and say “stuff it I didn’t want to wear that size 10 dress anyway” (even though you know you’re lying to yourself)…

OR

Do we say that’s cool. Where did I go wrong? Where could I have done better? What could be done different next time?

You see the real action takers realise that there will be slip ups and set backs.

This video will show you the best ways that you can overcome those set backs so they don’t dominate your thinking and send you off in a downward spiral.

Onwards and upwards from here team DPM!

I dug deep into the video vault to find this one as this message is perfect for those people now (who after my last post on why New Years Resolutions suck should now have their focus on measurable goals instead of some random resolutions).

Check this out and let me know what you think.

As you can see I am sick of people making excuses.

It’s always too hot or too cold. Too wet or too humid. Too much on (but still watch 3 hours of some mind-numbing tv show) or just can’t be bothered.

I’ve heard all the excuses.

Take action with your fat loss goals and you will achieve them!

Let’s get together on this one and work together!

Now it may seem like i’m going to rain on your parade and all the positivity that is around at the start of a new year when I make the statement in the title of this post “Why New Years Resolutions Don’t Work” but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

You see I want to actually help you make 2012 YOUR YEAR.

I want you to wipe the slate clean on all the previous years mistakes.

That was the trial run for this year.

For the new year.

And after you watch this short video you’ll understand why I think New Years Resolutions are a load of rubbish.

So what do you think? Am I on the right track? Be sure to let me know what you think in the comments section below.

And there will be more short and sharp videos like this featured more often – where I give you a short 60 sec tip or insight into helping make 2012 the year you finally DO get back in your skinny jeans.

It’s show time!

So below you’ll find links to a bunch of posts that I’ve previously written from great bodyweight workouts you can do at home, to food guidelines to get you back in action after you enjoy your feasts to a final word of motivation.

So let’s get into it:

Workout wise

Do this playground workout and these 10 bodyweight exercises to keep your system firing with the extra food intake.

Food wise

After your Christmas feast has finished start my 3 Day Detox Diet immediately. If you don’t have this in your arsenal you need to buy it ASAP (yes a shameless plug but it will give you the downsizing your looking for – I promise you).

The investment is less than $30 and you should get at least one of these completed between Christmas and New Years Eve and then another one starting January 2.

Deal?

Cooking wise

Read this 3 superfoods you must eat this Christmas post.

Increase your veggie intake around your feast days by following the tips in this post.

Watch out for these liquid calorie killers.

Motivation wise

And finally some words of inspiration from the NBA legend himself Michael Jordan:

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

That should see you emerge on the other side in even better shape then when you started.

You can make the smart investment and grab your own digital 3 Day Detox Diet here.

See you in 2K12!

You see this bloke was telling me that in 3 months he was going to step into the ring for a MMA (mixed martial arts) fight.

BUT the big twist on this was this bloke is well, a little out of knick, shall we say.

This bloke – Adam Thompson – was telling me of his goal to go from an overweight average Joe to being in elite condition and stepping in the MMA octagon.

Yes, he is putting his real job as a sports reporter aside and is going to be training full time like a real athlete. But I think it is a pretty great bit of motivation for a bloke to put himself through this.

As a result I got him on the DPM Performance hotseat for this QnA.

DPM: So Adam, what is The Fight Project you’ve just launched?

AT: Basically The Fight Project is a social experiment where an average Joe lives the life of a professional mixed martial artist for 3 and a half months.

This average Joe has to keep to a strict diet, endure a full time training regime, undergo a weight cut of 16kg and then finally step in a cage. Oh yeah, that average Joe is me!!!

DPM: What would possess a normal bloke – who incidentally loves a good feed and a good beer – to do something crazy like stepping in a cage against somebody who does this for a living?

AT: Insanity mostly but a few other things as well. I have worked as a journalist covering sport and in particular mixed martial arts for sometime now and from the outside looking in it looked intense what these athletes put themselves through.

MMA fighters in particular need to have incredible strength & conditioning in addition to mastering the techniques of at least 4 different martial arts – boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling and Jiu-jitsu.

I wanted to get inside and really study what makes these guys tick and this truly is the most effective way.

DPM: Were you under the influence when you came to this conclusion?

AT: I won’t lie. I had consumed a few reds on the Perth to Sydney Red Eye before deciding to go ahead with this, but anyone who knows me will tell you I don’t need to be under the influence to come up with rash and radical life choices!

DPM: What does your lovely wife Nicole think of your move and has she taken out life insurance for you?

AT: She is all for it! I don’t know if that is a good thing or bad thing! But in all seriousness she well educated in regards to this sport (MMA) and knows I am working with the best of the best thanks to Competitive Edge.

She trusts everyone involved has my best interests at the forefront of everything they do so she is right on board. That may change on fight night though!

DPM: Good to hear. Now being serious for a minute, how can your project inspire the everyday guy or girl who has let life get the best of them and stacked on a few extra kg? Are there any big take home points you’d like the readers to realise?

AT: There is a couple things I would love to achieve by the end of this. One is long overdue recognition for these athletes who endure this incredible lifestyle to achieve their goals.

The other is to show people what the everyday guy and girl are truly capable of. No one outside of professional athletes are going to be as well resourced as I am but I have plan, I have short term goals and my nutrition is right.

There is no excuse why people can not transfer those 3 things into their life. Think of your body as another person who you have been neglecting and abusing for years – except no matter how badly you treated it, it is not to late to make amends.

DPM: That’s gold. Read that again everyone if you have too. What’s going to inspire you to get out of bed at the crack of dawn and to give up a nice cold one at Christmas time?

AT: Commitment. I have a lot of people who have put their faith in me and I have no intentions of letting them down.

I can’t control the result at the end of this but what I can control is how much I put in. Like a poker player with his last chip – I am going all in.

DPM: Finally – good luck with this project – I know you’ll nail it. Where can people go to follow along with your mission?

AT: Head to www.thefightproject.com.au plus UFC Magazine Australia will be following my

journey from January.

Cheers mate. So jump on board – follow Thommo on his mission. Subscribe to The Fight Project’s youtube channel, follow along on facebook and check out the website as even though we’re only a week into the 3 month mission it will be a ride you’ll want to be on for. And watch this video review of his first week in action:

Nail it Thommo!

Zig was a superstar salesman who went on to become a very influential speaker and mentor to many.

I’ve listened to a lot of Zigs audios over the years and I get something out of each one.

This video is short, sweet, and a great intro into the man if you have never heard of him before. He also has the best southern accent!

My favourite line is the “You don’t drown by falling in water, you only drown if you stay there”.

He may be getting on in years but he is a wise old man who is worth listening to.

As you can see from the picture above he was signing copies of his latest book.

There was one line in the book that I have to share with you as it sums up what you have to do to get to where you want to be:

“Winning: sometimes it comes when you least expect it – like a really pleasant surprise”

I love that quote – basically just sums up that you keep plugging away and you’ll get the goal – sometimes when you least expect it.

Nice and simple way to start the week right?

The name of the book by the way is Long Road to Paris and is well worth the read.

Yeah it may sound corny of fake to someone who reads this on a computer screen but to be honest I don’t really care.

Why do I do what I do?

To see people get results.

End of story.

The world is full of plenty of people who will try and drag you down for doing something for you. These success stories that I’ve shared in the last couple of days – like Melinda and Anne Marie didn’t listen to those people.

Now today it’s Kylie’s turn:

“I have definitley noticed a difference between the start and finish of the 8 week transformation program.

I followed the guidelines and food plans for the most part, especially the last 3 weeks and it worked.

It is so easy, there are no complicated rules on what to eat, just clean and simple.

It has shown me how my body responds to different foods, so it definitely has changed my bad eating habits. I have had people comment on the weight I have lost, and I feel great too. Thanks Dan!”

- Kylie Smith lost a TOTAL of 15.56% from her frame in only 8 weeks!

Congratulations Kylie – you are another DPM Performance superstar. Enjoy the fruits of your labours!

This time from Anne Marie.

I love seeing Anne Marie’s transformation – and not just because it is an ongoing physical transformation.

The most important one – as you’ll see when you read her story – is the mental piece of the puzzle – AKA the most important piece of the transformation puzzle.

“Some of the major changes to my diet and lifestyle over the last 8 weeks include the addition of more fresh fruit, vegetables, protein and less carbs at night.

I also try and sleep at least 8 hours every night.

Another major change I have implemented over the last 8 weeks includes the removal of all fast foods.

It has been over 10 weeks since I last ate McDonalds and I feel a lot healthier.

When I used to eat that I would feel bloated and nauseas after it, now I don’t have to go through all that anymore.

Many of the changes i have made over the last 8 weeks have also been mentally. I have learnt how to acknowledge everything I have done for myself and think more positively. I have also learnt that everything I do does not have to be approved by others and it’s okay to do what I want, because in the end I’m the only one that can make myself happy.

I think all of my changes plus my new positive outlook have all contributed to my success over the past 8 weeks.

- Anne Marie La Spina lost a whopping 24.49% off her frame in only 8 weeks!

Why Did Anne Marie Experience These Results?

3 reasons -

1) She took action and joined my DPM Performance Sydney Boot Camp sessions and didn’t just attend when she could be bothered. She came to the scheduled sessions and did her homework.

2) She followed the 3 Day Detox Diet while still enjoying her scheduled cheat meals

3) She stopped listening to the negative influences of other people and believed that she could make a change!

Well done Anne Marie – I cannot wait to see what else you can achieve!

NOTE: If you are inspired by what Sydney Personal Trainer Daniel Munday can help you achieve leave a comment below with your email address (which won’t be published) and I’ll contact you to see how we can work together to make this possible for YOU!