With how much I talk about the way exercise is not a way to address a weight problem, it’s easy to assume I hate exercise, or don’t think you should exercise.

I was an elite-level athlete, and I exercise almost every day. Of course I do not hate exercise. The opposite, I love it!

It has SO many benefits, and it’s an important part of any lifestyle…so long as you accept the fact it won’t help you lose weight.

I insist my Rebels who’ve reached their goal weight get back into exercise if they’re not currently exercising, and I encourage them to challenge themselves.

I challenge myself, too.

For example in September of 2019 I ran in a race called Rim to Rim. It was eight miles, and included some hills.

It was definitely not my finest athletic performance, but I showed up, I earned a respectable time, and best of all, I completed it.

The experience taught me some important lessons I wanna share with you, because they apply to both your weight loss journey, and your life.

Lesson #1: Be the first.

Not only did my friends and I arrive early to the parking area, we were among the first people to walk to the race’s starting area.

It got me thinking about how, in so many situations in life, people are scared to go first. They want someone else to start, and set the standard. Somehow it feels less risky than going first, possibly making a mistake, and possibly looking foolish.

I LOVE going first, because I love setting a high standard and showing other people there’s nothing to fear. I don’t worry about “looking stupid.” Life’s too short to sit around wringing your hands and waiting for someone else to figure everything out for you. Take the lead in your own life!

Lesson #2: Show up early.

Few things bug me more than people who disrespect my time by not getting back to me, and by running late.

I get that stuff occasionally happens, but constantly being late is a sign you don’t respect yourself enough to get your act together. Habitual lateness is a form of self-sabotage.

Plus it’s incredibly disrespectful to the people waiting on you.

#3 Pace yourself.

Whether we’re talking running a race or starting a new adventure, it’s very common to explode straight out of the gate, wear yourself out, and fall away.

In Rim to Rim, I finished as well as I did, in part, because I paced myself.

The right pace for you is gonna be different than mine, or your neighbor Bob’s, or your mom’s friend Sally’s.

Find the pace that works for you, in your life. Make it something you can sustain.

#4 Don’t be afraid to fail.

Since this was my first ever marathon, and I hadn’t effectively trained for it the three weeks leading up to it, it was not the best I’m capable of.

That’s true of anything you do. Your first attempt is rarely nail it. It can happen, and by all means, go for it. But don’t spend so much time trying to be “perfect” that you never get started.

#5 It’s okay to be proud of yourself.

Man am I tired of the humility myth that keeps so many of us stuffed down instead of living our potential.

It is okay to be proud of yourself and love yourself. It’s okay to look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I love you and I’m proud of you. You did great.”

Ditch the bullcrap idea stuff like that makes you conceited. It doesn’t.

What it makes you is someone who accepts and loves themself. Despite what you’ve been led to believe, that is NOT a bad thing. That is a sign of a whole person who’s comfortable with who they are, warts and all.

These lessons apply across the board, in everything you do in your life. Make them a part of who you are and how you show up, and you’ll be amazed at what happens.