Hey hey, good morning everyone and as always, happy Thursday.

Last week I had a great conversation with a friend of mine, during which he said something that encapsulated drive, focus and grit.

And while my friend and I were actually talking about business, not exercise, what he said applies to health and fitness perfectly as well.

See, my friend owns his own business and has been working diligently on a project that has the potential to take his business in a new and very profitable direction.

But, in order to make this new project work, for the last few months, he has had to work himself like an absolute dog.

So when I asked him how he was doing, how he was feeling, he said, “you know, its funny, my girlfriend asked me the same thing. And when I said I was fine, she asked me, “Don’t you want a break?’”

My friend paused for a second and then said something I will never forget…

“I told her no, I don’t want a break. I just want to —-ing be there.”

Wow!

Let me repeat that…

“No, I don’t want a break. I just want to —-ing be there.”

Now that is drive! That is determination.

Now, the reality is the most effective way to accomplish a goal; for instance building a lean, strong, healthy and great looking body is to plan for the long term. Pace yourself. Be patient. And work hard to achieve balance between hard work in the gym and discipline at the table, with recuperation and indulgence.

This is why, for instance, a well designed exercise program will specifically schedule weeks of less frequent and less intense exercise. And why a well designed dietary program will build in “cheat meals”.

They act as natural release valves from the grind and the stress that build up from long periods of hard work and discipline.

But you know what? Sometimes you just have to say forget it. Forget pace. Forget Balance. And forget breaks. It’s time to take it to the next level.

It’s time to floor it.

Too often, when we think to ourselves, “I’m just trying to balance hard work and discipline with recovery and indulgence,” the reality is, we’re just not working hard enough.

And too often, when we think to ourselves, “I’m just trying to pace myself so I don’t burn out,” we’re just not moving at a pace that will yield any real progress.

The truth is, if you really want to make progress and you really want to build for yourself a strong, lean, healthy and great looking body, there are going to be times you’re going to need to think like my friend.

You’re going to have to say to yourself, “No, I don’t want a break. I just want to
—-ing be there.”

And then you’re going to have to buckle down and step it up.

You’re going to have to take some time away from the cheat meals, the nights out and the so so workouts.

You’re going to have to give as much of yourself as you can and sweat, grind and push and build some force of will.

This type of all out effort isn’t sustainable for more than a month or two, but I promise you’ll be amazed how much you can accomplish in just two months of all out focused work.

Listen, my friend, he’s going to make it. His business is going to take that next step.

And it isn’t because he is smarter or better. It’s because he sat down and absolutely worked his ass off to accomplish a goal that really mattered to him.

And you know what he possesses that you don’t?

Nothing.

I know you can do what he did.

I know you can build for yourself a strong, lean, healthy and great looking body.

You’ve just got to buckle down and put in the work.

As always, to our health.

Your exercise and dietary coach.

Zach Moore.

PS: If you found today’s article insightful, inspiring or enlightening and know someone that would benefit from what we’ve talked about here today, by all means please forward this email on to them! 

One of the best things you can do for those you care about is helping them build a healthy and great looking body. A body that is strong, capable and moves without pain and a body in which we feel confident and happy.