I reckon I’ve spent pretty much the past 10 years thinking about wanting to get into good enough shape to do a fitness model photo-shoot.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve had it hanging over me for so long, especially given what I do for a living and the fact that for much of that time I’ve been in good or even great shape – the product of consistent attention to excellent nutrition and training rather than mere luck in the gene pool!

I have to admit there’s a big part of me that feels like I must just be lazy or unmotivated to have not really gone for it before. After all – it’s not as though I don’t know what to do to go from ‘in shape’ to super lean. I do. And what’s more, most of the time I do it as well.

In some ways, I think that when you’re quite close to your goal and you think that you ‘should’ be able to get there with just a solid month or two of consistency and determination, it’s all the easier to just float along as you are.

Which is fine if that’s where you’re happy.

But for me, the goal of doing a fitness model photo-shoot is about so much more than just getting some hot photos for my website, or being bikini ready for summer this year.

It’s about pride.

It’s about knowing that I have what it takes to accomplish an incredible personal challenge to empower myself with confidence and the belief that if I can do this –

I can do anything.

What’s Your Kryptonite?

When I look back over the past few years, a few years in which my body shape has fluctuated wildly due to pregnancy but also due to inconsistency and a lack of complete commitment, it’s easy to see some of the things that have stopped me from going that extra mile.

There’s the fear that even if I get there, I won’t be able to maintain it. Which kind of makes me think what’s the point?

There’s the occasions where I tell myself I’m crazy, that I’m already in good shape and I shouldn’t be so obsessive or arrogant as to want to go for broke.

There’s the times when stress or fatigue rules my thoughts and I find myself reaching day after day for the afternoon latte and choccie, skipping a healthy meal here, a workout there.

There’s the many many times when I find myself suddenly leaning out a bit and then somehow manage to almost instantly sabotage it.

What it really comes down to is not being brave enough or clear enough to fully define what I want as well as why I want it.

Getting Past Your Roadblocks: How I Did And You Can Too

The truth is that without making a conscious choice and then a concerted effort to deal with that stuff, I would very likely have never broken through.

I’d spend the rest of my 30’s and then beyond being the girl who ‘used to be in great shape’; the one who admittedly is probably still in better than average shape and certainly understands nutrition and health but yet expends most of her daily energy and emotion analysing what she should or shouldn’t eat, how she should train, whether her hormones are a problem, what supplements she’s missing.

I don’t know about you, but even the idea of having to fight that mental battle for the rest of my life was exhausting.

So when I finally took the plunge and booked in my photo shoot it was about so very much more than just getting my bikini body back and having some hot pics to show off. (Not that that won’t be fun!)

It was about finally being willing to stand up and say ‘you know what? Yes, I’m in good shape and I’m healthy and fit, and maybe I don’t need to go that extra mile but by heck do I want to. And I’m sick of thinking about it, sick of making excuses for not being consistent, ultimately I am sick of not truly giving it my all to become the best me I can be, to reach my physical potential and to feel the incredible sense of pride and achievement that I know is just around the corner for me.

The funny thing is that once I got clear on what it was I really wanted to achieve – personal pride and accomplishment – the roadblocks fell away.

Skipping my little treats became gradually effortless.

Having the extra fuel (food) I needed was something I was organised and motivated to do.

Getting up for daily morning training rather than trying to slot it in later with less energy and/or time became a habit, not an argument.

My mindset shifted.

My focus narrowed.

And within less than 2 weeks, my abs started peeking out.

What Will It Take For You To Finally Take A Stand On The Body You Want?

We all have different ideas of our ideal body.

It’s not always about perky boobs and a super flat stomach.

Whatever your physical ideal for yourself is, it really is just the surface of what you really want to achieve.

What you really want is the certainty that you know how to be your best you.

The confidence and personal power or pride that comes from following through on a commitment you’ve made to yourself.

The sense of empowerment at breaking through your roadblocks, reaching a longed-for goal, and then wondering what you can chase after next.

The absolute delight of experience first-hand the reality that you CAN do anything you set out to do.

Anything.

And yes – you want a smoking hot image to look at in your mirror as well 🙂

So here is my question to you –

Are you willing to define exactly what you want, figure out why you want it, and decide once and for all that this is your time?

Are you willing to show that you’re ready for more?

That you can move past your roadblocks, destroy your kryptonite, and start being outcome-based about your attitude toward food, training, mindset and body image?

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