Fit for Life: Cut The … (You Know What!!)

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

Many people have asked me over the years “Where do you come up with the material to write a column every week?” And how long does it take you to get it done?

Well the truth is that I get material several different ways.

I over think everything in life, so I get material from different events, and experiences.
I analyze people and character traits, so some material comes from human nature and our actions.
Sometimes during a conversation with someone, a light bulb goes off and I write about the topics we discussed.
Or, I listen to speakers, steal their ideas, add my own spin and repurpose the wording to make it mine.

I stole this week’s idea from listening to another speaker at a Toastmasters meeting last Tuesday.

The gentleman spoke about his childhood, and how his mother used to reprimand him for getting out of line.

“Cut the shit”, she used to tell him over and over again when he was misbehaving.

A term we have all heard numerous times.

He, however, took the creative approach when he told the story and turned the word s.h.i.t. into an acronym, which I thought would be a great idea to do the same.

Although I forgot how he used each letter, I figured that we can all cut some s.h.i.t. from our lives, so I repurposed the words and created my own rendition from his acronym.

Here it goes.

S- Stubborn. When we cut being stubborn from our lives, many more doors will open up for us. Many of us acknowledge we have struggles and problems, yet we refuse to seek help getting over them. We would rather stay stuck banging our heads against the wall and getting nowhere, than reach out and get some help. Sometimes we need to change the “I always did it that way” attitude in order to grow and evolve.

I see it every day at my bootcamp. People struggle to get great results, then come see us and do a trial.

They see a difference, then walk away and go back to the same old routine.

They are too stubborn to stay onboard and get the help they need, so they give up and go back to struggling for results only to get nowhere.

My mother is a culprit of being stubborn. She always complains that there aren’t enough hours in the day to get stuff done like yard work, clean the pool, get her house organized, and her washer machine fixed, yet when I have offered to pay someone to help her out, she scoffs at the idea, and stays stuck in the unproductive rut she has been in for years.

If she would stop being stubborn, things would get accomplished, and her life would be a little less stressful.

But it will never happen, so I stopped offering my assistance.

H- Hypocritical. If you talk the talk, walk the walk. Don’t complain about someone if you are doing the same thing, and if you preach something, you should be doing it too.

I see this in politics. The rich people complaining about poor people “working the system” and getting handouts, when they are doing the same thing by hiding their money in tax shelters. Both parties are guilty of working the system, not doing their fair share and feeling entitled to get a break or handout.

When you gossip about someone else’s issues or shortcomings, and you have the same problems, you are being hypocritical. When you call someone lazy, and you avoid hard work, you are being hypocritical.

When you tell people to stay fit, eat right, hit the gym, and your health is failing, you are being hypocritical.

One of my mentors hit this home years ago at a conference when he asked how many coaches know and tell their clients to drink water and get 8 hours sleep. Everyone raised their hands. Then he asked how many of us do it. Few raised their hands.

“How can you preach these things and expect others to do it when you are not?”

That’s why, as a coach, I never miss workouts, drink plenty of water, get to bed on time, and eat clean 90% of the time.

Am I perfect? NO. Do I have a few vices? YUP.

But overall, I focus on my health and fitness and take care of myself the same way I encourage my clientele to do so, because I know it works, and you will look and feel better if you do too.

I- Inconsistency. The key to success is taking consistent positive steps every day. When you become inconsistent you lose momentum.

Eat well sometimes, results stop or regress.

Eat well consistently, you look and feel better daily.

Work hard every day, arrive on time, and keep striving for improvement, then success is in your future.

Show up late sometimes, arrive hung over, half ass your tasks, and you will never rise to the top.

We have a team strategy session every Monday at 1:20. I pledge to do this consistently so my team can communicate, share ideas, struggles, and victories so we can grow as a company and as individuals.

If you want results, on any level, you must consistently do the things that will take you a step closer or it won’t happen.

T- Tolerate mediocrity. You get what you tolerate. If you have a bad experience at a restaurant and don’t speak up to the server, or manager, you will leave unsatisfied. You tolerated bad food, and service, therefore you leave hungry and miserable.

You have a boss that overlooks your hard work and dedication, yet you show up every day and work at an entry level position.

You are tolerating unfairness at work; therefore, you will stay stuck in the same position until you take action and ask for what you deserve or seek employment elsewhere.

If you are a kid in school and let the schoolyard bully press your face in the dirt and take your lunch money every day, you are tolerating being bullied. When you make a stand, fight back and stop tolerating their behavior, the bullying will stop.

This goes for every instance in our lives that cause us stress and unhappiness. We get what we tolerate.

So, stop tolerating the things that keep us down, unhappy, and unsatisfied. Make the changes in your life that will make you happy and successful.

So, there it is folks.

It’s time to cut being Stubborn, Hypocritical, Inconsistent, and Tolerant of things that don’t serve us well.

In other words, cut the S.H.I.T from your life, and see how you can be happier, healthier, and endure less stress on a daily basis.

Committed to your success,

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one.

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Fit for Life: Cut The … (You Know What!!)

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