Don't Dream it, Do it—Be committed!
Joining the Challenge is just the first, small step toward the new you. Now you must make the decision to do it, not just dream about doing it. The real difference between a dream and a decision is simple: commitment. A dream is based on wishes; things that you hope will occur. A decision is the initial step in an active pursuit of something you truly want. A solid decision leads to commitment; commitment leads to success.

Throw the scale away! (Not really, just set it aside)
The bathroom scale is a liar! It will fool you into thinking that you are making little to no progress. Frequent weight-checks on the scale usually leads to one thing: frustration. You see, the scale will only tell you one thing... how much you weigh at any given time. Your overall body weight can fluctuate throughout the day due to fluids and foods in your body. You are shooting for real change in your overall body composition and health, not a number on a scale. By the way... get a body composition assessment! It's the best way to gauge your true progress.

Expect to stall out slightly.
During your program, you may experience a period where nothing seems to be happening. Don't be alarmed! Remember that you are replacing fat weight with healthy, lean muscle! Although your scale weight may not show it, you're probably experiencing substantial progress in your body composition. Women in particular may notice the most dramatic changes occurring after week seven. Again, the best way to determine your progress is through body composition assessments and how your clothes fit.

Stick with the basics—it's not rocket science!
Read Body-for-LIFE by Bill Phillips, cover-to-cover, and then follow the program exactly. These training and nutrition principles have been time-tested by countless fitness enthusiasts and Challenge Champions with astounding results. The "before" and "after" pictures and testimonies are proof positive.

Set specific, realistic, attainable goals.
Gauging progress is much easier when you know exactly what you are trying to accomplish. Set goals that are specific, realistic and attainable. It may help to identify long and short-term goals. The long-term goal would be exactly what you want to accomplish by the end of the 12 weeks. Short-term goals could be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly checkpoints for evaluating your progress. For example, let's say your long-term goal is to drop 24 pounds of body fat. Your short-term goals may be to finish each week without deviating from the Program, check scale weight every two weeks, and get new pictures and a body composition assessment each month.

Share your decision with others.
Tell everyone you know that you have joined the Body-for-LIFE Challenge. Tell them your goals and your start and finish dates. There's nothing like a little healthy peer-pressure to help you stay focused and motivated!

Keep records and refer to them often.
Download and print off the Daily Progress Reports. These are excellent tools that will help you to track all 84 days of your weight training, cardio and nutritional programs. They are indispensable for trouble-shooting your progress and for verifying how far you've advanced at any point of your program. They are also very helpful for reference when you are seeking advice from one of our Fitness Advisors. Have them nearby if you call us for guidance on your progress.

Eliminate obstacles.
Pre-plan your way around known obstacles to increase your chances of success. Learn to say "no" (respectfully) more often to those who drain your time each day. Be willing to train early or late in the day around your responsibilities. If food temptations are too great, eliminate un-authorized foods from your pantry! Eliminate the need/desire to consume fast foods by cooking volumes of food such as chicken breasts and rice and storing them in containers. Two or three microwaveable containers with a chicken breast, rice and a vegetable are portable, convenient and "Authorized".

Use your "Free Day" ...but not too freely!
As Porter Freeman says, "It's your Free Day; you're free not to use it." In other words, the Free Day is there for you if you need it, however, it is not required that you take it. It's a personal choice. The Free Day does have its benefits. For one thing it is useful as a reward systemit's something to look forward to and helps eliminate food cravings.

Use your resources—we're here to help you!
Our EAS Fitness Advisors have helped thousands of people successfully complete the Body-for-LIFE Challenge. Don't hesitate to call them at 1-800-297-9776. In addition, www.bodyforlife.com features all the information you need to follow the program, plus inspiring success stories, motivational tips and recipes. You can also join the lively online community and meet other people who are doing the Challenge.

Need some extra motivation? Check out these weekly messages from some of your favorite Body-for-LIFE Champions.