Gym memberships, fitness books, and nutritional supplements are a complete waste of time and money...

...if you buy any of them and fail to use them.

I'm amazed at the number of people so quick to claim "this doesn't work or "that's a waste of money" when, in reality, they never even used what it was they bought.

I overheard one young kid in the gym the other day telling his buddy that the container of protein he bought wasn't doing anything for him. I also heard him say that he only took it when he could remember to take it.

It reminds me of those people that buy into those "get rich quick" plans and then dump them when they haven't made a truck load of money in two weeks.

I see two types of people every single day in the fitness field:

1. Those who know what they want and take action to get it.

2. Those that may know what they want but think it's too much work to get it.

These people get very different results and I'm sure you know who gets what :-)

But during the last few years being a personal trainer, I've learned that there's even a more important step that comes before taking action.

In fact, the first step to achieving physical fitness success is to accept complete responsibility for where you are, right now.

You cannot and should not blame anyone at all for where you are right now.

If you're overweight, it's because you created it.

Tired of the way you look when you look into the mirror, you're responsible.

Dont have the muscles you want or the six pack abs you'd die for?

You're the reason for all of them.

Outside of certain medical conditions or events beyond your control, you are where you are right now due to the choices youve made.

You see, if you're blaming your current results on everything but yourself, that's what you'll keep telling yourself to the point that you truly believe you're not at fault.

And if you really feel you're not at fault for the current condition of your body, do you think you're going to take the steps needed to change it?

Probably not, you'll continue blaming McDonalds, Pizza Hut, the spouse, the doctor, etc... and you'll continue in your never-ending search for fitness success.

On the other hand, by accepting complete and full responsibility for where you are, you can start the necessary preparations of taking action to change it.

Taking complete and total responsibility for your current situation is very powerful. The fact is, by claiming ownership, at that point you realize that it's you and only you that'll be the one who changes what you want changed.

Whether it's weight loss you're after, more muscle, more strength...

Accepting complete responsibility for your current situation is the first step in changing your body for the better.

So, unlike the egg you can't unscramble, you can unscramble your physical condition if you want to.

You're the only captain of "your body", and you can steer in any direction you want to.