Stuff That Blew My Mind: Change Edition

In addition to writing about fitness and creating fabulous videos of myself performing feats of strength, I also do a fair bit of reading. When I come across something really good, I feel the need to share. As such, here are two recent blog posts pertaining to *change* that really blew me away (plus a third I wrote myself).

The authors, Jessi Kneeland and Matt Cleary, are terrific trainers and writers. If you enjoy these posts, be sure to 'Like/Follow/Subscribe' to them on social media, as well as dig into their archives!

1. Don't "Just Do It." Do it Like You Mean It.

by Jessi Kneeland of Remodel Fitness (3/19/15)

http://jessikneeland.com/dont-just-like-mean/

"By changing the way you view yourself, you are able to change the way you perform."

Whether it’s writing, working out, or just going about your daily life, confidence is everything. In this post, Jessi Kneeland discusses the roles of confidence, Authority (with a capital ‘A’), and athleticism in the gym. I can only hope it resonates with you as much as it did with me!

2. Conquer Your Life. 5 Ways to Create New Habits That Work

By Matt Cleary of The Cleary Theory (3/24/15)

http://theclearytheory.com/2015/03/24/conquer-your-life-5-ways-to-create-new-habits-that-work/

"The best way to help someone change is for them to want to change."

Have a bad habit that you just can't seem to shake? Perhaps it's because you're trying to change for the wrong reasons, or maybe you're not going about behavior modification in quite the right way. Fear not! Matt wittily and astutely addresses these issues and more in his post. He explains not just why we fail, but also how to improve, with plenty of practical takeaways and laughs along the way.

3. Confession Time

By Me (4/12/15)

http://www.fitnesspollenator.com/2015/04/confessiontime.html

"I have ulcerative colitis. There, I said it. Do I feel better? Not really. It doesn't change the fact that I'm schedule for a proctocolectomy on Friday."

There are times in life when change isn't a conscious choice, but rather something that happens to use and that we're forced to accept. Such has been the case for me in my battle with ulcerative colitis over the last few years -- and my impending surgery.