| The FIGOMA Formula
COMMITMENT – (n. 1. To obligate or pledge oneself to something in the future. 2. A promise to do something)
Throughout our journey, we have faced many temptations. Trust us when we tell you that the commitment we made to ourselves has not always been easy. However, we feel that this is the main ingredient to starting your own journey to achieving your goal. We have talked to many people throughout this mission and we have discovered that their lack of commitment is the main reason why they had failed in the past. Most people “say” that they are committed but do not want to put in the hard work that it takes to complete the mission. To commit completely is not as easy as it sounds. As you will find, the journey ahead can be tough, not only on your body but also on your psyche. So remember, when you say that you are committed, people will be judging you on your ACTIONS rather than on your words. So when you say you are ready to commit …. Make sure that you ARE ready to commit!!
“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”
“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.”
ACCOUNTABILITY – (n. 1. Being responsible for your own actions and acknowledging them.)
Along with Commitment, we feel that this ingredient is just as important. We have realized that when people aren’t accountable for their own missteps, they will continue to fail. They will blame anything other than themselves for their not reaching their goals. During our mission, we found that of all the diets we have tried that they all worked. There is no room for “tweaking” or cheating. When someone says that they “only had one small piece of cake” or “only a couple of cookies”, the word ONLY is the operative word. The fact that people try to justify straying from their diet only shows that they are not holding themselves accountable. Always know that when you keep making excuses then you can’t expect results. So don’t blame the diet for not working, blame yourself for not sticking to the diet plan. You must be honest with yourself. Because if you are not ready for the hard work ahead, then don’t lie to yourself and everyone else and say that you are. If you continue to hold yourself accountable, rest assured, you will achieve results.
“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
“When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.”
SACRIFICE – (v. 1. The surrender of something for the sake of something else. 2. To give up or renounce for an ideal, belief or end.)
There have been so many things that we have had to sacrifice during our journey. When we started our mission, we went in with the understanding that in order to reach our goal, we would have to sacrifice the foods that we used to pig-out on (fast-food, Chinese buffet, beer, alcohol, etc.). What we discovered, during our mission, was that we also had to sacrifice a lot of our time. Instead of going out with friends, we would stay home and cook our meals for the next day. Instead of relaxing at home after work, we would go to the gym for a couple of hours. Instead of accepting an invitation to a dinner, a concert or a happy hour, we stayed home with our dog Bubba. To succeed, you have to make the time for yourself because others won’t make it for you. It will not always be a popular or an easy decision, but there will be times when you will have to say NO to family, friends, and the things you enjoy. All of those things had to be put aside until we reached our goal. You, your family and friends need to understand that these sacrifices are necessary in order to complete your goal. IT WILL BE WORTH IT IN THE END.
“The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”
“Even when people are more successful than they imagined, nothing is ever achieved without giving something up.”
DISCIPLINE – (n. To train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control)
This is one of the ingredients where people have found to be one of the toughest to sustain. Many of the people we have talked to during this journey have confided in us that after they broke from their diet or exercise regimen, they never got back on track. To be honest, there were times when we waivered from our regimen. Since February 12th, there have been a handful of times when we broke from our daily diet. We don’t expect everyone to be perfect, because we weren’t, but we did get right back on the regimen the next day. We knew the consequences of our actions and we paid the price at the scale. This misstep did not deter us from continuing on our mission and we were back on our diet and exercise regimen the very next day.
“If we do not discipline ourselves the world will do it for us.”
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
“It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action and discipline that enabled us to follow through.”
DESIRE – (v. 1. The strength of feeling and strong intention or aim. 2. To long or hope for.)
Ask yourself, “Do I want it badly enough?” “Am I you sick and tired of being sick and tired of my situation?“ If you can’t answer that with an emphatic yes, then you really don’t want it. We decided that we were sick and tired of our lives and lifestyles and that there was nothing more important to us then this mission. One thing to remember is to not confuse desire with “want”. There were times when we were tired of exercising and tired of dieting, but we knew that is was important to stay on track because it IS what we really wanted. You will show how strong your desire is over time because the hard work or obstacles will either break you or you will keep moving forward. The desire to succeed will help you overcome some of the obstacles that will be coming your way. When you know, deep inside, without hesitation and without reservation that you want it, nothing will stop you. THAT is desire!!
“A goal is not the same as a desire, and this is an important distinction to make. You can have a desire you don't intend to act on. But you can't have a goal you don't intend to act on.”
“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”
PERSEVERANCE – (n. 1. To continue a course of action in spite of the difficulty, opposition, etc…)
Whether your journey is for a month, a year or longer, you must see yourself completing your mission. Your focus on the entire journey and the end result will be instrumental in making it through to the end. When you feel like you want to quit, you must have the strength of mind to battle through those tough times. There will also be those easy times when you may want to ease up a little …. Don’t lose focus. Your mission is going to be full of challenges and you will not always win the battle. So if you get knocked down … Get back up, and keep getting up until you reach your goal. Remember, Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he invented the electric light. Don’t give up if you fail just a few times.
“A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits.”
“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.”
“Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.”
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