It took me over 20 years to finally reach single digit body fat percentage.

Thanks to sports, I fell in love with fitness at a young age.

I've been seriously training since age 14.

I've been strong. I've been fast. I've played sports at a high level.

But I never cracked the code to getting lean, even though it was something I always desired deep down.

Last year, at age 34, I finally achieved what I had always wanted deep down.

If that looks like a bunch of jumbled numbers, here's the TL/DR:

• Weight 188 lbs to 178 lbs (8 of those pounds from fat loss)
• Body Fat Percentage from 12.8% in April to 8.8% in July

But here's the crazy thing.

Once I got my mind right, it didn't take years like I thought it would.

These before and after results were after just 3 months of really going for it.

And honestly, if I would have tested in January, I was probably closer to 15% body fat despite recently finishing a 100 mile ultramarathon (see point number 4 here to learn why I was actually less healthy at this time)

Maybe you have a desire to drop body fat.

You might be scared to admit it.

I always thought it seemed like a shallow or vain pursuit.

But really I was just scared of trying and failing.

If you've never gone for it, I can tell you it's absolutely worth it.

Even in all my failures, I always learned something and grew from it.

Whether you want to get to sub 10% body fat, or simply drop a few percentage points to get healthier and more confident, I can guarantee you one thing:

It won't be a waste of time.

But it can be scary to really go for it.

Because maybe you've failed before.

And you might fail again...but you might not.

This could be the time you go for it and everything changes.

If you're anything like I was, with a desire to get healthy, get lean, but a little bit scared..keep reading.

Here are some mindset lessons I learned that I wish I knew before pursuing any type of physical transformation (and what I would have told myself 10 years ago):

1) It takes more discipline, patience, and consistency (not more time)

I always thought getting lean required more time.

Longer workouts, more cardio, frequent meal prepping, and so much more.

I'm busy...and I'm sure you are too.

So I would often talk myself out of my goals because 'the time wasn't right'

If you need some encouragement, here it is:

The results above happened during one of the busiest schedules (and least schedule flexibility) that I've had in the past 5+ years.

While I lacked time, I made up for it with discipline, patience, and consistently executing on the right things.

I won't get into all the details here, but if you want a deeper dive on the 'less is more' path to better results, check out these articles:

• Why eating less and exercising more doesn't work
• 4 must haves for getting ripped (with only 12 exercises per week)
• Superhero Strength Program (actual program you can follow)

2) Don't chase a short-term goal at the expense of a long-term goal

I messed this one up for a lot of years.

I chased aggressive goals at the expense of long-term results.

Here's the scary part though.

I didn't even realize I was doing it.

I would find some new diet or workout program that involved too much working out or too much food restriction.

This had two major problems:

First, it led to poor physical results. Weight loss was happening (but muscle loss was too). It led to poorer recovery, it took a toll on my hormones, and resulted in less fat loss overall. Losing muscle is a tradeoff you want to minimize at all costs if you're trying to get leaner.

Second, this led to an unhealthy mindset and really low sustainability. I would see some results, but I would crash and burn or binge out on food leading to rapid weight regain.

Getting lean is a great goal - but it should never come at the tradeoff of your long-term physical or mental health.

The results I've gotten over the past 12+ months have been some of the easiest and most sustainable that I've ever had (and the same is possible for you when you focus on the long-term habits that drive progress)

3) Once you do it once, it gets easier

The outcome of being ripped isn't all it's cracked up to be, but the growth along the way certainly is.

Sure, my confidence is higher when I'm walking around with a lean and muscular frame. 

But the confidence that comes from knowing that I can accomplish a goal like this is the real benefit.

Once you accomplish something like this once, you know what it takes to get there again.

I'm no longer scared to chase a muscle building goal (that also will inevitably lead to more fat as well)

This is because I've lost the fat before, and I now know I can do it again.

I've learned the systems and strategies that make it easy.

Does it take hard work?

Of course.

But once you learn how to do it, that can never be taken away.

I know you have what it takes to get the same results.

Laying in bed one night, my wife encouraged me and gave me full permission to go for my goals shortly before getting these results.

It unlocked me.

So if you need permission, here it is.

Go for it.

It's okay to do it, fail, learn, and do it again.

If you want to shortcut the journey, with the exact systems and strategies I personally used (and now regularly use with other clients), then let's chat.

If you need a little extra encouragement, I'll even guarantee that you can drop 12 lbs of fat in the next 12 weeks when you follow a proven process.

If that kind of transformation sounds like something you're ready for, click here to fill out a form and you'll be a totally different person by the time summer rolls around.

Dave