I’m kicking off the New Year on a great note for my fat loss journey. I’ve eaten extremely well, got in a workout, did some cardio, listened to some motivational audios, and have set some great goals. My main goal is to get my message across that you don’t have to strive to be perfect on your workout and nutrition program in order to achieve great results. 2008 is the year where we ditch the goal of perfection and just aim for becoming the best that we can be and doing the best that we can do.

After all that’s what it’s all about. Do the best that you can possibly do. When you workout, give it all that you got. Take a look at your schedule and lifestyle, follow a nutrition plan that works with your lifestyle, and do the best that you can to stick to it.

I’m not giving you a reason to slack off here because that’s not being the best that you can be. If you have time on the weekend to prepare several meals for your upcoming week and put them in freezer bags and Tupperware containers but you choose to sit in front of the television instead, is not the best that you can be.

Just do the best that you can do, have fun, and don’t stress out about the minor details. Don’t try to eat perfect every single day for every meal. don’t try to workout every day to make up for lost time. Don’t feel guilty if you slip up and experience a setback.

The main lesson is to try to become just a little bit better each and every day. It’s time for you to grow as a person and be the best that you can be and that doesn’t equal perfection. It just equals the perfect you. That includes all your flaws and short comings with your goals and expectations. Just be you. The best you that you could possibly be.

I’m not really one for New Years Resolutions. They aren’t really goals to me. They are more of a statement that’s pretty much meaningless. But this time of year offers a great opportunity to set solid goals for yourself and go out and achieve them. I’ll be sharing my goals with you in the next few days.

So what did I do to bring me closer to my fat loss goals today? I woke up and went for an awesome brisk walk on an empty stomach. This felt great. It was snowing out and I felt refreshed.

During my walk I was listening to the Unstoppable Fat Loss interview that I did with James Villepigue. Man his story is inspiring. He was very open and honest about his life and how he just loved food as a young kid and couldn’t get enough of it. His family was the same way.

James shared many stories about how his life was affected by his weight. You can just hear the emotion in his voice.

Later on in life he thought that the answer to his obesity problem was to binge on unhealthy foods then purge. He would follow that up with a healthy meal and he thought that he was doing an good thing.

James went from obese, to bulimic before he found the way. He began educating himself like crazy on health and fitness and today he is in phenomenal shape, is the author of many published fitness books, has made an appearance on Regis and Kelly, and so much more.

He’s just an average guy like many of you, who has turned his entire life around because he put his health as his #1 priority. His healthy lifestyle has attributed to all the successes that he’s experiencing in life.

Man this interview fired me up. I then came home and ate a giant bowl of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and a banana. It was awesome! I’m doing great on the Every Other Day Diet today. I’ve eaten all natural foods today and it feels great. I’ve had a boat load of veggies, some chicken, eggs, and salad.

I wrapped up the last workout in this 4 week program of The Fit Bastard Year Of Workouts. Today I worked out on shoulders and abs. I’ve got a couple workouts to get in before we leave for a cruise on Friday and I plan on working out while on the ship.

I can’t wait to document my journey while on a cruise and show you that you can go away, have fun, eat well, indulge in some treats, and still come home for a trip like this with less fat than before you left.

I don’t understand why people automatically assume that they will gain weight when they go away and they simply succumb to this supposed fact. It doesn’t have to be this way. Having fun does not mean that you have to abuse your body. Eating well and exercising does not mean that you have to deprive yourself.

The healthy lifestyle is fun. There’s nothing depriving about it at all. In fact you become much more abundant when you live this way.

Set your goals and make your plans. Don’t try to be perfect and make up for any setbacks that may have occurred in 2007. Do not over train.

Lets make this the best year ever!