Ok, let’s do a quick, simple healthy man test…ready?

Get up out of your seat, find a wall and stand straight up against it.  Now, look down at your feet.  Do you see your toes?  If you do, that’s great! 

If you don’t that means one thing:  your belly fat is blocking your view.

Let’s do one more thing.  Get a tape measure and measure your waist. 

Don’t cheat!  Start around your abdomen just above your hipbone and measure all the way around while you relax and exhale.

If your waist size more than 40 inches, you have too much belly fat.  You have to do something about this.  According to the Mayo Clinic, having too much belly fat increases your risk of many different diseases including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. 

Like I said you need to do something about this immediately.

You must become a healthy food man.

You must be a healthy eating man.

You must be a healthy, physically active man.

There are 2 natural ways to get rid of belly fat:

1.)     Reduce what you eat/eat right

2.)     Exercise more frequently

That’s it. 

I’m not going to talk about #1 today (get started on it though), but let’s talk about #2.

Your choice

It’s your choice to be a healthy, prosperous man. 

Make it a point starting today to do at least 30 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity for 5 days a week– that means walking briskly / jogging in addition to sit-ups, dynamic stretching, and strength training.

If you can’t get outside, walk inside your house or apartment, go up and down the stairs, get moving around consistently. 

Want to watch TV?  Get a treadmill or exercise machine and watch while you exercise. 

Don’t have time?  Make time for it early in the morning or even during / after work.

Remember, your goal is to reduce your belly fat. 

You will feel better and at the same time reduce your risk of health problems. 

Most importantly, though, you’ll be a more healthy man and a prosperous family dad who can see his toes.

Did you just ignore the “Where to?” question from the driver?

That would be ridiculous, right?

As the new year is here, ask yourself that same question:

Where to?

Just as you should know what your destination is when you enter a taxi cab, you should know your destination – your goals – as you enter a new year.

Remember, these are not “resolutions” – which don’t last.  These are goals we want to accomplish by the end of the year.

First Things First

Before getting to what your goals will be – let’s make categories. These categories will help get your imagination flowing. 

The categories that you choose will depend on what’s most important to you.

I believe that you should have about 8 to 10 goals for the year – picking at least 1 from each category you desire.

Here is a list of some categories you can choose from (there could be more, but you get the idea):

• God/Faith
• Family
• Community/Charity
• Health
• Career
• Business
• Personal Finance
• Friends
• Travel/Entertainment

Make Your Goals Right Now

Now that you have your categories selected, go ahead and set your goals this way:  make it individualized to you, in the present tense, realistic, actionable, measurable, and attach and end date.

For example, if you choose the Health Category, you can have a goal which states:

“I workout at the gym at least 100 times by 12/31/2010.”

Another example, this time from the Family category, could be:

“I take out my wife on a date at least twice a month by 12/31/2010″

Setting it this way will allow you to track how you are doing and it will make it simple to know whether you achieved your goal or not by the date provided.

Once you have set your goals, print them out and post them in areas that will serve as reminders.

A very effective way to make your goals is something I learned from Brian Tracy – write your goals down everyday.  I tend to write them and read them out loud as well.  This may seem simplistic, but for me, it really speeds up favorable results.

This formula for setting up your goals works – all you have to do is follow it and keep it real – go on…unlock your goals and prosper in this New Year.

I try to reflect on matters daily, as it’s good to take a step back from the everyday and reflect.  But honestly, it’s hard, especially these days – the start of the holiday season. 

In a recent business trip, though, I took the opportunity to do so and ended up writing a note, a special note to someone that means the world to me.

So today, let’s reflect on that person – the person who makes you the prosperous family dad that you are now – your wife – your significant other.

Think about her for a moment.

Think about the time you were dating her and how you fell head over heals for her.  You spent more time with her and less with your friends because you made her a priority.

Think about how special she is now that you’ve been with her for awhile and the things that she does everyday. 

When was the last time you complimented her? 

How long ago has it been since you’ve given her a gift, written her a note, or spend extended time with her?

Is she still a priority for you? 

To make sure, let’s think about what can you do or help her with to make her happy.

A good way to do that is to make a list of The Top 3 Things She Would Appreciate.

Don’t know what they are?  Pay attention to her every day needs. 

If she needs you to:

• support her in her career, support her and help her without any complaints
• provide for her and the kids, provide for her and bring home the bacon with a smile
• clean after yourself, make sure you do so for you and for any mess at home
• come home earlier from work, make room in the schedule in order to be able to do that.
• do the “honey to-do list”, do it or pay someone else to do it
• get her away from the kids or the everyday, use your imagination and set something up for a getaway with just the two of you.

The point is – find out what she needs and then do more than what she expects.

Treat her as what she is – your #1 customer. Make her happy – love her by your actions.

You already know how to prosper as a family dad: prosper those around you.  In the case of your wife, prosper her first.

Can you imagine how she would feel if you did this?  Can you imagine her response?

Now stop imagining – list out the Top 3 (go ahead and write them down) and make it happen.

If she asks you what the reason behind this is, let her know you’re just setting your priorities straight.

How’s that for a good start to the holiday season?