What is the TNT principle you ask?
Well, very simply, TNT stands for “today not tomorrow”. And in this day and age of being overwhelmed with stuff to do, which ultimately leads to procrastination and getting nothing done, the TNT principle couldn’t be more important for you.
In fact, if you apply the TNT principle on a consistent basis, you will get explosive results (pun intended – haha).
Now let’s apply the TNT principle to a common goal – burning fat.
(Note: the following can also be applied to any health or fitness goal).
How often have YOU fallen victim to mental dialogue that goes a little something like this…
“I’ll start eating better tomorrow.”
“I’m too tired today, but I’ll hit the gym first thing tomorrow.”
I know I have and if you’re human you probably have too.
In fact, just the last night, I got home late from our first day of pre-season training with U of T soccer. I knew that I had to get up bright and early this morning which meant that I probably wouldn’t get a chance to make my beloved green juice (because Amy, the dogs, and our neighbours would still be sleeping).
So I said that AFTER watching True Blood I would spend 30-45 minutes to make a green juice. Did it happen?
Nope.
Why?
Cuz I was too tired from 9 hours of soccer – that’s why!
The result – no green juice.
Now if my goal were to lose weight and burn fat, this would be a big no-no because it would likely that I would turn to a less healthy option for breakfast (instead of my green juice).
So let’s STOP the insanity once and for all!!!
The name of the game is DOING THINGS NOW.
Nike says “Just do it” in their campaigns and I take it one step further by saying “Just do it NOW!”
A lot of times we put things off because we feel that they are too overwhelming. We form a mental picture of some grandiose task – a mountain instead of a mole hill – and as a result we don’t take action.
Looking at Your Workouts a Little Differently
I’m not sure what goes in your mind when you “see” your upcoming workout. Maybe you envision pain from the muscle burn or the hassle of having to drive to the gym, or having to weight for equipment because the gym is so busy. Or maybe you workout at home and get seem to get focused with everything going on around you.
We all “see” our lives differently.
However, what I can suggest is that no matter which you way you mentally view your upcoming workout do your best to focus on making it a pleasurable experience that is chunked down into bite size pieces.
See only ONE element of your workout at a time. Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed with all the little details of your workout or things you need to during the rest of your day.
As you know, I’m a huge fan of visualization – and you should be too. Because whether you realize it or not, you are projecting mental images that ultimately create your reality. So might as well choose the ones that will empower you.
Here are a 5 things that I do to keep me on track with my workouts:
- Review my goals on a daily basis (first thing in the morning and before going to bed),
- Visualize my ideal body, especially before going to bed and on my way to the gym,
- Create a VERY clear and precise workout plan – if I’m not using one of my Fitter U Fitness workouts, then I’m creating new ones, writing them down (on paper) in detail, and taking that plan with me to the gym.
- Revisit my core values to help prioritize my day – One of my top core values is health and vitality so that means that my workouts get done FIRST – before anything else. So now, most of my workouts take place 7-9 am. Then I get the rest of my day’s work done.
- Plan for days off to avoid burnout – My goal is to workout 5-6 times per week. But I also look forward to those off days where I do absolutely nothing because I know that’s when my body is getting stronger. It also allows me to recover mentally from all the hard work.
I hope you can take some valuable tips from what has helped me stay consistent with working out.
And remember, perhaps more important than anything else is your ability to do things now (not tomorrow) and to do so consistently. You need to “flex” your habit-forming muscles and the only way to do that is through repetition. Get used to doing things (big and small) that you don’t necessarily FEEL like doing (like getting up early) and get in the habit of doing them.
Pretty soon, what was once uncomfortable will now become second nature.
Now, here’s my favourite green juice of all time courtesy of Eating for Energy!
1 head of kale
1 bunch parsley
2 carrots
1 apple
6 stalks celery
1/4 cucumber
1/2 lemon
1 inch cube fresh ginger
Throw all these ingredients through a juicer and get ready for ultimate energy. This recipe will give you about 500 ml.
What’s 500 ml in oz.?
about 17-18 oz
A great article. Made me feel inspired and motivated. Thankyou.
My best stragegy for doing things now is really simple: Just do it. And before just doing it, know why your doing it and what you’re expecting from doing it, than do it
I live in Paris France and have an abundace of beautiful produce but no kale. Would spinach be a good substitute?
Yes.
What helps get me motivated is i now workout with my husband. We are up at 5:45am and do about 40 mins of hard interval training. If one of us isn’t in the mood that morning, we push the other to move their butt and get out of bed. It really helps. Plus, i’m competitive and don’t want my husband out performing me.
This is the juice I have been using from Dr Weil..great booster, in fact have found that when I take it in the morning it seems to staive off any of the daily hunger bangs and I find myself going to bed and realizing I have not had the nibblies. The only difference in yours is the ginger. I will try adding that. Thanks Carol
HI Yuri
another great article, just to clarify when you say half a lemon do you mean the whole thing? also im not familiar with the term “head of kale” does this mean only the head and not the stem part.
thanks
Yes, you can juice the whole thing or simply squeeze in the juice. It’s up to you.
How many calories? Is it filling? Will it hold you? I really want to make this change in my diet, but I am scared that it won’t be fulfilling and I will want to eat more on top of this.
I’m not sure about this mix specifically, but a good greens mix will not only be filling, but energizing!! I’ve been doing green smoothie drinks for almost 2 years now, and though I do a lot of powdered products (Epiphany Creations, HealthForce Vitamineral Greens), I always feel better when I’m drinking 1-2/day. The only thing I would do differently, and this will definitely fill you up, is use a Vitamix, and keep the pulp in the mix!! You might have to stem stuff a little more, but this does wonders.
Thanks Yuri for pointing out ginger! For some reason I’ve forgotten about this wonderful thing, and I need to add it back into my smoothies (I shave mine, freeze the root, and then microplane it into my mix, otherwise its too fibrous).
Remember, this isn’t the only thing you’ll be eating (or drinking). What you will find though is that since you’re getting ALL the nutrients your body needs, you won’t be dependent on empty, high calorie foods.
I’m going to the gym right now!
Waiting for the “perfect” tim to start something never really works, but a bit of planning, visualizing, and preparing can help. Also, there are times when my schedule really IS too full of urgent matters to implement some major changes. It is a question of balance.
Can you recommend a good juicer to buy? I’ve seen several out there, but I don’t know which ones are good.
We juse the Green Star but I’m not a big fan of it. I think Jack Lalaine’s “Juiceman” is great. It’s inexpensive and easy to use and clean.
YES another rave review for the Jack La Lanne Power Juicer here. It is easy to clean and you can get one as cheap as 80 bucks with one of those 20%-off Bed Bath and Beyond Coupons that seem to come in the mail every week. I have had mine for years, it is very powerful and I am not gentle with it. I jam it full like a log chipper
“Juiceman” is another brand entirely sold by the guy with the big eyebrows. I think the most important factor is to have as large a feeder tube as possible so you don’t have to chop everything into little pieces first. The Jack model will swallow small apples, beets and peeled oranges whole.
ALSO The major distinction is there are two basic kinds of juice machines, basically “spinners” and “mashers”:
Jack La Lanne, Breville, etc are ‘centrifugal’ (spinner) juice extractors, they can handle anything except “dry” fruits like bananas and avocados. All they do is make juice and they’re really good at this. They cannot process wheat grass however.
The Champion / Green Machine is a “twin-screw” design that squishes the fruits/veggies between two gears. This kind of juicer can handle wheatgrass, avocadoes, bananas, etc. and can make nut butters and ice cream/sorbets and all kinds of other stuff besides juice. They are way more versatile, but in my experience the Champion is super messy and difficult to clean if all you want is juice.
It depends on what’s most important to you. If all you want is a pint of juice in the AM, I’d go with the Jack LaLanne. If you need a food processor get a Champion.
I use the Champion juicer and it’s wonderful!
Also, does Frederick (above) mean he freezes the ginger root, and THEN shaves it into his juicer? I use ginger a lot, including with my carrot juice, and I’m always looking for new idesa.
Thanks, Yuri. I’ll buy the ingredients and try this recipe. I tend to put vegetables and fruits into my Vitamix that are on hand, using fruit as a sweetener. Also, I agree that health is the first priority because your health allows you to do everything else that you want to do. I’ll work on reviewing my goals and visualizing them. One, which you mentioned, is getting up early, which also means getting to bed early so that I’m not tired the next day. Having vegetable and fruit smoothies has given me a lot of energy. I couldn’t get tired from exercising yesterday, but I tried to get tired to see if I could. It was great.
TNT: Today Not Tommorow! another great one from my guru Yuri! If I had the finances…Yuri no kidding,I would purchase all your products!Cause for some reason I really believe in them. When the times comes that I will have the finances,I hope u still will have some discounts here in there!;-)
Oh and thanks 4 the green juice recipy! Will try it!
That’s my favourite green juice as well!
Can we do this “juice” in the vitamix… if so will it still taste good with the whole lemon or should i just squeeze in the Juice..
Aloha From Hawai’i!
I would suggest juicing it because celery doesn’t really blend well.
So one head of kale is one leafy piece without the stem?
It sounds like you are juicing at night and then drinking in the morning. How long will the juice stay good to drink? More than overnight? A day? Two?
I am up really early too and don’t want to wake the house up but I thought it was best to only drink right after juicing.
Thanks for this article!
I wouldn’t keep juice in the fridge for more than 3 days. A head of kale is ALL of it. So however you buy in the store/market would be one head.
Hi
I heard you should not mix fruit & vege juices.
Any research on this? Any experiences?
Ant
Hey Yuri, any suggestions on a good, but affordable juicer? I am on Australia, have heard about the hurom juicer. Also currently have on loan a green auger juicer. I know they are about $3-400 in USA, but looking for agents here. Maybe I can become an agent?
What is kale we don’t have it in India, in India we have karala (bitter gurd) we take this juice first thing in the morning it is good for diebetics, we have the neem leaves too.
You can use any kind of leafy green.
Hi Yuri, this is the best green smoothy every. I love it, I have it every second day, in between I like my berry smoothies. A smoothie a day keeps the doctor away…..
Hi have been juicing greens every day and love them but can I keep in fridge for a couple of days or will vitamin’s be lost.Is it possible to freeze for days when really busy.Thanks Angela.
I would say keep the juice in the fridge for a maximum of 3 days.
People like to hear good newa about there bad habits but at the end of the day, the sensible advice prevails eat your fruit & veg (Raw whenever possible)steer clear of refined food in whatever form this includss sugars and grains minimise animal protein (replace with plant protein – nuts, seeds,leafy greens)and don’t be fooled into thinking you have to have dairy meat for calcium protein.
tibble
Is this a drink for before or after workouts or a morning drink to get your day started?
I use it for all of the above.
Hey Yuri, thanks so much for another great post! In looking at what you do for your green juice, I see my own concoction is lacking
I wonder if you could help me tweak my drink I make everyday to increase it’s nutrient goodness for me…
I use a small banana, a slice of pineapple, one kale leaf, about a cup of water and a tsp of wheat germ, maybe some ice cubes b/c it tastes better cold! I only have a small magic bullet, so making a small drink every time I want one is okay for my lifestyle…
Anyway, it seems I’m a little low on the kale, so….should I try 1/2 a banana, plus the pineapple slice and 2 kale leaves instead with the water and wheat germ instead? I get the distinct impression that I have to seriously up my kale in my drinks!
Great post! Thanks. By the way…is my 3rd day of Eating for Energy…..it’s amazing how I feel!!! Could I feel my pants already loose around the thighs?? I do! I don’t think there’s turning back for me. Thanks Yuri.