Each day during this three-month cut, I’ve started with a challenge.

That challenge has been to climb a 150-step staircase from the parking lot to the office each morning. I decided that would be my challenge every day during this cut to essentially start the day by getting in the right frame of mind.

That frame of mind is one of hard work and determination.

You need those qualities if you plan to eat fewer calories than your body wants while pushing your body to places it doesn’t want to be — all while, you know, maintaining your daily life. That’s the combination that helps create weight loss and a true transformation in body composition.

The first thing I do each day can often dictate how my day goes. If I put something off until later, I might not ever get to it. If my mind is cloudy, if I’m tired or feeling lazy, or if I get distracted I’m likely to carry those traits with me throughout the day.

This climb each morning has helped me to get my mind right before walking into work each day. It also prepares me for the training sessions that are to come later in the day, as well as the meals and recovery work I need to do.

All told, it has been a fantastic challenge. It’s one I think I’ll carry with me after this cut is complete.

I encourage you to create a challenge for yourself as well. There are some cliches out there about parking farther away, scheduling a 10-minute walk, etc. to increase help benefits or lose weight. I think we often brush those off as cliches — like they don’t matter or aren’t real.

But they are.

Those strategies and more are things than can increase your energy expenditure throughout the day and lead you down the path of being healthier and fitter.

Create a simple challenge for yourself each day. I bet you it will create positive outcomes!

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CGF