Lightning Bolt

I just couldn't resist it - such a perfect surname for the fastest person in the world!

If you haven't seen Usain Bolt's world record winning Olympic sprint from the weekend then you really must check it out - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7565572.stm

He annihilated the field, broke the world record, and jogged the last few metres in 'celebration' mode!

The thing that relly hit me about Usain is that he is not 'built' to be a sprinter! Sprinters are classically relatively short - under 5'10". Usain is a staggering 6'5" which would usually prevent 100m success - the long limbs are usually less able to co-ordinate and build up the required pace over such a short distance. Taller sprinters are usually diverted to the longer distances such as 400m.

But Usain and his coach decided to defy 'convention'. Against all odds they made it possible to get max speed out of his long limbs over the 100m, and as a result he has surpassed his shorter rivals.

He could have used his height as an excuse - I'm too tall for the 100m....

But instead, the challenge and adversity is what made his amazing success all the sweeter...

The same applies to you in your fat loss and fitness quest. You are busy and have forces pulling against you all the time - but rather than letting these forces take you down you can win despite this disadvantage. And when you reach your goals it is your challenging circumstances that will make success all the sweeter!

We all look at celebrities who are whipped into shape a week after a baby or a 'fat' movie and we don't usually have that much admiration for their achievement as we know they have had it all 'on a plate': an on-call Personal Trainer, perfectly proportioned and delicious 'rations' delivered to them daily and the extreme motivational push of worldwide press coverage to keep them on track.

When we see 'real' people with real challenges we have much more respect and admiration, and when people achieve 'against the odds' we rate their achievements far higher.

It is our response to our unique challenges that determines our success, and usually it is the challenge that makes success more likely.

You may think that others who have the results you would like may 'have it easy' but usually this is not the case! I personally struggle with weight but because of that I have made fitness and good nutrition into a way of life - and I am glad about that! If I had always been naturally slim and athletic I would not be as fit and healthy as I am now, and would in all liklihood probably not be a trainer doing a job I adore.

So let's relish the challenges! And don't let anyone tell you you're just 'not meant to be' anything. We can all be slim and fit and healthy - and we all deserve to be!