So, how do those websites relate to fitness? Well, besides having a few people TALK about fitness, they really don’t. I mean sure, you get bookmarking sites like Digg that show you the most popular and relevant content on the web, but what about YOU? How can you leverage these tools to achieve your goals?

Well that’s where my slick idea comes into play. First you need to understand that social media is about being SOCIAL and being transparent, so if you’re not willing to do this, you might as well abandon this little technique all together. If however you are willing to try it out, I am sure your success will sky rocket. For those who know me, know that I am CONSTANTLY looking for ways to boost the chances of success in the area of fitness.

So let’s begin. The very first thing you need to do, is decide what tool are you going to use. Don’t worry about what you’ll be doing just yet, just pick a tool, or pick a few tools if that’s what floats your boat. My recommendation would be Twitter… Since you can have as many followers as you want, have cell phone integration and every tweet is limited to 140 characters. This means it’s short, sweet and to the point without any BS. Perfect!

If you have a bit more time, or if you already have a MySpace account, you can start a MySpace blog, or a Facebook fan page. The reason you want the fan page is because it lets you have an unlimited number of people who can follow you; unlike your actual Facebook account, which is limited to 5000 friends (how lame).

By now you’ve probably realized that the ability for people to FOLLOW what you are doing is an important aspect to my little idea. Well you would be right. So here’s the second step, compile an email list of EVERYONE you know; family, friends, close friends, ex’s… Whoever, just get their email. Now send out a shot-gun email to everyone on that list explaining your goals along with a link, where they can follow you and be a part of your success. If they don’t know anything about social media or the tool you are choosing to use, explain it to them.

So for example, in the email you’ll say:

“Hey guys, I’m totally out of shape and I’ve realized that I need to take action to better my health so I can live longer. I am ready to face reality, but I need your help, and I’ve come across a brilliant idea from FJ. Every day, I will be making a few tweets about how my workouts are going, how much I currently weigh, how often I’m going to the gym etc. And I’d like for you guys to follow me and be a part of the process. If I ever go off course I will be honest and tweet it out, and would love words of encouragement… Or a bitch slap across the face, you choose. Here’s the link…”

… And so on. The point is to have as many people you know see you “walk the path”, and when you are so transparent and open about what you are doing, the social media thing turns into social pressure. This social pressure is a good thing, because its your driving force that will help you succeed. Imagine having your significant other read your tweet in their office about how you decided to SKIP your workout today… Then having to see them later on that night and come up with excuses face to face. Is that really something you want to go through?

On the flip side, imagine having 40 other people read your tweet about how you are down 5lbs when you checked your weight scale this morning. What kind of responses and Direct Messages do you think you’ll receive? I can bet they’ll be positive. By the way, as more and more people follow you, the haters will start to pour in to some degree… Don’t be a pussy and cave in. The hater responses usually spawn from JEALOUSY, which is even more flattering don’t you think?

So let’s wrap this up, there are a few rules you need to follow if you are to make this work:

1. Honesty. [Unless you are honest and transparent about your actions... You will be wasting your time. Sure, no one will know that you cheated your meals on Wednesday because you decided to skip the tweet, but YOU will know, and ultimately, your body is what will show the truth. It's OK to have a slip up or two, but by being honest you will learn from your own mistakes]

2. Quality of Followers. [There is no reason to have 50,000 followers who don't give a shit about your idea and what you're doing. If you need to make an alternate Twitter account then do it. You need people who you either KNOW, or have met somewhere either offline or online. The point is you need followers who like your idea, are interested in it, and who ultimately care about you & your success in one way or another]

3. Being Specific. [I know Twitter has a word limit, but that doesn't mean you can't make 2 tweets at a time. Don't spam and tweet out 10 times in a row but the point here is: Don't be so general that no one knows what you're up to. Instead of "Went to the gym, had good workout" how about "Went to the gym, worked out back, biceps and forearms. Upped the resistance 5%". Get it? Good]

4. Communicate. [Yes, make sure you are constantly communicating with the audience that's following you. I don't care what they say, RESPOND back, or initiate conversations. Remember, this is SOCIAL MEDIA... Not Loner Media. If you don't feel like interacting, start a personal diary or something]

There you have it, a powerful way to use social media to ensure that you will be motivated to better your health. Every excuse I help mitigate, the better your chances of success, because let’s face it… What else are you going to do when your back is against the wall? Run away from your problems? No… You must face them head on. You can also use this technique to complete projects, finish tasks and make sure your daily goals get done.

Also, make sure you pick up a copy of my Head-Start fitness mini course. You can download your free copy HERE.

-FJ
FlawlessFitnessBook.com

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