Change is difficult. Learning new things is hard, but is the most valuable thing we can do as human beings. Samuel Smiles: Alexander the Great valued learning so highly, that he used to say he was more indebted to Aristotle for giving him knowledge than to his father, Philip, for life. The gym can be an intimidating place. It is filled with strange equipment and people who know what they’re doing. If you’re just starting out, you may be uncomfortable with your physique and feel surrounded by fit, strong people waiting to mock you. The mental challenges of starting… Sometimes people ask me what shoes I recommend for training. Nike, Adidas and the like have spent billions in marketing dollars getting us to pose this very query. I suggest working out barefoot. Much of my childhood was barefoot. Our summers (and winters) were spent outside in the neighborhood on asphalt. I used my socks as a baseball by wrapping them in electrical tape, rather than putting them on my feet. After a long day of playing sock ball or skateboarding, my soles were black. The dirt washed off in a bath and I’d be right back out there… This morning, I sat at my kitchen table exhausted from working late last night and waking up at the crack of dawn to get my young men off to school. My workout loomed large. I scheduled a tough one with a spotter, so I knew I’d be pushing myself exceptionally hard. I didn’t look forward to trading in my robe for getting dressed; my cozy bed was just yards away. In that moment, I was playing games with myself and stalling. I knew that I’d feel better after training, but damn, nothing sounded less appealing than a steel pole… Want to win this autographed bat? Enter here! Contest runs through Monday, 2/10. You can tweet about the giveaway once per day to increase your chances! a Rafflecopter giveaway  … Keeping a food journal can make or break your quest to get in the best shape of your life. Does any of this sound familiar? A husband and wife make a pact. They are going to get in shape, and they are going to do it together, as a team. Shoulder to shoulder they stand; they’ve got this. A month down the road, wifey is looking a little fitter, but hubby has noticed his jeans tightening. She looks over at dinner, and they talk about it. Hubby: “I don’t get it, I’m working my butt off, doing 45 minutes… Super Bowl Sunday is the day when folks consume the second highest number of calories of the year (after Thanksgiving). Luckily, taking care of yourself during the big game isn’t as hard as it seems, and it doesn’t require that you skip the activities and food that make you smile. With a tiny bit of planning, Monday will be less managing regret and more prideful recollection of your willpower. Here’s your path to success for tomorrow’s big game: Grab a workout in the morning, even if you typically do your workout in the evening. Let’s face it, once noon… Taking the first step is the most important thing you can do. For today, I want you to take a step – off the scale. Your scale is like your worst ex. It’s a liar; deceitful, manipulative and behaviorally inconsistent. It’s most dangerous characteristic? It’s intoxicating, luring you in day after day with the promise of better things to come. It’s time for you to end the dysfunctional, toxic relationship with your scale. Kick that SOB to the curb. The scale only measures weight. More times than not, weight is a poor indicator of how we feel. Medical studies are…