I constantly get messages on facebook asking me how I got into such good shape and if I can give them any advice on how to get into shape. Well first things first let me say I was not in terrible shape when I started. I have been working out for years, mainly cardio and some light weights. I was skinny fat, I looked good in clothes and ok without but I was not in what you would call competition shape. That is a WHOLE other level of fitness that I had never experienced before and I wanted to do it. My prep for my first show was only about 8 weeks and I was able to coast through my next two shows b/c of how stoked my metabolism had become. Now for most people who are out of shape and/or overweight it's going to take you much much longer. Depending on how overweight you are it could take over a year but for the average out of shape person a 16 week program is what you may need. One of the best pieces of advice I can give anyone trying to get into shape is that your nutrition is 80% of the work, 10% is in the gym training and the other 10% is your attitude. My response to people when they message me asking how I did it is simple. I say, I ate proper nutrition with whole foods and nothing processed and I worked out 5 days a week. They often think I'm holding back some secret to success but I'm not and that is the truth. I also believe that keeping a positive mind set even when things don't go your way is vitally important, if you think negative things will always seem negative even when you make progress. So celebrate the small successes such as loosing 1/2 or even 1/3 pound, celebrate being able to go 20 seconds longer on the cardio machine, celebrate being able to lift 2lbs heavier in the gym, celebrate eating all the meals you were suppose to. Celebrate the tiny things and big things will happen. I also think that you need to put just as much effort to making yourself feel good inside as you are outside. This is one thing I have failed to do and am just now beginning too. I'm reading self help books and trying to see where I can make improvements within and not just physically. It's important to be the person you not only want to be but need to be. So there's the history of my progress in a nut shell, I truly hope this helps some of you.