My 101 Life Time List

Several years ago I made a list of 101 things I wanted to do/see/experience/accomplish in my lifetime.

Recently I read a blog post by Jack Canfield where he shared his list and talked about the importance of creating a similar list.

The reason, Jack said, is because "the brain is a goal seeking organism."

Meaning that we need to feed our brain goals for it to focus on and seek out ways to accomplish.

After reading Jack's blog I was inspired to revisit my list.  When I did, I was pleased to see I had accomplished about 20 from my original list.

I've now created a new list.  This list includes many from my original list and quite a few new ones as well.





The goals are in no particular order.  I just wrote them as they popped up. :)

I hope the sharing of my list inspires you to make a list of your own.

What are some of your goals? 

Are you committed to realizing them?

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

1. Positively Impact the lives of 2 Billion people
2. Travel to every continent (been to four)
3. Travel to every State in the USA (30 so far)
4. Become a Master of my Thoughts and Emotions
5. Travel to at least 100 Countries  (18 so far) 
6. Speak at TED
7. Speak to a live audience of over 20,000 people (largest so far about 600)
8. Sit Ringside at Wrestlemania
9. Attend Men's World Cup
10. Attend Women's World Cup
11. Centre Court at Wimbledon 
12. 100,000 success stories from clients and various program participants
13. Meet with two in office President's of the USA and have conversations with them
14. Meet 5 head's of State from other Countries.
15. Walk the Great Wall of China
16. See the Northern Lights
17. Scuba Dive with Great White Sharks (in a cage)
18. Scuba Dive Great Barrier Reef
19. Scuba Dive the Red Sea
20. Stay in the houses on the water in Maldives
21. Host Unlock Your Greatness workshops in 50+ Countries
22. Help people from all over the world achieve 10 million + pounds of weight lost
23. Fly in a fighter jet
24. Create charity/scholarship to honor my Dad
25. Create charity/scholarship to honor Gabe
26. Climb the Seven Summits
27. Dive with Whale Sharks
28. Do the Rocky run and celebration up the Rocky Steps in Philadelphia
29. Attend Mr. Olympia
30. Write a bestseller 
31. Earn $10,000,000 in a year
32. Retire my Mom and provide for her so she can do things she enjoys
33. Compete in one bodybuilding/fitness competition 
34. Bench press 315lbs for 15 reps (made it to 13 one time)
35. Mud Run
36. Grow the Sunrise/Sunset around the World day into an annual event honoring Paul that raises a minimum of $250,000 a year for Reach Out World Wide
37. Grow International Trash Clean up Day to an annual event with over 50,000 people participating
38. Grow the One Billion Steps in March to an annual event where over One Billion steps are walked in the month.
39. Keynote speaker at a High School Graduation
40. Keynote speaker at a college/University graduation
41. Run for President (if, when the time comes, I would bring value to my country)
42. Speaking role in two Hollywood movies (one so far)
43. At least 3 published books (1 so far "Ouch My Heart is Broken")
44. Grow the 1 Year 1000 Challenge community to over 1million members.
45. Photo of a Sunrise and Sunset over all four of the Oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, 
46. Stay at the Absolute Suite in Cesar's Palace
47. Stay at the Skyline Suite at MGM Grand
48. Stay at the Hardwood Suite at The Palms
49. Give over 100 Million to charity in my Lifetime
50. Create a foundation that pay's for alternate forms of education for teenagers and adults (ex: personal training certification, yoga certs, etc...)
51. Visit where King Arthur is from
52. See all the Seven Wonders of the World (3 so far: Christ Statue, Colosseum, Machu Picchu)
53. See all Seven Wonders of the Natural World (2 so far: Harbor at Rio and Grand Canyon)
54. Dance the Tango in a Tux (True Lies style)
55. Run a Half Marathon in 1hr 40 minutes
56. Hold a plank for 10 minutes
57. Safari in Africa
58. Read/Listen to over 10,000 books/audio cd's
59. NLP Trainer
60. Do a language immersion course in the native country
61. Give a speech on leadership to Congress
62. Flight to Outer Space and Back
63. Earn over $300 million in my lifetime
64. Give over $100 million to charity in my lifetime
65. Pilots License
66. Compete on celebrity Jeopardy
67. Play in the main event at the World Series of Poker
68. Bowl a 300 game and 700 series (current highs 277 and 688)
69. Walking Lunges for over two miles without stopping (current best is 1.25 miles)
70. Workout with Arnold Schwarzenegger
71. Cut the ribbon at a ribbon cutting ceremony
72. Learn to Surf
73. Learn a Martial Art
74. Read Le Morte De Arthur
75. Attend a Robin Sharma workshop
76. Take a Cooking Class
77. Climb the Pyramids in Egypt
78. Kiss a special someone on top of the Eiffel Tower
79. Stay in a European Castle
80. Ring the Opening Bell on Wallstreet
81. Go White Water Rafting
82. Go on an African Safari 
83. Have a conversation with the Dalai Lama 
84. Drive a car at a speed of over 130 mph
85. Drive a Ferrari
86. Have a replica Round Table as a dinner table
87. Own a home with a secret passage way that leads to a kick ass game room 
88. Take a Dance Class and learn some rhythm 
89. Customized Carpe Diem license plate
90. Founder/Cofounder of at least two nonprofit charity organizations (one so far ROWW)
91. Create a system that is teachable to millions on how to help humans live thier bast lives
92. Forgive anyone that may have cuased me pain be it intentional or unintentional
93. Love and accept myself fully
94. Form a core group of friends to travel through life with
95. Own several vacation homes in beach and mountain locations 
96. Attend a dinner at the White House
97. Create multiple scholarship programs for future generations
98. Donor and advocate for animal rights
99. Take a photography class
100.  Master my thoughts and emotions
101. Have my photos featured in a major exhibit
102. Interviewed by Oprah
103. Interviewed by Ellen
104. Interviewed on one of early morning news programs (Today, Good Morning America)
105. 
     

Perspective is Everything

Recently one of the members of the Zero Limits Mastermind shared this video and I thought it would be of value to you.

Coca Cola advertisement aside it conveys a powerful message of just how much our perspective shapes our reality.

The video opens with the word prejudice and I encourage you to allow yourself to think of other words like: perspective, judgment, assessment, etc.. when you watch this video.

What we see is not always what is

What we believe is what will determine the reality we live in.

If you do not like your present reality, take a good long look at your beliefs.

Change your beliefs and you will change your reality.

What did you think of the video?

What did you learn?

How are you going to apply what you learned?

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

30 Days Sugar and Alcohol Free

Every year I challenge myself to abstain from alcohol and processed sugar, the stuff you find in sweets, candies, cookies, etc for 30 days.

I recently completed this challenge.

One quick update before I get to that:

I'll be hosting a 28 Day Fat Blaster challenge beginning in mid July.  I'll be posting more info about it on July 1st to the 1 Year 1000 Challenge page. I will also be sending out an email to let you know.  Make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter so you don't miss out.  Click here to subscribe

30 Days No Sugar No Alcohol

I am a pretty healthy guy, meaning I usually eat fairly clean (not a lot of sugary or fried foods) and I also enjoy treating myself every now and then to a few beers with friends or a sweet goodie ( cookies, doughnuts, cakes, etc...)

I also know that sugar is one of the most addictive substances out there.  Recent research has shown that sugar, on a chemical level, affects the limbic system in the brain (the part of the brain responsible for emotional control) in similar ways as some of the notoriously more addictive drugs out there like heroin.

When you hear words like heroin and sugar in the same sentence you might think: "C'mon Jesse, you are pulling my leg."

Think about this:

According to the CDC 38,329 people in the USA died from drug overdose in 2013.

Compare that to Sugar

Each year in the USA over 610,000 people, (according to the CDC) die from heart disease - Nearly 20 times more than drug overdose!!!

Leading causes: High Blood Pressure, High LDL Cholesterol, Overweight/Obesity, Poor Diet, Excessive Alcohol use, and physical inactivity

I once read a study that reported 96% of heart disease is preventable with healthy eating and exercise... 96%!!!!  That means that every year over 570,000 people die who would not have died had they taken better care of their health.

Tragic!

And what can be found in very likely 99% of unhealthy diets - SUGAR! 

What does sugar do to the body: Can lead to weight gain, cholesterol increases, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, diabetes, headaches, etc...

It is no longer a mystery that sugar is bad for us and the reason so many people continue to over indulge in it is largely due to its addictive properties.  People just want to "feel a little better."

The first few days without sugar and alcohol were fine

Around day 5-8 I would get random headaches. 

Day 8 - 12 were the cravings... I really just wanted a bite or a sip and I would often here "THE voice" trying to rationalize it in my head:

"Just one bite won't kill you,"  "You have done this before, you know you can do it again... you have nothing to prove."

After day 12 it was pretty smooth sailing and by the time I took my first sip of alcohol I had gone almost a full 6 weeks without booze and, as of this writing, still have not had a sugary treat (although I am in Las Vegas and might treat myself here).




Some of the things that helped me be successful were:

• cleaning out my kitchen and removing any temptations (here's a video I did on nutrition success)
• I told everyone I talked to about my goal, this gave me massive accountability 
• I adjusted my schedule to protect myself during the "vulnerable" times (times where I had most cravings/temptation)
• I made sure to readjust my focus, daily, on why I was doing this
• I had a clear goal

Over the 30 days these are some of the benefits I noticed from abstaining from sugar and alcohol:

• More Energy
• Thinking much clearer
• More focused
• Less distracted
• Stronger in workouts
• After Day 12, better overall mode
• Food tasted better
• Surplus in monthly budget from not spending money on drinks with friends
• Note: think about the average markup for alcohol in any bar/restaurant
• Reduced body fat
• Muscles looked harder and more vascular 
• More motivated to pursue other hobbies/activities
• Improved creativity with cooking

When the time finally came where I was ready to have my first sip of alcohol again... I wasn't really even looking forward to it.  I had it, I enjoyed it, and I did so because I still want to continue to enjoy the occasional beers with friends.  I love the good times and silliness that comes with it.

With that being said, I believe life is all about balance, and one thing I have taken away from this most recent 30 day challenge is balance is something that can be re-calibrated at different times in your life. Going forward, I am excited to establish my new balance, and enjoying the experience along the way.

What about you?  Have you ever done a personal challenge for yourself?  What did you learn while doing it?

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Happy Fathers Day

Whether your Dad is/was the world's greatest Dad or was never in the running for Father of the year, your Dad is still your Dad and what he represents to you and your life going forward is up to you.

My Dad did not do everything right, he made a lot of mistakes, he wasn't good with money, he often thought of himself first, he didn't always want to play basketball or catch with me, and he loved me.

The most profound conversation, and the most open heart to heart one I ever had with my Dad came in 2007 after my girlfriend had broken up with me.

I was so devastated, so sad, so lost, and in so much pain that I was willing to drop all my silly walls I had put up to try and get help from anywhere I could, even my parents.

During one conversation with my Dad, my Dad told me, "Jess, you are the best person I know."

I will always remember that and I often keep it close to my heart when  making decisions in regards to how I want to live my life and what I want to contribute to the lives of others and world at large.

Whether your Dad is/was the world's greatest Dad or he was never in the running for Father of the Year, he likely taught you an important lesson or two about life.

What is one life lesson your Dad taught you?

How do you apply it to your life today?

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

www.jessebrisendine.com
www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

P.S.

I recorded this video a couple months ago about my Dad, maybe you can relate with it.

To Take a Step Forward You May Have tor Comfort Zone

Hi Everyone!

Recently one of the team members in the Zero Limits Mastermind shared a great article on words of wisdom passed on from Business leaders to college graduates at commencement.  (You can read the entire article here)

As I read through, I noticed there seemed to be a common theme that these titans of their respected industries were trying to impart on the next generation: Take risks and pursue your passions.

The concept is not a new one - heck I would guess in a slow week I hear the above phrase no less than 10 times.

Yet for some reason while reading this article, I started thinking of my own journey and where I am at professionally at this moment.

I love helping people - it has been what I have wanted to do since I was a little kid, (aside from being a professional basketball player) and I want to be able to grow my ability to help people.

For that to happen, for me to move forward towards doing more of what I want, I have to be willing to put myself out there in a way I have not done before. Some might call this "taking a risk."

You see the old adage, "nothing changes if nothing changes," is so true. Change is constant in our world yet so often there is so much fear around change.

Earlier this year I took a massive step forward professionally by announcing I would be hosting my first live event called Unlock Your Greatness.  This was a huge step out of my comfort zone as it took me from an area I was totally comfortable in, working one on one with folks, and put me in a new realm of event planning, coordinating, and teaching to audiences of many.

I'll be honest, I was scared.  My biggest fear was "What if no one signs up... what if it is just me in the room and all I could hear is crickets chirping in the background (Do crickets even chirp?)."

I hemed, I hawed, I dilly dallied, I weighed the pros and cons, I tried to make every excuse under the sun of why now is not the right time; and it all almost worked except for I kept coming back to the one thing that was my trump card for all the excuses: my passion.

I kept asking myself if my life will ever be fulfilled at the level I want it to be if I spent my whole life not sharing my gifts on the level I know I am capable of.  The answer kept coming up no; and you know what?  That no was way way wayyyyyy more terrifying than the fear of the crickets that might be chirping.

I kept worrying that to move forward I had to risk giving up my comfort zone.  Then I stopped myself and reminded myself that the real risk was if I stayed put... how much of my passion, my purpose, my joy and happiness in life would I be giving up?  OUCH!

It is true, to move forward you may have to leave your current comfort zone behind.  What I might argue is the whole concept of "risk taking."

I believe the greatest risk in life is risk-less living.  I believe that far more pain awaits us if we never try than even if we do and fall flat on our faces.

We are meant to grow, to change, to evolve, and to move forward.  Ahead lies the fruits of our labor, the joy, the happiness, and the love we seek.

Where we are might be ok, but will it ever be great?

Hmmmm... Something to think about.

What are your thoughts?  I look forward to reading your comments.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

P.S.

My fear about Unlock Your Greatness was quickly put at bay.  To date there are people from 8 countries and 15 different States coming.

There are still spots left and I would love for you to be a part of what will be a very special event.

After all, how often in life can you say, "I was there at the beginning?" :)

Click the ticket below to grab your spot.

Conversations with John Aspra The Epicurean Cowboy

Hi,

Today marks the beginning of a new journey that I want to invite you on.

The new journey...

I won't say too much here, at this time, as most is said in the video.

The video is 15 minutes and I really hope you watch the entire thing - it is important.

As you watch, allow yourself to reflect on your life and the life you have ahead. 

I will be greatly appreciative of your feedback and your help in bringing attention to this journey.

My intention is two fold, part 1 is stated in the video, and part 2 is to inspire those who this touches to live with purpose and passion.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

www.jessebrisendine.com
www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Click here to watch the video in Youtube

Your Attitude Defines Your Reality

Hellllllo there!

I swear that whenever you need to be reminded of an important life lesson, life provides you with just that.

Before I explain, I just have one quick update to share with you.

Registration is open for Unlock Your Greatness!!! :) :) (Insert Happy Dance)



Unlock Your Greatness is my first live event that I will be hosting over two days this October in my hometown of Santa Barbara, California.

You have all seen my pictures from Santa Barbara so you know it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  In addition to the SB beauty, I will be hosting an experience that I promise will be unlike anything you have ever attended before.  To learn all about Unlock Your Greatness and to register click here.  If you have questions about it, you can email me here.

Looking forward to seeing you in Santa Barbara Friday October 9th and Saturday October 10th.

Ok, life lessons....

April 15th is tax day here in the USA. I, waiting till the last minute to do my taxes off, like a responsible citizen (sarcasm), had just sent off my hard earned money to Uncle Sam and was on my way to the gym to "decompress" from the tax paying process.

As I was walking out the front door, I said aloud, "Phew, thank goodness I do not have to spend money on anything any time soon."

I got in my car, went to turn it on, and it would not start... I tried again, no luck, and the third time... it was not the charm.

I called AAA (emergency roadside service here in the USA).

When the tow truck driver arrived he tested my battery and said it was toast.  I asked him if it would make it till the next day (I was taking my car in to get it serviced) he said if I turned the car off it probably would not start back up.

Needless to say a new battery was needed.

To be perfectly honest, my first thought was something like "Fuck... I just spent all the Fu^king money on my F**king taxes and now I need to get a new fu@king battery."


After the above thoughts ran through my head, I thought to myself, "hmmmm I don't really like how those thoughts are making me feel."

Then I took a deep breath and tried again...

"Damn, I was really looking forward to not spending any money for awhile, and while this is not ideal to be investing in a battery right now, it is an investment and it will allow me to drive, for many days to come, free from fear of breaking down and being stranded.  And isn't that freedom worth this investment, now? Absolutely!"

I liked this second attempt at assessing the situation much much more.  I felt better thinking it and this prospective was much more empowering than my initial F-Bomb tirade that made me feel mad and victimized.

As the AAA serviceman installed my battery we got to chatting.  When he finished his work, he thanked me and told me that I was the most pleasant customer he had had in a long time.  He said that he really appreciated my kindness because usually people are not in the best mood's when he shows up and they often point the finger of blame at him for their car problems.

Hmmmmmm... I thought.  Isn't this interesting???

His thanks made me smile and it reminded me of an important life lesson:

No one decides our thoughts but us.  The decision of what goes on between our two ears is ours and ours alone.

If I would have stuck to my first initial F-Bomb tirade assessment of the situation I would have likely spent the rest of the day and beyond being upset at my poor luck.  I definitely would not have had a grateful tow truck driver thanking me for my kindness.  In fact, I may have had the opposite experience - a tow truck driver who left another job feeling not so great because he had yet another customer who blamed him for their problems

But, since I exercised self control, took a deep breath, and chose my thoughts carefully, choosing ones that would leave me feeling happy and empowered, I was able to:

• Laugh at the irony of the situation (not wanting to spend more money and immediately being prompted to spend more money).

• Be reminded of a life lesson that I could share with all of you

• Walk away from the experience feeling good with no negative emotional energy or thoughts lingering.

• And I was able to brighten another fellow humans day who showed his gratitude by thanking me which in turned brightened my day.

Always remember my friends, the thoughts you think create the reality you live in.  If you do not like the reality you are presently in, trying changing your thought process.

It may just be one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Professional Wrestling & Living Life like a Big Kid

Helllllooooo everyone!

A few weeks ago I had an amazing opportunity to attend WWE's Monday Night Raw at the Staples Center in Los Angeles California. 

I know I know, Professional Wrestling - trust me I have heard it all before:

"It's Fake," "It's not a real sport," blah blah blah

It's fake?!  Has anyone ever watched professional basketball or soccer?  And have you ever seen one of those players "fake" being knocked down or hurt to try and get a ref to make a call on the opposing team?

I'm just saying, it happens.

It's not a real sport?!

Ummmm, hellloooo WWE = World Wrestling ENTERTAINMENT.  It is entertainment plain and simple.  It is a show put on by some amazing athletes kind of like Cirque Soleil.  Key differences being, WWE entertainers tend to be a little bigger and often have speaking roles.

I have always enjoyed wrestling.  As a young kid (age 8) I was a huge Hulk Hogan fan, I considered myself a true Hulkamaniac, and it has always been a dream of mine to see him perform live.

As a big kid (some people call this an "adult") wrestling has always given me the inspiration to access my inner child whenever I watch it.

I have never been particularly close with my Dad and my Brother, and as a kid there were very few times that all three of us did things together to really bond.

As a teenager, one of the things we did do together was watch wrestling. 

Monday nights had become my favorite night of the week because my Dad, Brother, and I were all going to be on the same page as we cheered for our favorite wrestlers and booed the ones we didn't like.

The above is the reason why I am such a fan of wrestling and why I still enjoy it so much today - when I watch it, it gives me that feeling of closeness to my Dad and Brother.

When the opportunity arose to attend Monday Nigh Raw, here was my thought process:

There are two wrestlers I have ALWAYS wanted to see: Sting and Hulk Hogan

I knew Sting was going to be there and I thought there was a good chance the Hulkster would be.

It was the show before the Superbowl of pro wrestling aka Wrestlemania, which meant there was a high chance of an extra amazing show.

Seeing it live would be a ton of fun (I had previously been 2 or 3 times).

It would give me a chance to connect to that feeling of closeness I had with my Dad and Brother.

So I went, and

I had one of the most amazing nights ever.  I will let the pictures tell most of the story, and I will say this.  My face was sore the next two days from smiling so much. 

I was smiling for the fun I had and I was smiling for realizing a dream.

As mentioned before I had always wanted to see Hulk Hogan live... guess what, it happened.

If you have a dream, and you want it bad enough, and you believe in it enough, it can happen as long as you hold the belief that it can happen.

To make it happen you have to be willing to hold onto the belief and take actions to support the belief.

My Hulk Hogan dream was over 20 years old and I still wanted it and believed in it enough just as much as I did when I was a little kid.

Do you have a childhood dream that has come true?  Do you have one that you are still pursuing?

Your dreams are treasures, ones that are worth believing in, and worth doing whatever work is required to make them come true.

Enjoy the pics (some of them are ones I took and the ones you see me in are ones that were sent in from members of the 1 Year 1000 Challenge community who were watching the show on tv).

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

www.jessebrisendine.com
www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Brock Lesnar in the ring.  He was the current champion. He is a big big boy!

STING opened the show!  I was just a little excited! :)

This is Ryback.  Prior to seeing him live, I was not totally sold on him.  When he finished his match he took the time to walk around the ring and give every one a high five.  What really impressed me was hearing him say "Thanks Guys" to all of the fans. 

Very special to see an entertainer personally thank the fans he entertains.

Sting opened the show - EPIC.  Sting was the most famous wrestler to never join WWE.  This was a real treat

You have to BOO the bad guys!  Especially when they are doing a USA vs Russia storyline.

Not going to lie... I screamed, yelled, and "woooed" (Wrestling lingo - wrestling fans woo as a tribute to "The Nature Boy Ric Flair") when Hulk Hogan came up.  I did not know if he was going to be there, but I figured there was a good chance he might be there being as this was the show before Wrestlemania.  When the segment started I thought to myself, "If Hogan is going to come up now is going to be the time."  As the segment went on and it became evident they were building for something special, I knew that one of my child hood hero's was about to make his way to the ring.  When Hogan's music hit - my inner child was overjoyed with excitement.

The high pitched "wooing" is me... I was just a tad excited :)

I swore that if I ever got to see the Hulkster live, I would Hulk up with him.  As he was asking the audience to make some noise and flexing the "24 inch pythons," I was doing the same (In between taking photos).  And my pythons are not quite 24 inchers

As awesome as it was to see Sting, Hulk Hogan, and the rest of the WWE perform.  The real highlight of the night for me was this kid.  

In wrestling you have "good guys" (baby face's) and "bad guys, " (heals).  They all play their characters out giving the audience the chance to choose a side and choose a side that aligns with basic morality good vs evil.  

When  a wrestler is in character they are, like an actor, supposed to stay in their character always, while the show is going on .  

So many of the wrestlers, when exiting after their matches, stopped to sign this kids sign.  Many of the ones who were playing "bad guys," if they did not stop to sign it, at the very least made an effort to go over and give the kid of high five. Most of the good guys, as you can see by all the signatures, stopped to sign.

As a fan it was so special to see the WWE Superstars making this extra effort to make a young child's night something and one he will always remember.

Daniel Bryan, one of the current fan favorites.  When he comes out everyone stands up and chats yes to his music!

A Memorable Night... Meeting up with Members of the Exercise Accountability Group

Hi Everyone!

A couple quick updates:

1 - As you may or may not have heard, I am hosting my first ever live event!!!! I am beyond ecstatic for this next step in my mission to positively impact the lives of 2 Billion people.  Save the Dates: Friday October 9th and Saturday October 10th in Santa Barbara California.  More details will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.  Be sure to check in here, my newsletter, and the 1 Year 1000 Challenge page for all the details as they come in. :)

2 - The Spring 28 Day Flat Belly Challenge begins on Wednesday.  There are still a few spots available if you want in.  This is an awesome opportunity to get rid of that unwanted body fat once and for all.  Click here for more info

The early part of my career in helping people was spent in the gym doing personal training.  I loved seeing people undergo the physical transformations of losing weight, building muscle, and recovering from injuries.  It was an amazing time in my life.

As much as I enjoyed my time as a trainer, I also found a part of me being frustrated.  I wanted to help more people and my reach seemed limited to who was in front of me at the gym.

I knew I had a ton of knowledge and experience to offer people in the realm of fitness. I knew, as I transitioned away from the role as a full time trainer, that there were still people out there who could benefit from my fitness, health, and exercise expertise.

I also knew that one of the biggest obstacles people faced in achieving their goals was ongoing accountability.  I used to see it all the time; highly motivated people, who showed up to the gym, kicked ass at their workouts and nailed their nutrition.  Then as soon as they stopped training with me and they no longer had the accountability, all their hard earned gains would disappear as would their gym attendance.

One day I had the idea to create a group. My intention in creating the group was to create accountability amongst members while providing a fun, safe, supportive, and inspiring environment for people working towards their health and fitness goals.

I called it the Exercise Accountability Group.

Over the years, the Exercise Accountability Group has now grown to nearly 60 members strong from all over the world!

Last month (March 2015) we agreed to do a meet up in New Orleans Louisiana. The meet up was open to all group members.  Several of the members even participated in a race the morning of the meet up.

Heading to the meet up that night I was a little nervous, actually that is a lie, I was really nervous. :)

Many of the people who were going to be there had been clients of mine for a long time, yet I had never met any of them in person.  Thoughts ran through my mind... What would they think of me?  Would I live up to their expectations?  Did I have enough bad jokes to tell to last the night? What if they did not recognize me? What if no one showed??!?!!

My nerves were quickly eased as Exercise Accountability group members began to show up.  First there was one, then two and eventually there were many.  Conversation lasted well into the wee hours (we finally were kicked out of the bar about 1am).

For me it was such a joy to hear everyone's stories about all their adventures they had been having in New Orleans, as well as learning more about some of the members and their life journeys.  It meant a lot to me to be able to be there with them as they celebrated the race they had run earlier that day.

Often, throughout the night, I found myself feeling a tremendous sense of pride in all the people present as they shared more of their story with me.  There were a lot of smiles, laughs, and tears, as I got to learn more and more about the journey's many had been on and what they have overcome in their life.

When I found a spare moment to myself (usually when I went to the bathroom, which I did a lot on account of the Coors Lite's I was drinking), I could not wipe the smile off my face.  Several years ago I had had an idea to create an environment where a group of like minded people could come together, support, encourage, and inspire one another on their individual fitness journey's.

Fast forward to present day, here I was, meeting up with members of that group who had traveled 1000's of miles to gather in NOLA and celebrate all their accomplishments thus far!

The photos below do not illustrate the journeys so many of these amazing people have been on.  I could spend hours talking about and bragging about all of them.  Since the group is an Exercise group I'll leave you with one amazing fact:

The combined weight loss of the people pictured in the group photo is nearly 800lbs!!! Amazing and Inspiring.

With all my heart I want to thank everyone who has been a part of the Exercise Accountability Group thus far (or is a friend or family member supporting one of the members) and helping me to make one of my dreams come true.  An extra big thanks goes to all the members, and their friends, who made the trip to NOLA.

It was an amazing night that I will never forget.  I will always and forever hold the memories of that night in a very special place in my heart.

Enjoy the pics,

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

P.S. we are always looking for new members to join the Exercise Accountability Group.  Only qualifications needed are to have a desire to make exercise and eating healthy a priority in your life.  Click here to get more info and to sign up.

My Dad was Not the Best Dad, Which Made him The Best Dad for Me.

A few days ago it was, what would have been, my Dad's 65th birthday.  Sadly he is no longer physically present to celebrate it as my Dad died very suddenly on February 1st 2010.

The irony, (if you can have irony in death,) was that just two weeks prior to my Dad's passing, he was told by his doctor that he was officially a cancer survivor.

After an over two year battle with colon cancer, my Dad had beat it and was told by his doctor that he was in full remission and had has entire life ahead to look forward to.

My Dad had won a hard fought battle and for his efforts his rewarded with the promise of time.

Time to do all the things he had always wanted to do.

Time to make his priorities a priority.

Time to say I love you more.

Time to forgive and let go of past pain.

Time to travel and see the world.

Time to laugh with friends and connect with family.

Time to live life with a renewed appreciation after having been so close to death.

My Dad was promised, and given, time.... two weeks of it.

Not what he, I, or anyone else assumed, but that is what happened.

On his birthday I took a few moments to reflect on my Dad and what his death has meant to my life, as well as what his legacy is to me.

I recorded these thoughts so I could share them with You.

When I initially shared the video last week on Facebook I got an email from someone asking me "How can you open up and share the way you do."

It is certainly not easy to do so and there are a lot of emotions that come up during the process of sharing.  I do share because with all my heart, I believe what I have experienced and what I have learned from those experiences is meant to be shared.  I feel it would be wrong of me to keep what I have to offer and the insights I have gained locked away - hidden from others.

It is my deepest hope that you are able to find value in what I share and perhaps my words are able to help some of you who are dealing with a significant loss of your own.

Enjoy the pics (they are all of my Dad and I),

Carpe Diem,

Jesse
http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

 

Self Love... It is Worth It.

Howdy!

Thanks for stopping by!

One quick update:

The One Billion Steps in March event is underway!!  I need everyone who is able and willing to record their steps to please please do so as we have a big goal to hit.  Click here for more info.

I posted the below to Facebook last week and it received a lot of really positive feedback.  Many people shared how it connected with them.  I felt it was a good idea to share it here in hopes that it may reach a few more people who find value in it.  Please let me know what you think:

 I got my Heart Broken for the very first time and was the BEST thing that ever happened to me!

I had been dating a girl for a couple of years.  Our relationship ran through cycles of being good to borderline great to so so to OMG how can this continue on?  We were each others best friends and at the same time each others worst enemies.  At times when we should have taken a deep breath and talked things out, we chose to instead nit pick, poke, fight, and tear each other down.

There were times throughout the relationship where I felt we needed to walk away, but when she would try to end it, I would fall apart and beg for her to take me back, promising that I, and we would change.

Eventually she got strong enough, or frustrated enough, (maybe both), to walk away for good.

I fell apart.

I could not sleep, I could not eat (I lost 20 pounds in less than three weeks), I cried so much my face was constantly swollen. I felt so lost... like I had lost... myself...

As much as I wanted to try and blame my pain on losing her, the real reality was was that I was lost because I didn't know who I was.  The loss of the relationship brought, like a geyser exploding to the surface, my lack of self love.  She had been filling a void that I had never taken the time, or made the effort to fill myself.  She was doing my job that I should have been doing for myself a long time ago.

One day I had an "Eureka" moment.  I knew I was at a crossroads in my life and the decision I made going forward was going to determine what kind of life I would live.

I had two clear choices in front of me:

A - I could continue down the path I was on, not deal with myself, get into another relationship to put a band aide on my pain, ignore my lack of Self Love be good for a little while, never great, and more than likely end up right back where I was a few more years down the road.

or, I could choose

B - To get real, I mean really real and resolve to do whatever the fuck I needed to do to dump my emotional baggage from the past and start filling up the holes inside of me with the self love I had been lacking and longing for.

"A" was an easy choice, I was familiar and comfortable with that one, "B" was scary as hell and I had no idea what to do or even where to begin.

Have you ever been there?  Had two choices in front of you... one of which is so tempting because it is easy and so familiar, but in your gut you already know how it will turn out.  However, your other option is scary as hell, you have no clue on what to do or how to do it, but in your gut you know that is the one you should choose.

I was terrified when I made the decision to go with choice "B."  Despite that fear I promised myself I would dive head long into it no matter what.  I hired a coach, read every book, listened to every guru, attended the seminars, all of it and more - I would not stop until I got to a place where I felt like I actually Loved me.

And you know what?

I got there - after a lot of hard work, commitment and fear facing, I got there, and now...

I LOVE ME. :)

When my relationship ended, I fell apart, and at the time I thought that was what my life was destined to be, a life of sadness and pain.  What I realize now is that I needed to fall apart so that I could rebuild myself into who I am today.

You see we are all like Legos - when the pieces fall apart it doesn't mean they are broken, it just means there is an opportunity to create something new, something greater.

You will always be missing out on something in life if you never find your love from within.

The greatest tragedy I witness day in and day out professionally, is meeting with folks who lack self love and lack the courage to do anything about changing it.

Their lack of self love causes so much unnecessary pain in their relationships, their professional lives, and their health.

I am so sick and tired of watching good people suffer through life when they do not have to.  Change is available to us all if we are willing to change.

With that being said, because of the overwhelming response to this post, I AM going to do a small training specifically on self love.

I'll be hosting the first ever Self Love Summit and it will begin on Tuesday March 24th.  If you would like to attend, the first step is to fill out the application at this link: 

https://jessebrisendine.wufoo.com/forms/r12weqvo107r022/

Once I receive your completed application, I will get in touch with you (make sure to include your email).

I hope to welcome many of you to the Self Love Summit. :)

#CarpeDiem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

P.S.

Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think of this blog.  I would love to hear your feedback.  What do you think of when you think of self love?  Is it important?

My 50 Shades of Grey Experience

Hey there!


I wanted to share with you my experience watching the movie, "50 Shades of Grey," but before I get to that, I have one very important update to share with you.

One week from today is the start of the One Billion Steps in March challenge.  Please please please invite your friends and family to participate in this event.  To sign up, invite your friends, and learn all about the event, click here.

I have been hearing about the cultural phenomena "50 Shades of Grey" for 3 or 4 years now. During that time, several of my female friends have tried to get me to read the book.  Two and a half years ago I decided I would.  I was curious about what all the hype was about and what seemed to have so many women all excited.  I made it through half of the book... I just couldn't seem to get into it.

Recently I was invited to watch the "50 Shades of Grey" movie.  Again, my curiosity was perked as I had heard so many mixed things about it.  Some were calling it erotic and liberating, others called it a set back for women claiming it glorified abuse and violence towards women.

I watched the movie and thought as a movie it was nothing more than Ok.  I found it to be mildly entertaining and the chemistry between the two leads seemed forced at best.

I did not agree with the assertion that it glorified violence for women nor did I feel it was a setback, in fact I thought exactly the opposite.  I found it refreshing to see a movie where it was ok for a woman to be open with exploring her sexuality.  I also found it fascinating that both the movie and the books seemingly connected with so many women in this respect.

I consider myself to be a student of humanity, meaning I am always wanting to better learn and better understand people.  I believe that the better I understand people the more effective it will make me at helping them. :)

Culturally it seems like it has always been ok for men to be strong, confident, and sexually open.  Women, in popular culture, have not always had the same portrayal, with a few exceptions (Sharon Stone in "Basic Instinct" is one that comes to mind.)

I have been continually disappointed that we as a society seem to hold onto prevailing stereotypes between men and women when it comes to sexuality.  It's ok in movies, in books, and in life for men to be sexually open and curious, but if women are they get the label of "slut" or some other nonsense.

While I did not think 50 Shades of Grey was the best movie, what I do think it did, and I am grateful it did this, was to present a strong female who showed it was ok for women to be sexual. Not only was it ok, it was fun, it was exciting, and it was ok for it to be those things.

Have you seen the movie, what do you think?  Let me know, I am excited to hear your thoughts?


Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

Love... It IS Everywhere

It seems to be as inevitable as a tummy ache is after someone eats to much sugar - when February rolls around with Valentines Day on the horizon, conversations shift to Love, it's meaning, it's abundance, the lack of it, and much more.

I love helping people and I hate that something like Love, which is available in such abundance, escapes so many.

It breaks my heart to see people go through life lacking Love.  I know it does not have to be this way, and I want to help eliminate this problem from anyone who is willing to let me help.

Recently I hosted a Youtube chat on this very important topic.  The purpose of the chat was threefold:

1- To define what love is, the different types of love, and why it is important to be aware of the different types.

2 - To explain the difference between being in love vs "just" loving someone.

and 3 - To teach you how you can bring an abundance of love into your life.

The event was very powerful and I believe really helped a lot of people form better relationships with Love.  I also believe it equipped the viewers with several effective tools that they could take home and utilize in their relationships with others and themselves.

Because Love is so desired by all, and how to acquire it is often very misunderstood, I wanted to share this video with you all in the hopes that it will assist you and those you care about in your journey's to bring more Love into your lives.

I would love to hear what you think!  Please leave me a comment below.

With Love,

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge

The Inside Scoop on Jesse Brisendine part 3

Well the time has arrived, part 3, the conclusion of Macie's guest blog about me.  Have you all enjoyed it?  I know I certainly have.  I felt all sorts of feelings when Macie and I first spoke of this idea.  I felt shy, I felt naked, I felt some trepidation, and when I read what Macie wrote, I still felt those things, but more than anything, I felt love and loved.  Not only that but reading the overwhelmingly positive response's and comments from all of you has only furthered the love I have been feeling.  This experience has been an amazing one.

Ok, I know you are eagerly awaiting the conclusion of Macie's guest blog, but before we get to that a couple quick updates:

Mark your calendars - Wednesday February 11th at 4:30pm PST will be our next Monthly Motivation Youtube chat.  The topic will be "Love."  To view the live chat, click here

We had some really significant win's this week in the Zero Limits Mastermind - One member got a new job and another went back to school and earned a scholarship to pay for her education.  What the ZLM members are doing is absolutely inspiring.  To learn more about ZLM and how you can become a member, click here.

Lastly, the 28 Day Flat Belly Challenge wraps up today.  There was an awesome group of participants.  I am excited to share with you all the final results as well as the winner who I will highlight in this weeks "Success Story" post on the 1 Year 1000 Challenge facebook page.

Ok, onto Macie:

If you haven't read parts 1 & 2 you are going to want to read them first.  Click here to read part1 and here to read part 2

Jesse is a 6'4” body builder type with bubbling muscles and clear skin; he works out pretty much every day (often twice a day) and brings his own protein powder to the gym. But he's sensitive. People can't seem to latch on to that easily either.

So who is Jesse Brisendine? Is he the man in the pictures that you see on facebook? The brooding specimen that fits emotion, humor, and humility into one, good-looking package? Sure. He's that guy. But he has also been sullen and dark and lifeless. His depression after Gabe's death, and then his dad's inspired H.E.E.A.L., which Jesse has always fully supported, and it was born from that dark period in his life when I had no idea how to pull him out of it. Jesse Brisendine is honest. He is goofy. He has been the voice of reason in my sobriety of four years, and he has been the pouting face after I miraculously beat him in mini golf. He is, and has always been, silly.

<www.heealsb.org>

Right before Jesse lost his dad, he took a trip to Haiti with Paul. It was his first major outing after Gabe's death. It was also right around his birthday, which Jesse has always pretended not to exist, even though I know he secretly loves the compassion and meaning that gets flung at him on that day. I wrote Paul a letter that day. The day they were leaving. I thanked him for helping my friend. Not for being Paul Walker. But for being Jesse's confidant. Jesse wrote me saying they were both in the car to the airport sobbing over the letter. Yes. Boys cry.

Losing Paul seemed like the absolute impossible, and I watched Jesse become a more level-headed griever, if there is such a thing. I hate that he can even be that, but I'm also thankful that he hasn't lost hope. That's really who he is. Cautiously hopeful. He isn't fearless. He is scared, just like you and me. He's scared of love, of failure, and of hurt. He is ambitious and driven, but he is often tired and lonely. He is the healthiest man at times, but he is also my partner in crime for fabulous displays of frozen yogurt and toppings. He prides himself on how little sleep he can get by on, (but falls asleep within the first 20 minutes of movies), he works hard to better himself in every aspect, and he is my absolute favorite person to gossip with. He has faults and flaws just like anyone else, but he is the first to go about bettering himself and basking in who he is. He has an outstanding moral compass.

Sometimes I read the articles that Jesse writes and ponder a little bit. I'll even find myself saying, “ya that's kind of how he felt.” Or, “I guess it was like that.” I pick it apart. Try and find the truth that is hiding between the lines. But that's not really what's happening. He isn't hiding the truth. He is just uncovering it at his own pace. He told all of us at Gabe's funeral that we should hug each other and tell each other we love you every day. He said it's important and it was how Gabe was. I've been in serious relationships with men for probably 85% of the time I've known Jesse. Yet his hugs and “I love yous” have always been the most genuine. That is not to discount the fine suitors I have flocked to, but it is to show some perspective on the grandiose presence of Jesse Brisendine's love. Maybe it's because I thought there was a time when he would never feel positive emotion again. Maybe it's because our trust has never truly been questioned. All I know is that he spoke the truth at that funeral, and he has stuck to his word. That's a pretty bold and badass move to make. I've unfortunately been to my fair share of funerals, and I have come to see them as the place where falsified promises are made out of shock and grief, but where bad habits brood, and grudges fail to dissipate. You can call it pessimism, but I'm just saying what I'm thinking. Jesse defied these generalizations.

This man is not just the one you see online. I mean, he is that man, yes, but he's a real human. We have jumped out of planes together, belted our lungs out to “Livin' on a Prayer” on karaoke night, and played makeshift laser tag in the garage. One time I hid in his closet for 45 minutes on Friday the 13^th to scare the shit out of him, and he was inches away from punching me in the face out of sheer terror. His screams were priceless. We've ridden roller coasters (he's terrified), taken road trips, and thrown parties. We have this high five that we do. Jesse is about a foot taller than me, so he always holds his hand way up high and then we both jump at the same time for righteous contact. It's pretty awesome. Although one time the contact was so intense that I ended up flashing a garage-full of people sprawled on my back. It happens.

Jesse is not perfect. We wouldn't be friends if he was. He has painfully awkward dance moves and he can stink up a room like no one I know. He wears the same 3 tank tops to work out in all the time, and after he washes the dishes he runs his gross hands all through his beard. I never understood that. Once in a while he holds things in and it can come off as passive aggressive, and every now and then he'll text the ex. But he is a flaw forgiver too. He excuses my flannel dog pajamas, calls my constant fashion expression “colorful” instead of childish, and he has yet to exploit that whole I-shit-my-pants incident. He deserves your respect and your commitment to him.

You need Jesse Brisendine. You need a place to feel safe and to explore your insecurities, vulnerabilities, and question marks. And, truthfully, I need Jesse Brisendine for very similar reasons. I laugh at people who say that boys and girls can never be “just friends.” They're right to some extent I guess. Jesse can never be just a friend. That word doesn't do our relationship justice. It's not every day a young man you barely know chases down Vegas workers to find some girl in the dead of the afternoon just because he has a bad feeling. We were destined for life-long togetherness from the start. The truth is, I'm proud of Jesse for inspiring you. I'm proud of him for having these followers, these fans, and this life that he has truly always been after. He has worked hard and earned it. You are important. You are evidence that Jesse's purpose goes beyond our little bubble here. But I will always be on the inside. I will always need just a little bit differently.

And I'll tell you a secret. Jesse needs us too.


Macie's Bio:

Macie is your average Feminist Studies and Exercise and Sports Science major from UCSB. By average, she means she's a walking contradiction. She loves all things sports and competition, and she is also a passionate philanthropist and activist. Most important, she is a nerd at heart. Macie coaches and runs character development programs from high school girls soccer players, and she continuously pursues her favorite activity - writing. Macie's various, but important passions include her non-profit organization, H.E.E.A.L. (Hope through Exercise, Energy, and Art for Life), which serves to fund other organizations who promote and provide exercise and art outlets (www.heealsb.org). They also include her podcast, Dropping the F Bomb (www.droppingthefbomb.org), which delves into modern-day feminism with a little bit of an attitude, and her blog, Lifestyle of the Torn and Triad, which follows her journey through her 3rd knee surgery in her 20s (http://lifestyleofthetornandtriad.weebly.com/blog). Macie will also be starting as a contributor for Elite Daily (www.elitedaily.com).

Jesse here:

Well folks, there you have it.  What did you think of Macie's guest blog?  Did you enjoy it? What are some key take aways you got out of it?  Would you like to see more blog's like this in the future?  I would love to hear what you think (and I know Macie will too) please leave a comment or three below.

Also if you found value or enjoyment in this, please share it with a friend.  Your shares help me to help more people.

I wanted to add one final comment... I do not believe in coincidences.  It was five years ago today (February 1st) that my Dad died.  Macie and I had just left a meeting at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and had gotten into our respective cars.  I saw my Mom had called and had a horrible feeling.  When I called her back and she told me what happened, I called Macie who had just driven off. 

Macie nor I planned the timing of this to work out that way.  It has been a very special gift, one that I will always treasure.

Thank You for reading, Thank You for your ongoing support, and Thank You for being You. I am grateful for You.

Enjoy the pics,

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

www.jessebrisendine.com
www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge