Tip Go Negative to Get Positive Results Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Training Tip Go Negative to Get Positive Results Sometimes a kick in the butt works better than a pat on the back especially for fat loss Here' s why by Chris Shugart March 11, 2016November 1, 2021 Tags Tips, Training Get Mad Watch any TV show about weight loss and you'll see a lot of crying, hugging, and syrupy sweet one-liners about having a positive attitude and "freeing the rainbow-love in your heart..." whatever that means. But here in the real world, successful people often get angry to fuel positive changes. Success story Chris Bartl describes his experience like this: "I didn't like the way I looked, the way I felt, or the way I was leading my life. I was fat and it pissed me off." Chris didn't feel sorry for himself, he didn't stand in front of the mirror repeating positive affirmations, and he certainly didn't join a support group where other unhealthy people could pat him on the back and tell him that fat is beautiful. He got angry... and then he got shit done. "People who get angry and fed up with being out of shape always have the most amazing, lasting transformations," says Olesya Novik. "They feel like they've got nothing left to lose, so they push themselves and keep coming back for more." Why does anger work? Well, the human animal is a predator. He doesn't track and kill his prey by kinda-sorta wanting it. Achieving a goal isn't a marathon; it's a sprint. You have a short, intense window of opportunity to break bad habits and smash through obstacles. "Successful people share a willingness to get uncomfortable," Alwyn Cosgrove says. That applies to their training, diet, and lifestyle. Now, how does a self-pitying whiner deal with discomfort? He quits or blames others. How does a guy or gal who's willing to channel some "good anger" deal with it? They fight through it. And win. Get Selfish Anger isn't the only politically incorrect emotion that comes into play. "Significant change comes with getting a little selfish," says John Berardi, Ph.D. "That doesn't have to be a bad thing, although some of your friends and family may think so." Even if it feels weird to set aside time for yourself and your own self-improvement, it's the only way to pull it off. You have to get a little selfish and take some of your time back. That allows you to avoid distraction while focusing intensely on a single goal. Feel Superior Another dickish trait common to success stories is a certain sense of superiority. You don't have to hold the weak-willed people around you in contempt, but it helps to remind yourself that you're stronger and more determined than people who skip workouts and succumb to the siren call of Dunkin Donuts. If you feel guilty about your newfound arrogance, remind yourself that it's temporary. Use it, get what you want out if it, and then drop it like a bad relationship. Take-home lesson: Positive changes often occur with the use of a negative attitude. Being an angry, self-centered jerk with a superiority complex helps body transformers reach their goals. Just be sure to cut that out when you're done. Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Training 3 Powerhouse Exercises Better Than Benching Got a puny chest? Bench pressing more weight won't be what builds it. If your pecs have stopped growing, here's what to do. Training Christian Thibaudeau March 26 Training Tip The 6 Keys to Big Strong Triceps Suffer from TTS (Tiny Triceps Syndrome)? Here's the cure. Arms, Bodybuilding, Tips, Training Paul Carter April 4 Training The 600-Pound Deadlift Textbook Ready to pull 600 off the floor? Here’s how one lifter did it and what he learned along the way. Deadlift, Powerlifting & Strength, Training Todd Bumgardner & Mike Ranfone January 17 Training GSP A Rush of Blood Five wins by TKO, four wins by submission, three wins by decision... and a single loss to Matt Hughes by armbar in his first title fight. It's that last one that haunts Spike athlete Georges "Rush" St-Pierre. Training Greg Guss November 15