Down and Out -- Lack of prospects, penniless. A boxer who is utterly defeated. Knocked down to the canvas and out of consciousness.

With starting any fitness routine, leaving out the vital component of visualizing the end result will leave you defined as the above. To see the end all, be all of where you will be standing on that pedestal of personal greatness is  necessary. The point of accomplishment that leaves you satisfied needs to reside in your head. Slapping on a pair of running shoes and stepping outside on a chilly day may be all you need to run yourself into the future, but do you know why you are running? If your answer is no before you even tie those laces you might already be Down & Out. Seeing yourself where you want to be is the first step in being conscious of your goals. The next is plotting the steps to achieve them. The reality of any goal is that it is a challenge. Laugh in the face of challenges and move on. Not seeing the path of where you have to go creates a problem far greater than a challenge. This problem is called self-inflicted stupidity and you might have already knocked yourself out before you lace up.

The Warm Up -- Getting the blood flowing. Increasing your heart rate will decrease your odds of fatigue and reduce your rate of failure.

Realize this may be what you need. Try this. When preparing to write your goals look at yourself and be honest about your own personal "imperfections". Think about what you can improve about your current health and fitness status this summer. Pictures are a great way to build a better idea of what body image and health personas surround us daily, but the best one can be found when looking within. Most of the times you know best what you can change about your lifestyle to quicker obtain your goals. Take some time and think about who you want to be (personal satisfaction) and write down basic guidelines on how to get there.

The Unofficial Bout -- A bout is a boxing match consisting of rounds with one-minute breaks. Going the Distance -- A boxer goes the distance when he can fight through all the scheduled rounds.

So now you got it on paper. You have already been Down & Out, seemingly knocked to the ground without any hope to pursue your goals. The Warm Up was the answer and now for the bout. In this unofficial bout your foe will be that nagging desire to obtain your vision of personal greatness and your rounds will be your needed fitness routine. So let's Go the Distance!

Schedule at least a minimum of two to three days a week of physical activity, to knock off those extra pounds of fat or knock  in those necessary pounds of muscle. Start off simple, but not wasteful of time. A good full body exercise routine is a great start in burning excessive calories and building efficient muscle. Do not avoid the cardio no matter what! Or else you may end up face down on the canvas before the end of round one. Balance is key; know your limit but still push the envelope of your potential.

I am excited for what the future holds for each of you. Try to not let time pass by with a New Year. This concludes my bout so I shall drop my gloves for this edition of the People's Persona. I think this was a perfect KO.

Definition sources were used from: www.ringsidebygus.com/boxing-terms.html

Words By: Femi Doyle-Marshall + Illustration By: Jared Sosa