Never Forget...

This Memorial Day, take some time to remember those brave men and women who stand in the gap on our behalf. Then do something to thank them for their service.

"What do I do?", you may be asking. Why not shake their hand, look them in the eye and say, "Thanks so much for your service."

Would that be so difficult?



Thanks and God bless the American soldier.

Steve

What kind of person gets results?

I stared in disbelief as the resident “master” trainer in the gym put her client through a set of TRX single leg squats (suspension based exercises done while holding a set of straps connected to a chin-up bar). The problem that I had with the scene being played out before me was this: his technique sucked…he was doing less than partial squats. And all the while he had a look of sheer boredom on his face.

This “master’ trainer never took the time to correct his technique, encourage him to push himself more or to even comment on his form. She just stared blankly at him like a drunken horticulturist watching a hibiscus grow.

And the client, who I assume is training with her to drop some of the 50 plus pounds of excess fat he’s currently carrying, is simply getting fatter and fatter. I've observed this first-hand over the last several weeks.

All of this made me ponder the following question: What kind of person gets results from their training?

My answer: everyone.

I guess what I’m trying to convey here is that in order to achieve some level of success in the gym or from your training, you’ve got to better define what “success” means to you. You’ve got to have a goal.

In truth, everyone gets results. A bank robber gets results. A heroin addict gets results. An overeater gets results. The measure of those results, for the purpose of this exposition, is this: are they measurable, positive and life affirming results?

In my view, a successful life can be boiled down to one thing: many years of overall success.

Let’s think in terms of baseball…my favorite sport. If we approach the plate and hit singles and doubles consistently, we will have a successful baseball career. Success in these terms means A) getting to bat often, and B) making contact with the ball and putting it in play often.

If we do that, we stay in the game and have opportunities for more success. Failure to hit little victories on a regular and consistent basis means we risk being pulled from the line-up or being kicked off the team. Therefore, we’ve got to do our best each and every day.

When we do this, every so often a pitch comes across the plate that is so good we simply hit it out of the park. Not often, maybe…but often enough that it spurns us on to greater and greater achievement and keeps our spirits high. But it is all contingent upon staying at bat and hitting those simple little grounders and base hits. Failure to do that ruins every chance for the homer.

The bottom line here is this: No one gets a free pass. You cannot “coast” yourself to a successful life, or in this case, successful fat loss and good health. You must approach each and every day with a positive mental attitude and desire to compete. Consistency and effort in everything you do will produce astounding results, beyond anything you may be able to comprehend.

And just so you know, when I talked about “results” earlier, I mean results that are measurable and positive and almost without exception in your long term best interest. Remember, everyone gets results…regardless of the nature or motive of their actions.

What results are you after?

What are you doing on a consistent and regular basis to achieve them?

If you’re not currently satisfied with the results you’re getting from your fitness and fat loss program, come see me. The Firestorm Fitcamps may have the answers you’ve been looking for.

Steve

Your Prograde Professional

The Richest Place on Earth...

With so many minds focused on the economy, the talk of a recession or the upcoming elections, it is easy to lose focus on true treasure. Let me ask you a question: where is the wealthiest treasure on earth buried?

It’s not the oilfields of Kuwait...

It’s not the diamond fields of South Africa...

It isn’t in the goldmines in Alaska...

It’s in the cemetery.

Buried beneath that sacred ground are dreams that never came to fruition, songs that were never sung, books that were never written, ideas never shared, inventions never designed.

There are plans for wondrous things that never made it past the drawing board of the mind and purposes that were never fulfilled.

Why? Only a tiny fraction of those who ever inhabit this planet will ever discover and fulfill their true potential. God placed abilities and talents in each and every one of us. What are you doing to bring them to the forefront of your life so that they may be shared with others to their benefit?

Here are four great questions to ask to seek your true potential:
1. “Who am I?”
2. “What skill or ability did God me that I enjoy so much I'd do it for free?”
3. “How much potential do I have?”
4. “How can I maximize my potential to the benefit of others and to glorify the One who gave it to me?”

Ask a better quality question and you may receive a better quality answer.

Steve

Your Prograde Professional

How much time is wasted in the gym by the average gym-goer?

First and foremost, I believe that there are several distinct, different persona's within the confines of a gyms "arena". Many previous articles have discussed them and brought them to light for the enjoyment and connectedness of us all. For the purposes of this message, I will restrict my comments to three basic phyla of these types of individuals.

The first is the "Puritan"; the individual who simply comes to the gym to "get 'er done", if you will. They are often defined by the sweat, headphones and lack of eye contact with others. These people are usually devoid of humor, seldom "work in" with other members and often have a "don't talk to me" type of body language. They do not waste time. That's cool, as long as they carry a towel to wipe up after themselves.

Then there's the "Socialite"; it's usually a guy (but not always) who's been married for a number of years, has a couple or ten kids and a wife who serves more as a mom than a partner. He saunters about from piece to piece, training a set of bi's and tri's between solving all of the world's problems (a skill at which he is MOST adept) and soliciting and/or inciting "smack" and chatter from whomever will respond to his taunts. This is his version of "Happy Hour", usually conducted at a specific time each day. Hey, at least he's not driving under the influence of anything stronger than an obnoxious attitude.

The next type is in a class all their own. The worst offender in the bunch, bar none, is the one who pays double for the privilege of being at the gym. The "Therapy Session Client"; you know this one. Not only do they pay gym dues, they pay a “trainer” as well. They hire a PT to "train" them and then spend the bulk of the session talking about...whatever. These folks are under the impression that they are doing well, when in reality they are being deluded into a false sense of security.

Personally, I blame the trainer; they should know better. I have clients that want to talk about their "issues". Believe me; I'm not insensitive...much. The way I figure it, there's two ways to handle it. 1) We can talk and train and talk and you can pay me and feel like you accomplished something, or 2) I can add weight to all of your sets where the only thing you can focus on is not being crushed and you'll forget all about your problems for a while. This, for most people, is what they really want to do in the first place.

Am I a genius or what?

I hope you see that I'm having some fun with this. The people I've mentioned above are real, even if their circumstances and situations have been exaggerated by my eloquence and skill of prose. (Kids, don't try writing like this at home. I'm a professional. Just ask me.)

People waste time in the gym for several reasons. Usually because they don't know what they’re doing but are too scared, egotistical or pride-filled to ask for professional assistance, so they muddle along.

And then there are those who THINK they know what they’re doing, (because they’ve read the latest issue of Ironhead orMuscle & Fiction magazine) and probably suffer from the same afflictions. Either way, these folks all waste days, months or sadly, years by never seeing any appreciable progress or results for their efforts. If others simply want to waste time by being overly talkative or appear affable in some way, that is their choice...I guess.

And if you see me training, please don't interrupt my session. I'm probably doing a quick set between my own personal conversations...in my own head.

Steve

Your Prograde Professional