blog entries

3 Common Traits of Those That Reach Their Goals

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Victorious

Victorious

Had you resolved that this time you were finally going to reach your desired fitness goals? Yet, once again, disappointment is staring you squarely in the face. Have you cheerfully started along your chosen way only to be rudely derailed somewhere along the line more times than you care to remember? If you are wondering whether or not it is worth caring about any longer, remember this: “Your journey has molded you for your greater good. And it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think that you’ve lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time!”-Asha Lyon

I know that you have become increasingly tired of this never-ending game of one-step-forward-two-steps-back. I am well aware of the dangers that exist to the body and the mind from this common “yo-yo” effect. The most important journeys we embark upon in life are filled with highs and lows. These tasks are monumental for certain. Utter agony may accompany those unfulfilled goals, while pure joy may be one’s companion when a life altering task is completed. But that is the real challenge, isn’t it? To finish what we start.

I have come to recognize three unique qualities possessed by those who are victorious in this back and forth battle. These common characteristics can help each of you to develop the protection against future foes. You may be acquainted with their names: Endurance, Hope, and Patience. Endurance bravely accepts the fact that there are difficulties now and will continue to be challenges on your chosen path. Endurance courageously captains your ship through the rough waters full of frustrating moments, which typically leave you questioning and even second guessing your plan. Endurance boldly defies what logic dictates. Of course, it is easier to give up than to get up. The strong, trustworthy hand of endurance is always extended to you to lift and then gently nudge you forward after you’ve been repeatedly beat up and knocked down. Its invitation is one of a life-long commitment. Short-term goals are wonderfully motivating, however an appropriate long-term perspective is an absolute requirement. When you sign on with Endurance, you have inked a long-term contract full of special guaranteed bonuses.

Because of Hope you can rest assured that your signature on the dotted line is sufficient. Yes, hope allows you to believe in things which you have not yet seen. This is possible because Hope has actually seen the new you. Hope doesn’t even glance at your past attempts or mistakes, but rather only peers into your bright and certain future. Hope is so much more than mere wishing. Hope will ensure that you never say, “I can’t.”

Benjamin Franklin said, “He that can have Patience, can have what he will.” When you join forces with Patience your partnership is solidified. Your success is, well, only a matter of time. Therein lies the irony for Patience does not operate on an exact timetable. It is different for everyone. Let me tell you that Patience is not just waiting around for something good and lasting to finally happen in your life. Patience builds a quiet confidence in yourself. Patience permits you to be imperfect. Patience allows you to wholeheartedly trust the process. “If today you are a little better than yesterday, then that’s enough.” – David A. Bednar. Patience is honoring the commitment you made to yourself by embracing Endurance and Hope. “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh.

Wherever you are going, may you always be helped along your journey. You have endured much. You can endure whatever life will throw at you. You have been prepared for success. Believe in the infinite power of hope. Be patient in all things and at all times and you will begin to turn the tide in your favor. That fundamental question remains to be answered by each of you: Shall I falter or shall I finish? Practicing these three qualities will enable you to bounce forward from any setback. They will enable you to finish what you have started. Of this truth, I can give you my promise.
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Bad Workout Today?

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Have you ever mumbled to yourself, “I had a bad workout today?”

Bad workout?

Bad workout?

I would hope that you have never uttered those destructive words. However, I know better. The chances are pretty good that most of you have said something quite similar from time to time. Having been in small gyms and large fitness centers for years, I have unfortunately heard this comment all too frequently. From the seasoned workout individual, to the gym rat, to the newbie bursting with enthusiasm, to the weekend workout warrior, from the young and from the not so young, from male to female, everyone thinks it and most verbalize it.

Typically, this is how an exchange will take place. I have just finished training one of my students. I eagerly greet someone new who awaits both my instructive and challenging training style. Among other things, I will inquire as to the particulars of this person’s most recent exercise efforts. Invariably, I hear “I feel as if I did not have a good workout.”

My desire today is to share a few thoughts on this concept of an alleged bad workout that just might give you reason to change your tune.

First and foremost, I must pose the question, “Did you hurt yourself?” If the answer is, “No!” then we are off to a great start. Simply put, if you have sustained some type of injury during the course of exercising then I would concede that there is clear evidence that a less than desirable workout took place. You are now on the dreaded disabled list for a while and nothing could be worse. You, however, said that no such travesty occurred. Therefore, I need more information. Tell me why you had a workout you’d soon wish to forget. Here are some typical responses: “My session just wasn’t as good as my previous one.” “I just didn’t have much time and I didn’t feel as if I accomplished anything.” “I was struggling with energy and couldn’t do a full workout.” “I have been exercising with my friend and she seems to do more than I am able to attempt.” The responses could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. If you are indeed guilty of uttering something comparable to these statements, I say that you are undermining your work when you have a mindset that could even produce such a response.

Please permit me to explain. Allow me to make this very clear. No one singular workout will now nor ever make or break your efforts to achieve your fitness goals. Comparing workouts is absolutely pointless, because it very much misses the point! An accumulation of all your good work will certainly prove to be fruitful. Your patience and diligence and amazing commitment will pay off. You can feel the positive effects of your accomplishments in the gym setting spill over into all other areas of your life. Do you have bad days? Well, sure. We all do in some way. But remember, each day is a precious gift and there are always blessings to be found if we just look around us. So, none of us is particularly immune from obstacles that prevent that “perfect workout” from occurring every time we train. Yes, we all deal with distractions such as work related issues, strained relationships, stress in its many forms, fatigue, and seemingly not sufficient time in the day to fit in an appropriate exercise session. Individually or packaged all together, these realities of life can rise up and punch us in the gut and leave us complaining, “I had a bad workout!”

I am here to tell you that in all likelihood you did not have a bad workout! You survived it, and emerged unscathed. You did not hurt yourself. However long and grueling it was, you did it. Quality always trumps quantity in regards to exercise! I ask you, “Did you give your very best effort today?” If you can tell me that you did so, then you will begin to understand that there can be no such thing as a bad workout. Given all that you drag with you to the gym, your current day’s experiences as well as previous day’s garbage heaped upon this one, if you give your all, you’ve done all you should ever expect. There is no such thing as a perfect workout, other than a completed one. Ten minutes, twenty, half an hour, or a full hour, it really does not matter. If you find yourself distracted, if you are running low on energy, if you have a million other things to do and as many other places you’d rather be, don’t be discouraged. Simply modify what you do! You are the only one who really knows if you put forth your very best.

So, go forward with confidence and hold your head high. Give your best effort in all that you do today. You are in the midst of something special, even magnificent. If you just can’t see a pathway to the optimism which I have, please reach out to me. I’ll even let you tell me about your mythical bad workout. If you are not sure exactly how you can overcome some of life’s pitfalls and still produce consistently good workouts, fear not. I can help.

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Is Golf Really a “Mental” Game?

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The Thinker

The Thinker

I hear so many people repeat a statement that might very well be as old as the sport itself, “Golf is such a mental game.” Who hasn’t heard that, right? Is this really true though? The great Bobby Jones said, “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course, the space between your ears.” Indeed, some have compared golf to chess, noting that without a cerebral element a golfer will invariably fail.

While this may have some validity, let me for a moment declare the reality. Golf cannot be defined as predominantly a test of one’s mind if the individual attempting to play it has yet to develop the physical traits necessary to compete. I contend that golf is purely a physical test, up until that point at which one has reasonably mastered some of the required skills. In order to reach a level of competitiveness to relate to Jones’ remark, one does not have to become a top notch amateur or a tour professional.

However, I think that one needs to look the part. No, I do not mean that by wearing the latest fashions from Ashworth, Nike, or Adidas an individual qualifies to be a “real” golfer. Every single person who picks up a golf club already possesses the ability to grip like a pro. Each of us has the ability to address the ball as a pro does. Everyone has it within him or her to have the same great posture as a tour player. Anyone anywhere has the chance to have a correct understanding of ball position as any single golfer who plays for a living. The world’s elite players have absolutely zero advantage over you in regards to these crucial pre-swing characteristics.

If you struggle with consistent ball striking, maybe you simply stand too far from the golf ball. Perhaps, your grip is too weak and your stance is too wide. If you are inconsistent, it may just be possible that you have your hands positioned incorrectly in relation to the golf ball and your body. If your issues are directly tied to one or more of these basic fundamentals, then how, too, can you cry “golf is completely mental”?

The truth is that most have such a difficult time on the golf course, because they put themselves in a position from which controlling the clubface and making a good, solid, balanced swing is virtually impossible.

So, the diagnosis is that a clearly visible physical problem exists, not a mental one. The remedy is rather simple, actually. Go back to the basics. Sound familiar? It should. Almost as familiar as Yogi Berra’s famous description of his sport of choice, “Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.” You need not try to figure that one out. It all comes down to learning the proper set-up and posture of a “pro.” Anyone can do it. Yes, even you!

 

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We Can All Use Some Help to “Just Do It”

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possible

Nothing is impossible

We are all familiar with Nike’s slogan “Just Do It”. For years we have literally been bombarded with this phrase. From television commercials to magazine spreads to in-store displays, we are constantly reminded that we must “Just Do It”. We see images of world class athletes who are paid large sums of money for endorsing this concept. They have a way of making “Just Do It” look very effortless. As you most certainly have come to know from your own personal experiences, this is not reality.

There is absolutely nothing even remotely glamorous about exercise as Nike and countless other companies portray it. Those looking to profit from our very basic desire for something to motivate and inspire us to become better have clearly failed us.

So, what are you to do if you have difficulty with “It”? What do you do, if you just do not now, nor ever think you can enjoy exercise? What can you do when you are not receiving support or encouragement from those around you? What are your chances of success if you feel as if you have failed miserably in numerous previous attempts to reach a particular goal? What if you feel that you have done too many things wrong for far too long and the journey back to better health is an impossible one to embark upon?

These questions and plenty of others do represent the reality which many of us face at some point in time. Perhaps, these ring true for you today. I propose to you that there is way out of your current situation. Every one of us has times when we need to know that things will get better.

My plea to you this day, and every day, is: “Don’t you quit. Keep walking. Keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead! Trust and believe in good things to come”.

Don’t worry about doing things the Nike way! Let me help you find what your “It” is, which you can and invariably must do. If you feel lost or stranded along the roadside that you have been traveling to reach a better state of wellness, please do not be afraid to hitch hike with me. I will not leave you without a ride to the destination of your choice.

You have the power to say, “This is not how my story will end.”

 

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Embrace Change

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What a great privilege it is to teach correct fitness and health principles to others. I love to be able to see those I train govern themselves, in due time, by implementing the very principles which I shared with them.

Embrace Change

Embrace Change

“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.” –Max DePree

Change is inevitable. We should not fight it, but rather embrace it. Change presents opportunities for growth which are necessary for our personal progress. This truly applies to every area of our lives. If you desire a transformation, you can begin today by accepting some element of change.

How does change relate to our exercise routines and overall health and wellness?

I have been inspired by many people who I’ve trained over the years. Some have faced the opposition which change throws at them with such courage and faith.

I am currently working with a man who has smoked cigarettes for about thirteen years. After our very first session together, he impressed me with his simple declaration. “I need to quit smoking for this effort to be successful!” He didn’t ask me for my thoughts. He didn’t show any sign of a lack of confidence in himself. He has put his trust in me to help him shape his body. However, he has also decided to believe in himself. Transformation is so much more than change. It requires the steadfast determination which this man has demonstrated for an entire month now!

Do you need help with getting started on your transformation? Why not give me a call.

“Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life; tip toe if you must, but take the step.” — Author Unknown

 

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