Posts Tagged ‘BodyBuilding



19
Jan
13

Taking Those First Steps

In fitness no matter where you are, taking those first steps always seem to be the most difficult.  Most people know that I am not new to fitness and they know that I will change things when I’m not seeing progress.

Taking those first few steps, whether just beginning the journey to get fit, or taking stats years down the road and not liking the results of them.  Either way, taking those steps can be difficult.

This morning was my first measurements and progress picture posting day for the Precision Nutrition Lean Eating program I’m following.  Even after all this time and all of these pictures, those steps are still very difficult for me. 

Reasons:

1) I’m older and will never again have the body of a 20-year-old (I don’t care how much money I were to throw at it, my 20-year-old body is gone) so I must find peace with what I’m working with.

2) In my mind, I always see myself in a better place than I am in reality.

3) Changes always, always create insecurity for me.  What if I’m not good at it? What if it isn’t the answer?  Blah, Blah, Blah…

Negative self talk happens to the best of us, those are the moments when we are terrified but we know we must take the risk to improve. 

I’ve stayed pretty close to the same weight and definitely stayed the same over-all size for several years now and it’s time for me to move along done my path to my next goal.  No more excuses, just actions that speak louder than words.  Another journey has begun by taking the first step.

First Step

 

16
Jan
13

Coaching…Who Needs It?

As I work to better myself along my path as a trainer, I often ask myself “who needs coaching?”.   I firmly believe that everyone could use coaching.

Where am I going with this?  Further down my own path to become a great coach.  After struggling to reach a personal goal that I set for myself two years ago, I’ve decided to get some coaching.   The better my coaching, the better coach I will become.

I began studying for the Precision Nutrition Certification course 5 chapters ago.  As I’ve gone through the information I’ve had that nagging notion that I could use some coaching.

This past Monday I decided to embark upon a path of personal discovery by following Precision Nutrition’s Lean Eating Program.  Dr. Berardi is well-known in the field of nutrition.   I trust that with personal growth I can reach the goal I initially set.

The story starts here.  When Monday morning came, I had this awful discomfort.  That urge to duck and cover.  That told me clearly that I’ve chosen to do exactly what I need to do for ME.

There will be folks out there who know me who will think I’ve lost my ever-loving mind.  Well, perhaps maybe just maybe I will find the remainder of what has kept me from that long desired goal.  But even better, once I conquer this challenge I will be even more equipped to help others reach their goals.

This process is quite humbling.  Stats and measurements have been taken.  Before photo’s are never flattering because as they are being taken I am acknowledging that they are before another big personal change.  With change comes insecurity, with insecurity comes courage and growth.  I’ve got this.

Whatever lingering doubt I have will now be banished.  I am not finished yet.  I will update you guys periodically about my progress as I firmly believe that accountability and consistency above all else are key to successful change.

The journey of getting comfortable with uncomfortable has begun again.

Better than yesterday

 

 

 

 

 

 

09
Jan
13

The Power of Food

This post is dedicated to those who struggle with emotional/stress/OMG it is just so good food issues.

I was born and raised in what is now known as “the deep south”.  I’m not sure when we went from being the south to the deep south, but whatever.

In the south everything is celebrated with food.  Birthday’s, weddings, deaths and everything in between.  It’s just courtesy.  We want folks to feel the love and feeding them has always been the best way to do that.

I used to live by that same thought process.  Food fixed or healed everything.  That is so not true so banish that thought from your excuse list.

For some people there is an illusion that food has power.  BIG power.  They can’t have a small portion, piece or serving.  They end up plowing through multiple servings before they realize what they’ve done.

This is a perfect example of giving food power.  Notice I said giving the food power.

Food is simply food.  It is there for the nourishment of our bodies.  It is not there to defeat us, we do that on our own.

Some how we decide we are not worthy of greatness so we in turn, give over the power of our greatness to food instead.

There is absolutely no food that we can put in our mouth that will fix a broken heart, a broken relationship or broken self-esteem.

How do you break the cycle of giving your greatness over to food?

First there must be the acknowledgement that the fork doesn’t fly in to your mouth without your own assistance.

Secondly, when you start randomly grabbing this or that to eat mindlessly, it is usually because you want to become numb.  You give the food the power to make you forget, even if but for a very brief moment.

Phhhfffttt…that never works.  Food won’t fix anything, in fact it will likely make it worse.  That vicious cycle of eat bad, feel bad so I’ll eat more bad is a very tedious cycle to break.  That being said GET TEDIOUS right back with it.

You will find things that hold you back are often so much greater when you leave them stuck in your head.  Get them out of there.  Write them down and burn them if you don’t want anyone else to know.  Better yet, hold on to that notebook because one day you’ll have the ability to reach another person who may be struggling with what you have already overcome.

Each time you stop yourself from reaching for food to solve your problems, the more empowered you will become.

YES, you may have a set-back or twenty set-backs; just keep asking yourself the hard, painful questions and the result will start showing.

The only power food has is the power that you give it.

backwards

08
Jan
13

Motivation & Momentum

I have had several conversations of late regarding “I’ve lost motivation”.  This isn’t coming from new folks beginning a New Year’s Resolution diet.  This is coming from long-term fitness friends that are simply a little burned out.

It happens.  This thing called burn out.  It usually shows up a few days after you know you should be back to your fitness routine but for some reason only you know, you just can’t muster your mojo.  You know, that old feeling that creeps in and settles after holidays or some other stressful happening in your life.

This is a list of a few things that have helped me push past that burn out phase each time it happens.

-1  Remember why you started all of this in the first place.  For you and only you.  That place deep inside that drives you to be better than you were yesterday.

-2  Change things up a bit.  It could be as simple as downloading new music for your workouts.  It could be a hard as switching from lifting to CrossFit or group fitness classes. 

-3  Get to the gym and spend 15 minutes working out.  Odds are you’ll stay for a whole lot longer.

-4  Get together with your fitness friends.  Have everyone bring a healthy dish and let them help you remember what you want to accomplish.

-5  Get off your butt and quit making excuses.  You know you want it, just get busy.

believe

03
Jan
13

Shedding

Shedding:  a. To lose by natural process:   b. To rid oneself of (something not wanted or needed):

First impressions would lead a reader to believe that this blog might be about dieting.  Ummm…Not so much.

After sitting here today realizing that I somehow had missed the new in this New Year, I realized that I’ve had some burdens that I’ve been allowing to weigh me down over the past couple of weeks.

Today I decided it was time to acknowledge those burdens and let them go.  Shedding the negative and focusing solely on the positive. 

Our lives are too short to dwell on carrying baggage, whether it’s a situation, a relationship, loss of material things, loss of motivation, and most importantly, the loss of self-esteem.

Everyone is not always going to do things the way you do them.  That doesn’t make your way wrong, it makes your way different. 

Be objective enough to step back and determine if perhaps your way has backed you into a corner or if it has truly brought you to a successful outcome.  If it hasn’t, be open-minded enough to say so.

Shedding old habits, old stuff you have no need or use for, old hurt feelings, and old baggage is quite the positive way to start a new year, perhaps even a new way of life.

Just as snow melts and sheds the water away from the earth, do the same for things weighing you down, things holding you back from accomplishing your goals.

Hat Tip for the photo: TheOvenbird2337109017_ea2ca7e9e0

02
Jan
13

It Is Supposed Be Hard

As I got about halfway through an hour of rowing this morning, I started that little mantra in my head “Yes, it IS supposed to be hard and yes, you WILL finish this”…  Funny thing about this cardio thing, I’d rather lift weights all day than to do a cardio workout for an hour.  That being said, personal growth is found in discomfort.

Really, I’ve learned over the years that there is very little in the scheme of being fit that is truly easy.   I have realized though that I get stronger as time goes by.  

In the old days of battling for big losses, doing an hour of any type of cardio was mentally not possible.  I was lucky to get through 20 minutes. 

Who knew that 12 years later the battle for tiny losses would surpass the previous battles.  I love it.  Getting stronger and more fit is my end goal.  Both mentally and physically. 

As I pulled that rower handle over and over all sorts of things went through my mind.  I started out facing my garage door, then I jumped off the rower and turned it so I could face my Vision Wall (a wall in GG107 filled with memorabilia). I realized that it has been quite sometime since I’ve updated it.   It’s time for new motivating pictures and quotes.

Motivation isn’t always available in our endeavors.  Discipline must come in to play at some point.  It’s not always what I want to do and self-discipline is what pushes me to do what must be done.

Looking back over my journey, progress has never come when things are “fun”.  Progress comes after the most challenging discomfort.  Whether it was a personal struggle, work struggle or a fitness struggle there has always been growth during the greatest of challenges.

Hat Tip For Photo: Good Movies List.

Famous words of YODA: 

YODA

 

27
Dec
12

That Space in Between

Today I find myself sitting in that space between Christmas and New Year’s.  You know, that space where most people sit around nibbling on the goodness left over from Christmas while in wait for the celebration of New Year’s.

For some folks, that space in between is the black hole of every excuse under the sun for throwing months of hard work away with that “I might as well wait (weight) until the new year starts”. 

How about committing to yourself to not waste (waist) these next few days with that mindset.  You know who you are.  Especially those who are totally out of the normal routine.  Trust me, your routine is calling you just as loudly as those left-over treats.  In fact your routine is probably calling you just a tad bit louder.

You know you want to feel good.  So get up and moving.  Throw that crap out, in the trash can, down the disposal, whatever it takes. 

We are brought up not to waste food.  If someone gave it to you, throw it out.  If the person that gave it to you truly knows you and knows what your goals are, they won’t care if you throw it out.  If they get upset, then ask yourself what their true intentions are.   Because trust me, it is your goal at stake.  Not theirs.

This two-week sprint through the holidays is not about moderation.  If you ate treats in moderation for two solid weeks, then really, is moderation truly the ultimate goal?

Get your food cleaned up and get on with your goals.   Goals, you know, those things you set long before the treats of the season started showing up in every nook and cranny.

Get on with bringing your mojo back!  You know you want it!

go after it

 

05
Dec
12

Don’t Tell Me It Can’t Be Done

And don’t tell my friend Sharon that either.  Sharon and I have walked this journey together for quite some time.  Back in 2009 we spent the whole year encouraging each other via internet.  In October of 2009 we got to meet face to face.  We got to share our excitement and enthusiasm for fitness together with many other friends. 

Over the course of the years since, we’ve gotten together a couple more times.  Since our last get together Sharon decided to set the goal of becoming a Fitness Competitor.  She has since taken the stage twice.

Was her journey easy?  Well of course not!  Was she disciplined?  Absolutely.

I’ve spoken with Sharon countless times and the one word that she has repeatedly used is perseverance.

There have been times along her journey when those who claimed to be her friends attempted to bring her down by making negative comments.  She persevered.  There was a time during a storm when she lost power, she ate her food cold, but she stayed her course.  To some that may seem silly, to her it was following her dream.  Just because something isn’t YOUR dream doesn’t mean it isn’t right for someone else. 

Please share this with your friends who need support and encouragement.  Photos are very powerful.

I’m very proud of this woman to say the least.  Congratulations Beautiful Sharon on a job very well done!

 

SJ before    SJ AFTER 2sj after

28
Nov
12

A Set Back Is Not An Obstacle

I’ve read a lot of posts over the Thanksgiving weekend and on in to this week.  So much so that I felt the need to hold off on posting a new blog until I could really say something.

You see, I’ve been where so many people are today.  The holiday season becomes such an obstacle for people who struggle with food.  They tend to lose all sight of their personal goals and simply exist through the holiday season almost as if they have no control over the outcome.  Phhhfffttt. 

Having a work function one day, a group of friends celebrating another day, a holiday party on the weekend, not to mention the blended family chaos that comes for some of us.  Kids can’t be here then so we will celebrate again with them, etc.  These all turn in to excuses to forget your commitment to self.

It’s so easy to get caught up and just throw in the towel at the first tiny set-back.  That little set-back snowballs out of control and becomes the obstacle.  The daily effort now becomes a huge mental hurdle so the average or uncommitted person will say “well the damage is going to be horrible so just forget it until the new year”.  

First off, don’t allow your small set-back to grow.  Isolate the incident, remember your goals and keep yourself on the clean rails the remainder of the day.

Secondly, remember that it truly is ok to say no, whether its to a drink, an appetizer, a fancy schmancy dinner or that tin full of goodness someone dropped off at your desk.    Live this season guilt free.  You didn’t ask for that tin of goodies, so don’t feel guilty for putting it in the break room at work, just do it.

I’m not saying you should go without a treat or two.  There is a huge difference between a treat or two and throwing in towel for the whole holiday season. 

It is much easier to stay conscious of where you are and what your goals are than it is to back slide and then be faced with re-digging the whole you’ve already cleared. 

Stay the course and don’t let a set-back become your obstacle!

 

21
Nov
12

Holi”DAY”

Ok now is when I keep it real.  I’ve talked about the helpful hints for the holiday and now I want to emphasize the meaning of the DAY in holiday.

So often people use the entire week to celebrate a holiday.  You know what?  That is just another one of those cooky comfortable excuses people like to use for over indulging.   Don’t do it.

Wallowing in several days of poor food choices can set you back by a couple of weeks.  Yes, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  If you are going to start stuffing your face three days before the holiday and eat leftovers for three days after the holiday, you bet your fine-looking booty you will cost yourself two weeks worth of workouts in the gym.  

It’s a HOLIDAY.  Singular.  One day.  Behave.

That was one of the lessons I learned in the hard-fought battle to get and stay fit.  You don’t need a week to celebrate a day.  Yes, the options will be there, work, multiple family outings, etc.  I do realize that not everyone has the luxury to eat at one place so don’t get all up in a twist. 

Step back and look at your schedule and think about it a little ahead of time.  You can make better choices than to consider each gathering a grubfest.  I love food, I know what a grubfest is.  Remember, no appetizers, no nibbles. 

If you have grown kids, send the leftovers with them.  They will appreciate them more than you will.

Enjoy time spent with your family, even the cooky ones.  Someday you will look around and realize that even the cooky ones make the days special.

Have a blessed holiday!