What's Your Investment?

Many of times I have constantly referred to Personal Training as an investment and while having a conversation with a friend, I think u have found a way to relate to you what I mean when I'm talking about investments. 

We all have lived in an apt at one time or another and we all know what goes into it. Desposits, Fees , and Rent. We stay for however long the lease may be and we are done. What's our return from all this money we spent?   Not even a full deposit at times and even MORE fees to pay. Now those of you who own a house, know the process. Same thing almost. The difference is the return or what your money has done for you. The keyword we are looking for here Profit and some of us make an awesome profit from investing in a house, am I right?

Now many of the optimists will say, "well there is a return either way and besides, apartments are cheaper than houses." They are correct. They are cheaper in the short term but let's be honest about "Short Term". It doesn't last. How many of you had to buy something because you needed it right then and there and you ended up having to buy something similar or the same thing because something for "Short term" didn't work?

Now, what does this have to do with your health and wellness?  Everything. We know all about short term. We age. We get slower, weaker, fatter and things get harder. I bet there was once a time when some of you could eat whatever you want and not gain a single pound. Now, if you even look at a cupcake you gain 5lbs. I am also willing to bet some of you could spend a week in the gym,  drop 15lbs and be good for a month or so. In short, the short term is only good for the short term.

Personal Training and exercise alone for that matter is about the Long term. It's a constant invest and reinvest in yourself and your own well being. Let's be honest about it.  That bootcamp you once did or that diet you tried for a while, it didn't work and it's because you have to constantly reinvest in it for that return.  Sure, we won't be getting money on this return,  but here is what you'll get:

Longer life
Better life
Stronger
Faster
Better looking
Better mood
Longer lasting body
Better sex
Look better in everything
Your body will work more efficiently

Not to mention you'll be a walking inspiration for others. A mobile billboard for what happens when you invest in yourself.

Get fit quick schemes,  fad diets and your once or twice a month trip to the gym isn't going to cut it.  That's the Apt you're living in. Commitment to your diet, your workouts and yourself is the home you raise your children in.

Happy Training

Choppin' At The Bit

Allow me to introduce you to the man, whom in my opinion, is one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.  His name is Rocco Francis Marchegiano  aka Rocky Marciano. He is the only heavyweight to go undefeated and untied in his professional career and was knocked down only once by the man in the picture. That man, obviously paid dearly for that, is named Jersey Joe Walcott

So why Rocky? What makes him the greatest? Why did he go undefeated and untied? Two words my friends:

Training

Determination

I'll break them down for you like this. Rocky was an avid Joe Louis fan and if you dont know Joe Louis is then I feel bad for you. Rockys mentality was, "if I train twice as hard as the champ, then I can beat the champ."

This simple mental state is was propelled him to an illustrious career in boxing. He ran twice as far as the champ, boxex twice as many rounds as him as well. He believed to be the best, you gotta train to beat the best. Rumour has it that he had a hard time keeping sparring partners.  Another one states he had a custom made 250lbs heavy bag that he would intentionally try to swing with the impact from his punches. If it wouldn't swing, he'd train harder. If it did swing, he wanted it to swing a lot or he'd train harder.

Determination, a set goal in mind to inspire and propel himself beyond his own comprehensible capability as a fighter. We all have our reasons for the hustle, his was his family.

His father worked in Brockton making shoes for a living, and it killed Rocky.  He knew he didn't want to make shoes for a living and he damn sure didn't want his father in the factory anymore. His determination to take care of his parents and get out of Brockton only fueled his training and elevated him to that championship level.

Now what can we take away from this? That it doesn't matter who you are, what you're doing, or where you came from. With determination and hard work, ANYTHING can happen. Absolutely anything. All it takes are those first few steps through all the BS, Negativity and Doubt to get to your promise land. Don't think for a second that anyone who was ever great never had a doubt before, because they have.

Rocky did after he killed a fellow Italian fighter in the ring. Almost gave up boxing, gave up the dream and almost went to work in that same factory his father worked. He didn't.  He became bigger than the situation and he continued on. He's only human, just as we are.

If he can ... if I can ... you can.

Happy Training.

Things Just Happen?

In my experience as a personal trainer, it has become more and more apparent to me that people love to NOT take responsibility for their own actions. It seems they always have an excuse for their poor health, lack of fitness and obesity. I've heard it all.

"Everyone in my family is fat so it must be genetics. I'm big boned"

Genetics play a insignificant roll in your choice to get off your ass and do something about your weight. No, not go on a diet or go buy P90X and use it for a few days. More like CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE.

"I'm too busy"

You're too busy for your health? Are you to busy too watch TV? Are you too busy too go out drinking? Are you too busy to go out shopping?  No? Then no, you're not busy. You have a case of bad time management mixed with a bit of lazy. Schedule it! Give yourself anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours a day for a week to make something happen.

"I've tried working out and it didn't work."

Really? Working out doesn't work? So all of those people you see at the gym that are slowly molding and forming the body that YOU want, they're wasting their time because working out doesn't work? Honestly, how hard did you try? Or were you going through the motions without really testing yourself?

Truth hurts, but I am essentially a " No BS " trainer. Your hard earned money and precious time is valuable and doesn't deserve "beating out the bush" rhetoric. Believe me when I say that things don't just happen. You aren't unhealthy, "just because." There is a reason for everything and there is a very specific reason why you are where you are now. Despite the reason, you have to remember that there is nothing that can stop you from having the body you want, looking as good as you want or achieving the goals you've set out to accomplish  but your own attitude. Think about it.

Happy Training