Although there are many principles to learn when training, the confusion principle is the single most important principle in fitness, with the exception, perhaps, of intensity level. Adaptation is the real process that's taking place when we train the body for fitness and optimal health. The human body has to adapt, scientifically. It has no choice. We have a choice but our body simply does not.
Give the body the right treatment and every body will adapt. However, if we continue to do the same things, the body has little need to adapt at all. If you're exercising to maintain your current level of fitness, then the "same old workout" may do. But, if you're exercising to produce change in your body, then CHANGE is what is needed. You could add more resistance, more cardio, alternate cardio w/ resistance, more repetitions, the list goes on and on. It's o.k. to be creative but it's not o.k. not to challenge yourself.
The human body needs about 3 to 4 weeks to really adapt to a new set of "rules". Therefor, one only needs to alter their routine about that often. Changing things up more often than that may backfire because not only has the body not even had time to adapt to the current exercises, but it is also too easy to fall into the trap of actually doing the same things over and over, causing the body to only become accustomed to the current pattern of what may seem like continual changes. Given a nice foundation of 3 weeks of the same program of exercises will allow you to make superb progress in your current fitness level but more importantly will give room to completely revamp the routine 3 weeks out and "shock" your system all over again.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Why promote wraps!?
You might say, "You're a Personal Trainer; I'm surprised that you promote body wraps!"
Here's the deal. You have not touched the tip of the iceberg on how difficult and complicated the human mind can be until you've worked at least a couple of years as a personal trainer. I could write an entire article on just how tough it can be to change someone and their habits and most would still not really get it. This is something you have to actually try out for yourself to start to understand. No doubt that it will give you new insight to watching "The Biggest Loser" or Jillean Michaels on T.V.! :-) It truly will.
What I am getting at is this. I have learned, first hand, through years of training people that MOST of those folks, about 95 percent if not greater, will never even know what it is like to actually be thin or even fit, o.k.? Not being hateful, just being straight-up honest, and, I'm not talking just about those who seek a trainer's help or go on the Biggest Loser show. HELLO! Many of those folks, not all, MAY actually get to experience a different life for themselves. I have trained long enough to have learned, first hand, that if I DON'T go to their home and kick their butts three to 5 times per week, they will struggle and yo-yo diet and "seek answers" and have endless frustration not for months, or even years, but their entire lives!!
What's worse, and it makes me feel badly just to mention it, but that many will even die from disease(s) related to that extra weight, shortchanging their own life by as much as half or more of what it WOULD have otherwise been... this is terrible and never even really has to happen. But, somewhere along the way, our priorities shift solely to working all the time, going to school, going out to dinner and spending time with family, watching t.v. in the evenings, etc. In and of themselves, those AREN'T bad things! But, we don't ever leave room in our own minds... for change.
There's always something "more important" we end up doing instead of what we planned.
OBVIOUSLY, exercise is great for our health and will lend to our increased life-spans, youthful appearance, feeling great, etc. However, I cannot possibly train even one tiny percentage of the U.S. Not even close; I couldn't put a dent in that population! These wraps, for so many, have caused people to finally get down to a size that they would have NEVER otherwise experienced! Do you know what happens then? Something amazing.... they start to exercise on a regular basis because they never want to lose the new figure they've found!
"ItWorks!" body wraps use 100 percent all natural plant extracts to destroy, shrink, detoxify and increase circulation of nutrients throughout fat cells in a way that is both healthy and very expedient. For most, nothing could be better. If it leads people to finally losing the waist-line and having the motivation to eat right and/or exercise, then I say GO FOR IT! The worse thing that could possibly happen is that things stay exactly the same. That those who are in need of help continue to struggle and struggle... and that, is precisely what they're created to change for you.
Here's the deal. You have not touched the tip of the iceberg on how difficult and complicated the human mind can be until you've worked at least a couple of years as a personal trainer. I could write an entire article on just how tough it can be to change someone and their habits and most would still not really get it. This is something you have to actually try out for yourself to start to understand. No doubt that it will give you new insight to watching "The Biggest Loser" or Jillean Michaels on T.V.! :-) It truly will.
What I am getting at is this. I have learned, first hand, through years of training people that MOST of those folks, about 95 percent if not greater, will never even know what it is like to actually be thin or even fit, o.k.? Not being hateful, just being straight-up honest, and, I'm not talking just about those who seek a trainer's help or go on the Biggest Loser show. HELLO! Many of those folks, not all, MAY actually get to experience a different life for themselves. I have trained long enough to have learned, first hand, that if I DON'T go to their home and kick their butts three to 5 times per week, they will struggle and yo-yo diet and "seek answers" and have endless frustration not for months, or even years, but their entire lives!!
What's worse, and it makes me feel badly just to mention it, but that many will even die from disease(s) related to that extra weight, shortchanging their own life by as much as half or more of what it WOULD have otherwise been... this is terrible and never even really has to happen. But, somewhere along the way, our priorities shift solely to working all the time, going to school, going out to dinner and spending time with family, watching t.v. in the evenings, etc. In and of themselves, those AREN'T bad things! But, we don't ever leave room in our own minds... for change.
There's always something "more important" we end up doing instead of what we planned.
OBVIOUSLY, exercise is great for our health and will lend to our increased life-spans, youthful appearance, feeling great, etc. However, I cannot possibly train even one tiny percentage of the U.S. Not even close; I couldn't put a dent in that population! These wraps, for so many, have caused people to finally get down to a size that they would have NEVER otherwise experienced! Do you know what happens then? Something amazing.... they start to exercise on a regular basis because they never want to lose the new figure they've found!
"ItWorks!" body wraps use 100 percent all natural plant extracts to destroy, shrink, detoxify and increase circulation of nutrients throughout fat cells in a way that is both healthy and very expedient. For most, nothing could be better. If it leads people to finally losing the waist-line and having the motivation to eat right and/or exercise, then I say GO FOR IT! The worse thing that could possibly happen is that things stay exactly the same. That those who are in need of help continue to struggle and struggle... and that, is precisely what they're created to change for you.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Resistance Training is King
Are you currently using resistance training, or weight lifting, to get your fitness results? I, personally, don't care whether you do or not. I don't care if you're running, jogging, walking, playing sports, skiing, going hunting, doing triathlons, swimming, or huffing paint (this won't actually help anything, btw). But, if you want the best fat burning results, it's no longer a debate in the health and fitness industry as to whether resistance training is fast, effective and very healthy for living. You really can't beat it when it comes to being healthy and being fit simultaneously. Not to mention, creating strong bones and a really great look for yourself.
So, for the best results, you want to use resistance training of some sort, preferably free weights, 3 or more times per week. Often I get asked what the right number of repetitions per set is for the best results. Well, that's an odd question to answer for a personal trainer, in a sense. The reason being, there really is no magic number. The pros have a broad range of repetitions that they use in their approach. Anywhere from 1 to 3 extremely heavy lifts, not advisable for the general population, btw, to 25 endurance building, lighter weight lifts in any given set. In reality, you should vary the rep range frequently. However, if you really want your set to be effective... well, most people have just got to learn to challenge themselves a lot more in each lift. In other words, use enough weight to really "feel" a burn and push through to plenty of reps with that weight. The number one mistake I see made in the gym is simply a lack of heart and lifting apathetically!
So, for the best results, you want to use resistance training of some sort, preferably free weights, 3 or more times per week. Often I get asked what the right number of repetitions per set is for the best results. Well, that's an odd question to answer for a personal trainer, in a sense. The reason being, there really is no magic number. The pros have a broad range of repetitions that they use in their approach. Anywhere from 1 to 3 extremely heavy lifts, not advisable for the general population, btw, to 25 endurance building, lighter weight lifts in any given set. In reality, you should vary the rep range frequently. However, if you really want your set to be effective... well, most people have just got to learn to challenge themselves a lot more in each lift. In other words, use enough weight to really "feel" a burn and push through to plenty of reps with that weight. The number one mistake I see made in the gym is simply a lack of heart and lifting apathetically!
Friday, October 12, 2012
The Most Effective Type of Exercise
H.I.I.T. It's an acronym that stands for High Intensity Interval Training. It's pretty much the fastest and most efficient fat burner there is when it comes to exercise and weight loss. If you want the best "bang for your buck" when it comes to time investment in exercise, H.I.I.T. is it. As long as you follow a few basic guidelines, you'll get the fastest fat burning possible in the least amount of time. Number one, and of the most importance, during your exercise interval, make sure you're working very, very hard. You're either resting or you're working at maximal capacity during the high level intensity interval portions! This is not an exercise you can do haphazardly and still be doing right. During the rest periods, you rest as much as you can in the time allotted. So, all you do is choose just about any high intensity exercise you can think of, so long as it's safe, and do a series of short bursts of exercise followed up with even shorter rest periods. The exercise chosen can be either a resistance exercise or cardio or even plyometrics, either is great as long as it's challenging. For best results, you would use the large muscles of the legs. Then, after you've done your 3 to 5 minute warm-up, you jump right into your first interval. You may use anywhere from 20 seconds of high intensity exercise and 10 seconds of rest, to as much as a minute or slightly longer and 20 to 30 seconds of rest. But, frankly, if you're using an exercise that is weight lifting or other resistance, your times may be all over the place. It's just that about a minute and a half is as long as most any exercise will last that is not simple cardio (anaerobic).
Typically, the longer your exercise portion, the longer your rest periods would be. For example, if you did 20 seconds of stair running, then you would take only 10 seconds of rest, to the dot, between intervals. If you tried 40 seconds "on," then you may try 15 or so seconds "off" and so on.
The standard, and perhaps the best of H.I.I.T., is what is known as "Tabata Protocol." If you wanted to use strict Tabata, you would do 20 seconds "on" and 10 seconds of rest. For standard Tabata, you'd need as much as 8 full rounds and it doesn't start getting really hard until about round three! So, don't even THINK about quitting after round three! You're just getting started! Just keep in mind, if you want the results of using Tabata Protocol then you have to put in the effort. This is a 100% intensity drill, nothing in between. If done correctly, an average person can expect to vomit after round 5. They are intense! If you aren't gasping for air, there is no question that you are not doing it properly. Disclaimer: If you aren't already very fit: work your way up by starting with only 4 rounds and then after doing it that way for 4 weeks, add in one round for another 4 to 6 weeks and then try for 6 intervals, so on. Build up to it, but don't slack in effort during any portion. Good luck!
Typically, the longer your exercise portion, the longer your rest periods would be. For example, if you did 20 seconds of stair running, then you would take only 10 seconds of rest, to the dot, between intervals. If you tried 40 seconds "on," then you may try 15 or so seconds "off" and so on.
The standard, and perhaps the best of H.I.I.T., is what is known as "Tabata Protocol." If you wanted to use strict Tabata, you would do 20 seconds "on" and 10 seconds of rest. For standard Tabata, you'd need as much as 8 full rounds and it doesn't start getting really hard until about round three! So, don't even THINK about quitting after round three! You're just getting started! Just keep in mind, if you want the results of using Tabata Protocol then you have to put in the effort. This is a 100% intensity drill, nothing in between. If done correctly, an average person can expect to vomit after round 5. They are intense! If you aren't gasping for air, there is no question that you are not doing it properly. Disclaimer: If you aren't already very fit: work your way up by starting with only 4 rounds and then after doing it that way for 4 weeks, add in one round for another 4 to 6 weeks and then try for 6 intervals, so on. Build up to it, but don't slack in effort during any portion. Good luck!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Weight Loss Finally Made Easier!
So much of fitness is about a few primary things and, truth be told, it all boils down to discipline and, yes, old fashioned willpower. Those few things, for starters, are things like hard workouts, an hour to two hours a day is best, a very disciplined (trying to avoid the word 'strict') diet, a regular and routine sleep schedule, plenty of water, and proper training and nutrition knowledge. None of this is built overnight or easy to attain... it takes time and hard work, period. The good news is that it IS attainable, and despite any genetic tendency toward being overweight or too thin, it's attainable by most everyone! But, rest assured that it will not come without hard work. And, the fact is that the overwhelming vast majority of people are not only NOT going to do that work... the sad reality is that they will most likely live their entire lives without having made the sacrifice and, sooner than later, die of over-weight related disease, there's just no way to ethically sugar-coat it. Few things have been made clearer to me over the last 5 years than that. Well, if there is anything that I can do to make this process any easier for you, it's pointing toward body wraps and ItWorks nutrition supplements.
In my estimation, one body wrap alone is the equivalent of about 2 to 3 months of grueling exercise. For some folks, they will get the results equal to about 6 months or longer of hard work of exercise. The best thing is that you get FOUR body wraps with one single order. FOUR! So, yes, when people ask if they work, the answer is absolutely. The worst case scenario, you lose a half-inch with one wrap... how many months, actually years, has it been since you've lost a half-inch in your waist-line? Well, many people lose several inches with the very first wrap, something that would have likely never, ever happened for them, that I couldn't be more positive of. And, for the first time ever... yep, you guessed it, it's FINALLY possible to "spot reduce". Never before was this even a possibility in fitness! Ladies, if you really want a super nice effect, try the wrap and Defining Gel combination. Creams alone don't have such a great track record of getting the smoothest skin results; but, ItWorks Defining Gel when applied with the body wraps is a powerful combination! Here's the link if you'd like to give it a try:
https://jerrypitman.myitworks.com/Shop/Product/150
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Are You Happy With Your Job?
I was just talking with my son earlier about how so many people nation wide, world wide, are not truly fulfilled or even satisfied with their current job situation. It's kind of interesting when you look at the sheer statistics of people who are truly dissatisfied with their jobs. Why is that the case? In reality, every single person should really be at least somewhat fulfilled and happy with their careers. The reason that so many folks are so unhappy with what they do is because they never truly found what God's will and calling was for their career life. If we know exactly what it is that God has called us to do and what our mission is, it is nearly impossible not to be fulfilled and happy with it. If we are doing exactly what it is that God wants us to do with our work, then, at the very least, we should be very passionate about it.
Myself, it took me the first 35 years of life to even begin to realize what it was that I was created to do, to realize what my own mission in life was. Frankly, I was extremely lost, extremely miserable and thought to myself at times that it would be better for me to die than to have to live out even one more day of meaningless, soulless, mindless, "box-folding" or "supply carrying" job day in and day out. Jobs which I only did for the sheer money and existence. Jobs which I did only because I felt I had to. Jobs that I did that may have helped some other company owner to make bank... but only pushed me closer to the edge of my sanity. Truth be told, I walked right off of many of those jobs not only because of the void that I felt while mechanically going through the motions but also because of the utter depression and grueling monotony of them! Why is it that some people can be sentenced to an entire life of this kind of meaningless slavery and others can be rewarded so richly through their work and business? Here are a couple of interesting scriptures to ponder on in Eclesiastes which my 13 year old son had actually brought to my attention while I was speaking, via his memory (or the Spirit) and good stewardship of reading his own Bible pretty much daily. I taught him to love God and I taught him to like to read... I just never quite thought that he'd put the two together so well. He reads at a very high college level at age 13. I was SHOCKED that he actually didn't know what "disposition" meant today.
Eclesiastes 4:7
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil (work),
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business! -NIV
7 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. 8 There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task. -NASB
Compare those with Eclesiastes ch3 vs 12, 13
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. -NIV
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. -NASB
Myself, it took me the first 35 years of life to even begin to realize what it was that I was created to do, to realize what my own mission in life was. Frankly, I was extremely lost, extremely miserable and thought to myself at times that it would be better for me to die than to have to live out even one more day of meaningless, soulless, mindless, "box-folding" or "supply carrying" job day in and day out. Jobs which I only did for the sheer money and existence. Jobs which I did only because I felt I had to. Jobs that I did that may have helped some other company owner to make bank... but only pushed me closer to the edge of my sanity. Truth be told, I walked right off of many of those jobs not only because of the void that I felt while mechanically going through the motions but also because of the utter depression and grueling monotony of them! Why is it that some people can be sentenced to an entire life of this kind of meaningless slavery and others can be rewarded so richly through their work and business? Here are a couple of interesting scriptures to ponder on in Eclesiastes which my 13 year old son had actually brought to my attention while I was speaking, via his memory (or the Spirit) and good stewardship of reading his own Bible pretty much daily. I taught him to love God and I taught him to like to read... I just never quite thought that he'd put the two together so well. He reads at a very high college level at age 13. I was SHOCKED that he actually didn't know what "disposition" meant today.
Eclesiastes 4:7
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil (work),
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business! -NIV
7 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. 8 There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task. -NASB
Compare those with Eclesiastes ch3 vs 12, 13
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. -NIV
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. -NASB
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Energy Drink You Should Be Drinking
Nearly every fitness expert and other health professionals now realize that artificial sweeteners damage your body's ability to lose weight. Case in point, when the pituitary gland is damaged by sweeteners such as Aspartame then the brain doesn't receive the "full" signal when eating telling the body when to stop. So, you'd feel like you were eating normally, only you'd be over-eating all the time. Where can you find artificial sweeteners? In nearly every single drink or food labeled "Diet" or "Light," which is somewhat "sick in the head" when you think about it because if you're honestly dieting or trying to lose weight then you should stay 50 feet away from these drinks and food products! To make matters worse, there are several other additives to them that can damage the body's internal organs. What are the the artificial sweeteners? Aspartame, Sorbitol, Mannitol, Glycerol, Acesulfame potassium, Cyclamate, Isomalt, Saccharin, Sucralose, Alitame, Thaumatin, Neohesperidine dihydrochalcone, Aspartame-acesulfame salt, Maltitol, Lactitol, Xylitol, and Erythritol. If you see these on a food label which you should be reading anytime you buy food... don't eat or buy it. The problem is, rarely do you find a diet drink that doesn't contain at least these, typically several more damaging ingredients!
Every now and then you find a health/sport drink that is pretty sweet, no pun intended. If you're like me and you were never too thrilled with the prospect of drinking just plain water, I have a drink that is a personal favorite and one I highly recommend. Obviously, if you can drink only pure water, pure fruit juice, an old-fashioned, pure, tomato based V-8, and low-fat milk, etc., %100 of the time, wonderful! However, most of us like to have some kind of over-the-counter drink or energy drink from time to time. Instead of reaching for a soda, diet soda, Monster, Red Bull, Sobe, Gatorade or other super-sugary, Corn Syrup based drink, which is the case 95% of the time, reach for a Vitamin Water by Glaceau. Unlike Sobe's version of a healthy water, they don't use Corn Syrup to sweeten their drink with and they DO actually use several healthy ingredients which is very rare in commercial drinks! They sport a nice variety of vitamins, electrolytes and herbs depending on the flavor chosen. You've got your choice of different health benefits depending on which drink you choose. While the sugars aren't exactly real low, they use cane sugar and crystalline fructose to sweeten it with as opposed to corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. They add in a small amount of pure fruit and vegetable juice to the mix. They use the highest form of purified water as the base which is reverse osmosis water. An entire 16.9 oz drink has only 100 calories. What's more is that you could easily break this down to one 8 oz serving giving you only 50 calories and only about 14 grams of sugars! They are very affordable; quite low-priced actually. Then, to really add on the icing, these drinks actually have a very decent flavor especially considering that Glaceau apparently refuses to sacrifice your health for an over-the-top, sugary-sweet flavored drink. Not that taste should be much of a deciding factor for what we put into our body, but you have a variety of flavors to choose from.
Now, I'm not guaranteeing that there isn't a small amount of chemicals lined on the insides of the plastic containers that are harmful, but not all bottling companies are equal. Besides, if you're going to drink from plastic containers regardless, then these would be the ones to reach for.
Even nicer, for those of you who really have to watch every calorie closely, they also have a zero calorie line. In these, they actually do NOT use artificial sweeteners. They use Stevia, which is an herb, again making it a rare and impressive drink. "Zero calories" nearly always means "gain weight in the long run." But, not in this case!
I'd give these drinks a 9 of 10 and the only reason I don't give them a 10 is just because they're in plastic instead of glass! Even the best of other sports drinks, such as Gatorade and the typical energy drink, I could only honestly rate about a 5 of 10, primarily because, although you may feel an energy kick you get mostly from the caffeine they use, they're not actually healthy for you. I'd rate soda pop a 1 of 10 and diet soda about ".01" for "It's certain to destroy your health".
All in all, as for quality and as far as I'm concerned, Glaceau has officially humiliated all other energy, sports drink and flavored water companies. I mean, if we're going to make a health drink, let's try using healthy ingredients!
Every now and then you find a health/sport drink that is pretty sweet, no pun intended. If you're like me and you were never too thrilled with the prospect of drinking just plain water, I have a drink that is a personal favorite and one I highly recommend. Obviously, if you can drink only pure water, pure fruit juice, an old-fashioned, pure, tomato based V-8, and low-fat milk, etc., %100 of the time, wonderful! However, most of us like to have some kind of over-the-counter drink or energy drink from time to time. Instead of reaching for a soda, diet soda, Monster, Red Bull, Sobe, Gatorade or other super-sugary, Corn Syrup based drink, which is the case 95% of the time, reach for a Vitamin Water by Glaceau. Unlike Sobe's version of a healthy water, they don't use Corn Syrup to sweeten their drink with and they DO actually use several healthy ingredients which is very rare in commercial drinks! They sport a nice variety of vitamins, electrolytes and herbs depending on the flavor chosen. You've got your choice of different health benefits depending on which drink you choose. While the sugars aren't exactly real low, they use cane sugar and crystalline fructose to sweeten it with as opposed to corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. They add in a small amount of pure fruit and vegetable juice to the mix. They use the highest form of purified water as the base which is reverse osmosis water. An entire 16.9 oz drink has only 100 calories. What's more is that you could easily break this down to one 8 oz serving giving you only 50 calories and only about 14 grams of sugars! They are very affordable; quite low-priced actually. Then, to really add on the icing, these drinks actually have a very decent flavor especially considering that Glaceau apparently refuses to sacrifice your health for an over-the-top, sugary-sweet flavored drink. Not that taste should be much of a deciding factor for what we put into our body, but you have a variety of flavors to choose from.
Now, I'm not guaranteeing that there isn't a small amount of chemicals lined on the insides of the plastic containers that are harmful, but not all bottling companies are equal. Besides, if you're going to drink from plastic containers regardless, then these would be the ones to reach for.
Even nicer, for those of you who really have to watch every calorie closely, they also have a zero calorie line. In these, they actually do NOT use artificial sweeteners. They use Stevia, which is an herb, again making it a rare and impressive drink. "Zero calories" nearly always means "gain weight in the long run." But, not in this case!
I'd give these drinks a 9 of 10 and the only reason I don't give them a 10 is just because they're in plastic instead of glass! Even the best of other sports drinks, such as Gatorade and the typical energy drink, I could only honestly rate about a 5 of 10, primarily because, although you may feel an energy kick you get mostly from the caffeine they use, they're not actually healthy for you. I'd rate soda pop a 1 of 10 and diet soda about ".01" for "It's certain to destroy your health".
All in all, as for quality and as far as I'm concerned, Glaceau has officially humiliated all other energy, sports drink and flavored water companies. I mean, if we're going to make a health drink, let's try using healthy ingredients!
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Winning Factor
Complete exhaustion... these are the two words that come to mind to describe the feeling of when you've fought up to the point where you feel like you are going to pass out or die from the sheer fatigue. It is as if everything around you starts to fade and become an insubstantial blur of sights and sounds. You feel your heart beating so fiercely that you think for a second you might have a cardiac arrest. Your arms don't work right anymore, your legs are wobbly and your foundation is nearly gone. You can barely stand up, let alone walk or hit with any strength at all. You have to keep going even though your attempts at movement are weak and rather pathetic. You are sluggish, you feel heavier than ever, you are slow... very slow. Sweat is pouring from your face. You're hot and your uniform has been pulled away from the belt and is sloppily hanging open. Another person comes at you with full-throttle kicks and punches and you desperately try to fight them back though you get knocked backward or knocked to the floor. Perhaps you just get grabbed, yanked around and fed a couple of heavy thumping knees to the stomach and chest. You notice the blood slowly dripping from your nose from the punch that came in a few black belts before. This means almost nothing, however, because the only thing that you can think about is how utterly miserable and completely exhausted you're feeling on the inside. All you can think about is how badly you'd just love to stop and lay down or just walk away from it all! All the while you hear a loud, deep and angry voice in the background yelling out two words directly at you, "Don't... quit!"
Those were the words of my first official martial arts instructor who was 3rd generation down from the Founding Father of American Kenpo himself, Ed Parker. It was Ed who brought Kenpo from China to the States. Vance McNeil Learned from Ed and taught John Wadlin who was my instructor. Vance used to say, "I don't teach 'karate', I teach you how to fight." This school was quite rough-and-tumble and the belt tests were not easy to get through. But, looking back, I truly appreciate the honor of having experienced those years.
The thing that I really want to get across here is that of all that we went through and as much sweat and blood that I lost there, one thing stood out to me more than the others and I still think about it all the time. The fact that the instructor, incidentally named instructor of the year and a national champion, would yell a simple, "Don't quit!" during the advanced belt tests. He used to say, "If you are up for testing then that means that you are ready." That the only thing he would really fail you for was quitting itself. These tests were broken into two day tests and were about 5 hours long on day one and 4 hours on day two. Some part of you would want to quit and, yet, somehow you'd find the fortitude to keep going however sloppy your technique might be. There is a very good reason he taught this way. On the street it can mean utter survival. But, in life, it means much more... it means succeeding. An old mentor of mine used to say, "When you've reached the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!" He knew that once you quit, that usually meant there was no coming back. Quitting or persevering in the midst of hardship will make the difference between living a life of victory or defeat. Things don't always work out how we'd like them to; and, certainly, there are times when we have to improvise and re-evaluate. Things will sometimes go wrong. We have to always be on the lookout for solutions and we have to work hard, point blank. In the end, though, it always pays off, one way or the other. Usually the victory is even sweeter when we know that we've given it our all. Something that we've worked terribly hard for always has much greater value to us. But, above all, if you don't have anything else, if you don't have anything else you can hang on to... remember these words: "Don't quit!"
Those were the words of my first official martial arts instructor who was 3rd generation down from the Founding Father of American Kenpo himself, Ed Parker. It was Ed who brought Kenpo from China to the States. Vance McNeil Learned from Ed and taught John Wadlin who was my instructor. Vance used to say, "I don't teach 'karate', I teach you how to fight." This school was quite rough-and-tumble and the belt tests were not easy to get through. But, looking back, I truly appreciate the honor of having experienced those years.
The thing that I really want to get across here is that of all that we went through and as much sweat and blood that I lost there, one thing stood out to me more than the others and I still think about it all the time. The fact that the instructor, incidentally named instructor of the year and a national champion, would yell a simple, "Don't quit!" during the advanced belt tests. He used to say, "If you are up for testing then that means that you are ready." That the only thing he would really fail you for was quitting itself. These tests were broken into two day tests and were about 5 hours long on day one and 4 hours on day two. Some part of you would want to quit and, yet, somehow you'd find the fortitude to keep going however sloppy your technique might be. There is a very good reason he taught this way. On the street it can mean utter survival. But, in life, it means much more... it means succeeding. An old mentor of mine used to say, "When you've reached the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!" He knew that once you quit, that usually meant there was no coming back. Quitting or persevering in the midst of hardship will make the difference between living a life of victory or defeat. Things don't always work out how we'd like them to; and, certainly, there are times when we have to improvise and re-evaluate. Things will sometimes go wrong. We have to always be on the lookout for solutions and we have to work hard, point blank. In the end, though, it always pays off, one way or the other. Usually the victory is even sweeter when we know that we've given it our all. Something that we've worked terribly hard for always has much greater value to us. But, above all, if you don't have anything else, if you don't have anything else you can hang on to... remember these words: "Don't quit!"
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A Professional Fitness Routine: Why it's worth it to you to invest!
If you've ever thought about purchasing a professional, customized routine from me, here are a few good reasons to do it:
1. You better believe that it can mean the difference between just knowing about doctors or having to actually see them on a regular basis.
2. You don't have to ever worry again about exactly WHAT you have to do to get fit.
3. You have everything laid out for you in a step by step plan that you KNOW will get you the body you've been wanting for years and years.
4. You learn not only what to do to GET fit, but you also learn the psychology behind those of us who LIVE fit, day after day, year after year. (This alone is worth every penny.)
5. You can rehabilitate joint injuries and pain, among other injuries.
6. You can keep things like diabetes type II at bay for the rest of your life.
7. You can finally look and feel your absolute, %100 best, all the time!
8. You'll learn about new exercises you didn't even know existed.
9. You can learn how you SHOULD be exercising instead of how you have been.
10. You can learn the single diet trick that makes all other dietary tips look like a waste of time.
11. Get a free 12 page PDF that coaches you on HOW to approach your exercise routine.
12. Learn why 9 out of 10 diets fail miserably.
13. Get a dietary and supplement recommendation layout.
14. Learn the 2 biggest mistakes that nearly everyone makes in the gym that keeps them working out forever and NEVER making any progress at all.
15. Get not only a customized routine, but specialized advice especially suited to you and your needs.
This is all life changing stuff that will make a tremendous difference for you and your family! I read all the time that family gets in the way, but you cannot take care of them if you are not around or too sick to do so.
Are you going to look back in 10 or 20 years and think, "Darn it, I'm missing $197..."? Of course you wouldn't. You want to look back and think, "Thank God I did it!" It's a crossroads.
You can order it right here: http://www.JerryPitmanFitness.com/Services.html
1. You better believe that it can mean the difference between just knowing about doctors or having to actually see them on a regular basis.
2. You don't have to ever worry again about exactly WHAT you have to do to get fit.
3. You have everything laid out for you in a step by step plan that you KNOW will get you the body you've been wanting for years and years.
4. You learn not only what to do to GET fit, but you also learn the psychology behind those of us who LIVE fit, day after day, year after year. (This alone is worth every penny.)
5. You can rehabilitate joint injuries and pain, among other injuries.
6. You can keep things like diabetes type II at bay for the rest of your life.
7. You can finally look and feel your absolute, %100 best, all the time!
8. You'll learn about new exercises you didn't even know existed.
9. You can learn how you SHOULD be exercising instead of how you have been.
10. You can learn the single diet trick that makes all other dietary tips look like a waste of time.
11. Get a free 12 page PDF that coaches you on HOW to approach your exercise routine.
12. Learn why 9 out of 10 diets fail miserably.
13. Get a dietary and supplement recommendation layout.
14. Learn the 2 biggest mistakes that nearly everyone makes in the gym that keeps them working out forever and NEVER making any progress at all.
15. Get not only a customized routine, but specialized advice especially suited to you and your needs.
This is all life changing stuff that will make a tremendous difference for you and your family! I read all the time that family gets in the way, but you cannot take care of them if you are not around or too sick to do so.
Are you going to look back in 10 or 20 years and think, "Darn it, I'm missing $197..."? Of course you wouldn't. You want to look back and think, "Thank God I did it!" It's a crossroads.
You can order it right here: http://www.JerryPitmanFitness.com/Services.html
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Interview with Rhonda Kacos
I decided to do an interview with Rhonda Kacos in order to help folks understand a little better how to get the most from their personal training sessions! Rhonda has lost a lot of weight and now has the lean, toned look that most people only dream about. This interview should be a tremendous help for new clients who want to be able to do what Rhonda was able to do. I think you'll like it! Here it is:
Me:
Rhonda, how would you describe your journey as a client of "Pitman Fitness"?
Rhonda: "My journey has been tough, rewarding and incredibly educational! I learned more about health, nutrition and my own body than I ever thought possible. I got answers to questions I didn't even know I had :)"
Me: I'd say that you got results better and faster than anyone I've ever trained. Please let the readers know what it was that you did from the beginning in order to ensure that you got the most from your personal training.
Rhonda: "I really think the key to my success was putting my trust in you. I remember that first session when you handed me some ridiculously heavy weight and told me to do a bent over row....I thought "this man has NO idea what a wuss I am", but I picked it up anyway and actually managed a few reps :) I had decided from our first question/answer session that you were the expert and if I wanted results I'd have to do what you told me."
Me: Would you say that it has always been easy to believe the things that I have told you, especially in the beginning? What were some of the things that you thought?
Rhonda: "Ha, this is a great question! No, I thought you were crazy at first :) Really? Eventually I'd stop craving cookies and chips?? Nope, not going to happen. Guess what, you were right!
You told me we'd be doing "strength training", which meant lifting weights. I was really wary of that because, as everybody knows, if a woman lifts weights (especially heavy ones), then she'll look like Arnold Schwarzenegger! You assured me that wasn't going to happen and encouraged me to "just try". Okay....I'm thinking "ha, two weeks from now I'm going to be a huge bulked up gorilla", yeah, that didn't happen, you were right again :) I can't tell you how many times you'd tell me something or we'd start a new exercise and I would think "this man's crazy", only to read about how exactly what you were doing or saying was considered the very best way to train according to every fitness website I checked out. I always assumed running was the best way to keep my calories down. You convinced me I would burn more calories and achieve a stronger, more defined look if I weight trained more, another area I wasn't really sure you knew what you were talking about :) Doesn't everybody know that running burns loads of calories and is the BEST way to lose weight??
Me: How would you describe my training style to someone new?
Rhonda: "Your style is a perfect blend of encouragement and expectations. You don't EVER let me off easy, push me to my limits every session and get more out of me than I ever thought I had, but it works because you BELIEVE that I can do it. Someone having faith in your ability is an incredible feeling. I think you can sense when I need that extra boost, I'll be thinking I can't do one more rep and I hear "come on, 5 more, almost there" and suddenly I can do 5 more :)"
Me: In your opinion, what would you say is/are the most important thing(s) for a client to keep in mind while training?
Rhonda: "I think the most important thing to remember is you can't expect great results if you're not going to give 100%. To me that means listening to what you're telling me, whether it's about form, intensity, calories, nutrition or sleep. You train in a "whole body" style (which I LOVE!), so every piece is important. I can't just bust my butt during a workout then blow off what I'm eating."
Me: In what ways has your training paid off for you?
Rhonda: "I could write pages and pages on how my training has paid off for me but I'll try to give you the edited version :) Not only am I in the very best physical shape of my life (ha, 47 and wearing a size 4!!)), but I feel so incredibly strong and confident! My insurance premiums for work went down $25.00 every two weeks because my fitness level has improved (cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar...all in "optimum" range). I have more energy and self discipline than I've ever had and I'm just overall a pretty darn happy camper!!"
Me: Is there anything that you'd like to add?
Rhonda: "It honestly is hard to put into words how much having you as a trainer has changed my life. Beyond the building muscle, losing fat, eating healthy things....I feel like finding you was such a blessing in my life. You continuously find new ways to challenge me, to improve myself not only physically but just as a human being."
Me:
Rhonda, how would you describe your journey as a client of "Pitman Fitness"?
Rhonda: "My journey has been tough, rewarding and incredibly educational! I learned more about health, nutrition and my own body than I ever thought possible. I got answers to questions I didn't even know I had :)"
Me: I'd say that you got results better and faster than anyone I've ever trained. Please let the readers know what it was that you did from the beginning in order to ensure that you got the most from your personal training.
Rhonda: "I really think the key to my success was putting my trust in you. I remember that first session when you handed me some ridiculously heavy weight and told me to do a bent over row....I thought "this man has NO idea what a wuss I am", but I picked it up anyway and actually managed a few reps :) I had decided from our first question/answer session that you were the expert and if I wanted results I'd have to do what you told me."
Me: Would you say that it has always been easy to believe the things that I have told you, especially in the beginning? What were some of the things that you thought?
Rhonda: "Ha, this is a great question! No, I thought you were crazy at first :) Really? Eventually I'd stop craving cookies and chips?? Nope, not going to happen. Guess what, you were right!
You told me we'd be doing "strength training", which meant lifting weights. I was really wary of that because, as everybody knows, if a woman lifts weights (especially heavy ones), then she'll look like Arnold Schwarzenegger! You assured me that wasn't going to happen and encouraged me to "just try". Okay....I'm thinking "ha, two weeks from now I'm going to be a huge bulked up gorilla", yeah, that didn't happen, you were right again :) I can't tell you how many times you'd tell me something or we'd start a new exercise and I would think "this man's crazy", only to read about how exactly what you were doing or saying was considered the very best way to train according to every fitness website I checked out. I always assumed running was the best way to keep my calories down. You convinced me I would burn more calories and achieve a stronger, more defined look if I weight trained more, another area I wasn't really sure you knew what you were talking about :) Doesn't everybody know that running burns loads of calories and is the BEST way to lose weight??
Me: How would you describe my training style to someone new?
Rhonda: "Your style is a perfect blend of encouragement and expectations. You don't EVER let me off easy, push me to my limits every session and get more out of me than I ever thought I had, but it works because you BELIEVE that I can do it. Someone having faith in your ability is an incredible feeling. I think you can sense when I need that extra boost, I'll be thinking I can't do one more rep and I hear "come on, 5 more, almost there" and suddenly I can do 5 more :)"
Me: In your opinion, what would you say is/are the most important thing(s) for a client to keep in mind while training?
Rhonda: "I think the most important thing to remember is you can't expect great results if you're not going to give 100%. To me that means listening to what you're telling me, whether it's about form, intensity, calories, nutrition or sleep. You train in a "whole body" style (which I LOVE!), so every piece is important. I can't just bust my butt during a workout then blow off what I'm eating."
Me: In what ways has your training paid off for you?
Rhonda: "I could write pages and pages on how my training has paid off for me but I'll try to give you the edited version :) Not only am I in the very best physical shape of my life (ha, 47 and wearing a size 4!!)), but I feel so incredibly strong and confident! My insurance premiums for work went down $25.00 every two weeks because my fitness level has improved (cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar...all in "optimum" range). I have more energy and self discipline than I've ever had and I'm just overall a pretty darn happy camper!!"
Me: Is there anything that you'd like to add?
Rhonda: "It honestly is hard to put into words how much having you as a trainer has changed my life. Beyond the building muscle, losing fat, eating healthy things....I feel like finding you was such a blessing in my life. You continuously find new ways to challenge me, to improve myself not only physically but just as a human being."
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