Will you own 2015?

    Here we are at the closing of yet another year and it always seems in hindsight that it's so fleeting. For me this is a time of reflection and gratitude for all the gifts in my life. It's when I take a sabbatical to spend quality time with family and to decompress in order to give my best in the new year. This is a concept that is relatively new to me, because I always like to be productive and slowing down is very uncomfortable. I've since seen the positive results that having down time has had on my life and realize that it's a crucial component to success.

    I want to pose some questions for you in order to make 2015 a milestone year:

* Have you written down at least 5 personal goals and created a strategy on how to attain them?

* Who have you been meaning to spend time with, but just haven't made the time?

* What new peak experiences do you want to have this year?

* Why haven't you been able to do the things you've wanted to in the past?

* How is this year going to be different?


     Now lets give our best in the 2015 and make it the standard for the years to come...

Forging A Resilient Mindset

   As a fitness professional I witness the struggle my clients often endure with implementing health and wellness into their hectic lives. They approach me at times with frustration and often ask: "How is it so easy for you?" The truth is that I've developed a resilient mindset over the years in which being active and healthy are a must in my life. I'm human too and have days where the last thing that I want to do is kick my own ass, but in those moments I have to tell that voice in my head to shut up.
  
    Now I don't want to over simplify this and make it sound as if all you have to do is repeat some  positive affirmation and all distractions will be removed from your day. It's quite the opposite; I want my clients when faced with these challenges to make a decision to use exercise as an outlet to decompress. Think of this time as a way to unplug and detach yourself from the all the noise, so you can better deal with whatever issues are confronting you.

   When will you know when you have made health and wellness a lifestyle? Exercise should become an  unconscious decision almost as natural as breathing. When it is the part of your day that never gets compromised. You will ask yourself when you will make time for physical activity not if. Developing this type of mindset is difficult, but anything worth while in life always is...

What is Optimal Health?

This is a question I get asked frequently due to the barrage of misinformation we receive on a regular basis. Most people would have you believe it's the ability to lift a massive amount of weight or conform to a certain body type. In my opinion neither are correct and can be very misleading for someone who wants to take their life back and get in shape. I will define what I believe a peak physical state embodies and hopefully this will provide clarity for those who may have a distorted view.

I'll begin with the most important concept and that is feeling damn good in your own skin; (i.e.) When you look in the mirror you like what's looking back at you. It's a congruency of your self-perception and everyday reality.

Another key component is attaining multiple skill-sets to create a well rounded athleticism to perform the specific tasks one has set for themselves. A lot of people appear to be fit , but have poor performance.

My final point is maintaining a healthy body weight through a balanced eating regiment that consists of eating a variety of (live) nutrient-rich foods and proper hydration. It's important to remember "optimal health" is somewhat subjective and will vary from person-to-person, but hopefully these concepts I've shared will set you on a path to becoming a better version of you...

Indestructible Change

In personally dealing with hundreds of different people over the years a I've notice a consistent behavior pattern in many when beginning their transformations; They have a point A to point B mentality. Let me explain: When people generally want to get into shape they usually will have an event they want to participate in or a special occasion the want to look their best for. Both scenarios are great motivators for initially getting started, but I want to address what happens when those moments are over. Unfortunately most people fall back into old habits, because they haven't addressed the core behavioral traits that caused them to be unhealthy. We hear the term "LIFESTYLE" used all the time, but truth of the matter is that's the only way to sustain lasting change. You must replace old habits with new ones to really ever change your body. A person must raise their standards and make the decision that things are going to be different for the rest of their lives. This type of change never occurs overnight and there will always be setbacks that is part of being human. I always reaffirm to my clients: " I don't expect perfection I expect progress."

Redefining Pain

    When client's begin working with me they all have this one thing in common; They dread the first week of  training and the pain that will ensue. My reply has always been: " Remember the struggle, so you'll never go to this place again." In order to achieve this you must change your perception of pain. What is Pain -  An unpleasant sensation occurring in varying degrees of severity as a consequence of injury, disease, or emotional disorder is the textbook definition. Now for my version; Pain is the necessary component of progress, strength, & personal character, so that you must experience it to accomplish any of them. If we never experience it then we can never know what we are made of...