What Will it Take?

    Here we are on the other side of another chaotic year. The pandemic we thought was going to be over in two weeks has lasted two years. The "RONA" virus has proven to be a great equalizer amongst our society. Everyone has been affected by this event in one way or another. Now we as a nation are confronted with a choice on how we prioritize health and wellness going forward. 

    The virus has revealed just how unhealthy and vulnerable we are. We have more fitness resources than any other country on the planet yet we are plagued by chronic disease and obesity. For too long we have chosen what is easy over what is right. Comfort and convenience are opiates of an affluent society. We have been lulled into neglecting our physical and mental health. We choose to sacrifice our bodies in the pursuit of lifestyle. 

    Now that I've stated the obvious let's discuss solutions. Healthy living has to be prioritized and incentivized in this country. It takes each of us to make all of us so, change is going to start with YOU. We all can make incremental and consistent improvements in our lives. We have witnessed the havok this pandemic has caused, so if this doesn't wake us up WHAT WILL IT TAKE!

Post - Pandemic Playbook

   Here we are at what appears to be the back side of the worst pandemic most of us have ever experienced in our lifetimes. With all tumultuous events that occur in our lives there are always lessons to be learned and harsh reminders of all the things we have taken for granted. As a fitness professional I've had a unique vantage point to this entire experience. This virus has devasted some and emboldened others. I want to present some information that will ensure that you are part of the latter group.

    We as a society HAVE to make health a wellness a priority in our lives. The greatest method of prevention is the investment into one's well-being. Quality sleep, proper nutrition, and consistent exercise will do far more for immunity and symptom mitigation than anything else. In fact, a person who is already in good health will benefit more from peripheral antidotes including: personal hygiene, meds / vaccines, and public safety protocols. What troubled me most throughout this time was the 'quick fix" and instant gratification mentality towards treatment options for the virus. The emphasis on "pop a pill'' or "get the stick" and continue life as usual was the wrong message. If we don't use this pandemic as an epitus for changing how we live, then our situation will only become more dire. This isn't the only pandemic the world has ever known nor will it be the last. Those of us who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. 

    In closing I want to reiterate on the importance of self-care and personal relationships. We need to start taking better care on ourselves as well as others around us. The stronger and more capable you are as an individual will give the ability to assist others in their time of need. Remember that the hard times wake you up to all the good things you been missing!

     

The purpose of suffering

      I'll start this month's entry by posing a question: Why do we suffer? This is a term that everyone has some familiarity with and it's something most people try to avoid at all costs. When one experiences suffering they are baffled to why it's occurring and wants it to end abruptly. If you pay attention there is always hidden lessons amongst all the chaos.
      My mentor always told me; "The harder you are on yourself the easier life will be on you." We need to embrace suffering at times and pay attention to what it's revealing in ourselves. If everything in our lives we always great there would never be a need to grow as a person. Hardship gives us the ignition to create change or to wake us up to all the good things we've been missing. You rarely understand the purpose while going through the torment, but I can't remember any point in my life where I endured suffering that I didn't come out better on the other side.
    We as human beings need that dichotomy to exist to keep us striving forward and to keep us humble. These difficult experiences draws us closer to: our creator, our loved ones, and reveals to us what's important in life.  We need to get our asses handed to us on occasion, so that we can never say: "we have it all figured out."

Beyond Excellence

   Have you ever imagined what the best version of yourself would be like and the quality of life being a person of that stature would enjoy. What would a "day in the life" be if you had reached and/or exceeded all of your goals and aspirations? What if your reality was better than your dreams? I try to create a compelling future to continually grow and be better.
   
   Why do we constantly sell ourselves short of our true potential? Through my own trials and tribulations I believe that revealing our inner strength is more terrifying than embracing mediocrity. It's been said:  "the thing that you have been dreading is the exact thing you should be pursuing." This can be applied to your fitness training by seeking out weakness and continually developing skill-sets. The objective is to advance your strengths, while mitigating your weaknesses to create a well rounded athleticism that allows you to operate at your highest level. Your health is the greatest commodity and without it life is bleak.

   What if you could achieve the body, health, & physical capabilities beyond what you have ever fathomed? To achieve this you never stop striving to improve and embrace a life of learning. Never constrain yourself to certain training methodologies or nutritional programs; instead your training should be comprised of multiple training disciplines and various nutritional theories. It's time to raise the standards and begin taking the pathway that will take us beyond excellence...

      

Dominate in 2016

   Well you survived this year and get yet another chance to become a better version of yourself. Did you really get out there and live this year or did you just simply exist. Getting caught in the mundane cycle of life and having little to show for it. I recently overheard a gentleman say: "That another year down is just that much closer to the grave." My rebuttal to him was: "everyday above ground is a good day." In this message I want to examine how you see yourself in the year ahead.
  
   Is the glass half empty? Are you pessimistic about what these next 365 days will bring or think it's going to be a repeat of last year. Does the thought of resolutions or goal setting discourage you from facing the new year? You shouldn't be fearful or anxious when the ball drops at midnight in Times Square. If that is the case then you need to examine why and take steps to create a more compelling future.
  
   Is the glass half full? Are you optimistic and want to start the new year mach two with your hair on fire. Do you look at the coming year as an opportunity to be better and enhance your life. This perception of the future gives one the ability to design how their lives will play out and to adapt faster when unexpected circumstances arise. People who choose positive outlooks and good attitudes have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

   In conclusion, nothing is gained by negative or pessimistic thoughts about the coming year. Choose to embrace the "glass is half full" mentality towards your future. The year 2016 is yours for the taking, so get out there and DOMINATE!

Going the distance

    At last the holidays are upon us and the countdown to 2016 has begun. You could probably guess the gist of this message is one that battles the overwhelming temptations of the holiday season. It's so easy to say: " The hell with it I'll get back on track in the new year," but my argument is why would you want to start the new year with shame and guilt. I've seen a lot of clients in the past undue a lot of their hard work during this time of year.
     There is usually two reasons why this happens; the first is careless overindulgence. Now I'll be the first to say enjoy yourself, but don't do it at the expense of your goals and well being. The second mistake is disengagement from their training regiment completely. This is an optimal time to train to mitigate the damage that will likely be done by all the festivities. Cutting back on training due to holiday travel or family obligations is completely understandable and I myself take a sabbatical this time of year to rest and reflect. What's important  is that you remain engaged even on a subsistence level to continue progress toward your goals and start the new year with forward momentum.
    With all that said this is an extraordinary time of year to take inventory of all the things to be grateful for and to be with the people we love. That's what makes the holidays my favorite time to be able to enjoy all the hard work put in throughout the year. Most people believe it's an "either or" scenario, but you can have both with a little preparation and discipline. My wish for all of you is that you make the end to 2015 one that rewards you for all the great work done and emboldens you in the new year!

Limitless

   I'll begin this post with a question: If your life was completely absent of fear what would it look like? What is your ideal self image or what is the contribution that you want to make in this world? The answers to these questions reveal your purpose, which gives life a much different meaning.  Most people fall significantly short of their potential due to the fact they ask the wrong questions and establish low standards for themselves. The good news is that you are your biggest problem and greatest solution.
    What we all crave in life is progress and the ability to be give more of ourselves to the world. When you help someone it feels much more gratifying than ever achieving something just for yourself. The same is true for when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone and confront your fears. That in my opinion is truly "Good Livin" and it's what inspires other people to be better.
     My sole purpose is to optimize other human beings, while making my own life a masterpiece to be celebrated after I move on to higher ground. Life isn't a spectator sport; you might as well play the game, because your not going to make it out alive. Someone once told me the best moments of our lives are when we were born and the day we find out why...