Strength of Unity

I’m not a big numbers or stat guy, but when the numbers are this big (and continue to trend upward) I had to take notice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) released an article in January of this year stating that in 2009-2010, 35.7% of American adults were considered obese. If that doesn’t grab your attention, this next stat might: 17% of America’s youth were considered obese in that same year.  Okay just so we are crystal clear:

In 2009-2010, 35.7% of adults and 17% of youths living in the United States of America were considered obese.

Now do you believe that this is a real epidemic!?! Ladies and gentleman, these stats are not from the 1980’s, 1990’s or even ten years ago … they are less than five years old. That is extremely frightening to me. We are slowly killing ourselves with being overweight. But that is only the beginning …

What are the major causes?

There are several underlying reasons why our society is getting larger each year. And because of these reasons, it’s extremely difficult for medical professionals to pinpoint one specific cause. This isn’t a black and white issue, rather one that remains in the grey causing much debate and frustration for many people. What we do know is that environment, genetics, nutrition and lack of physical activity do have vital roles in determining if a person becomes obese. To a certain degree, we can combat all of the above mentioned reasons, even genetics.

The consequences of not trying to combat obesity are severe, not only for the obese but all of us. Just some of the risks associated with obesity:

·         Diabetes

·         Heart Disease

·         Cancer

·         Stroke

·         High Blood Pressure

And the economic impact is even greater. Consider that medical costs associated with obesity may include (but not limited to): preventive, diagnostic and treatment services; loss of income due to disability & restricted activity.

Our Role in Society’s Future

Many of you reading this post already are established fitness freaks, workout warriors, trainers and coaches. Some of you are just beginning your journey towards a better tomorrow. For this, I applaud you for making a healthy decision. It isn’t an easy path to follow all the time, but it is extremely rewarding and beneficial.

Our place in society should not be at the forefront to lead, but in the middle. We are not here to ridicule, put down, make fun of, or anything of that ilk. Instead, we can encourage, praise, help, motivate, inspire and transform. If we try to lead from the front, everyone else has to play catch up to us. There are those who already believe fitness and health are daunting, we don’t need to add to these situations. That is why I say we need to lead from the middle. Its there, we can create the most positive change in our society.  We have an abundant mixture of all experiences, ages, and views from this vantage point. We can help society move towards a healthier, better tomorrow from the middle.  From the middle, we can reach many more people, building a network of thousands for a healthier tomorrow. But we cannot do this alone … …

Strength of Unity

We must act as one. It doesn’t matter what affiliation you have with whichever company. It doesn’t matter if you workout at Gold’s Gym or in your living room. I don’t care if you use whey protein from Optimum Nutrition, take a pre-workout from BPI, use CLA and buy it all from GNC. If you prefer Herbalife over Shakeology. Your favorite trainer is Jericho McDuffie, Jillian Michaels, or Richard Simmons. P90X, TAP OUT, RIPPED, or BodyBeast. All this does matter … and it doesn’t. It does because you are remaining strong, lean and healthy. It doesn’t if we don’t come together for the great good of this planet. There are times when personal agendas and goals need to be set aside. Moments of crisis have defined our world just as much as moments of triumph. I believe we are in the thick of a health crisis that, if not attended to, could lead to an even larger epidemic in the very near future.

There is a dire need for us to come together and take the fight to obesity. Not as individuals, but together as a force of one. We need to set aside company beliefs, mission statements and the like to unite under one banner, under one belief to put a sizable dent in the foothold that obesity has created. We will remain individual yet united to take on obesity … that is our goal, our mission. We need to stand tall and proud on the battlefield so that others may see us, rally around us and contribute with us. Our cause is one not of heart disease, cancer and early death. Rather, its one of renewed hope, confidence, and positive energy for a better tomorrow.



 

One Banner. One Belief. United we stand in the face of adversity. Let all hear our might battlecry as we take down the enemy!!

Dogged Stubborness in an Unfinished Story

For some, the journey starts out of necessity. Others may start their journey out of want. And some even happen to stumble upon it. There is no right or wrong way to start your journey ... the hardest part is finding the right path to travel down. I don't think I've ever told my story. It's not one of great peril, disastrous circumstances or unimaginable miracles. I would say my story is a modest one with moments of self realization, dogged stubbornness and an ending that hasn't been put to paper as of yet.

"Life's not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself." - Ben Feliciano

I've never been overweight, bulky or obese. But I've also never been muscular, toned or defined. I was your 100lbs dripping wet type kid most of my life. Even in my twenties i could easily hide behind a pole. I wasn't the fastest kid in town either. Even though I played soccer at various levels during my youth, I was still the short scrawny kid who got picked last for every team at recess. It really never bothered me that much. Really what was I going to do, will myself to grow and bulk up? Trust me, I tried and it didn't work. I just sort of accepted it and moved on.

I played soccer for many years (school and community leagues), but wasn't really that good. I loved to play, but honestly the team was better off with me on the bench. All that running, an unending reserve of energy and a fast metabolism kept the fat off me but I was never successful at adding any type of weight. Probably didn't help that I never picked up weight training either.

In my twenties, I didn't really exercise all that much. In fact I probably went the other way entirely. While attending Moorhead State University, I started something that would plague me for a very long time, smoking. Yes, I am a former cigarette smoker. At one point I was up to nearly two packs a day. I thought it was cool, liked the flavor and it was a social thing that led to meeting new people. Even after leaving Moorhead, I continued to smoke, sometimes very heavily, especially while out at the bars. Drinking and smoking while throwing darts became second nature. This was during a time when you could smoke inside and enjoy a Blue Moon. It was also during this time that I was drinking heavily every weekend (sometimes weekend binges spilled into the weekdays) with buddies and having a blast doing it.

As time slipped away, I wandered from job to job, industry to industry not knowing what the hell to do with life. After what seemed like forever, I settled in with the service industry. I loved it. The energy, social interaction, being on the "go" all the time, and most importantly, the drinking after work with your co-workers. Somewhere in the middle of all this, I enrolled at The Art Institutes International Minnesota for the Culinary Arts program. I guess I figured that I could make it in an industry that embraced all of society's rejects who couldn't hack a "real" job. Besides, all the skulduggery and shenanigans that Anthony Bourdain wrote about sounded fun. And it was a ton of fun. I got to cook, grill, fry and eat my way through school. At the end, I was a well fed culinary graduate who had dreams of being a chef. After being in "The Industry" for a couple of years, I was up to nearly two packs of cigarettes a day, working 70 hour work weeks on a regular basis, not sleeping much, and drinking way too much. It was a path that didn't require much thought or care. Looking back now, it was a destructive and selfish path that I knowingly chose.

The Change

It all changed pretty quickly for me. After meeting my wife Catherine in late 2007, we started dating seriously in a short time. Both family and friends took to her right away. Catherine's friendly personality won over my family and friends easily. I was told (by more than a few people) that she "was a keeper" and I better not let her get away. I took that advice and married her in 2010. As many of you know (and if you don't know ... surprise!) I walked right into the starting role of being a stepfather as well as a husband.

So within time, I quite smoking for my own health but also because of Catherine's two wonderful children, Adam and Megan. Even when I did smoke, I had a disdain for smoking around children. In my world, smoking in front of a child is something I wasn't willing to do. So, I quit. And to this day, it's still one of the hardest things I've ever done. Hard but rewarding. I still have cravings today but that what gum and willpower are for ... Just say no!

After leaving the service industry for good in late 2010, I knew that changes were going to be needed. Those changes would come in time, nothing swift or quick but gradual and consistent.

"I presently struggle with ..." - Tony Horton

It all started with a chance. And I really had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that a buddy of mine wanted me to give something called P90X a try. I had no idea what I was getting myself into or what type of challenge I was about to take on.

I don't remember the first workout, but I can guarantee it wasn't easy. What I do remember was seeing Tony Horton, Daniel Haas and Dreya Weber and who ripped they looked. The crazy thing about it was that I jumped right in without knowing much about P90X, Tony Horton or even about weight lifting. I was never one of those weight room freaks or a gym rat. I actually was very afraid to go to a fitness club, I was extremely intimidated by them. Self conscious, very much so. But I knew a change was needed and after a few workouts I was hooked. There was something I connected with in that program, something I completely gravitated towards.

In time I become completely, hopelessly and utterly addicted to P90X. I bought fully into what the program was about. As I continued through the P90X schedule, I began to see the results. Within a short period of time, I realized how out of shape I actually was. Everything from strength, agility, balance to posture and speed were not good. All those Sundays spent eating bags of chips watching football, all the deep fried foods and sugar loaded soft drinks had caught up with me. Just cause I was "thin" looking didn't mean I was healthy.

And P90X reinforced that simple notion. I had a difficult time traversing through the workouts to the point where I nearly gave up. But I didn't give up. I kept trying and pushing for ... well, honestly for some kind of self vindication that I wasn't going to be beat by a DVD. I wanted to know that I could finish what I started and that I could do it with a measure of grace (except for Yoga X, which I was truly ungraceful at). Being blindly stubborn does have its advantages sometimes. And during my first P90X run that dogged stubbornness helped me push through pain, failure and disappointment. I kept going and pushing because I wanted a better tomorrow, a healthier day to give myself as a reward for working my ass off.

I wanted to lose the gut and gain a small measure of what Horton had. So I began to change my ways .... slowly. I started to replace bags of chips with healthier choices, added more vegetables and fruits to my diet, stopped drinking soda/energy drinks, and cut back on the deep fried foods I loved. I become more aware of what I was eating and started to eat smaller portions. Multivitamins, protein powders, and all sorts of supplements became routine for me. To this day I take GNC multivitamins twice daily, use some type of whey protein powder (currently using Hydro Whey) and creatine. I've also added in CLA (helps promote a healthy weight distribution and improved metabolic rate), thermogenic supplements, and pre-workout mixes.

After a shoulder injury, back spasms, and many sore joints later I finally was a "graduate" of P90X. And I could see muscles! I wasn't ripped like Horton, but I was happy with the foundation that I started to build. After graduating, I kept pushing play every day and worked to improve my body further. P90X also helped the mental side as well. If you listen between the lines that Horton says, all the funny bullshit, the nonsense, he has a very crystal clear message that most of us P90X'ers get. It's not about all those pull ups you can't do or the Rockstar Hops in Plyometrics that you can't do, it's not even about the Fly Row Press that you can't do. What he's trying to get at is simple ... struggle with, not can't do. Change your thinking to "presently struggle with" and begin your journey. It's about perspective and how you approach your workouts. If you say that you can't then more than likely it won't happen. If you approach a workout or routine with "I presently struggle with", you have a better chance of success.

Kia Kaha

The next big adventure involved is still a work in progress. Its one chapter in my journey that has not been completed yet. I can't tell you how it'll end, but I can tell you that I'm thoroughly enjoying this chapter very much.

Since purchasing Les Mills Pump, I've fully bought into the Les Mills philosophy of "for a fitter planet". Beachbody teamed up with the right people and put out a DVD at home program that has caught on like a wildfire. Les Mills Pump is based off the very popular Les Mills BodyPump program. Tapping into the Les Mills worldwide fan base (Les Mills is based in New Zealand), Pump has become exceptionally popular in the United States. And having a team of international trainers just shows you how serious this company is about "ending the trend" of globesity. Together Beachbody and Les Mills have a common enemy and a singular focus that has become a deadly weapon against obesity (read my "A UNIFIED BATTLECRY" blog for more). And it's that focus, energy and determination that I fully believe in. This isn't a fad, phase or just something I'm going through. This is it ladies and gentlemen, this is what I believe in. I fully believe I can change my stars, that I can have a better tomorrow. And it all starts today. Each and everyday starts with that mentality. Build my better tomorrow by starting today ..... each day is today, it's that day where you start to push harder, longer and faster for more results. You stay hungry for more and when you get to your "more", then you reach higher the next go around. We all have it in us, we just might need someone to remind us about that hunger, about that tenacity in us.

Julie Willson found it with Power90 and then reinforced that hunger for more with Les Mills Pump. Wayne Bruns has done it. He's taken that hard first step and started Les Mills Pump not long ago. And guess what? Wayne is hooked, he's already bought more weights for his bar! Addicted? If not, Wayne is surely on his way. And you know who is addicted? My wife, and former couch potato, Catherine Heerwald. She loves picking up that bar and giving it 110% each workout and seeing the pounds sweet off with each rep. What pushes me? Personally, my determination comes from an assortment of sources. Many are the LMP trainers (Asa Eriksson, Ben Feliciano, Sheldon McBee, Petter Ehrnvall, Joel Freeman, Les Mills Jr, Jericho McDuffie and Dan Cohen all are HUGE motivators for both Catherine and I) while other sources are quotes, friends (Julie and Wayne) also help me push hard and the biggest motivator is seeing my wife completely change her life. That has to be the most gratifying and motivational factor for me. Knowing I had a small part in helping transform her future is something I keep with quiet pride within myself, but proud nonetheless. And it's probably the single biggest reason why push (sometimes too hard) myself to the brink. I love my wife so much and it's joy to see her smile because her clothes don't fit! Im so happy for her happiness and all that she has gained back in life. It's all thanks to Les Mills Pump .... It's all because of determination, drive and the tenacity to push beyond the pain for a better tomorrow.

"We do today what they won't so tomorrow we can accomplish what they can't." - Dwayne Johnson

Do what does tomorrow hold for me? What is that better tomorrow I'm always talking about? And when will I get there? Honestly ... ... I can't answer those questions yet. I have not found my better tomorrow yet. But I do know that I'm finally traveling down the right path. And I'm doing it with someone I absolutely completely love and cherish. I don't have to search for my better tomorrow alone anymore. I don't have to put the world on my shoulders and expect to win everyday. Now WE ARE working towards OUR better tomorrow.

I'll let you know when we get there .... But until then, I'll keep picking up that barbell and fight on the front lines for our tomorrow.

NOT THE END .....

Determination, Tenacity & Stubbornness
"Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory."

I've long said that P90X is much more mental than it is physical. When people visit Beachbody they see amazing tranformation pictures and read the stories behind those pictures. You cannot tell me that those people were not mentally tougher after "graduating" from P90X. Most of those who take on the beast that is P90X (and now P90X2) are looking for something. Whether it be to be in the best shape of their lives, lose weight, or just to prove they can do it, each one had to be mentally tough to thrive and get results. It ain't no walk in the park folks, that is for sure. If you want to exercise, go do Jazzercise. If you want to give your muscles a lactic acid bath and feel the burn, then you workout with Tony Horton.

All of us who have "graduated" from P90X made the choice to start P90X. We all decided it was time to make that change in our lives. Regardless of our reasons, we all needed/wanted that change. At some point, I'm willing to bet that some of us (even the best of us) thought something very similiar to, "Holy shit ... I don't know if I can do this. Don't know if I want to do this ..." For those who proudly say they've "graduated", this may have been a defining moment. I know it was for me. And it came early and in the form searing pain through my legs" Plyometrics. That intense burn, the feeling of throwing up ... yeah that was enough to make me quit.

But I didn't quit. Determined? Driven? Tenacity? Actually, I think it was just pure stubbornness and an unwillingness to give in. After I barely made it through Plyometrics, I knew that I could do anything ... well except walk down a flight of stairs. It was time for me to make that decision, suck it up and do it or pack it in and quit. Being the forever stubborn one, I decided that it was time to get in the best damn shape of my life. And I haven't looked back yet. But that doesn't mean there weren't speed bumps ...

See, here's my point. P90X is hard. It's big time, drop to your knees and puke hard. That first two weeks, you're just dying ... a swift kick to the nuts would be less painful than doing another Rockstar Hop set. But doing all those sets, all those exercises, all those reps should prove to you  ...... that it's possible. You can change your world, but you have to believe in yourself first. You have to want to change your world. The motivation, determination, drive, and unwillingness to give in must be there. A strong mettle fortitude to press on when the pain is shooting through your body has to be present or you will fail. Its hard to sum it up with words, but I guess determination, tenacity, grit and stubborness would be a good way to sum up the mental make up of a P90X graduate.

Beachbody offers so much more than just P90X, Insanity, and the other programs. There is an entire community of fitness nuts out there to help/support you in acheiving your goals. The message boards are a great way of connecting with others and sharing concerns/successes with others. The Success Stories simply amazing to read. Those stories have really been a part of re-igniting my passion for finding a better tomorrow. Those people are real and the results are real. If reading the stories and seeing the pictures doesn't make you get off your ass and pick up the weights then I'm not sure you're alive. Beachbody is the real deal, folks. They're the best at what they do. What is that? Beachbody is the best at delivering exercise/fitness programs that get results. They're the best at kicking ass in the fitness industry and changing the lives of America. And I'm living proof that the results are damn real.

P90X: End of Week Three

Its been awhile since I posted anything here, so thought I would quickly scribble out a few paragraphs.

Its been nearly four weeks since I started to get "serious" with the P90X program. By "serious" I mean following the program the way it was designed to be used, minus the dietary part. Even though I am not following Tony Horton's recommended nutritional plan, I've cut out a lot of bad foods in my diet. I'm eating more grains, veggies, fruit, lactaid milk, and have an overall healthier diet.

I'm working out six days a week - and telling everyone about it via facebook - following the program. And the results are amazing. The muscle definition in my biceps, triceps, forearms, and shoulders is visible. My chest and abdominal area are coming along, albeit at a slower pace. When I started I weighed about 145lbs. As of today, my current weight is 134lbs. And the best part is that I've got so much more energy its ridiculous. My metabolism is in high gear and is burning calories like crazy.

When I first started P90X, I wasn't so sure I could do ... any of it. I was never a gymn rat, a weight room guy or even one for exercise after my teenage years. After doing the first workout, CHEST AND BACK, I thought, "how the hell am I going to survive this?" Well, I'm not only surviving, but I'm surpassing my goals each workout. I still struggle and stumble, but I get back up and keep at it. And with every day, I get better at the exercises and prove to myself that I CAN DO THIS.

One of the biggest parts of P90X is the mental side. And its overlooked quite often. Tony Horton may spit out stupid cliches ("do your best ... and forget the rest"), make odd comments ("Wow .... that's mom upside down") and say the most random things during the routines (at one point he breaks into singing the national anthem). This stuff really does hide the true underlining goal of P90X and Tony Horton:

MENTALLY STRONG, MENTALLY POSITIVE.

Plain and simple. To go through the full 90 days, you have to be able to say, "I can ...." instead of "I can't ..." If you tell yourself "I can't" before doing one diamond push up, one supination curl, or one warrior pose, then you won't. Like Tony tells me every time I do the Chest/Back workout, "instead say, I presently struggle with ..." This is the mindset you need to have going into P90X. And once you get further into the workouts, if you're giving an honest all out 110% effort, you'll be saying, "I can do 20 reverse grip chin ups!" The mental side catches up to the physical side once you start to believe in yourself. Mentally and physically strong are what P90X is all about.