WHY...

Mini Me (not so Mini, I know!) and my sweet baby Cheech

It’s the middle of the year...seriously, have you seen the calendar?!  We are about to be in our usual heat wave here in Texas, which means lots of pool parties and summertime cookouts.  Sometime during the depth of winter (what little we had of it) I’m sure most of you thought about laying pool side, fruity umbrella drink in hand, and bad ass abs glistening in the sun.  Now it’s almost July, the pool will feel like bathwater soon, and you are still chasing the abs of your dreams.  (I’m sure you haven’t forsaken the fruity drink though!!)  Somewhere along the way you may have forgotten what the goal was that you are working towards.  You may have found yourself going through the motions with no true purpose in mind, just working out because you know it’s good for you and you’re supposed to do it.  But something is missing, and it’s your WHY.  

I have no problem with aesthetic goals in fitness.  Let’s face it, we all want to look good...REAL good.  But along the way I hope all of you find a greater purpose of why you’re working out, and keep it at the forefront of your mind every time you step foot in the gym or take off for a run.  There are endless reasons why I work out.  I want to look good (Ninja good!!), I want to feel athletic, I want to be able to do crazy stuff, I want to show my clients that I do this stuff too and lead by example (nothing worse than a fat trainer).  But the two BIGGEST reasons I workout and push myself as hard as I do are pictured above.  My boys deserve a father that can keep up with them, whatever their endeavors may be.  They deserve to have a dad that is not only physically strong, but mentally strong as well.  (Did you know exercise can help your brain?)  They need to see  I am willing to get uncomfortable to accomplish goals, and they should not be afraid to do the same.  

In the middle of your 4th set of man makers, it’s not always easy to remind yourself why anyone would want to do such an awful exercise.  Most of the time your thoughts are simply “$&%# this &@#*!!” and you’re just ready to be done.  But it is in those moments when the things that drive you, the things you work so hard for, the reasons you are willing to push through, should always come to mind.  Recently Mini Me has been around to witness some of my workouts.  Every time, at some point he says “Are you ok Dad?” as I’m hunched over, gasping for air and making workout sounds (you all know what I’m talking about).  THAT is when I know I’m working as hard as I can, and I know those eyes are watching so stopping is NOT an option.  If you work out like your WHY is watching you, I have no doubt each and every one of you could accomplish anything you set out to achieve.  Don’t ever, ever forget your WHY.

The Fitness Ninja...Changing the world one pushup at a time

SPOONS!!

It’s been said before that if guns kill people, then pencils make you misspell words and spoons make people fat.  While I’m not here to argue the pros and cons of the NRA or discuss why you never see a #1 pencil, I do want to talk about a recent story of government attempting to solve a problem by blaming the product, instead of the actual user.  Mayor Bloomberg of New York City has recently proposed legislation that would ban the sale of any soda over 16oz.  Let’s take a moment to examine to fallacies of this move:

• Does not prevent person from purchasing more than one
• Does not prevent person from getting refills where permitted
• Does not include diet soda or beverages containing at least 50% milk.  So that 400 calorie, sugar-laden Starbucks Frappucino is okee dokee!!
• Does NOT solve the actual problem...people drinking soda in the first place.  

Obviously this ludicrous proposal is full of numerous loopholes that would basically amount to mildly inconveniencing people who want a 17th ounce or more.  But if the intent behind it is to limit sugary drink consumption (which it should be but I’m sure it’s just a political move of some sort), then we are not addressing the real issue at hand.  As adults, there are very few things in life that we have to question whether they are good or bad for us.  Smoking crack, bad.  Green leafy vegetables, good.  Jumping out of a moving car, bad.  Regular cardiovascular exercise, good.  Running head first into a wall, bad.  Well, I think you get the point.  If we truly want to get people to change their behavior, attempting to limit consumption will get us nowhere.  (See also:  Prohibition)  People must WANT to limit their consumption, and do it under their own accordance because they know it’s the healthy thing to do.  We all know smoking cigarettes are bad, yet people continue to smoke.  But through education the percentage of people who smoke now is substantially lower than 30 years ago.  Until we realize as a whole the dramatic impact that sugary drinks...along with the rest of the crap we shove in our mouths on a daily basis...have on our society, our economy, and our health care system, the behavior itself will never change.  It’s up to each one of us to educate ourselves and those around us to make better, healthier choices on a consistent basis.  But until then, watch out for those sheisty spoons...they could make your pants tighter!!

THE Fitness Ninja...Changing the world one pushup at a time.

Warning...SLOW Children

It's no secret that our country as a whole is overweight, out of shape, and unhealthy. The ratio of the energy we burn compared to the amount of food we shovel in our mouths is in extreme disproportion. But perhaps the most disturbing thing to me are the stats on childhood obesity. In the past few weeks I've seen several stories from various media outlets on this subject.  Obesity now affects 17% of all children and adolescents in our country, triple the number from a generation ago (CDC), and 1 out of 3 children are overweight. Obese children are more likely to have a myriad of health issues ranging from asthma & high blood pressure, to diabetes & coronary heart disease. They are also much more likely to be obese adults. 

Why is this epidemic occurring?  I hear various reasons all the time.  Yes, sugary cereals are marketed towards kids. Yes, happy meals and similar products make our little ones squeal with delight. Yes, it's easier to stop for donuts on the way to school instead of cooking breakfast. But we are raising a generation of fat kids that will create a workforce of fat adults, continuously driving up healthcare costs and adversely affecting productivity in all aspects of life. Our children could be the first generation to have life expectancy DECREASE from the previous generation. Worst of all its almost completely preventable.

It's my opinion that if you have an obese child (not slightly overweight, I'm talking unhealthy & obese) then it's YOUR fault, and your duty to do something about it. If you found out your 10 year old was smoking, wouldn't you do everything in your power to stop that behavior?? Allowing your child to pump themselves full of high sugar, high saturated fat, nutrient void food is no different. Unless your child has a job, and does the grocery shopping and cooking in your household, it's your responsibility to feed your children appropriately. Stop worrying about your kid liking you, stop using your busy schedule as an excuse, and give your child what they NEED, not always what they want. 

So where you do you start?  You start by taking action.  Here are a few simple steps that can apply to anyone with children, obese or not, in helping our little ones lead a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.

• Set the example.  Eat healthy, and DO NOT complain about it or say how incredibly difficult it is.  It’s seriously not that hard.
• Trade sedentary minutes for active minutes.  If they want to watch tv or play video games, let them.  But for every minute they spend doing sedentary activities like that, make them spend an equal amount of time being active.  Shooting hoops, bike riding, playing catch etc.  And while they’re doing that, JOIN THEM!
• Clean out your pantry.  If it’s in the house, someone is going to eat it.  I love brownies.  Correction, I’m IN LOVE with brownies.  But I save them for my cheat day and don’t keep them around otherwise.  If I do, I’ll eat them...I’ve seen me do it.  Get the crap OUT!!  
• Plan ahead.  Most of us know our children’s schedule, as well as our own, for the entire week.  If you know time will be tight on certain days, plan accordingly.  Have food ready to go, pack healthy snacks, but don’t use “oh we were pressed for time” as an excuse.  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  
• Finally (well, not really finally but it’s the last point I’ll make here), EDUCATE your children.  It’s not the responsibility of the school system, the government, McDonald’s, or anyone else besides YOU to teach your children about the true importance of taking care of their physical being.  

Not sure if it comes across well in print sometimes, but I’m just a little passionate about this subject;-)  I would love to hear your feedback on this topic.  Feel free to leave a comment below.  

THE Fitness Ninja...Changing the world one pushup at a time.

Don't Grow Weary of Well Doing

When in doubt, ask yourself "What would Chuck do?"

You ever have one of those days where you feel like throwing in the towel?  All your efforts to eat right, exercise consistently, and make better choices all just seem to be getting you nowhere.  “Why am I doing this?” you question yourself.  “Screw it, I’m going for a cheeseburger and ice cream and no one can stop me!”  And then 2 hours later after your food bender you’re sitting there with a mustard stain dead center on your shirt chugging Pepto wondering why the hell you just did THAT! Even worse, you realize the only person you really affected with any of that is yourself.  Now you feel worse than when you started your precious pity party, and can’t even remember what began the whole process.

So I implore you, DO NOT get tired of doing the right thing.  A healthy lifestyle doesn’t have an end, it’s a commitment to a better quality of life that you make with yourself.  I can’t force feed nutrient rich food down your throat, nor can I slap the soda out of your hand before it reaches your lips (although that’d be a LOT of fun!!).  Like anything in life, consistency has it’s rewards.  I don’t always feel like eating a salad or passing on the bread, but I do it anyway when necessary.  I don’t always feel like working out (SHOCKER) but I do it because it’s the right thing for me to do.  I’m sure you don’t always feel like getting up and going to work, but you’ve made a commitment to your spouse/kids/boss/employees that you will consistently do the right thing.  And this isn’t saying we have to be perfect; we’re all allowed to slip up every now and then.  But in the fleeting moments when you feel like it’s not worth it, don’t lose sight of the big picture.  What are the reasons you made your commitment in the first place?  With fitness, are you working out to feel better, be able to do more things, have more energy, set a good example for your children?  Whatever the REAL reason is, remember that in those moments of despair.  And realize that more often than not, someone is paying attention.  It could be anyone from your kids who, even though you don’t impress yourself, are in awe of the fact that mommy has muscles...to the guy who quietly walks on the treadmill, looking over at you laying in a heap on the floor after sprinting at 10mph and thinking to himself, “If he can do that, one day I can too.” 

Even when no one is looking, even if no one knows how many reps you’ve done, even if that last cookie wouldn’t be missed, don’t forget your WHY, and don’t get tired of doing the right thing.  I’ve never in my life heard anyone regret making the right decision.

THE Fitness Ninja- Changing the world one pushup at a time.

Comfort Zone

Ahhh, the comfort zone.  The place where we all feel safe and cozy, where life is alright and nothing can harm us.  Smooth sailing right?  Well, if you are perfectly content with where you are and have no aspirations of becoming better at anything, then kick your feet up, grab your oversized bag of cheetos, and have at it.  But for the rest of us, the comfort zone is a very dangerous place.  It’s the place we become complacent, where we settle, where we accept our conditions and succumb to the norm.  Then years later we run through the “what ifs”, the “I wish I would’ve”, and the “damn, I should’ve.”  I can’t think of many things in life worse than regret.  Better to try and fail than never try at all.  Getting out of the comfort zone isn’t always easy either.  Often it takes bold decisions and even bolder actions in order to be BETTER.  Not only that, but it takes an inner fortitude to keep going when everyone says you shouldn’t.  Many people will sympathize with you when things go wrong (not necessarily a bad thing), but will also validate your excuses and NOT help you attain your goals.  Hence why so many people remain in the comfort zone.  

What do you want out of life?  Are you LIVING, or just existing?  I think we all have an unfinished list somewhere of things we want to accomplish, but for some reason have never done.  Whether it’s running a marathon, writing a book, or visiting an exotic land, I’ve yet to meet anyone who is done in life.  If you’re still breathing, you’re here for a reason, and are still capable of doing great things.  I encourage you all to get off of your La-Z-Boy, get uncomfortable, and set out to do something that scares you just a little bit.    

THE Fitness Ninja-Changing the world one pushup at a time.

Punch in the Face

From time to time I have been known to get on my proverbial soap box and rant just a little.  Earlier this week I read a story about a new “fad diet” that made me shake my head and say “What the %&*$ is wrong with people?!?!”  Seriously, people will do damn near anything to lose weight EXCEPT actually eating right and exercising.  So here’s the new genius weight loss plan:  for 10 days you put a feeding tube...yes a FEEDING TUBE...into your nose that goes down to your stomach and drips 800 calories of non-carbohydrate nutrients into your body.  I got news for you, your body has a feeding tube called the esophagus and if you eat 800 calories a day you’ll probably lose weight.  As a matter of fact, if I punch you in the face and you eat 800 calories a day, that will probably result in weight loss too (and I’ll do it a lot cheaper than the $1500 this procedure costs).  It is currently being marketed to brides-to-be for a quick solution to last minute weight loss to fit into their wedding dress.  So let’s see, you’ll plan a wedding for 6-12 months, invest thousands of dollars into venue, food, entertainment etc., invite family and all the friends you’ve ever had, but not have the foresight to know you need/want to drop some weight and get your lazy ass up off the couch to do something about it?!  It shouldn’t really be appalling anymore, but I guess it still baffles me that as advanced and educated our society seems to be, how in the hell does anyone think this is a good idea?  Truly makes me want to slap someone, shake them silly, and put them on a treadmill until they puke.  

The Cabbage Soup Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, the Baby Food Diet, HCG...you name it, people have tried it.  It’s no lie, these plans will most likely result in weight loss...and muscle loss, maybe some hair loss, a jacked up metabolism, and an UNHEALTHY body.  Everyone wants the quick fix, but seems to forget they took the long approach to get unhealthy.  Would it be too much to ask to put a little effort into changing some eating habits and perhaps moving a little?  It may sound crazy, but I think it works.

THE Fitness Ninja-Solving the world's problems one pushup at a time.

Comparison

Ok, so maybe comparison is allowed here.  However...

Comparison is the death of all joy. Think about it. You go car shopping, you find the vehicle that is just perfect for you, and it fits your budget. You drive happily off the lot, soaking in the new car smell, when you pull up to the red light. A car pulls up to your left, and it's that shiny Aston Martin you've been seeing around town. Meanwhile, passing through the intersection in front of you is a brand new Lamborghini, the one that costs more than your net worth (and probably more than the GDP of half the countries of the world!). Suddenly that super happy feeling you had just moments ago is gone.

We do this in all aspects of life, and I see it in the gym all the time. I've never met anyone who was totally satisfied with their physical appearance. "I wish I had her butt." "I wish I had arms like that guy." "If I could only have her abs." "If I could just run as fast as him." If you're a professional athlete, then yes, you may have to compare yourself to others in order to gain a competitive advantage. But for most of us, we spend our lives comparing our accomplishments to others, who in turn do the same. All the while never taking true pride in what we have attained, and feeling like nothing will ever be good enough. We all need to remember where we started, and have a realistic view of not only what we have accomplished, but of what's possible as well. All the training in the world will never make me as fast as Usain Bolt (I know, shocking revelation), but I can certainly improve my OWN speed, and compare it to the only person it really matters to...ME.

Live YOUR life. There's nothing wrong with not being satisfied in your current situation, but set your goals for YOU, not to match someone else.


THE Fitness Ninja-Solving the world's problems one pushup at a time.