Dedicate It!

I've written to you before that no one can do it for you. You are responsible for your current levels of health and fitness. You are responsible for getting out there and working out. You have to do it.

Now I want to ask you: Who are you doing it for? Why are you doing this? Who are you dedicating your workouts to?

First, I know you're doing it for yourself. You want to be in better health. You want to be fit. You want to look good in that bathing suit, or cocktail dress, or you finally want abs, or do a decent pull-up.

But now I need you to think - who else needs you to be fit? Your spouse, your kids, your friends, even your pets! They need you to be healthy. They Need You! I know of one woman who's children said to her, "Mommy, please stop smoking because we don't want you to die!" Ouch! I'm happy to say she completely transformed her life and health. In fact, I get into arguments with people because she doesn't even look like the same person!

So dedicate your workouts to those that matter. Tell yourself "I'm working out today for my wife so I'll be here for her for a long time." Do it for your kids.

Do it for yourself.

Dedicate it!

An Invitation

This is what made a difference in my life. Please listen and join me at Team Beachbody.

The Fitness Revolution

The Fitness Revolution...if you're a regular visitor here (I hope :)), you're probably already a footsolider in the healthy lifestye army. If this is your first visit (the first of many - again with the hoping!), you're probably thinking of enlisting. You should...there's a battle coming. Don't worry, we're not storming the castle walls or battering down the drawbridge but we are fighting in the streets.

It seems that we humans have become so advanced, our food so fast, our need to have it immediately so great, that we're literally eating ourselves into such poor health its actually killing us! Obesity has become one of, if not the greatest threats to ourselves, our children, and our nation. The medical costs are staggering. The human toll is even greater.

Some of the risks of being obese:

Heart disease and stroke.

High blood pressure.

Diabetes.

Cancer.

Gallbladder disease and gallstones.

Osteoarthritis.

Gout.

Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for a short time during sleep) and asthma.

And childhood obesity:

Developing Type-2 Diabetes (also termed as adult-onset diabetes) due to being overweight.

High levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Sleep Apnea (interruption of breath while sleeping) which may also lead to other problems like difficulty in learning and memory.

Higher risk of developing, liver diseases, orthopedic problems and asthma.

More than 70% obese adolescents retain their overweight and obese condition even during their adulthood.

This has got to stop and the end of it starts with you! Get out and spread the word. Its time to join the Fitness Revolution.  Join me!

Joe

Just Show Up

The above three words are the cornerstone of fitness. Another way to say it - CONSISTENCY! If your program, be it P90X, Insanity, Turbo Fire, etc., says do these workouts 6 days per week, do them 6 days per week! I realize that life rears its ugly head every so often and we, me included, will miss a day here and there, but for the most part you have to do it to get the results you want.

I wish it were as simple as buying the thing, rubbing the DVD's all over your body and, SHAZAM!, you're fit and ripped to shreds. Not going to happen. You have to go into the garage, or the living room, or bedroom, or where ever you have your workout area set up, push play, and do it..over and over.

Our bodies are amazing mechanisms. Unlike any other machine which depreciates and breaks down from overuse, the body becomes stronger, healthier, fitter, and just plain better the more you exercise. Even if you have a serious health issue, just a little activity improves your overall level of health.

I'm sure you all know my story, but briefly - Ulcerative Colitis, entire colon removed, insides reconstructed, bag on my side for 10 weeks, plumbing reconnected, sat around getting fat and happy untill I hit 235lbs and a 44" waist. Today, as of the last weighing - 202lbs, 35" waist, BP 120/70, resting heart rate 56. In the best shape of my life. I even have an ab! Just one!!! But its happening!

And if I can do it, anyone can. There are people out there with health issues that put me to shame. Simply inspirational people.

And it all started just by showing up.

Now...go push play!

Joe

No one is going to do it for you

I'm always surprised at some of the responses I get when I try to bring up the topic of fitness with some people.

"Oh, you have to keep doing it."
"She or he doesn't have to work out"
"It's too expensive."
"Do you find that attractive?"

It seems that most people think (or hope) all they have to do is rub the DVD's on their bodies and, presto, perfect heath, weight, abs, etc. It doesn't work that way. It takes time, effort, sweat, soreness, and even some creative cursing at the TV! I know I've called Tony Horton, Shaun T, Chalene Johnson, and Brett Hoebel every name in the book...plus a few that aren't in the book...yet.


What I'm trying to say is this - working out, eating right, fitness, etc. - is something you have to do. No one can do it for you. Believe me, if I could pay someone to workout for me and get the same benefit, I'm there. But half the battle is the journey. Remembering where you were when you started and how you are now..thats the payoff.


Sometimes when I'm out and about in my P90X hat or shirt, someone will ask, "Do you do PX90?" (yes..PX90...it's written right on my shirt P90X but its always PX90...head shaking emote inserted). I always say "yes" but I think I'm going to start saying, "Yes, I finished P90X."


I can do a week of P90X or Insanity, or a month...but the feeling of accomplishment you get when you stick with it and complete it? Yes, I finished P90X. Yes, I finished Insanity. Yes, I finished Turbo Fire, RevAbs, Slim in 6, etc.


Think about how it felt when you did that. Think about how it will feel when you do that. You.


Because no one is going to do it for you.

Joe

The MOST Important Fitness TIp

Brett Hoebel, creator of Beachbody's RevAbs program, with the most valuable fitness tip he can give:

Attitude

I was watching the show Made on MTV the other day. For those of you who don't know, people write in and want to be made into something like the geek wants to be a ladies man, or the tomboy wants to be prom queen etc. Then the powers that be send this person a coach or expert and they work with them for 90 days ( I think) and move them to their goal...usually culminating in success or near-miss, but ultimately peoples lives are changed.

In this particular episode, a woman who had gained 70lbs while pregnant, wanted to be a 'fit mom' and run a 5k.. So they send her a trainer annnnd they whining and complaning began: "This is so hard." "I can't do this." "Why are you so mean?" "DON'T YELL AT ME I'M DOING IT!" Tears, crying, boo hoo, boo hoo. After a couple of weeks the trainer measures out 5k, which was several times around the block, and has the woman run it. Whinning and complaining begins, runs some, walks some, whining and complaining continues.

Towards the end of the run the trainer says: "Run these last 100 yards! C'mon, you can! Run! Run!" So the woman runs to the finish, collapses to the ground, whining and crying continues. The trainer kneels down and says, "This is where it starts. Do you want the next 10 years of your life to be this way or do you want to change." Then she stands up, crosses her arms over her chest, looks down her nose at the blubbering woman and says, "Admit it...you feel pretty good about yourself right now, don't you?"

And that's where the change is. Yoda said, "There is no try, only do." (Yes, I actually made a Yoda reference :)) I say, "There is no can't, only try!" One can't go into this with the attitude they're already going to fail. I'll tell you the truth, I still can't do a decent pull-up, but I'm never going to quit trying to do them. I can't seem to get my feet all the way down on front weighted lunges, but I won't quit. Don't even get me started on step-back lunges!

Your attitude makes all the difference. How do you feel about yourself if you skip a workout for no other reason than you just didn't want to? How do you feel about yourself when you get out there and push yourself? If I fail, will I quit? If I fail, will I try again?

I believe I'll try again. I'm positive I'll be able to do it...eventually. I see the end goal, I'll reach it...I'll even enjoy the journey.

Oh, and the woman ended up losing 30lbs, ran and finished her 5k, started a fitness group with other moms, and lovingly thanked her trainer for changing her life.

Happy ending. Simple.

Joe