Posts Tagged ‘life’

Did you miss the boat?


09 Jan

Well I did, but that is another story.

What I hope you didn’t miss the boat on is Tom Venuto’s new book. If you for missed my video review of the book you can go here.

http://avidityfitness.net/2009/01/07/the-body-fat-solution-review-tom-venuto/

In the video I mention an essay contest and that two people will receive a copy of the new Tom Venuto book.
I got two books, hot off the presses, for you and all you have to do is tell me a few things. All you have to do is open up a little bit and share a little about yourself.

This essay isn’t about fat loss, it is about your life. Just as you had to in school I am asking you know to answer, is 200 words or more, one question.

What does “future” mean to you?

Please submit essays to me either in comments or through the contact form. You have 36 hours.

Mixed dating: Being the fat one in a relationship


15 Dec

Disclaimer:Let me warn you that this is a very sensitive topic, I am a very straight forward person, and am going to be using common sense, scientific data, and life experiences. This is a very generalized topic and is not going to be true for everyone. Please continue reading with understanding that I am not judging or claiming a right or wrong. This is simply a read of human character.

I had a different post planned for today but I received such an email response to Friday’s post that I felt it necessary to touch on a readers concern. In short, the reader wanted me to address the issues of being the “fat partner” and it’s effect on you physically and mentally.  I wanted to keep their identity private but highlight and start with a pretty truthful expression of human condition.

I still feel horrified on a daily basis even though he doesn’t persecute me or drag me around on his arm because I’m fat and he’s not. I still feel like I need to make up for being fat. And that because I’m fat I’m not marriable. I mean whenever you see someone on tv who has just lost a bunch of weight you always hear how they finally met someone who loves them beyond all measure.

People are getting fatter?

When you grow up in the land of buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy, pecan pie, and tea so sweet it could fuel a car, it is hard to think that obesity is growing. I can’t remember a time where the majority of the adults I saw around me weren’t noticeably overweight. However, based on current research In the United States the prevalence of obesity for adults twenty to 74 years of age has increased from fifteen percent in the late 1970s to 32.2 percent in 2003-2004. From 2000 to 2005 alone, the prevalence of obesity rose 24 percent.

This kind of increase isn’t a small drizzle on social change; It is a typhoon effect of socialization. Obesity and its high rate of increase takes a few paths but ultimately the goal or social effect leads to acceptance. This isn’t acceptance just in dating, but in friendship as well. As our world and our eyes adjust, they adjust to a big belt size. One is inclined to say that it doesn’t matter as long as your  healthy. The question is, is it that simple?

In this series we are going to look at a scientific and real world look at mixed weight dating.
Are overweight people less likely to be married? What are the other issues that one must deal with in a relationship of mixed weight? Does it really matter if a spouse gains fat overtime? These questions and more are going to be answered.

Action Assignments For New Life and Body: The Challenge


17 Oct

We have covered the importance of setting a goal and asking yourself important questions. We then covered that the act of that is pointless, that the act of trying to change your life and achieve goals are pointless if you don’t to one thing – change. Now we have come to the point where goal setting and the call for change meets with action in form of – The Challenge.

Challenges are an extremely important aspect in changing your life. People, by large, lack inspiration in their lives towards physical change. This isn’t about family or religion either. Your spiritual adviser loves you regardless of your excess body fat, and hopefully so does your children, spouse, and friends. People also do not like to be reminded that they are lazy or unoriginal so stepping outside the activity or lifestyle box is often looked down upon. However, when faced with a challenge, to be forced and rewarded specifically to conquer fears and hardships, we as people will gather and cheer for you.

A fantastic example of this is the Biggest Loser. Granted, I do not necessarily agree with the method of the show, but that isn’t what this discussion is about. All these people have gathered for a specific challenge during a specific period of time. It is a nationally known challenge. To compete in this challenge is seen as noble, brave, and demanding of character. These people put their bodies and their lives in front of millions of people to make their declaration of change. We, the viewers, support and cheer them on. We see who we want to be, never want to be, hope to be, long for others to become, and in some way find a way to relate these strangers lives to our own world.

Now, fast forward to the time in between seasons of the shows and take a look in offices and households around the country.

Mom is trying to lose 35 pounds. She has been dying to get off for years. She sets her goals, she makes her call to change, she starts putting into actions her goals. A few weeks down the road though she is beaten and bombarded with the insecurities and the complaints of other annoying people in her life, Yes your children and spouse can be these people too.  To them it isn’t as if you are doing this for a real purpose or challenge. It isn’t as if there is a real and justified reason that Linda Lou has to feel insecure about her big ass or that Frank, your dear husband, has to make his own dinner because you really are trying hard to not be tempted by the fact that he is still eating globs of pasta and pizza. How dare you try and change without a challenge? How dare you not try to change your life and happiness without a specific meaning or purpose.

Well, readers, I am going to make the next 30 Days for you an easy win in that aspect. I am assigning you a challenge.

Starting tomorrow, on a Friday not a Monday, you have 30 Days to make the biggest transformation that you can. That is 4 weeks, that is it. Don’t think that I don’t expect big things in 30 days. In fact, I am expecting some of the most dramatic changes that have ever been seen online in 30 days.

The one thing we left out about the Biggest Loser, and why it works so well though is perhaps the most important thing. Reward. Prize.

FREE STUFF. We LOVE free stuff. We LOVE prizes.

I am going to get to the prizes.

For now I want you to meet your running mates. These are your 6 running mates. 3 Guys and 3 Gals. Say hello, but don’t get used to their mugs, they will be changing. I do want to note that apparently some of them “prepped” for the event by packing it in so already they are going to be nothing but trouble!

Meet Pauline

Stats:
Age: 49

Height: 5’2”
Weight: 108.25 lbs

Measurements
Neck: 11.5”
Arm: 9”
Chest: 27” under bust, 32” bust
Waist: 27”
Stomach: 30”
Hip: 36”
Thigh: 21”
Calf: 12.5”

Pauline is a wife, a mother, a worker for her local church, and a teacher to her kids. That isn’t a resume of work, that is a resume of love.

Pauline comes to me after already losing some weight and working on gaining some mass utilizing the NROL program. She has a nice set up already and we are going to go in and tweak things a little. Pauline is going to shed that last layer of fat she has while doing some corrective muscle work. There should also be small levels of strength and LBM gains. One of Pauline’s special assignments is Push Ups. Pauline has just completed her first 3 ever, and we are going to up that anty.

Grow old along with me!”-Robert Browning

Meet Karen

Stats:

Age: 33
Height: 64 in
Weight: 129.0

Measurements
Neck: 14”
Arm: 10.5” (L) 11.0” (R )
Chest: 33” under bust, 37” bust
Waist: 32” at belly button
Stomach:
Hip: top of hipbone 34”, widest part at top of thighs 36”
Thigh: 21” (L) 21.5” (R )
Calf: 13” (L) 13.5” (R )

Karen has already shown fantastic results with the OPT program. Losing lots of fat already, Karen is now moving into that next phase. She is taking it to that level that few ever go. The majority women see her as an “after” already. For Karen this just isn’t good enough. She wants it all, so we are going to give it all.

Karen’s program is going to be largely base on body recomp with fat loss and slight corrections of muscle imbalances in the body. Rest and relaxation are going to be tough for Karen, so this will be a tough focus.

“As a former P.E. almost-flunkee, I just want to show that I CAN be athletic and be the best me I can be.”-Karen

Meet Jim

Stats:

Age: 45
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 241

Measurements
Neck: 17.5”
Arm: 15.5” resting
Chest: 47.5 “
Waist: 40”
Stomach: 41”
Hip: 44”
Thigh: 22.5”
Calf: 15.75”

Jim is the husband any woman would want to have. His reason for the challenge are built out of being around and being there for a family that is obviously the world to him. Jim has a league of people from co-workers to family and friends cheering him on right now. How about that for accountability!

The goal with Jim is to take fat loss to that next level and really see what we can do in the next 30 days to get him as close to that goal as possible. 30 days is a long time, I plan on putting some lean meat on this boys bones, and chopping some fat off. It will be tough, but he is a tough guy and can take it.

Jim wanted Pipes, he is going to get him.
Jim hates a leg day, likely because of the kind he was doing wasn’t right for his body and balance needs. He had the passion, now we are just going to give him those tools.
Meet Mike

Stats:

Age: 32
Height: 5′-10”
Weight: 224

Measurements
Neck: 14.5”
Arm: 15”
Chest: 44”
Waist: 41”
Stomach: 46”
Hip: 45”
Thigh: 27”
Calf: 17”

Mike is a biggest loser already, no really check this out!

Mike decided to make a change in his life after being inspired by a close friend. It is funny how one person’s step in the right direction can send another running isn’t it?

Mike runs into a few problems because of the fact that he works out of home and his job requires him to sit a lot. However, when he hits the gym, he hits it hard. What does a guy do who wants out of the chair and into the gym? He gets a CPT certification that is what! That is Mikes, dream, that is apart of his goals, to help others. He says “I dream of an elite level of fitness and looking smokin’ hot while doing it! :)

Mike has such a fantastic attitude towards life, and already is awesome to work with.

Meet Annelle

Stats:

Age: 34
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 151.0

Measurements
Neck: 12 3/8
Arm: 12 ½ not flexed, 12 5/8 flexed
Chest: 34 ½
Waist: 30
Stomach: 34 ¾
Hip: 40 ½
Thigh: 25 ¾
Calf: 15 1/8

This girl makes me laugh. She is a mother with the spirit of Youth, it is such a beautiful combination. A former model, Annelle popped out those kids without a 2nd thought to that figure but now, she wants it back. How could you say no to a declaration to change like this…

With tears rolling down my cheeks, my stomach turns as I realize just how desperate I am! Wow, reading that post was difficult for me because I am at a point in my life where I am desperate for some major change! So desperate I found myself in a plastic surgeon’s office getting an estimate of the cost to “fix” my problems. I decided against the lipo and decided to give this a go the healthy way with diet and exercise. I am not obese, at least not for the past 4 years, I have dropped 16 sizes… but for 4 years I have been stuck and I still need to loose more fat, it is so frustrating!

Meet Aleksandar

Stats:

Age:      39
Height: 5’ 11.5”
Weight:    230lbs

Neck: 16 ¾ “
Arm: 12 ¾ “
Chest: 44 ¾ “
Waist: 44”
Stomach: 46.5”
Hip: 43 ¾ “
Thigh: 44
Calf: 17 ¼ “

Aleksandar came to me a bit ago for training during a time when I could not take anyone on.  I told myself that the moment I could take someone else on that he was my guy. He has enough heart and courage in his pinky to walk all over this. I asked everyone for a dream statement, I think this says it all…

“On a winding road to Greatness, to truly master your own physique is just but one of life skills you need to learn. Just one big rock. A darn hard one though…
…Being brought to this most wonderful and most horrible part of Universe, I am finding my purpose to realize myself as best, be the sense Physical, Intellectual, Spiritual or Mental. My call is to offer my shoulders to ones I touch the same way I was offered to stand on shoulders of my Giants. All are invited, only few join.”

These are your new inspirations.

For the next 30 days they will be following a training and nutrition program laid out by me. Not only that I will be holding them accountable every week via phone call, picture check-ins, the works. It doesn’t stop there either. There is going to be questions, quizzes, assignments, and things that even they have no idea about. I bet you they are getting nervous now.

Prizes, what about the prizes!

First, for every pound lost by the whole group 1 dollar will be donated to St Jude’s Charity Fund.

Now that may not seem like much, but how big will this group get by the end is the question…

All of them will also receive all products, ever, released by me for free. Any teleseminar, any whatever, you will have VIP access too. If you don’t need it anymore then you can gift it to someone who might. Basically you can pay it forward.

At the end of the program, the person with the most progress and change will receive the following…

The Winner:

Collection of Great Works: The Best of Training and Nutrition on the Net (Value:$490!)

Gift Certificate to Vitamin Shoppe for $50

Myself to continue to guide and give them phone consults for the next 3 months or the person of their choice. (Um..priceless)

No gimmicks, nothing to buy, and no catch.

This is not supposed to be some huge, grand challenge of tons of money. It isn’t about that. This is about 30 days to a new life. The goal of this is not just to get these people to lose fat, no. The goal is much bigger than that. The goal is to help change these peoples lives by helping them help YOU change your life. What these people didn’t realize when they agreed to this is that they were going to be leading a pack of inspiration. Jim has no idea how much he is going to help some lucky bastard out there who is in his exact same position. Annelle doesn’t realize that somewhere in a state far away she was that final click in making someones thoughts come together for a new life.

I am not just giving them fat loss, I am giving them power. Now, I need you to continue to pay that power forward. You the readers who weren’t chosen need to show that the challenge doesn’t stop there. I need to see what you can achieve in 30 days. Don’t worry, I will be helping along the way, but only if you tell me it is worth doing.

So, tell me, is it worth my effort? Do you want to play? Or do I just help these lucky bastards out only? Are you, the watchers, the readers, up for the challenge?

Stay Tuned and Let the Games Begin!

EDIT: Response is getting crazy, I love it! Guess what, Midnight tonight I am going to post you, the readers, challenge details. You will have a day to make up!

When We Were Kids


06 Sep

“When I was a kid I used to be able to jump in a snap!”

“When I was a kid I used to be able to tumble like that!”

How often have you heard these comments? Probably quiet often if you are a coach or trainer. I hear these comments daily. I can’t help but find them comical, because often they are an excuse for lack of drive and fear. Often, you were better at doing these things as a kid because you held little fear to move. You were not embarrassed or worried about feeling stupid in front of others. Take my word for it, having fun and playing games, even as an adult, will go along way in enhancing your physical and mental well-being.

My young son and I ventured off for a hike in the our secret jungle (i.e. the wooded area behind our house). We were searching for “The Secret Kid’s Place.” While on our journey we had to conquer numerous obstacles. First we had to climb up a huge tree to escape the tigers! It was a close call, but we made it. Moments later we had to crawl underneath a gated fortress (fence) of doom. Beyond that reach, deeper into the mouth of the jungle, we had to walk across a gigantic tree that had fallen across the creek that blocked our path. My son found this very exciting, as there were crocodiles waiting to eat us below just as with tales of Captain James Hook. As our journey continued we had to overcome challenges such as volcanoes (which we had to jump) and lions, which we had to out run. After a treacherous battle we reached our ultimate destination “The Secret Kid’s Place.” Once there we sat down and had our PB&J sandwiches. “Yep we made it dad” my son replied. Then he said “this was a perfect day; think so?” I agreed this was a perfect day.

You see kids have something most adults lack with is imagination and the need for physically challenging stimuli. It is sad to say but most parents lack the physical qualities needed to play with their kids, they lack the ability to duck, dive, and climb through the battles of life into the laughter. Instead of worrying about what everybody else is doing, step outside the box into your own “Secret Kid’s Place.”

Coach Jamie Hale is the owner of the site Max Condition. He has authored many works, his latest being Knowledge and Nonsense. You can find out more information by going here to his site.

How to Become a Fat Loss Before and After Picture


29 Aug

This was only 6 weeks, I wasn’t messing around.

They say that “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.” This statement couldn’t be truer in this instance. It is safe to say that I have had some bad judgment. It was not on a grand level of bank robbery or grand theft auto, unless you count the video games. My mistakes were in diet and training. My mistakes were in the approach and understanding of my fat loss. I have since learned a thing or two and I wanted to share my mistakes and lessons learned with the world, in hopes to help others make their own mistakes, but end up victorious.

A few years ago I was average; average body, average hair, average defeats, and average achievements. I didn’t envision much for my future that was special or spectacular. I had hopes for certain dreams, but in the end I knew in my heart they were just that, hopes. This is usually where a person will dive into their “change moment” and to be truthful I didn’t have one of those. No, what I had was an “inspirational moment.”

I was friends with Leigh Peele. If not aware, Leigh Peele is the author and a trainer of this site who specializes in fat loss and metabolism problems. I had seen the changes she had made in her life and I had seen the changes she had made in others lives, and I was jealous. I was jealous of their passion and their drive and I wanted a piece of that for myself. I wanted to be somebody like that to people, I wanted to do something with my life that was more than just “getting by” so I asked her for help and started getting educated about things. Okay and maybe I lost some fat along the way.

Beyond just fat loss, beyond desire of a better personal appearance, I became a personal trainer and started helping others. Helping others achieve their dreams is downright addictive because it helps you as well. I have my days where I struggle too and it is their stories that help me stay inspired to keep going. People always forget that the answer is in the story; you just have to know how to see it. It is not like I knew then when I started I was going to be another before and after, but now that I am I want to help you become one.

Tip #1: Write Your “Before”
Write down everything that you have done, everything that has worked, hasn’t worked, and you hope will work. Write down your dreams, your fears, your victories, and most importantly your plan.

Tip# 2: Log Your “During”
You can’t know how to fix something if you don’t know what you are doing could be wrong. This journey is a big deal so treat it as such by logging your calories, sleep, emotions, and training sessions. This will help you to see patterns where you could be having problems that are hindering your success, and when you are getting it right you can see yourself shine! It is best to always try to learn why.

Tip# 3: Prepare for After
Since you will be done with this journey and are going to be an “after” you are going to have to get ready for this. Buy goal outfits, set up trips and vacations to places you didn’t used to feel at ease going because of your body or health. Prepare for the life you always wanted because now it is your time to grab it!

If you want to really set in stone a before and after picture then I have a bonus tip for you. Go here, and get the best education you can find. http://www.FatLossTroubleShoot.com

Kathleen nemargut is a certified personal trainer that now works for Avidity Fitness. You can find out more information or contact Katie through trainerkatie at avidityfitness.net

Fight the good fight


25 Jun

This is going to be a short message today. “Short” because I am in the middle of an training onslaught, so let me get to it.

A client of mine today told me he was fighting the good fight. That he was winning the battle in the war on fat loss. He said this while being drenched in sweat and glowing with achievement.

He has lost 39 pounds, is 41 years old and is pretty close to getting abs for the first time in his life.

I asked him, while both in heavy breath, “what makes this fight different?”

He said “Because now I know what I am fighting!”

I just smiled.

Before he didn’t get it, he didn’t have the education. Now he does.

You still have to battle, there is still a war to be fought, you will fight it everyday. But would you prefer a sword or would you rather know your opponent’s every move before they made it?

Go here to read the mind of fat cells.

The Fat Loss Troubleshooter – Leigh Peele

Common Sense Meets Advanced Knowledge