Posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Push Ups For Charity Highlights
Check out this little video we made from last Saturday's Push Ups For Charity event. It's short and sweet!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Push Ups For Charity Huge Success At Least $7,144 Raised For Wounded Warriors!!
This past Saturday 24 clients and trainers from Puravida Fitness did push ups to raise money for the Wounded Warriors Project which helps wounded veterans when they return home. It was a great way to say thank you to our vets for their service and dedication to our country. The total number of push ups was 1,719 and so far we have raised over $7,000 just by looking a the pledge sheets we had. There are some more we need to collect so we anticipate this to be a much higher total. This was all accomplished in about 30 minutes. It goes to show you what a few people dedicating a bit of their time and working together can accomplish! We posted some pictures below and will have a video up later this week. If you missed this one don't worry we'll be doing many more in the future.
Participants cranking out the push ups, boy 90 seconds is a long time!
Good friend and Iraq veteran Jeff Dexter gives a powerful opening speech
Social time afterwards always
the best part. Goodies
provided by Jimmy Johns
and our friends at Max Muscle
the best part. Goodies
provided by Jimmy Johns
and our friends at Max Muscle
Relief!! Trainers were on hand to stretch out tight pecs and shoulders afterwards Thursday, March 18, 2010
Forget prozac! Exercise works better!
Our society has become so dependent on drugs that it scares me. It seems to me anitdepressants are being given out like candy. It seems like for many people it's the only way they cope with the stresses of life.
Just take a pill and it will be all better.
Before those of you who are on them decide to lynch me please read on.
I know there is a place for them but they can't be the only answer. I find many people who are stressed or depressed do not have an outlet. They just keep grinding away never really knowing how to release all that crap built up inside of them.
Here's a suggestion....exercise.
I can't tell you how many times people have come into our studio in a bad state and left feeling better because they released those inner demons on the weight and the punching bags. It happens akmost daily here.
The other day I was in a funk. I was having a pity party and begrudgingly started working out. The more I got into the workout the better I felt. After the workout I felt 100% better and had a better outlook the rest of the day.
My brother who suffers from depression and takes meds has told me that exercise has helped him and he feels the combination is really what makes it all work.
You don't have to do psycho workouts like me but find something. It kight be power walk ,biking or bootcamp. It's different for everybody. The next time you are feeling in the dumps force yourself to do somehting physical. I guarentee it will be just as effective as popping a pill.
Just take a pill and it will be all better.
Before those of you who are on them decide to lynch me please read on.
I know there is a place for them but they can't be the only answer. I find many people who are stressed or depressed do not have an outlet. They just keep grinding away never really knowing how to release all that crap built up inside of them.
Here's a suggestion....exercise.
I can't tell you how many times people have come into our studio in a bad state and left feeling better because they released those inner demons on the weight and the punching bags. It happens akmost daily here.
The other day I was in a funk. I was having a pity party and begrudgingly started working out. The more I got into the workout the better I felt. After the workout I felt 100% better and had a better outlook the rest of the day.
My brother who suffers from depression and takes meds has told me that exercise has helped him and he feels the combination is really what makes it all work.
You don't have to do psycho workouts like me but find something. It kight be power walk ,biking or bootcamp. It's different for everybody. The next time you are feeling in the dumps force yourself to do somehting physical. I guarentee it will be just as effective as popping a pill.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Paying the price!!
When I was in college I was a "walk on" to play football. I had two goals #1- to earn a scholarship and #2 to be a starter. God did not give me the greatest talent as he had others but he did give me discipline and the drive to work hard!
I still vividly recall buying these strength shoes which were basically running shoes on platforms that were supposed to make you jump higher, run faster and build your calves. I would be out there in the rain at night with my cheap ghetto blaster running while my roommates and teammates were out drinking beer and partying.
Well, needless to say I accomplished those goals and it has helped me to this day.
I look back on those nights frequently and at first I didn't know why. I now realize that it was the beginning of something that would propel me forward the rest of my life. It was the willingness to pay the price!
Many people say they want to lose weight, earn a lot of money, be successful etc. Sadly though, only a few are willing to pay the price it takes to have those things happen. I truly believe the sweetest rewards are the ones you work the hardest for. Just look at the Olympians and their overwhelming joy when they win a medal. All that hard work, all that "paying the price" and it has this awesome end result.
When it comes to being successful at whatever you do, it means you have to pay the price! That might mean saying no to that piece of cake or glass of wine if you're goal is to lose weight. It might mean getting out bed earlier to get your workout in because it is the only time you can get it done. In the business world it might mean working at an event on Saturday instead of goofing off so you can build your business. These are just a few examples but you could apply to anything including your relationships, your spiritual growth or learning something new.
Please believe this. Whatever big goal you want to accomplish, you need to realize that there is a price to be paid to get there. That price includes allocating time to accomplish this goal, discipline to stay focused and the willingness to endure and overcome challenges that come with the journey to get there.
When you do get there you will look back on that journey and realize that the price you paid was well worth it!
Begin the journey
Erik
I still vividly recall buying these strength shoes which were basically running shoes on platforms that were supposed to make you jump higher, run faster and build your calves. I would be out there in the rain at night with my cheap ghetto blaster running while my roommates and teammates were out drinking beer and partying.
Well, needless to say I accomplished those goals and it has helped me to this day.
I look back on those nights frequently and at first I didn't know why. I now realize that it was the beginning of something that would propel me forward the rest of my life. It was the willingness to pay the price!
Many people say they want to lose weight, earn a lot of money, be successful etc. Sadly though, only a few are willing to pay the price it takes to have those things happen. I truly believe the sweetest rewards are the ones you work the hardest for. Just look at the Olympians and their overwhelming joy when they win a medal. All that hard work, all that "paying the price" and it has this awesome end result.
When it comes to being successful at whatever you do, it means you have to pay the price! That might mean saying no to that piece of cake or glass of wine if you're goal is to lose weight. It might mean getting out bed earlier to get your workout in because it is the only time you can get it done. In the business world it might mean working at an event on Saturday instead of goofing off so you can build your business. These are just a few examples but you could apply to anything including your relationships, your spiritual growth or learning something new.
Please believe this. Whatever big goal you want to accomplish, you need to realize that there is a price to be paid to get there. That price includes allocating time to accomplish this goal, discipline to stay focused and the willingness to endure and overcome challenges that come with the journey to get there.
When you do get there you will look back on that journey and realize that the price you paid was well worth it!
Begin the journey
Erik
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The final frontier-Sleep
I know many people who do great at eating right and exercising regularly. However, one of the things many of us Ameicans skimp on is good, old fashioned sleep. Here are some great reasons to get enough sleep each night. I'm one of these people, so I did some digging to research it's importance.
According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), sleep is essential for a person’s health and wellbeing, yet millions of people do not get enough sleep and many suffer from lack of sleep. For example, surveys conducted by the NSF (1999-2004) reveal that at least 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders and 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more. Most of these problems go undiagnosed and untreated. In addition, more than 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness severe enough to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month, with 20 percent reporting problem sleepiness a few days a week or more. Furthermore, 69 percent of children experience one or more sleep problems a few nights or more during a week.
The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough sleep:
Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who had slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps and road accidents.
Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.
INFANTS
(0–2 months) 10.5–18 hours*
(2–12 months) 14–15 hours*
TODDLERS/CHILDREN
(12–18 months) 13–15 hours*
(18 months–3 years) 12–14 hours*
(3–5 years) 11–13 hours*
(5–12 years) 9–11 hours
ADOLESCENTS
8.5–9.5 hours
ADULTS
7–9 hours
(Taken from the National Sleep Foundation Web site)
According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), sleep is essential for a person’s health and wellbeing, yet millions of people do not get enough sleep and many suffer from lack of sleep. For example, surveys conducted by the NSF (1999-2004) reveal that at least 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders and 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more. Most of these problems go undiagnosed and untreated. In addition, more than 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness severe enough to interfere with their daily activities at least a few days each month, with 20 percent reporting problem sleepiness a few days a week or more. Furthermore, 69 percent of children experience one or more sleep problems a few nights or more during a week.
The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough sleep:
Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who had slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps and road accidents.
Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.
INFANTS
(0–2 months) 10.5–18 hours*
(2–12 months) 14–15 hours*
TODDLERS/CHILDREN
(12–18 months) 13–15 hours*
(18 months–3 years) 12–14 hours*
(3–5 years) 11–13 hours*
(5–12 years) 9–11 hours
ADOLESCENTS
8.5–9.5 hours
ADULTS
7–9 hours
(Taken from the National Sleep Foundation Web site)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
How to prevent failure with fitness
As a country, we are in the worst physical shape we have ever been in. I've been a trainer for 15 years, so I have heard just about every excuse in the book. Phrases like "I'm too busy" , "it's too hard" , "I've tried everything" and my personal favorite; "I'm just too lazy."
They are all pathetic excuses. In life nothing worth it is ever easy! Wake up! The people who succeed are willing to get their butts out of bed at the crack of dawn to get their exercise done. They take the time to plan meals and they have the discipline to say "NO."
Weight loss and fitness are not that complicated. Hard work, planning, consistent execution and discipline. There are no magic pills. Even though some shady scumbags say that there are. If you honestly believe that you can undo months or even years of bad eating and inactivity in one month then I have some great ocean front property in Iowa for you!
I know I'm ranting but I'm tired of people lying to themselves and those around them. What is it going take for people to realize that our health problems as a nation are largely related to laziness and poor lifestyle choices not "bad genetics". This problem is becoming a huge drain on our health care system. Costs associated with obesity are predicted to top 344 billion per year!!
Okay I'm off my soap box and want to offer 5 ways you can avoid failing and avoid becoming a statistic.
1. Ask for help-We all are good at certain things and lousy at others. For example I'm no good at marketing so I hired a business coach to help me plan my marketing and execute it. Guess what! it has improved tremendously. It cut down on my trial and error (which mostly consisted of error). So ask yourself "have I done a good job at exercise and eating right on my own?" If the answer is no, then time for some accountability and guidance. These are the # 1 and 2 reasons people hire trainers.
2. Sit down and set goals-Goal setting is hard mental work but well worth. Set both long and short term goals as well as a MASSIVE ACTION PLAN to get it done. Have someone review your goals and offer feedback. Sometimes we get overzealous and set goals that are not reaslistic, thus setting us up for failure and frustration. Do this somewhere quiet where you can focus, not in the living room with the TV blaring & kids screaming.
3. Find a support network-This could be your family. It also could be an exercise group. That is why bootcamps and group strength training have become so popular. It adds another layer of support and accountability. It's much easier to skip workouts when you know no one is expecting you that morning in the gym. Also, it is super important to get your spouse and family on board. I have seen too many people sabotaged by their families, because their families did not want to change with them. This can dramatically reduce your chance of success.
4. Review your goals and change it up often - Every 4-6 weeks re-evaluate your progress and make adjustments. Change up both your strength and cardio regimens to avoid plateaus and boredom.
5. Block time for exercise and food shopping. Sounds simple but if we do not block dedicated time to exercise and shopping for healthy foods we usually end up trying to squeeze in workouts and missing them. If you do not buy healthy food and have it ready for the week guess what....... you are more prone to make bad choices. If you fail to plan you plan to fail!
Well, there you have it! Five crucial actions needed to be successful. Most people do not take the time to consistently follow these and that is why they fail! So if you are serious, take the time, plan this out and set a strong foundation for your success. Nothing good comes easy my friends, but those things we work hard for are that much sweeter in the end!
They are all pathetic excuses. In life nothing worth it is ever easy! Wake up! The people who succeed are willing to get their butts out of bed at the crack of dawn to get their exercise done. They take the time to plan meals and they have the discipline to say "NO."
Weight loss and fitness are not that complicated. Hard work, planning, consistent execution and discipline. There are no magic pills. Even though some shady scumbags say that there are. If you honestly believe that you can undo months or even years of bad eating and inactivity in one month then I have some great ocean front property in Iowa for you!
I know I'm ranting but I'm tired of people lying to themselves and those around them. What is it going take for people to realize that our health problems as a nation are largely related to laziness and poor lifestyle choices not "bad genetics". This problem is becoming a huge drain on our health care system. Costs associated with obesity are predicted to top 344 billion per year!!
Okay I'm off my soap box and want to offer 5 ways you can avoid failing and avoid becoming a statistic.
1. Ask for help-We all are good at certain things and lousy at others. For example I'm no good at marketing so I hired a business coach to help me plan my marketing and execute it. Guess what! it has improved tremendously. It cut down on my trial and error (which mostly consisted of error). So ask yourself "have I done a good job at exercise and eating right on my own?" If the answer is no, then time for some accountability and guidance. These are the # 1 and 2 reasons people hire trainers.
2. Sit down and set goals-Goal setting is hard mental work but well worth. Set both long and short term goals as well as a MASSIVE ACTION PLAN to get it done. Have someone review your goals and offer feedback. Sometimes we get overzealous and set goals that are not reaslistic, thus setting us up for failure and frustration. Do this somewhere quiet where you can focus, not in the living room with the TV blaring & kids screaming.
3. Find a support network-This could be your family. It also could be an exercise group. That is why bootcamps and group strength training have become so popular. It adds another layer of support and accountability. It's much easier to skip workouts when you know no one is expecting you that morning in the gym. Also, it is super important to get your spouse and family on board. I have seen too many people sabotaged by their families, because their families did not want to change with them. This can dramatically reduce your chance of success.
4. Review your goals and change it up often - Every 4-6 weeks re-evaluate your progress and make adjustments. Change up both your strength and cardio regimens to avoid plateaus and boredom.
5. Block time for exercise and food shopping. Sounds simple but if we do not block dedicated time to exercise and shopping for healthy foods we usually end up trying to squeeze in workouts and missing them. If you do not buy healthy food and have it ready for the week guess what....... you are more prone to make bad choices. If you fail to plan you plan to fail!
Well, there you have it! Five crucial actions needed to be successful. Most people do not take the time to consistently follow these and that is why they fail! So if you are serious, take the time, plan this out and set a strong foundation for your success. Nothing good comes easy my friends, but those things we work hard for are that much sweeter in the end!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
80% Of Life Is Showing Up!!
Find your ‘why.’
When you find your ‘why’ , your personal, underlying motivation for getting healthy and fit – then you tap into real commitment and your fitness success becomes a foregone conclusion.
Because when your ‘why’ is strong enough, you’ll show up for your training sessions, every time – without fail. As Woody Allen says, “80% of success is just showing up!”
One thing we know for sure…it’s easier to remember WHEN to show up if you’ve got it scheduled on your calendar!
And here’s something that’s profound. The irony of commitment is… it sets you free!
Nothing has the power to eliminate stress, anxiety and worry like commitment. Commitment sets you free – it liberates you.
Because we all recognize, at some level, commitment is inevitable if we really want what we say we want. It's commitment that empowers us to get what we want. Intentions are where you start and the goal is where you finish – but it’s your commitment that carries you through the race.
I hope that doesn’t sound ‘hokey’ to you…because it’s not. Commitment is the cure. Because commitment produces action, and action produces results.
When you find your ‘why’ , your personal, underlying motivation for getting healthy and fit – then you tap into real commitment and your fitness success becomes a foregone conclusion.
Because when your ‘why’ is strong enough, you’ll show up for your training sessions, every time – without fail. As Woody Allen says, “80% of success is just showing up!”
One thing we know for sure…it’s easier to remember WHEN to show up if you’ve got it scheduled on your calendar!
And here’s something that’s profound. The irony of commitment is… it sets you free!
Nothing has the power to eliminate stress, anxiety and worry like commitment. Commitment sets you free – it liberates you.
Because we all recognize, at some level, commitment is inevitable if we really want what we say we want. It's commitment that empowers us to get what we want. Intentions are where you start and the goal is where you finish – but it’s your commitment that carries you through the race.
I hope that doesn’t sound ‘hokey’ to you…because it’s not. Commitment is the cure. Because commitment produces action, and action produces results.
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