Discovering a New You

Ever wonder why sometimes, you beat yourself up in disgust and frustration, after trying to figure out what went wrong with your fitness goals in the gym?

Well don't feel like the "Lone Ranger", its happen to me too. It took me a whole lot of countless hours of hard work through trial and error, before I stumbled on an article written by fitness guru, Phil Kaplan. The article was titled "The 3 Body Types". As I read the information, I began to have an inner sensation, that reminded of what it must feel like to grow a set of donkey ears and the pain of kicking yourself right square in the... well I'm sure you know what I mean. I continued to read and learn more. Of course, this revelation is not to be classified as the cure all for why I was not progressing in the gym, but it surely helped put some vital training issues in perspective.

I discovered that, although I was training with dedication and consistency, I had failed to realize or take into consideration, that every one's body and physical genetic makeups are different.

Here's a brief synopsis of the article:

The Ectomorph is long and lean. They fall into a category widely known by weightlifters as "hard gainers" or the 98 pound weaklings. In other words, they have a difficult time beefing up. As with most things, there is a good side to this body type in that, although they usually are not gifted with a lot of natural huge muscles, their bodies carry very little fat. This gives their body type an advantage. They actually with proper training and diet they can put on muscle without worrying about gaining FAT. They must train intensely, but relatively infrequently, to avoid over training. This group should stay with basic compound movements like, squats, bench presses etc. Everyone can benefit from aerobic exercise, but this group must keep that part of their training in moderation. Caloric in take should be high with adequate protein, carbs, and essential fat intake. (hopefully the good fats).

The Mesomorph is the athletic prototype. They show off the V-shape back, wide shoulders, little narrow hips and great muscular legs (hate those guys!). They're often natural athletes and are the ones usually with "healthy" body fat levels. They add muscle easily, even if they make a few errors in their training regime, they still gain muscle. Their metabolisms are usually sufficient enough to handle "less than ideal" nutrition provided they get adequate calories to meet their energy needs.

The Endomorph is usually a bit rounder in appearance. They appear to have a softer look, which is probably due to the higher proportion of overall body fat, mostly carried around the hips and stomach areas. Some people have called or stereotyped them as having a "pear shape". Technically, they have to really focus on their diet, especially those high in sugar and fat. Their aerobic training should be at least 4-5 days per week.

OK, now that you know what I know, DO NOT PANIC, there is after all some good news!!

Very few of us rarely fall cleanly into just ONE category. There are people who are actually a combination of the above body types. For example, some can be deemed, endo-mesomorph and ecto-mesomorphs. Sounds complex, doesn't it? For most people, a simple glance in the mirror, may be of some service to them in determining where you fit.

Remember this information is merely a tip to help you make a few adjustments in your training regimen.

It was an incredible and rewarding tip for me, because that year after reading and learning more about this information, I made some adjustments to my mental and physical training regime and then I decided to compete in a local all natural body building contest and as a result, I won 1st place in the masters division.

Hey, its a New Year, its out with the old and in with the new...., so let's get started!

Stay safe, be patient and never give up on yourself or your training!

YOUTH SPORTS

It was not to very long ago, I wrote a post about the athletic attributes of my youngest daughter Taylor.  Well that was just about a year ago, (July 25, 2009).  Of course, you may wonder why or think that I'm bragging about my kid again and If that's what you're thinking, I must admit that you're absolutely right.

Sports has always been and probably will always be significant in our families lives.  My wife and I both participated in sports and found it very rewarding. There are just so many amazing advantages to kids and their parents when sports are included in their daily activities.  For one thing there are both mental and physical benefits as it relates to overall health.  Our daughter has a difficult time with seasonal allergies. Thanks to sports she has responded quite well when she's dealing with the wheezing and sneezing etc., because it forces her to breathe deeply and the air she's intaking is fresh and outdoors vs. being stuck indoors sucking on a humidifier.

Sports have also become a very positive distraction for her and it seems to actually enhance her competitive nature during these most difficult times.

Speaking of distractions, youth sports have in my experience, proven to help kids focus and most importantly it has kept a boatload of kids off the streets and out of trouble.  Being a retired law enforcement professional, I have personally witnessed troubled kids turn their lives around and become viable and outstanding law abidding citizens due to their involvement in sports.  Of course, there are a few who fall off the wagon and become involved with the wrong crowd or group, leading them to crime, but those aren't the ones I'm talking about. There are tons of documented success stories, than those of the failures.

Sports has a way of turning intraverted kids into excited outgoing communicating team builders and leaders.... YEAH!!

This phenomena is especially helpful when its time for them to grow up and get out into the job market(s). The beautiful results are that these kids are usually no longer insecure, but confident individuals who are driven.  They tend to look you in the eye and state exactly what it is they want and why. Sports has assisted with the development of  recognizing and enjoying the sweetness of victory, as well as shielding them against the depressive state of dealing with the agony of defeat. So if they don't win today so be it. Thankfully, it becomes somewhat of a motivator, because they've learned that you can't win by merely be comfortable to sitting on the sideline. You've got to get in the game!  The kids I'm talking about know how to do just that.

We are just so very proud of Taylor.  Although she loves practically any sport, she's really dialed into soccer and basketball.  This year she was selected to participate in a State wide soccer event called, ODP, which is an acroynm for Olympic Development Program. This was and is an incredible achievement, because you have to tryout/compete, in order to be selected.  This program, trains and prepares kids for State, Nationals, College and olympic level competitions in soccer.  She really enjoyed it and I sure she'll tryout again next year too. This year's season ending basketball playoffs, she was just short of a triple double.

"You Go GIRL!!"

So, if your brother, sister, son, daughter, niece or nehew etc. is willing to except the challenge to having absolutely incredible fun and the possibility of achieving greatness.... Please don't just point them to it, but get up and literally get involved and take them to the nearest youth sports entity and... GET IN THE GAME!        

No Reason To Quit

Seven years ago, in the fall of 2003, I turned the eager and energetic age of 50. Wow, I had hit the top of the hill according to a few of my closest friends. Soooo.... what are you going to do different they ask?  Of course I was still caught up in the fact that I was blessed to even see 50 years of life, especially with practically everything from all my physical and mental aspects in tact.

After several minutes of beinng in my own little world, the voices around began to get louder and more direct. I guess I spaced out a little.  I only remember saying yes I can and yes I will!  After high fiving everyone, I discovered that I had agreed to enter a local bodybuilding contest.

YIPES!

Anyway, through all the 24 weeks of training and grueling dieting regimine, I guess I shocked some of those doubting friends, when I delivered a FIRST PLACE trophy in the masters division.

Since that time, I started to seriouly train again, only this time just to duplicate and or simulate that bodybuilders look, without the stresses of actually doing the show.  My problem this time is that, I'm seven years older and believe it or not, I'm convinced that things really do change.  This old body constantly reminds me that I need to make new mental and physical adjustments.

Interestingly enough life is, has and can have a strange sense of humor. It also has the tendency to every once in awhile.. throw you a curve ball.

My curve ball came fast and hard. Initially, I took a mighty swing at it, but I really should have ducked. There it was flying toward me as if it was shot out of a cannon. The final result of the umpire's (surgeons) call was... A HERNIATED DISK.

No way, I said. Yes it is, he replied.

It's now been seven to eight months of every pain pill the doctors could prescribe. Then came the echoing advise of trying acupunture; chiropractic; deep tissue massages; decompression therapy; hot and cold compresses; crutches; limping and finally, "Why don't you just stay in bed"!

Last resort.. SURGERY.  YIPES!! AGAIN.

Through it all, thanks to my strong faith in sincere prayer.  Everything turned out just fine. 

The hills of life are still present and will be for as long as we are alive and breathe air. A positive mindset and the willingness to forge forward and never give up is vital to a positive outcome.  Here's what I thought of most and I truly hope that this statement will help you when you're standing at the plate of life's challenges and the next pitch you're thrown is a curve ball.

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust him fully and let go, only 1 of  2 things will happen; either he'll catch you when you fall, or.. he'll teach you how to fly!




    

Yes She Can

During the summer months, when all the local schools are closed for a recess and the traveling all Girls Soccer Team is taking a break, my beautiful, smart and athletic daughter Taylor, chooses basketball to keep herself fired up. Its not as though we as a family are just sitting around doing nothing and getting bored, its just that she has so much competitive desire to achieve, that I would literally have to physically restrain her to keep her still. God knows its a blessing that her mom does most of the going here and there, while I the other parent... well, lets just leave it at that.

It all started way back when she started to learn how to walk. The next question should be, how fast did it take? Try fast.......real fast. This incredible feat didn't last to long either, because before I could get the hang of the video camera, she was up and running. Soon after the toddler track meet, swimming lessons started which required her to wear those plastic arm floatation thinga-ma-jigs. Personally, I thought this would slow things down a bit, but I was wrong again. She soon ripped those arm things off and to my surprise, was swimming like a fish.

This brings me to what she calls her featured event, "Basketball".

This is probably her true "I LOVE THIS GAME" sport. Of course, I assume this because, she talks about it, dreams about it and plays very well at it. She presently plays the point guard position and really has great ball handling skills.

This school year, she'll more than likely play both soccer and basketball, providing she can keep pace with her academics.

Who knows, perhaps in a few years, high school MVP; Then collegiate player of the year; and ultimately... the WNBA!

You Can do It!

Being retired, can and should be one of those wonderful special places, to find yourself in this life. Especially, if you're ending your responsibility to the workforce, on your own terms and most importantly you're leaving in good health. At least that's the way it was for me, (Thank You God).

Of course, there may be some newly acquired stresses that come with this monumental event. Like the stress of wondering, what am I going to do differently everyday, with all this uncharted free time? This was my response to that question. I would say, "Remember, I have the rest of my life, to do whatever I want to do, with the rest of my life.

First of all, if you haven't left yet, take the time now to put somethings in order. Start by sitting down and putting your thoughts about what it will mean to YOU to retire. If you're starting to feel some anxiety over just the mere thought of this topic, then examine the what and why, that maybe fueling this emotion. Next, maybe you may want to sit down with a professional to talk about future health insurance and additional financial matters that are not provided by your pension.

Then, I suggest you focus on obligating yourself to doing and achieving all those incredible FUN things, you never had the time to take advantage of, when you where a slave to the J.O.B., which really should have stood for the place that caused you to be, "Just above BROKE" ummmm.

I discovered, that I could now spend the entire day at the gym if I choose to. It was the place that I encountered, countless numbers of people, whom I'd never met before. This was naturally a good thing, because it kept me from becoming a hermit, or acquiring that strange feeling of becoming isolated or lonesome during the day. I personally chose a fitness company that would allow my membership to used at facilities both near and far. So, if I did get bored with all those new faces; personalities; the equipment, or if I just wanted to change my surroundings, I would just go to one of the other gym locations provided by my contract. Then, I would have a whole new and different experience, discussing why this exercise is better suited for developing this particular body part and learning about some new supplement that everybody was raving about, and why you need to eat multiple meals during the day and then the importance of taking in the right amount of protein for muscle growth, etc, etc. Whew!

Suddenly, one day I also realized, that as much as I thought I hated the mere mentioning of playing golf (I'm a contact sport kind of guy), I was magically and mysteriously drawn to it. In fact, I signed up to take lessons from a Certified Professional Instructor, and I even went to a local bookstore and purchased a book called golf for people like me.....'dummies". Humbly, I had to accept the fact that, this game proved to be very challenging and it required a whole lot of patience and patience and some more patience. Get my drift?

There's things like addressing the ball; stance; etc., and that's before actually hitting the darn ball. There's learning about each club and what they're capable of doing, as well as gripping them correctly, and still I didn't really get to hit that little dimpled round and sometimes invisible sphere, that sits on its own throne (actually known as a "tee").

Oh but, when I finally did got that chance. The instructor gave me a green light. I put on my best golf face, grabbed a club, stepped up, squared my shoulders, planted my feet, took a deep breath, waggled a little ( I thought I saw Tiger do this once on TV), and then, I got so excited about the opportunity to show it who was the boss that..... well lets just say, it was a kodak moment and you've got to get out there and try it yourself. I'll leave it at that!

Bottom line:

There's so many things to do with your time, you don't have to do it all in one day. Life is awesome, but it is also short.

Day dream about tomorrow but, Thrive and Live in the moment of Today; Laugh a lot, Sing and Shout out loud, because you've really got something to Shout about; Love Unconditionally; Think, Sleep, Breathe, Walk, Talk, Exhibit and Share, Life to the fullest.

It's all up to you, if I can do it.. You Can Do It!!

Champions

Today was truly a special day. Americans across this land and abroad were taking a moment to remember the the true Hero's of our time. It's all about the many men and women who've made the decision to sacrifice and fight for what they believed in, which was unrelenting and everlasting FREEDOM!

Today, I also want to introduce you to a present generation of young women, who are making a huge and significant statement right now, rather than wait for the unknown possibilities of tomorrow. Today they collectively decided to become and remain CHAMPIONS. They are learning at a young age, to do the things that are right and to take a stand against those things that are wrong. They are learning what it means to persevere, to have child-like faith and to be strong in the face of overwhelming odds. It's about being competitive, yet understanding and exhibiting respect and good sportsmanship toward others. The have learned that there is no "I", in TEAM and they've demonstrated over and over again that there is a major difference between Winners and Whiners. This extraordinary characteristic of theirs, is reminiscent of a book I've read, that bears a similar title, authored by Keith Cameron Smith.

These Young Hero's are known near and far as the West Pines United Adidas Girls U12, Soccer Team.

This weekend they defended their Championship title, defeated all of their scheduled competitors, at the Disney Wide World of Sports Tournament, in Orlando, Florida.

I am very proud of each and every player on this team, as well as all of their wonderful parents.

Special thanks and congratulations to head coach, Wayne Smith and his assistant Danny Amador.

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