There’s not a week that goes by without at least one total ‘stranger’ stopping me out of the blue and asking me… “Can I ask you what your secret is for keeping yourself in such great shape?”
Now you have to realize – I’m not exactly an “imposing figure”…
But in the last 2 weeks – this has happened literally almost every day. Everywhere I go… Publix, Target, Whole Foods, the bank, the beach…
So – I took that as a sign to write about ‘my secret’…
Now, the beach is a no-brainer because I’m just wearing swim-shorts – so it’s easy to see my whole physique (almost). I’m usually with my kids – and sometimes their friends…
It’s sometimes tricky for people to figure out “who I am”.
Am I the babysitter? …the older brother?
When they realize I’m their Dad – then they get really surprised. Because, truth is – most dads have a wickedly rounded beer gut flopping out over their swim-shorts – at the center of an un-toned, rapidly aging body. And it’s an extreme rarity to see a dad of 3, with washboard abs, 9% body-fat and a well-balanced, aesthetically pleasing physique.
It’s important to note here – this is not all about the superficial aspects. Because my ‘secret’ lies in the non-superficial elements of keeping myself in-shape – in mind, body and spirit.
But even when ‘fully clothed’ – people can still see that ‘I’m fit.’ It just shows… But they can also sense I’m not in my early 20’s. Maybe it’s the several white hairs in my goat-T which hint I’m more in the ‘middle-age’ zone, from a chronological perspective.
Physiologically – I’m not even close to 40 years old. At my last physical, my doctor joked… “I’ll see you back here, for your next check-up, in ten years, Joey.”
Now before I reveal my secret – let me just list a few neat things about being healthy & fit as a single, ‘middle-aged’, dad:
1 – It should make finding my “wife-for-life” a bit easier. Let’s face it – most women would rather not be with an out of shape and unhealthy mate. Simple.
2 – My kids think it’s cool to see how other people check out their dad – and ask “how I do it”, etc..
3 – I’m a role model for my kids; as they see what I do and participate in some of my workouts too. They also learn how to eat by direct experience on the weekends/days they are with me.
4 – I’m rarely sick and I look forward to waking up every day to experience all that life sends my way.
5 – I’m a role model and an inspiration for other middle-age parents. They realize, especially after speaking with me, “they can do it too.”
I can add more to this list – and maybe you can too (feel free to do so in the comments section below)…
But now – it’s time to share my ‘secret’… This is how “I do it…”
‘A’ is the MOST important and it sets the stage for EVERYTHING else…
A – Being fit and in-shape is part of my values. I’ve been horribly out of shape/unhealthy in the past – and that way of life is not for me. Since it’s part of my values – it all goes deeper than the superficial aspects of simply “having a great body” – IT ALSO TOUCHES THE MIND AND THE SPIRIT. It enhances this multi-dimensional ‘connection’.
B – Exercise and eating right (most of the time) are not options – they are actions/habits in line with who “I am.” I want a high quality of life. I want to lead by example. I want to ‘Live to the Max’.
C – I enjoy my workouts and the foods/meals I eat. I don’t have to force myself to do anything. I crave it all. I look forward to it all. (If you are not enjoying your workouts and the foods you eat – you may need to re-evaluate it all – SO YOU ARE DOING THINGS YOU ENJOY WHICH WORK IN YOUR FAVOR)
D – My workouts are 90% body-weight training. This allows me to workout literally ANYWHERE. Some of my best workouts when I travel are done on a playground. (the other 10% involves, bands, dumbbells, medicine ball). I am free from the confines of “the gym” – although I can walk into any sweat shop and get busy with the best of them – BUT, by doing it my way.
At this point I’m realizing there is plenty more for me to share about this – so, I’ll surely be expanding on some of these points in future posts. But, for now – please feel free to share your thoughts, comments or questions below… I’d love to hear from you…
I’ll introduce this post with brevity and a lack of ‘setting the scene’. Reason being – the story will reveal all we need to know, by it’s very nature…
Here’s an email that came in just a few hours ago – in reply to one of my thought provoking email newsletters:
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Secrets of a Trainer: Siarra, don’t let this happen to you,
ever…
From: Siarra K -siarra-k@_____.com-
Date: Tue, August 10, 2010 3:47 am
To: -joey @ joey atlas . com-
Hello Joey,
Thank you for drafting and sending these amazing email newsletters. The insight and real life stories are valuable and I really look forward to receiving your emails!
On this topic of personal trainers…
A work colleague and I started our weight loss mission at the same time. I started your lower body program whilst she joined the gym and got herself a personal trainer. I have to admit; at the time I was a bit jealous and was convinced her results would be much better and faster than mine.
Since we started at the same time, we are always discussing and comparing our results. I have visibly lost weight and inches off by waist, butt and thighs. Whereas, my colleague hasn’t lost any weight and is looking bigger, wider and more muscular.
She is totally miserable with her results so far and I am totally ecstatic with my result so I asked her to ditch the gym and her trainer to start your program.
You would think the choice was an easy one to make but she simply refuses to accept that i have gotten better results with paying a fraction of the costs she paying (she’s paying monthly gym membership fees PLUS $40 per hour with the personal trainer).
This has led to a lot of discussion around whether my program is better than going to the gym with a personal trainer. I am unclear and confused by some things she and her trainer have brought up because my knowledge in exercise is really poor so I thought who better to ask than Joey?
Can you give me your feedback on the 5 points she and her personal trainer made, below:
I look forward to your response.
Regards,
**Siarra K
1 – “All the celebrities go to the gym and have personal trainers…”
>> Joey’s Reply:
A – That’s an exaggeration. Not every celebrity goes to the gym – and not every celebrity has a personal trainer. Some celebrities could even show the average trainer a thing or two.
B – Even if that was true – SO WHAT! It doesn’t “prove” anything. Celebrities are “regular people” but many of them have the money to spend on trainers, all year round. This DOES NOT prove the theory which implies simply having a personal trainer is better than not having one. (Results are what counts.)
2 – “Women simply cannot get big and muscular with weights because we don’t have the same hormones as men. Initially she may be bulking up but those muscles will help her lose fat/weight and in the longer term she will lose more weight than me.”
>> Joey’s Reply:
LOL – Oh yes they can! This happens QUITE OFTEN. It has nothing to do with hormones. This is about ‘relativity’. A woman doesn’t have to bulk up like a man would in order to feel “she has bulked up”. All she needs to experience is what your friend is going through to realize IT DOES HAPPEN. The common rhetorical excuse is the hormone thing you mention above. Trainers love to use that one. But they can only get away with it for so long. Eventually the female client has enough of the “waiting” for the right things to happen – and decides to part ways and find another solution for her personal fitness needs.
3 – “By doing the same repetitive exercises, my body will stop responding and I will stop losing weight.”
>> Joey’s Reply:
Ah! Another “gym/trainer myth”. See, this excuse/myth IS PERFECT for the typical ‘weights and machines’ approach to fitness training. It’s used as a ‘smoke & mirrors’ tool to keep clients clinging to hope and thinking they need to keep having a trainer guide them, to change, vary and “mix up the program” – all in efforts of keeping the body guessing, blah, blah, blah… NONSENSE!!
When you do the right exercises as part of the well-designed program – YOUR BODY DOES NOT STOP RESPONDING – even if all, or most, of the exercises/program is “the same”.
4 – “The gym is a good way to exercise the heart and get the blood pumping around the body.”
>> Joey’s Reply:
So is making love for an hour!! COME ON NOW! – there are plenty of ways to get a great cardio workout – “the gym” is only one option on a list of many. (jumping rope, step-up & downs, cardio-fusion, making love, etc…)
5 – “The only way to lose the post-baby protruding tummy is to have a surgical tummy tuck and no amount of exercise will help.”
>> Joey’s Reply:
First of all – That is PURE Bu11$#!T. Sure it’s easier and has a high (short term) success rate for that specific area. BUT, there are women who’ve gotten rid of the post-pregnancy tummy bulge WITHOUT a tummy tuck. And they do it with a PROPER SYNERGY of exercise and simplified nutrition.
My replies are not intended to denounce traditional personal trainers and/or the conventional practice of personal training. But simply to shed light on the dynamics of (mis)communication, interaction, trust, marketing and understanding – as it applies to the profession of personal training and most importantly, it’s consequences on clients and potential clients.
There are MANY great trainers on the open market – BUT this does not make all trainers great – or even competent.
The tale of two approaches above, as outlined by Siarra, is great a example of firsthand experience – one which defies common logic. But does so with no “he said, she said” or “I heard about this through my friends cousin…”.
Better yet – we can consider it an un-official experiment. One that is bucking conventional wisdom, as we speak…
Siarra’s friend is now in the position to make a decision about her investment in the trainer, and more importantly about her needs & goals. Time will tell how her experience pans out.
In the meantime, Siarra will be sticking to my program and fine-tuning her body with each passing week
Have any comments, thoughts or questions about this post? Just type below in the ‘comments’ section. I’d love to hear from you…
I hope you’re having a great week – and you are ‘Living to the Max’ – or at least making efforts in that direction. To help you along, I’ve been writing some pertinent pieces of info…
Here’s a summary of articles, blog posts and information you may have missed during the past week or so… All in one place for your reading convenience
1 – Atlas Home Gym: I’ve created a special new site for the ‘HG’ version of the Atlas Unit. There are already some great articles and videos on the site. But I will be adding MANY more to grow the site into a ‘home gym powerhouse’. I think you’ll really like this =>> Home Gym Blog
2 – Yoga Exposed: Are There Really Any Benefits of Yoga? <= this is an article I just posted on the ULBHTM Blog click to visit => Are There Really Any Benefits of Yoga?
3 – Back-Pain Article and Free Back-Pain CDs <= this is an article I recently posted on the Optimum Flexibility Blog click to visit => Back-Pain Article and Free Back-Pain CDs
4 – Co-Ed Total-Body FUSION Fitness DVDs: I should have the masters in my hand any day now, and once reviewed, I ship them out west to my fulfillment partners in Utah. I’m putting together an incredible bonus package to go with this dvd set. I promise it will knock your socks off. On a side note – Kristy and I will be marketing these dvd sets separately as we both have slightly different audiences, she will be creating a bonus package more suited to her audience.
5 – Half-Day Coaching/Training Sessions in New York and Connecticut: I’ll be ’sneaking’ into the lower New York and Connecticut area for the second half of July. If you are in that region and are interested in a Half-Day Coaching/Training Session. Click on the ‘CONTACT’ page and send me an email.
Thanks for stopping by here today. I appreciate you taking the time to read what I write for you…
Please feel free to share today’s post with anyone you know who can benefit from any of the helpful info I’ve shared with you.
-
In order for you to understand today’s important blog post – it is imperative that you not only read lasts week’s post – but also the read the emotion packed comments which followed (and are still being added to)…
Whether you followed the action in real time – or have only seen it today – you can surely understand why that post has received so much attention and input.
Insults and Name-Calling are Different Than Thoughts and Opinions
There were a few posts we would categorize with a ‘negative’ label. And truthfully, we didn’t expect everyone to “like what they saw” or even be accepting of this great idea… Because you can’t please everybody. BUT, we didn’t expect for people to take things to the level of insult and name calling.
Granted, some don’t even realize they are doing it – but that still doesn’t make it right.
I planned on “responding” to some of the more narrow-sighted comments in today’s post. But after letting a few days go by – and seeing how many people added their positive enthusiasm and powerful support – I realized there’s no need to stay present on any of the negativity that came from that post…
The F-Train Rolls On ( F is for Fitness
This train is moving forward – and those who want to come along are 100% welcome and completely appreciated. Anyone who wishes not to… “no hard feelings… we wish you the best…”
There are a few points that were raised, which we will touch on in our first official web-radio show, The Fit-Life Show<= click to grab your free spot if you haven't already, spaces are limited...
The theme for the first show will be what you see as the title for this blog post: ‘The Fitness Shakedown’… and here’s why. The last blog post I speak about above ( The Dynamic Duo of Real Fitness ) caused many people to comment and respond with quick, gut-reaction replies.
The Meaning of “Being Fit”
This gave us a keen insight as to where certain mindsets are situated in terms of what people define as “Being Fit” – and what this means in terms of 1) seeking out proper guidance – and 2) being able to properly define one’s personal fitness goals.
Truth be told – the energy of the last blog post and all that it stirred up – has me and Kristy even more energized and enthused about the things we are going to work on together – for YOU.
So, before I close – we would love for you to take a minute or two – to let us know some of the topics or issues you would like to hear us talk about in future episodes of our new web-radio show. The comment box below is there for you
We thank you for going after your goals – and we look forward to helping you achieve them…
The last few weeks have been pretty incredible – So many things coming together – It’s time to share some of it with you…
In my last blog post I told you about an incredible fitness pro who has really impressed me (and me her so much so that we are putting our heads together in order to bring you some top notch fitness items – such as a free radio show/podcast, awesome new exercise dvds and a handful of other surprises along the journey…
Even Better Than Wonder Woman – She’s REAL
Well, it’s officially time for me to introduce you to her. But before I do that – I want to say a few words about the ‘person’ behind the persona…
I’m a nickname fan – And I’ve already called Kristy a bunch of different things – such as: “The K-Bomb” and SuperGirl. (you’ll see why shortly)…
Like me – Kristy has had to overcome some significant obstacles in her life in order to achieve the great success she has, thus far in her life. None of what you are about to see has come “easily” to her – and because of that, it should not only inspire you – but fuel your motivation to keep moving forward when things don’t seem to be going your way.
In time, Kristy and I will get into finer details, most likely in the web radio show we will be doing together, starting in the near future.
There’s is no doubt – “superficially”, she is amazing in many ways – But her spirit is even more amazing…
What really drew me to her, is her mindset, her philosophy and her genuine desire to help those who have been unsuccessful up to this point. She and I immediately ‘clicked’ on that level – and it set the stage for all that is starting to come together now….
The First Workout
On Easter Sunday, Kristy took the ride here to Jacksonville, from Orlando – and we spent 2 solids hours going through some great workouts, challenging each other – and really having fun as we got to know each other a bit. The rest of the day was all about brainstorming and thinking of the ways we will team up to create some great stuff (Indoor/Outdoor Fitness DVDS, etc..) for different types of people – Both male and female.
Before I let you meet her – all I ask is that you take a few minutes to share your thoughts, comments and questions at the bottom of this post – after you watch the videos, etc….
Kristy will be stopping by here to see how this post is going and what kind of feedback we are getting – (She is very excited – as am I).
Help Us Name The Web Radio Show/Podcast
Also – Please let us know if you’d be interested in listening to Kristy and I in a free, monthly web-radio show/podcast – where we answer questions, talk about fitness & nutrition myths, etc….
I dare you to watch this video only once. She’s AWESOME. And yes – that is her doing all the flips, etc…
Here is a little video clip we shot at the end of our Big Easter Workout Session:
I think you see now why I consider her a ’special’ fitness pro and person.
I’ve been interested in teaming up with a female fitness specialist for quite some time now – But up until meeting Kristy – nobody has been able to show me the unique traits I’ve been looking for…
Well, now it’s time to make some magic – all in efforts of helping you and anyone else who wants to join this “way”…
Please just take a minute to share your thoughts and comments below, maybe even help us name the radio show??? We are waiting to hear from you!!
which hint I’m more in the ‘middle-age’ zone, from a chronological perspective.
