Archive for the ‘Fitness Mindset & Lifestyle’ Category
Monday, January 24th 2011
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At 44 years old – She decided “enough was enough”….
It was time to take control of her body, her mind and her life.
It was time for her to ‘LIVE to the MAX’…
No more unhealthy fad diets, no more magic pills, no more short-term quick-fixes…
This time it was all or nothing. A shift in mindset and a simple lifestyle adjustment were in order. As you can see from SummerGirl’s Before & After photo below – her success is undeniable.
Now – at the young age of 46, she is pure proof of what can be achieved with a simple and straightforward approach to proper nutrition and consistent exercise…
Click the triangle play button to hear how she did it – and how she’s stays committed:
Powerful Proof: 46 Years Young
Feel free to visit Gwen’s blog where she shares more before and after photos, tips, recipes and other bits of helpful info you can use today: http://summergirl711.blogspot.com/
You can also catch up with her on Facebook here =>> SummerGirl on Facebook
Have any thoughts, comments or questions about the interview? Please share them below…
Also – here’s a reminder… In keeping with my big “Transformation” theme, don’t forget to check out these great B&A stories being shared by my fitness colleague, Bill Phillips.
Just click on it…
Marty & Valerie B&A Videos
Bill Phillips; Best-Selling Author
And one last note – Tomorrow night, Belinda Benn (in photo below) and I will be recording an in-depth interview of her Mid-Life Transformation – and since you are a valued subscriber of mine – You get access to the interview 100% FREE. It’s one you WILL NOT want to miss… Trust me on that. It will be ready for you by the weekend.
Here is the preview post – just in case you missed it:
Bel’s Mid-Life Transformation: The Secrets Will Be Revealed
Bel - 11 Years Ago
Please share this page with anyone you know who can benefit from all the helpful info I’m sharing with you. I appreciate you spreading the word and helping make this world a “fitter” place…
Your trainer forever – your trainer for life,
– Joey Atlas
Popularity: 18% [?]
Monday, January 17th 2011
There’s so much going on here – I really didn’t know where to start and where to finish. So, I listed the several topics I wanted to share with you today – and I’ve saved the others for later in the week… So, here we go:
Inspiring Before & After Interviews
- Extremely helpful freebies in the works… I’m lining up several incredible “before and after” interviews which are going to knock your socks off & inspire you to aim higher and really go after your awesome potential. The insights you gain from these interviews will be worth their weight in gold – at minimum… Stay tuned – you will NOT want to miss them as we will be “digging deep”…
‘Live’ and Insightful “Before, During & After” Example
- In addition to what I do on the internet, long distance private coaching and various consulting projects, I also keep 1 or 2 local clients on my schedule. I recently started coaching/training a woman (Crystal G.), who has agreed to share her transformation story in “real-time”, so to speak…
We’ve already taken her before & after photos; and are about 6 weeks into her journey. Next month I have her set for an “eval update” and we are going to measure her progress, etc… I am going to share with you the details of her program and how we structured it all to fit her busy lifestyle. You will benefit GREATLY by hearing what she is doing – compared to things she attempted in the past.
Simple Fitness Cooking with Herbs & Spices
- I was recently searching for some references on “cooking with herbs and spices” and found a cool freebie from PaleoBooks. When you visit the page – look over to the right and you’ll see the freebie e-guide. Some REALLY good info in there on simple cooking with seasonings to bring more “fitness” to your menu selections at home: Free Herbs & Spices Cooking Guide
Body-weight Training for Men & Advanced Female Trainees
- Lots of guys emailing us lately for more “hard-core” bodyweight training programs… Well, guys; take a look at this one: Hardcore Bodyweight Workouts
This is IDEAL for traveling, at the office and if you want to cut down on “gym visits” – or just have a solid back-up routine at home for when you can’t get to the gym.
I’m Being ‘Put to the Test’
- During the next few weeks and months, some of my programs will be put to the test by a few well-respected fitness pros. I’ll be sharing the candid feedback with you in due time…. should be very interesting!!
Stay tuned, – I’ll be back in touch shortly with “Things I Do In Private” (yes – lots will be revealed here)…
Your trainer forever – your trainer for life,
– Joey Atlas
Popularity: 15% [?]
Sunday, January 2nd 2011
Most people consider themselves to be ‘spiritual’ in some way. Truth be told there are many degrees of spirituality – and I’m sure there are many who use the term quite loosely for whatever reason(s)…
When I use the word here – I’m talking about “working on the self”… developing the “inner you”. Everything you want to improve “outside of you” becomes a million times easier when you improve what’s “inside you”.
Working on my “self” has SIGNIFICANTLY changed my life for the better.
Was it/has it been easy?
Well, it’s been simple – but not easy. It requires constant effort – but it gets easier as time progresses and you develop your ‘inner self’. It’s a full-time commitment – just like living a fitness lifestyle is.
How I perceive the word around me has changed. How I interact with the world has changed. How I react (or if) I react to the world around me has changed. How I exist in this world has changed…
Sounds pretty serious – and it is – but this type of inner growth and personal evolution is open to anyone – no matter your age, education, income or upbringing.
The last 15 years of my life has been a roller coaster ride filled with many blessings and many challenges. At some point in the last 10 years I began to realize I was responsible for both the blessings and the challenges. And most importantly I realized I could bring more blessings into my life and decrease the number of challenges I face…
This notion caused me to seek wisdom… wisdom which would change my entire life for the better.
I began to have deeper conversations with people who could share valuable wisdom – and I also started to read more – A LOT more…
And today, as 2011 kicks into gear – I want to share with you some of the authors, their blogs and their book titles – whose words and teachings have dramatically enhanced my life…
Don’t try to consume all that I list here in a few weeks. You’ll go nuts… Start with a few of these, read their blogs, order some of the books that interest you – and take a slow pace in your own “personal development”. After all – you have the rest of your amazing life 
Paulo Coelho – I was fortunate enough to start with one of his greatest books, The Alchemist
http://www.paulocoelho.com
http://www.paulocoelho.com.br/en/
Robert Collier – you can find a number of his works as free downloads on the ‘net – but one of his greatest you can get on Amazon for under $10:
The Wisdom of Robert Collier
http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Robert-Collier-Including-Secret/dp/9563100239
Stuart Wilde – some of his stuff may be considered a little “out there” – but much of it is deadly accurate and EXTREMELY enlightening:
http://www.stuartwilde.com/books/index.html
Yehuda Berg – most of his teachings are based on the Kabbalah. And as with most other teachers/writers I list – I don’t agree with everything he presents, but there are so many powerfully simple, yet profound, lessons he shares.
http://www.yehudaberg.com/
Paul Ferrini – I haven’t read any of his work yet – but he is on my list for future reference.
http://www.paulferrini.com/body_index.htm
This list is not complete – I have more to share and will do so in the future. But, for now I believe you have some incredibly powerful material staring you in the face. What you do is up to you now…
I realize I haven’t listed any females here. Shame on me – because we all know the wisdom of a woman is beyond priceless. I promise I will share some references from the ladies in a future post, no doubt.
Feel free to share your thoughts, feelings, questions or comments below. I look forward to hearing from you…
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Your trainer forever – your trainer for life,
– Joey Atlas
Popularity: 12% [?]
Thursday, December 30th 2010
The Attrition Syndrome: What It Is and How to Beat It
{attrition} def. – a reduction in number of people; or size of a group/crowd/population
Next week millions of people will start their New Years Resolution of fitness/weight-loss/health improvement. Some of these people will be total newcomers and some will be “on and off” yo-yo ‘triers’…
By February 1st, about 46% of this “new years” crowd will have forgotten about their personal mission…
By March 1st, another 18% of that original group will be history…
And by April 1st, the other 13% will have thrown in the towel and given up on their goals…
That’s 77% of the original ‘New Year’ crowd. And of the remaining 23% – only about half of them will make it to the end of 2011 finding success through self-commitment and lifestyle adjustments. Think of how many people you know who have ridden the New Year Resolution “roller coaster” over the years.
The truth is – getting started is easy. It’s almost like “the thing to do”. Everybody asks each other, “So, what’s your resolution for the new year?, blah, blah, blah…”
The “not so easy” part is sticking with your new mission for the long-term… For-EVER.
Here are 5 strategies to help you (or someone you know) turn your ‘new year’ resolution into a New Way of Living…
1 – Create at least one alternate option.
If you only give yourself one fitness option you are limiting your strategic opportunities for exercise when different situations in life pop up.
Example: If you join a health club then it would be wise to create a small home fitness area. This is critical because there will be days when you either don’t feel like going to the club or because of schedule conflicts you just can’t get there. In these cases it would be ideal for you to get your workout in at home – instead of not doing it at all.
2 – Plan ahead when traveling for business or vacation.
Many people “skip their workouts” when away from home. And this is a top reason why people get derailed in their efforts of achieving their top fitness goals.
Most hotels have at least a small fitness room. Check for this amenity before you book your stay. If traveling to visit family or friends, bring some small exercise items which can fit in your luggage – such as: resistance bands, jump rope, your favorite fitness DVDs. And don’t forget your workout clothes, sneakers, etc…
3 – Learn how to workout on a playground.
When you learn how to use the typical playground as an outdoor gym you give yourself a priceless and powerful tool in your fitness arsenal. Playgrounds offer a workout options for all levels of users – from pure beginners to advanced fitness veterans. Being able to step onto a playground also helps greatly with #’s 1 and 2 above.
4 – Change your choice if you don’t like it. Find things you like which “feel right” for you.
There are many starting points and path to choose from when beginning your health and fitness quest. If you try something that doesn’t feel “right” or comfortable – then look for something else that does. Don’t wait until you are “really hating” your choice – because it will only cause you to quit outright.
Example: Some people may enjoy a weekly combo schedule of boot-camp style training classes and high intensity yoga – while someone else may prefer to jog/run 3 miles every other day and follow a total-body fusion workout program on the opposite days.
5 – Implement multiple concrete “fuel systems”.
Too often people embark on their “personal fitness mission” without clearly defined goals and MEANINGFUL REASONS.
A broad goal statement such as; “I want to lose weight and get healthier.” is simply too generalized. There is no “destination” – and without a desitination – you can’t follow the ideal path to get there.
The most effective fitness plans implement multiple sources of “fuel for motivation”. Some of these will be internal and some will be external.
Examples: If you want to lose weight – choose a sensible “goal weight” you want to reach. You can always readjust your “destination” as you make progress.
If you want to improve your health/medical profile – create a goal list for your vital stats with help from your doctor. Look at the numbers from your most recent check-up (blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, etc..) and set goal numbers for your vitals that need “positive adjustment”.
IMPORTANT: post these numbers (both sets) where you can SEE them regularly. It’s easy to forget your internal medical profile when you are not reminded by the numbers. Keeping a printout of your important health stats where you can be reminded of it daily is VERY powerful.
Infuse your mission with some type of material reward. Maybe it’s a beach-side vacation when you hit your goal weight. Maybe it’s a sports car when you clean up your medical profile numbers and improve your health and life expectancy…
Or maybe you enter a contest where you can win all that and more. A contest adds a dimension that you can’t create by yourself. When everyone is aiming for the prizes and shooting for similar fitness goals – there is a special energy and powerful camaraderie which propels everyone to levels they only dreamed of before.
On January 4th – you can have this type of rare opportunity. Just click here to => Win the Car, the Money and the Dream Vacation and get instant access to the “Pre-New Year Training Materials” (ALL FREE) – and you’ll get the January 4th notice of this awesomely inspiring contest which has been created for people EXACTLY like you.
After you sign-in for instant access – you’ll be on the FTFL Team blog and when you see all the activity/comments there – you are going to be pleasantly stunned, energized and inspired. TRUST ME ON THIS – you’ll thank me later.
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All my best to you and yours – and HAPPY NEW YEAR,
Your trainer for life,
– Joey Atlas
Popularity: 4% [?]
Friday, December 10th 2010
It’s no secret – 2010 has been a year of challenges for many people…
I know this because of the types of emails we receive daily from around the world. And I know, for myself, this year has presented many challenges.
BUT, for me, these challenges have provided unique opportunities for priceless growth and transformation.
There have been many blessings coming out of the challenges I’ve faced this past year. A key reason for these ‘blessings’ is how I interpreted, managed and reacted to the challenges.
As an example:
Depending on how or when you found me – you may or may not know that I’ve been sorting out divorce # 2, through most of this year. Ironically – the time frame element has been more a result of logistics and timing. No ‘fighting’, etc – as it’s been an amicable divorce… BUT…
Superficially, most people say “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that…”, when in reality, there’s nothing for them to feel sorry about… I have so much to be grateful for – I’ve learned so much about myself and this world I’m a part of, it simply would not/could not have happened any other way.
YOU/WE must be willing to “look in the mirror” and be TRUTHFUL with ourselves.
I said this before in a previous post, but it’s so critical, I will say it again: Being introspective is one of the toughest things to do – BUT when we do it, it provides massive opportunity to take your existence and your life to levels you never thought possible.
Long standing insecurities, clouded beliefs based on faulty assumptions and ‘default’ programming of our subconscious from childhood are things we all have in us – in one form or another. Some more than others – and in different variations of each.
Yes, it can be complex when you try to think about it all at once.
But the only way for real and permanent growth is to realize that the things I mention above are not your fault. BUT, not taking a proactive approach to working on those things is your choice. And it’s you who has to deal with the consequences of your choices. Simple – but profoundly true.
On that note – I want to give you the…
3 Hot Tips for ETERNAL Fitness:
1 – Forget old assumptions and previous experiences. Open your mind to new ways, variations – and yes – even some that may “sound too good to be true” (workout less, get better results). One of the things I’ve become better at is being in tune with my intuition – the thing people refer to when they say “I just went with my gut.” Your gut feelings/your intuition are VERY powerful – but the crazy thing is, most people ignore them, or even worse, they go against them.
Your past has shaped your mental frame of reference for all you think about and do in your life. If you are not happy with your results – no matter which area of your life – you need to think about evaluating your current emotional programming and mental ‘frame of reference’. It simply may need some adjustment or ‘shifting’.
2 – See your fitness as a full-time commitment – one you welcome as part of your existence, BECAUSE you truly understand the far-reaching benefits of “taking care of yourself”. You can’t approach fitness & diet(ing) as a way to “drop 28 lbs in 3.5 weeks for vacation”. You can’t see it as a short term, forced effort to get yourself into great shape…
Episodes like that will only frustrate you and cause you to believe you can never succeed at unleashing your best self.
Truth is YOU CAN unleash your best self – But it’s an ongoing process. And in this ongoing process there are fluctuations, there are obstacles and there are temporary setbacks. BUT, it’s how you manage these challenges, and define them, in YOUR long term commitment to your personal fitness goals
3 – Realize growth (emotional, spiritual) holds the seeds of TRUE transformation and therefore, real and lasting PROGRESS – in ALL aspects of life, which includes the physical body.
I realize you may be thinking, “This isn’t like a regular fitness blog with exercises, recipes and workouts…” and you are correct – because all my other sites have that stuff.
This site is about the broader theme of “LIVE to the MAX” and when I say that – we know that living is more that just working out, eating right (mostly), and being in the best shape possible…
No – see, we understand it’s about the ‘fitness’ of your whole life; your personal interactions, your appreciation for the ‘self’ that people don’t see on your surface, your professional endeavors, your family time and bonding, your friendships…
So, when you see me write a post like this – you understand I’m actually getting to the nitty-gritty of what may actually be holding you back from all the success you deserve. The deeper-seeded, hidden answers to the things you may not have been able to “figure out” in the past.
Hopefully, I’ve put a spark in you that you’ve been looking for. Maybe you have some of your under-utilized brain cells starting to ‘awaken’. Maybe you just feel something ‘different’ stirring inside you after reading today’s post…
If so – let that serve as fuel for motivation. Let it inspire you to look deeper inside yourself for the answers you think may be outside of you and/or out of your reach. YOU HAVE TO ASK THE RIGHT (honest) QUESTIONS IN ORDER TO GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS.
Please make note – none of what I share is meant to insult, belittle or offend anyone (although “you can’t make everyone happy” and some people may be upset about this post) – But, all I aim to do is help people who I know I can help.
Stay tuned for several follow-ups to today’s post – I have much more to add to this ‘theme’…
Thanks for reading today – And please feel free to post your thoughts, questions or comments below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Your trainer forever – your trainer for life,
— Joey Atlas
Popularity: 22% [?]