Friday, October 31, 2008

A Conversation

Kids,

One of my best friends from High School (Norman) has been trying to get healthy and fit as he approaches 50. He's seen the amazing results that many of you have had and wanted to get his whole family involved. I thought it would be interesting for you to peek inside my e-mail to see a typical exchange between two old friends. You'll notice that my advice didn't sink in very well and sometimes people have to "do it" their way before they commit to the real deal. Like many e-mail exchanges, start at the bottom of the page and work your way up.

PS ~ Gerry McDougall was my football coach in high school



Norman,

I think it's great that Donna is down in weight, but statistics and research shows that skinny people are just as likely to get sick and injured as over weight folk if they don't exercise and eat plenty of "healthy" food. Weight Lose through "food-only-diets" causes "Bounce Back" (returned weight gain) 90% of the time after 2 to 5 years. These people often become trapped in a meal plan that isn't realistic in the real world. When I travel all over the country talking with people the emphasis is always health and strength as we age, NOT using temporary diets that cause more problems down the road. Living a healthy life and losing weight with Weight Watchers aren't the same thing. I certainly don't want to rain on Donna's parade but I've been at this for 25 years now and I've seen and heard it all thousands of times. All diets work, as long as you continue to use them. Very few people do.

TH-


On Oct 31, 2008, at 8:03 AM, Norman wrote:
God it took almost a month to answer this email…….thanks for the advice and feedback…Donna has completed her 5th week at weight watchers and is down 14 lbs as of today…this is a flipppin’ miracle and thanks again for helping jump start this………..still no luck convincing her to do ladies pushups, but a great start……congratulations on your status as an Olympian…..you should tell Gerry McDougall

From: Horton Tony
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:50 PM
To: Norman
Subject: Re: Donna and Fitness

Norman,

Nice to hear from you old friend. Also glad to hear that the family is taking care of their health from the inside out. This stuff pays off. I won a gold medal (in the 50 to 54 year old category) in 20 foot rope climbing at a senior Olympics this past Sunday. I was beating guys half my age in overall time. Weird, but very fun. I would have beaten the 1976 me easily. I tell you this partly because resistance and flexibility exercises are truly the fountain of youth. Study after study shows that cardio programs are just a small piece to the overall fitness puzzle. Several new studies are saying that as we get older we need less cardio and more residence exercise for bone density and connective tissue strength. Cardio is awesome for burning calories during exercise and also great for heart and lung strength. It also keeps your head on straight by releasing, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine into the brain. The problem is that cardio by itself can lead to joint injury, back problems and range-of-motion issues. Weight training and any kind of resistance movements (as with yoga) helps balance, coordination and burns calories for over 12 hours a day. That soreness is calories burning and muscles reshaping.

Hope this helps.

TH-

On Oct 1, 2008, at 8:59 AM, Norman Beretta wrote:


Tony,

Just a quick note to say thanks for the Power 90 CD you sent along a few months back…When we got it, Donna taped up the calendar and stared at it for about 3 months, I think trying to get through the DECIDE stage….Melissa (my 12 year old tennis player) and I have used the CD several times in conjunction with my usual workouts and her on going fitness…10 days ago Donnna went to weight watchers and has been very COMMITTED to it…she has dropped 8 lbs and continues her eklliptical training…can’t get her to understand and embrace the muscle confusion yet, but wanted you to know that even though she isn’t doing Power 90, I think it represented the push she needed to attack this her own way…I hope and pray for the day she decides to do some muscle work in addition to the cardio, but it’s a good start……..hope all’s well……thanks again

Norman

Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Skinny on Fats and Oils

Ask the average American what they know about saturated fats and cholesterol and they will tell you simply that they're bad for you and are the main causes of heart and other degenerative diseases. One would think, with the collective wisdom, that there is nothing good that can come from saturated fats and cholesterol. But – is it true? You may be surprised to find out that including some saturated fats and cholesterol in your diet is actually ESSENTIAL for your good health.

Did you know that saturated fats:

• Make up at least 50 percent of our cell membranes, providing essential rigidity and strength
• Enhance the immune system
• Help incorporate calcium into our bones
• Some have antimicrobial properties that protect us against harmful microorganisms in our digestive tracts

And cholesterol:

• Contributes to cell membrane rigidity and strength, just as saturated fats do
• Is used to make hormones that help us deal with stress, as well to make sex hormones
• Is converted to vitamin D, essential for proper growth, healthy bones, a healthy nervous system, muscle tone, and proper immune system function
• Is used to make bile, needed for digestion of fat in our foods
• Acts as an antioxidant, actually protecting us against cellular damage that leads to heart disease and cancer
• Helps protect against autoimmune disease by maintaining a healthy intestinal lining.

As you can see, saturated fat and cholesterol are needed for many vital processes. It’s when we eat damaged fats and cholesterol from foods like hydrogenated oils, pasteurized and powdered dairy products, and fried meats that injury to the walls of our blood vessels and plaque build occur – leading to cardiovascular and other diseases. Stick with foods concentrated with sources of healthy fats and/or cholesterol like avocadoes, nuts, seeds, cold pressed virgin olive oil, virgin coconut oil, red palm oil, organic eggs, chicken, and grass-fed beef. That way, you'll do your body good and keep those pipes flowing like they should.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Chat Room Throw Down

Kids,

Turns out I went off in chat last Monday night and a dear friend sent me the transcript from my rant. As I read it over I realize now that I could have been a tad kinder, but the bulk of the message is still important for people to understand. I did some editing but left most of it in intact. I'd love to hear your comments.

TH-



ALRIGHT, SIT BACK, AND RELAX.
LET'S GO OVER A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL LACK OF WILLPOWER,
AND THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE, LIKE CANI SAID, POOR PLANNING.
SHOWING UP TO A PARTY HUNGRY, NEVER A GOOD IDEA, YOU'RE SCREWED.
NOW I COULD SIT HERE AND I COULD TELL YOU LITTLE TIPS ABOUT HOW TO HELP YOU CONTROL YOUR EATING HABITS,
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR FOOD, AND I DO IT WEEK AFTER WEEK, MONTH AFTER MONTH,YEAR AFTER YEAR
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME PEOPLE (I KNOW WHO YOU ARE - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) CONTINUE TO JUST LET FOOD WIN.
AM I CORRECT?
I MEAN, YOU DO THE PROGRAMS, AND YOU COME INTO THE CHAT ROOMS AND YOU GO INTO MESSAGE BOARDS
AND YOU'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS, AND YOU LOSE SOME WEIGHT, AND GAIN IT BACK
THEN YOU LOSE SOME MORE, AND GAIN BACK MORE, AND IT'S JUST A CYCLE THAT CONTINUES.
SOMETIMES YOU TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!
SAD, BORING AND PATHETIC, REALLY...
YOU BLAME IT ON YOUR PARENTS AND YOU BLAME IT ON WORK
AND YOU BLAME IT ON STRESS
AND YOU BLAME IT ON POOR PLANNING,
OR ON THE WEATHER OR LACK OF SLEEP
AND YOU SORT OF TAKE THE BLAME, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.
I MEAN, IF IT DOESN'T MATTER
CUZ APPARENTLY IT DOESN'T
CUZ IF IT DID
THIS WOULD NO LONGER BE A PROBLEM FOR MOST OF YOU.
BUT THE SAD FACT OF THE MATTER IS, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS COMPANY IS SELLING YOU SOME SILLY WEIGHT LOSS DIET PROGRAM THAT IS ASKING YOU TO EAT FUNKY PORTIONS OF STUPID FOOD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVE TEMPTATIONS AND YOU SUCCUMB TO THEM. PERIOD.
NOW MY JOB TONIGHT IS NOT TO SIT HERE AND POINT FINGERS AND CALL YOU NAMES, AND SAY THAT YOU ARE LOSERS.
BUT IT'S TIME FOR A LITTLE TOUGH LOVE PEOPLE.
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I'M 50 AND LIFE IS EXTRAORDINARILY SHORT.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE LIVED 10 LIVES ALREADY AND AS WE ALL GET OLDER, IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER, UNLESS WE DO THE RIGHT THING.
SUCCUMBING TO TEMPTATION BASED ON OUTSIDE INFLUENCES AND INFLUENCES INSIDE OUR HEADS
JUST MAKES LIFE SUCH A DULL BORING FRUSTRATING DRAG.
ICK!
IS THIS WHAT WE WANT?
IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH?
IS IT?
BUT WHAT THE HELL YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
BECAUSE CHANGE IS A BITCH MAN.
BUT IF YOU WANT THE LIFE THAT I THINK YOU THINK YOU DESERVE, THEN YOU HAVE TO DO THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
CUZ I GOTTA SAY, WHEN I SHOW UP TO EVENTS (TEAM BEACHBODY EVENTS OR CAMPS) AND I SEE PEOPLE WHO USED TO BE FIT WHO AREN'T, I JUST THINK, WHAT HAPPENED?
AND I KNOW THE ECONOMY IS ROUGH AND THINGS HAPPEN IN LIFE THAT ARE BRUTAL, BUT SINCE WHEN DOES FOOD SOLVE ANY OF OUR PROBLEMS?
IT MAKES THINGS WORSE!
WE NEED SOMETHING TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD FOR 10 SECONDS, BUT ALL IT'S DOING IS MAKING OUR SITUATION WORSE!
[LisaErin82] Tony__how did you get into fitness? what keeps you going day in and day out? do you take 'breaks' throughout the year?
LISA, GOOD QUESTION.
WHICH TIES INTO THIS TOPIC.
BECAUSE I HAVE TO!
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO!
BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE SUCKS!
MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CHAT ROOM KNOW THAT IT’S TOO VITAL, IT'S TOO IMPORTANT.
IT MAKES LIFE SO MUCH BETTER. NOT TO DO IT MAKES FOR A LESSER LIFE.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND YOUR LESSER LIFE KEEP ON EATING CRAP BASED ON ALL YOUR LAME EXCUSES.
I GOT INTO FITNESS BECAUSE I WANTED TO LOOK BETTER, I STAYED IN FITNESS BECAUSE I LIKE FEELING BETTER.
I LIKE THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE TO IMPROVE, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT EXERCISE AND EATING RIGHT DOES THAT.
I LIKE BEING FIT AND I LIKE BEING HEALTHY.
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE THINGS
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT TO ACHIEVE THEM, I HAVE TO EAT RIGHT AND EXERCISE AT LEAST 6 DAYS A WEEK
MY POOR EATING HAS DIMINISHED LESS AND LESS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
I'VE ALMOST CUT CHOCOLATE OUT. WHICH IS HARD FOR ME.
I NOTICE THAT WHEN I GET TO THAT ROUGH PATCH OF 2 OR 3 WEEKS WHEN I'M TRYING TO GET OFF OF ANY KIND OF A PARTICULAR BAD FOOD HABIT THE CRAVINGS GO AWAY AND I FEEL BETTER MORE OFTEN.
I SLEEP BETTER.
MY DIGESTION IS BETTER.
MY ENERGY IS UP.
MY MOODS ARE UPBEAT AND POSITIVE MORE OFTEN.
BTW, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH YOUR DIET (WHICH I KNOW IS PROBABLY MORE THAN 11 OF YOU)
IF YOU NOTICE YOU'RE STRUGGLING IN LIFE, GUESS WHAT?
THAT STRUGGLE COMES WITH WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH FIRST, NOT VISA VERSA
ONE CAUSES THE OTHER.
IT'S NOT COINCIDENCE THAT YOUR WACK DIET IS PART OF YOUR WACK LIFE.
EVERYBODY READ ME?
HEARING ME?
FEELING ME?
ANYBODY THINK I'M TALKING TO THEM DIRECTLY?
HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
KINDA CRAPPY, RIGHT?
AS DR. PHIL WOULD SAY
HOW'S THAT WORKING OUT FOR YOU?
WHEN THIS CHAT IS OVER TONIGHT I WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY WITH SOME THOUGHTS IN YOUR HEAD THAT MIGHT NOT EXIST AFTER A NORMAL CHAT.
ONE THOUGHT OR QUESTION I SHOULD SAY IS... WHAT AM I GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
YOU'RE JUST LETTING LIFE PUSH YOU AROUND.
SUPER LEAN, SUPER RIPPED, SUPER HEALTHY, SUPER STRONG PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
PEOPLE THAT ARE PRETTY RIPPED, PRETTY HEALTHY, PRETTY STRONG, DO MOST THINGS RIGHT
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT, NOT UNHEALTHY, BUT LOOK OK DO ABOUT HALF OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS RIGHT.
I COULD KEEP GOING BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M HEADED.
3 MONTHS AGO, I WAS DOING MY 90/10 % PLAN AND THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD, YOU KNOW, 6 PACK, ETC.
BUT WHEN I CLEANED IT UP MORE, I'M JUST LEANER AND I FEEL BETTER.
IT WORKED FOR ME
AND I DON'T MISS THE CHOCOLATE.
YOU KIDS NEED A PLAN.
ANYBODY WANT A PLAN RIGHT NOW?
FREE OF CHARGE?
NOW THIS PLAN IS SO SIMPLE IT'S GONNA FREAK YOU OUT!
YOU HAVE YOUR PIECES OF PAPER AND WRITING UTENSILS READY?
AT THE TOP OF A PIECE OF PAPER WRITE THIS;
I, [WRITE YOUR OWN NAME] HEREBY DECLARE THAT I WILL FOLLOW THE TONY HORTON FOOD PLAN FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU KIDS THE HARD CORE VERSION NOT MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE FOOD PLAN.
OK, PICK UP YOUR PENCILS AGAIN.
#1
FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS I WILL NOT EAT WHITE BREAD OR ANYTHING MADE WITH ENRICHED FLOUR OR PROCESSED FLOUR
SNICKERS BARS.
DONE!
OUT!
GONE!
BYE BYE!
SEE YA LATER!
NO MAS!
SIANARA!
GOT IT?
GET IT?
DO IT!
#2
I WILL GREATLY REDUCE MY DIARY INTAKE.
AND FOR SOME OF YOU NO MORE DIARY!
GET IT?
DO IT!
NO MORE PIZZA WITH A TON OF CHEESE!
NO MORE MILK!
NO MORE ICE CREAM!
GONE!
OUT!
GO BUY SOME ALMOND MILK OR RICE MILK.
OR I'LL SMACK YA.
#3
NO MORE CARBONATED BEVERAGES.
NO MORE PEPSI.
NO MORE COKE.
NO MORE 7 UP.
NO MORE SPRITE.
NO MORE DR. PEPPER.
NO MORE DIET PEPSI.
NO MORE DIET COKE.
NO MORE ZERO COKE.
NO MORE MOUNTAIN DEW.
NONE!
#4
WATER AND TEA ONLY!
IF YOU'RE A COFFEE PSYCHO, 1 CUP A DAY.
SHUT UP AND DO IT!
#5
AT LEAST 2 OF YOUR MEALS A DAY THERE'D BETTER BE VEGETABLES ON YOUR PLATE.
1 MEAL A DAY, THERE'D BETTER BE FRUIT.
DO IT
#6
HERE'S HOW YOU'RE GETTING YOUR PROTEIN.
NUTS, BEANS, FISH, TURKEY, AND CHICKEN.
THAT'S IT!
SHUT UP AND DO IT!
GET OFF THE RED MEAT FOR A WHILE.
OFF!
I DON'T CARE ABOUT LEAN RED MEAT.
JUST GET OFF OF IT!
#7
FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF YOUR 30 DAY PLAN
WRITE IT DOWN!
WRITE IT DOWN!
EVERY MORSEL!
"OH, BUT TONY, THAT'S SO HARD, IT TAKES TIME, WHAT IF I FORGET A PEN? WHAT IF I'VE LOST MY PAD OF PAPER TO WRITE DOWN WHAT I'VE EATEN? DOES THAT MEAN I HAVE TO WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING IN MY SALAD? WHAT IF THERE'S AVOCADO, PEPPERS, MUSHROOMS, NUTS, IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF SALAD, DO I HAVE TO WRITE IT ALL DOWN?"
SHUT UP YOU WHINY LITTLE BI*****!
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE LARGE AND YOU WANT THIS MICROSCOPICALLY SHORT LIFE OF YOURS TO BE WORTH SHOWING UP FOR
THEN YOU'LL MAKE A PLAN.
YOU'LL DO WHAT I SAY AND THINGS WILL BE GOOD!
OR YOU'LL KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND THEN YOU'LL JUST BE WHAT YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, OR WORSE.
OKAY?
THIS COUNTRY HAS TURNED INTO PRE-ROME, AND THE EMPIRE'S ABOUT TO COLLAPSE.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BEGIN TO TURN IT AROUND IS TO START TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES FIRST, SO THAT WE HAVE THE ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF THE CRAP THAT IS GOING SOUTH IN OUR LIVES.
POOR EATING HABITS AND LACK OF PHYSICAL MOVEMENT HAS TURNED THE VAST MAJORITY OF US INTO WHINY LITTLE CRY BABY LOSERS.
FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THIS STATE OF QUIET DESPERATION.
IT'S LIKE JOE THE PLUMBER...
GOOD GRIEF!
THE GUY, AND NOT TO GET POLITICAL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT POLITICAL AT ALL.
HERE'S A GUY PRETENDING TO BE A PLUMBER
WHEN HE'S ACTUALLY AN UNLICENSED CONTRACTOR WHO DOES PLUMBING, PROCLAIMING THAT HE HAS THE MONEY TO BUY THIS $250,000 PLUMBING BUSINESS, WHEN IN ACTUALITY THE PLUMBING BUSINESS IS ACTUALLY A $100,000 PLUMBING BUSINESS. HE STILL OWES BACK TAXES AND HE MAKES LESS THAN $40k A YEAR. JOE IS MAKING THINGS UP TO MAKE A POINT.
SO JOE THE PLUMBER NEEDS TO READ LAW #5
GET REAL JOE!
WE HAVE TO STOP PRETENDING THAT LIFE IS SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING TO US.
THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED IS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES. THE ONE THAT IS HAPPENING, NOT THE PRETEND ONE.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR EATING.
WE HAVE TO STOP THE FANTASY VERSION AND START BELIEVING IN THE REAL ONE.
WE HAVE TO STOP PRETENDING THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER BECAUSE WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW CRYSTAL, OR OUR PALM READING WENT WELL, OR SOMEBODY ELSE'LL DO IT FOR US, OR IF WE JUST HOPE OR PRAY IT'LL GET BETTER ON ITS OWN.
GOOD GRIEF!
IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY, IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU!
IT'S JUST YOU.
YOU AND NO ONE ELSE.
NOT YOUR HUSBAND, NOT YOUR WIFE.
NOT GOD.
NOT YOUR PARENTS.
NOT YOUR WORK.
NOT THE WEATHER.
NONE OF IT.
IT'S YOU AND THE INFORMATION OR LACK THEREOF, INSIDE YOUR BRAIN.
THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU CAN DO
I CAN GET IN HERE AND SHOW YOU LITTLE TRICKS ABOUT HOW TO EAT BETTER OR DO PUSHUPS ON YOUR KNEES BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS SUCCESS IS A DEEPER MORE PROFOUND LOOK WITHIN.
ARE YOU WITH ME PEOPLE?
CAN YOU DIG IT?
IF YOU STICK WITH THE SIMPLE PIECES TO THAT PUZZLE OR THAT PLAN, WEIGHT WILL COME FLYING OFF.
YOUR BODY WILL CHANGE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO COUNT CALORIES.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EAT SMALLER MEALS.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO NOT EAT A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THERE'S A LIST IN LIFE.
THE GOOD LIFE LIST
THINGS LIKE;
GETTING 7 1/2 TO 8 HOURS OF SLEEP. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE TO PASS AN EXAM TO KNOW HOW TO DO THAT
EXERCISE 5_6 DAYS A WEEK. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR PERMISSION FROM SOMEONE ELSE.
YOU JUST DO IT!
EATING FRUITS, VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS, AND LEAN PROTEIN AND NOT ALL THE OTHER GARBAGE IS HOW YOU STAY HEALTHY.
THAT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE BRUSH YOUR DAMN TEETH TWICE A DAY.
FLOSS ONCE IN A WHILE.
DON'T BLOW OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD SO YOU CAN'T PAY IT OFF.
CHOOSE PATIENCE OVER RAGE.
BE IN THE MOMENT.
ENJOY THE JOURNEY.
DON'T BE ATTACHED TO THE OUTCOME.
DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF, BECAUSE IT'S ALL SMALL STUFF.
OPEN THE DOOR.
TRY NEW THINGS.
CHANGE IS GOOD.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LIKE_MINDED, UPBEAT, GOOD HUMORED PEOPLE.
OKAY, HERE'S THE BOOK OF THE WEEK
IT'S CALLED "MADE TO STICK"
THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU FORMULATE NEW HABITS, THAT STICK.
THE AMAZING THING ABOUT EXERCISE AND EATING WELL...THE OUTCOME. IF YOU'RE CONSISTENT.
IT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.
I KNOW I GOT ON MY BOX NICE AND TALL HERE TODAY BUT I JUST HATE SEEING SMART PEOPLE MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT'S GOT TO BE FRUSTRATING.
WHEN IT COME TO HEALTH AND FITNESS (IN GENERAL) THERE’S 3 GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
THE FIRST GROUP IS, PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW BETTER.
THEY HAVEN'T COME ACROSS THIS INFORMATION YET. THEY'RE STILL BUYING INTO WEIGHT WATCHERS, NUTRISYSTEM, HERBAL LIFE AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WORK AS LONG AS YOU USE THEM.
BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN DOING WEIGHT WATCHERS FOR 15 YEARS.
THEY’RE "WEIGHT LOSS ONLY" PRODUCTS THAT ARE TEMPORARY FIXES.
THESE SAME FOLKS ARE BUYING STUPID AB CHAIRS, AB LOUNGES AND SOME ROTATING PUSHUP STANDS. THIS STUFF IS SUPPOSED TO CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE BODY?
GIVE ME A BREAK!
THEY DON'T KNOW BETTER SO THEY GET TO BE STUCK.
THEN THERE'S CATEGORY 2
PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AND UNDERSTAND THAT EXERCISE HAS TO HAPPEN 5_6 DAYS A WEEK. VARIETY WORKS!
THERE HAS TO BE INTENSITY AND CONSISTENCY.
THESE PEOPLE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT HEALTHY FOOD IS PART OF THE EQUATION. WHEN FOLKS IN CATEGORY 2 DISCOVER THIS INFORMATION THEY UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANCE LIKE AIR AND WATER AND LIVE IT.
FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE (THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT ARE IN THIS CHAT ROOM) ARE IN CATEGORY 3
PEOPLE WHO KNOW BETTER BUT AREN'T WILLING TO APPLY THE INFORMATION.
IT'S LIKE KNOWING HOW TO BREATHE BUT DECIDING TO CONSTANTLY HOLD YOUR BREATH TO BE MISERABLE.
IT'S SUCH A BUMMER.

THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE THE SADDEST OF ALL.
NOT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BUT FROM THEIR OWN.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE IT MAKES SENSE TO ANYONE IN HERE?
[Neeeena] If I say "yes" will you not call us b*tches anymore?
NEEENA, I'LL CALL YOU WHAT I WANT :)
AND I MEAN IT IN THE NICEST MOST LOVING CARING POSSIBLE WAY.
AND LIKE DR. PHIL WOULD SAY
SO HOW'S THAT GOING FOR YOU?
[Neeeena] ok then dude, you're getting a "nice and most loving caring " email.
SO WE KNOW OUR PLAN, CORRECT?
WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, RIGHT?
WE'RE GONNA DO IT RIGHT?
WHY NOT?
THE END RESULT WILL BE AWESOME!
YOU CAN ALL HAVE WHAT I HAVE AND I'M NOT THAT SMART.
I JUST FOLLOW THE RULES.
I'M LIKE SCOTT FIFER.
JUST FOLLOW THE RULES
ALRIGHT, KIDS, THAT'S IT
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
THAT'S IT, I'M OUT
GOODNIGHT EVERYONE
SEEYA IN 2 WEEKS

Saturday, October 04, 2008

In Chuck's Words

In my previous post I talked about the incredible Team BeachBody business opportunity. This time I want to share a post from the Team BeachBody message boards from coach Chuck Waterman. Chuck has made great strides with his health and fitness and is now building his business. Chuck's words below reveal what happens when a man decides to become a better man.

T. Horton


Those that believe they can, and those that believe they cannot, are both right.
- Henry Ford

I have really had to read this quote a few times to grasp what it was trying to say to me. One can look at this quote very superficially and come to an easy conclusion about positive though and its impression on the human psyche. I do not think it ends there. I believe, at least for me, that it goes much deeper than that. To me, it comes down to being a loser or a failure.

I can say with all sincerity that I have failed far more than I have succeeded in my life. I am cool with it, not damaged a darn bit. However, when I looked back there was more than one occasion when I was nothing but a loser. And yes, one of those times was right around January of 2007. I was at my heaviest weight, depressed, irritable and physically and mentally inept. Now those things alone did not make me a loser nor does it anyone else. What made me a loser was my lack of belief that change could happen and that my circumstances were everyone else?s fault.

Not one damn person stuffed that garbage into my mouth repeatedly. Nobody ever told me that I was headed down a very bad path health-wise. It is not their job and it is not their life. Losers make excuses. Losers hold others accountable for their own actions. Losers look for a remedy without a journey or a plan. Losers use their environment as a crutch to lean on. They have a very egocentric view that they are owed something on the basis of who they are. Sound harsh? Well it is, because losers don't face facts they turn their backs on them. How do I know? I know because I have done it...ALL OF IT!! I am a recovering loser! There I admitted it... Hello, my name is Chuck and I used to be a loser.

Hi, Chuck.., the loser support group shouts.

People always relate failure to being a loser. As if failing is a negative thing. Do not misunderstand me if you fail to realize that climbing Everest is dangerous, that can quickly turn into a negative. On the other hand, failing to do the same number of pushups as your intended goal is NOT a negative thing. I have said it before, if you are not failing in your exercise program you are not setting your goals high enough. Failure is a great thing to have. You learn, you grow, you accept the things you cannot change for that moment in time. Failure leads to a belief that eventually you will overcome.

Think about your goals for whatever program you are on. For example, Joe Smith says he wants to lose 30 pounds and run a 9 minute mile. Joe Smith on day one is a failure... he's no lighter than the day before and he?s running at only a 15 minute pace. What makes him not be a loser is that he pushed play that day. He ran as hard as he could for that workout. He supplied his body with the best fuel he could manage to find for that day. He examines the failure as a positive thing and moves forward because he has a belief that eventually he can. Losers give up, eat crappy food anyway because it doesn?t really matter. Losers think that his 9 minute mile is just a pipe dream and it would take forever to lose 30 pounds. People that are failures have no deadlines, no end game in sight. The finish line is always in the future and always just out of reach to make way for something better. People with a loser mentality a begging for the last day to arrive. Once they hit that, they can stop and relax. Losers miss the point. They are waiting for the chance to hold up for just a second. As Tony Horton so eloquently puts it, There is no just a second.

All I can keep saying is embrace your failures. I think you are awesome because you fail!! For the simple reason, that you keep showing up. You are a believer that you can change. You are not a loser, no matter what others may think. You have decided to make changes that sometimes lead to failure. How bold are you for just doing that?!! You have laid it all out on the line and are willing to accept ANYTHING that might happen...losers don?t do that. Losers believe they never will. Failures believe they could not for that moment but eventually will overcome. I believe in you and this community believes in you. There is no time limit and there are no ordinary moments. Step by step and failure by failure you will become, through belief, anything you set you mind too.

All my very best,
Chuck

Chuck Waterman
Team Beachbody Emerald Coach
cwaterman@ymail.com
www.beachbodycoach.com/cwaterman