RUNNIN' LIKE A DOG

When I completed my regular stretching routine this morning, I walked out into our beautiful garden to take in what was turning out to be one of those glorious high desert fall days. I thought, What a day to go to the track! I immediately called my life long bud, Jim, he instantly changed his plans, and we were on.

We met at the Santa Fe High School track an hour later for a bout of interval training. Jim had to be at a wedding in less than two hours, so we decided on sprinting repeat short distances at a fast rate. Well, fast for two dudes in their mid sixties.

As usual, my other best friend was tagging and wagging along---my Labradoodle, Howdy (Howdy Doodle). To say the least, he is exuberant about life. I was watching the joy on his face as he ran circles around us. I was thinking, why can't I be that happy with such a simple pleasure?

And then it occured to me that I absolutely was that happy, that joyful. I was outside in the warm New Mexico sun, with my two best friends, running and laughing and getting ecstatically breathless. I was adding so much to my well-being on so many levels, and it didn't cost a dime.

That was what I was talking about in an earlier posting when I said exercise routines need to be fun, not really routine at all. Now, I know that every trip to the gym or every time you push "Play" on your remote to fire up your current exercise video is not going to bring this level of satisfaction. However, if you are not at least approaching this cheerful state at least 25% of the time, I suggest you give some serious thought to what types of recreation (read re-creation) you can do for yourself that will provide the exercise you need for the body, while tickling those powerful intangibles that make you really, really happy. Even it is just for a few minutes each week, it is just flat out good for the whole being. And, it is so motivational to keeping up the good work. Kinda like when I scratch Howdy behind the ears and say "good boy!"

It is clear that I am just starting out with this blog and it is important to me from the beginning that all who come to this site believe in my sincerity and enthusiasm for helping folks get "Fit For The Ages". I will not endorse any product that I do not personally have the utmost faith in based on in depth research and personal testing. In fact most of my postings will have nothing to do with endorsements of any kind. There are just a few products with which I feel nearly everyone would benefit. I would be short changing my readers if I did not mention them.

That said, I am dying to tell you about my love affair with my TRX.

If I were on a desert island, I would definitely want to have my TRX.

In fact, it is far and away the most important item in my exercise tool kit. Weighing less than two pounds, I can take it anywhere and, trust me, I do.

So, just what is a TRX?

Well, it is an elegantly simple apparatus designed by a Navy Seal. Don't get nervous, most anyone can easily use and benefit greatly from it. With this single piece of equipment you can perform over 240 body weight exercises. It is great for strength, balance, cardio and core conditioning.

It is essentially a glorified parachute strap with adjustable handles that you can throw over a door or around a beam or tree limb and get a great whole body workout where ever you are. Instead of me reinventing the wheel trying to describe it in detail, please click on the TRX banner on this blog for all the information you need to decide if it is for you. Please do not be put off by the youth and conditioning of the subjects you see on this site. I promise you, if you are not paralyzed, you can use this piece of equipment.

I use my TRX almost daily, as do most of my clients. Whether they are a 400 pound woman just starting back on a healthy lifestyle, an 82 year old man, or very fit and strong athletes, (these are folks I have personally trained using the TRX) they all receive optimal benefits in all areas of conditioning.

So, check it out and give it a shot. There is a money back guarantee.

This is one of those things where, after you try it, you are likely to slap your forehead and say, "Wow! How simple, why didn't I think of that". I know I wish I did.

Yours in health,


Walt

What do you want from the time you invest in your workouts?

My criteria are as follows:

1. Safe. If I get injured, it is a major drag on my progress, my motivation and my enjoyment, which brings me to my second priority.
2. Fun. If my workout is not fun, I can guarantee you, I will not keep it up.
3. Effective. If I am not seeing the results I planned or dreamed of, this is also very discouraging and, therefore, not fun.
4. Efficient. If I start spending vast quantities of time in my workouts, my family, friends, and career let me know in no uncertain terms; and, long workouts usually mean I am not getting the most out of each session.

If I can fulfill these simple four criteria in each of the protocols I design---whether for me or my clients---I feel it is a job well done. For new clients, all I need is just a little information on general health, life style, goals (weight loss, general fitness, training for an event from a fun run to a triathlon to strength training), and current level of fitness, and then I am off and running, so to speak.

Let's look at each of the four criteria individually.

1. Safe. In order to meet this criteria, I must know what physical limitations you may have, and your current level of conditioning. I have a form that we can fill out together in less than 10 minutes. That is usually sufficient, but if there are any indications that I should confer with your physician before we begin, I would ask for your clearance to do so---your safety and health being paramount.
2. Fun. I will want to know what you really enjoy doing and then try to incorporate the workout routine with those favorites. I have designed routines around gardening, cooking, and even reading! Yes, you will get out of breath from time to time, but only to the peak of it being a pleasant and invigorating sensation. There is no need to feel that you have been brought to the edge of death in order to receive marked benefit.
3. Effective. If the program is going to be effective for you, we will have to look at your specific goals ( if you do not have any concrete goals, I can help here too) and then we will agree on the level of exertion that will be required to achieve those goals on a timely basis.
4. Efficient. While a good program requires daily attention---OK, at least 6 days per week--- I will not be recommending more than 30 to 45 minutes per session. I guarantee that you will feel sufficiently "worked-out" and surprisingly refreshed in that amount of time. Also, with just this level of commitment, you will see astonishing results.

So, where do we go from here? As I said in my first post, I am very new to this whole blogging thing. ( I know, I know, I promised a picture in my first blog, and I still promise it will be up soon. ) Anyway, until I get the hang of this stuff, and since I want to be very "hands-on" with each client, (I am not sure that came out just right!) I suggest we correspond by email to get the necessary information. I will then design the program and be with you each step of the way as you implement it on your own. You will be able to tell me immediately what works for you and what you would rather eat worms than do one more time. By this process, we can refine the program until it is humming your tune and the results start mounting.

Yours in health,

Walt