It's Personal

Do you have what it takes?

admin@UltraFitClinic.com — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:42:32 GMT

This is just a reminder to step up your game to meet your expectations. We try so hard to to make ourselves believe we are putting forth the effort needed to get the job done but truth be told we often fool ourselves into thinking we are working hard towards our goals when we are painfully missing our mark.

All of our clients reach their goals when they put everything they have into getting there. Your goal does not have to be unrealistic. If your goal is to promote healthy habits, stay active and live a disease free lifestyle then your training and nutrition may be different from someone who is trying to optimize their performance for sport. As such, only you know what you want and what you are willing to do to get there. But don't fool yourself into thinking you are doing something if you are not. Accept who you are or develop the discipline to change into what you want to be. And remember, health and fitness is a lifelong journey not a race.

When I was young, I joined one of the first health clubs chains in Chicago back in 1976. I had watched the guys who trained there since the 60's and 70's. I used to pass the gym on my way to the ice cream parlor and think that I wanted to do what they do. We all look at others and say we want what they have but are we willing to do what they did to get there? I started my health and fitness journey at age 13 and have changed paths along the way many times and always found a way to progress and to become energized in everything I do. I saw what others had achieved and was willing to put in the time and sacrifice to get there. When I don't prioritize my goals, I don't achieve them. It's that simple. We can lead you but you have to decide what your level of energy and desire is. You will get what you put in to your training, nutrition and overall health.

One of the ways we can energize ourselves is to observe others and to watch things that make us feel good about what we are doing. I used to like to watch many of the Rocky movies and still do. There was something in the intensity of the training that I always liked. Now when I watch it I know what it was, Rocky did CrossFit style routines. He used old school tools to get fit and made whole body workouts his main training. Beating on large sides of beef, lifting heavy barbells overhead, running fast and sprinting through the city, chopping down trees and lifting large barrels... He was a CrossFitter at heart. This has been the way I trained for many years before I new what CrossFit was. So get energized, recommit and focus on your goals. Here is a little old school incentive to get you there:

Give Me Your Best

admin@UltraFitClinic.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:32:25 GMT

I always run across individuals who want more without having to work for it. It is a natural reaction to see what is available and want to take the fastest route to get to it, but often we think that somehow we can shortcut the journey.

The reality is that there are no long-term permanent shortcuts to your health and fitness goals. But there is science, knowledge and discipline which will help you get there as fast and as safely as possible to provide lasting results. As I keep telling everyone, it is all about the intensity of the effort. Watch this video and ask yourself if you are putting your best effort into everything you do including your health and fitness:

I don't have time to workout...

admin@UltraFitClinic.com — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:41:50 GMT

Image via Wikipedia

If I only had a nickel for every time I hear this. What you really mean is you don't want to work out because it competes with other things you want to do and need to do and this one feels like it is hard in comparison to everything else you do. This is the same reason people eat poorly instead of trying to cook and eat healthy.

It's not that you don't have time, even President Obama has time to work out. Some of the CEO's of the largest corporations find time to workout. Everyone has time if they want to make time.

What constitutes making time? Is is 20 minutes? One hour? More? It is whatever you feel comfortable with, as any movement is better than none. Although you need larger blocks of time to create a high level of fitness, you need very limited discreet amounts of time to reduce risk of disease and promote good health and wellness. According to the American College of Sports Medicine and the Surgeon General, this could be as little as 10 minutes 3 times a day.

Just walking after a meal can make a dramatic difference in your glucose uptake and fat storage mechanisms. When coupled with some reasonably decent eating habits, your health risk profile can improve dramatically.

So even if you don't join a gym just go out and move for a few minutes. And if you do join a gym, there are many ways to get in and out in less than 30 minutes. If you have a little discipline and desire you can achieve surprising fitness with very little time by knowing how to make science work for you rather than against you. We are even working on a 10 minute routine that will knock your socks off. It is not for everyone, but for those who wish to put in the effort, extraordinary returns can be had with some very short time periods each day. It's not the 80's anymore, why train like it is? Find somebody who has the scientific and medical knowledge to know how to create health gains by optimizing your body chemistry through movement and nutrition. In the end, it's all about the hormones and creating a youthful environment inside your body.

Breakfast

admin@UltraFitClinic.com — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:08:08 GMT

Image by 3liz4 via Flickr

Ok, I have to tell everyone that health is not just for you but it is for those around you also. How many of you make sure that your kids have clean clothes? Get to school and get good grades? Learn their ABC's, math and everything in between? How about the virtues of learning to play an instrument? It is all good for them, right?

Now they ask for breakfast and what do you feed them? Eggos? Toast and butter? How about some cereal you think is good because those honest cereal companies put a label on the box that says so? Well, why should you look,? Cereal is quick and easy and you might discover something bad and you might feel guilty for serving it right?

You are likely pumping your kid full of glucose before rushing them out the door so they can get to school and you to work. Glucose gives you energy but your body does not use it to grow or make important hormones, enzymes and antibodies. You need proteins and fats for cellular reproduction. The glucose is just the fuel to make that happen. The brain, bones and muscles can't grow and develop on glucose.

Make some eggs. They can be purchased in cartons and micro-waved or put in a frying pan in 5 minutes. Throw some peanut or almond butter, (organic of course) on that toast and make sure it is whole grain. Serve some oatmeal, steel cut or rolled, not instant. Some fruit and peanut butter, even last night's chicken breast if they will eat it is a better alternative. How about some low fat-low sugar yogurt, a fruity protein shake, get the blender out and experiment. Try some unsalted raw nuts. Make some healthy oatmeal and protein cookies with natural fruit sweeteners. Search the Internet and you will find lots of recipes. Stay away from the juice except for very small quantities. Without the fiber, It is fruit reduced to plain sugar and will cause a bad insulin spike. Serve the fruit instead in its natural form, but cut it up first, the smaller the better. Kids don't like to eat whole fruit but they love it when it's already cut and prepared as a finger food. Try an experiment. Leave a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter for a week and see if anyone eats it. Then try cutting all the fruit up into a fruit salad and see how fast it disappears.

Even if you don't care about your health, you must care about the well being of your children. There are only 3 things of any real value you can give your kids before they become adults: Your love, education and health. If they enter adulthood without those they will be crippled for life. Don't be lazy, love yourself and your children and give everyone the best chance to be at their optimal performance each day.