Be a caterpillar: Train Quietly...Perform Loudly

Most people notice butterflies. Lovely little creature with gossamer wings, a tapestry of brilliant colors arranged so uniquely that it reminds us how beautifully created the universe is. Kids chase butterflies, and there are even museum exhibits dedicated to observing various species of butterflies in all the opulence.

Oddly enough butterflies have a short ass life span.

The caterpillar however is the real genius behind this insect. The butterfly spends 90% of its life as a caterpillar. It in this stage that the butterfly builds its body up for life as the ephemeral insect. The caterpillar plods along eating dirt and plants. It is the unsung hero that keeps on drudging along until it is time for it be cocoon itself into its next phase of evolution.

Training is much like that. Everyone wants to show off the hot abs, tight butts, bulging biceps, in essence-be a butterfly. But few are willing to cocoon themselves in hard work, sweat, strict diet, and consistent training in order to emerge as one. Most people would rather take short cuts into the butterfly stage but they, like the real butterfly, will have a short life span before the fat packs on again until they get back on the next new crash product that slimmed them down so fast in the first place. However, those of us who plodded along with heavy weights, lung-searing metcons, opting for healthier snacks, and taking the night off to rest instead of the wild night of drinking, can emerge from our cocoons brilliantly in all seasons. You will be a force to be reckoned with.

Same goes with any other goal. If you lock yourself down and put in the work now, when your season comes, all the world can't help but notice how excellent you are, and people who didn't notice you before, will chase you like the kids in the field.

So be a caterpillar-train quietly so you can perform loudly. And the world will notice.

It has begun!!!!

2009 is here, Zombie Fitness goes Weapon X!!!

Happy New Year to everyone.

That Time of Year!

It’s that time of year again (or should is say end of year). It is one of the beauties of life, the human idea that no matter what we have done, how badly we have screwed up, or veered off our path, there is always a chance to start over and try again. There is always a new hour, day, week, or year just ahead for us to pull our heads out of our asses, and try something different. Or achieve our goals. Or live the life we want to live. Is it easy? No of course not, but like I’ve said before, nothing really worth having is easy now is it? Besides if it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and we don’t want to be like everyone else, do we?

So take this time to think about what it is you want. How do you want your life to be? Do you want to muddle through in mediocrity, doing just enough to get by or do you want to be a strong ass, pipe-hittin’, fire-breathing, BAMF (bad-ass-mother fucker)? The only person you have to answer to is the one staring you in the mirror at night, but are you going to like what he or she will say? If not, a new dawn is on the horizon just waiting for you to come and greet it head on. Care to join us?

IT'S COMING!!!!

Prepare yourself!!!

Success Leaves Clues

Tony Robbins is a great and inspiring motivational speaker. He made a great point in this clip-"Success leaves clues. Why reinvent the wheel?" As we near the end of 08 and begin 2009, it's important to take inventory of the important accomplishments that you've made: Did you hit your target weight? Did you improve on your lifts? Did you make and break PRS? Are you on the brink of making a career change or leaving that dead-end job? Are you in a healthier relationship? If so, then you have a good blue print from which to build from in making the next year even more successful. But if, like so many others you haven't, then it's time to make a new plan of attack-and more importantly see it through!

Whether it's getting in shape or getting a business together, it's important that you possess a clear and focused goal of what you want to accomplish. A goal without a number is just an idea. It's not enough to say you want to lose weight-how much and how soon? These targets give you something concrete to aim for.

The next habit of successful people is that they get a map-know where you'd like to go but be open to having that journey take new and unexpected turns. Replicate the success of someone is doing what you want to do-no need to reinvent the wheel when you can have a concrete example of someone doing what you want to do. Then take it a step further and get a mentor-nothing makes a trip faster than a guide. He knows the best way and all the cool shortcuts that his experiences taught him that he can now give you to get you to your destination faster. Being a trainer, I've had the pleasure of taking a client who thought they had one set of goals and opening their eyes to even more and exciting ones.

Lastly, get out of your own way. Learn to divorce yourself from the words "I can't", or the phrase "But I'm just not...(fill in your own blank. You can have a great map , sharp mentor, and still not accomplish a damn thing unless you ultimately believe you can succeed. Be willing to tell yourself you have what it takes to get there and that's 80% of the battle. We'll take care of the 20%.

See you at the rack.

Here's my Farm!!!

First off, the video for today has nothing to do with today’s post. It’s just a hilarious clip and I can watch it for hours, and it cracks me up every time. So I’m sharing it with the world. Now, on to today’s topic.

ABOUT CONFIDENCE:

I’ve always been a “shit talker”. Nothing mean or malicious, just some good natured ribbing. Whether it’s my sports teams, a game of Trivial Pursuit, or while being down in the trenches during football, I was always popping a little junk out of my mouth. It wasn’t that I thought I was better than anyone else, but hell, life, especially sports and entertainment, should be fun.

But don’t confuse this with confidence. Confidence is something different. To me, confidence is a belief in yourself, and the ability to do something. It is an important aspect in one’s life, especially when it comes to health and fitness. To me as a coach, instilling confidence in someone is one of our main jobs. It is as essential as teaching a proper squat, snatch, or pull-up. I’m not saying that we have to be one of these touchy-feely, new-age gurus, but if we aren’t helping people mentally as well as physically, then we are only doing part of out jobs. And the fact is, if a person doesn’t have some level of self-confidence, they are never going to get that squat down, no matter how excellent our coaching is.

There are a number of ways to build confidence in someone. It can be pushing them when they don’t think they can do it, but you know they can. It can be drilling the same movement over and over again until they know it in their sleep. Or it can be simply just encouraging them and finding the one thing right they are doing while doing 99 other things incorrectly. Sure we correct the mistakes, but we over exaggerate the positive. Myself, I was taught using old school methods of tearing someone down, to build them back up. This can be very effective, as long as we remember the “build them back up” part. All too often this step is ignored, and we wonder why so many people don’t seem to grow past a certain point in their training.

True self confidence comes from the idea that no matter what shit life shovels your way, you are going to do whatever it takes to continue to do the best that you can. You may not always be first or win the prize, but know that you gave it your best. As coaches, and really just as people in general, we should strive to do instill this each time we are teaching. Because if and when the Zombie Horde is on your ass, what type of person do you want covering it?

Poppin' the undead off!!!!

LEAD FARMER MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!