Learning to do what's important

Thanks Tom. We have plans for another event like the TSC. Will keep you all posted. Cheers mate and congrats on #3!!

Hey Rick, I know the story - just had baby #3 - so training / health takes a back seat. I guess for you motivation is the key. You know how to train - so it's just about making the time, setting goals, and just doing it! I do short workouts 15-30 min daily: whatever I can fit in. I guess you just have to do what works for you! We haven't had a good challenge for awhile? TSC? you were great at this- chin up master!! Anyway good luck! Do what makes you happy and feel good!
Cheers Tom.

Inspirational Frank! What's a typical workout entail?

Rick,

I work 10-hour days Monday-Friday, and work 10-hour days on both Saturday and Sunday every second week, and train for 30 minutes with the kettlebells at 5:00 am every second day in my garage gym. I am fitter today at 61years of age than when I was 18 and competed in olympic weightlifting comps. KBs are fantastic - anerobic and aerobic exercises in one workout - twice the benefit in half the time.

Suggest people read Pavel Tsatsouline's books for motivation.

Regards,

Frank Wade

Thanks for the kick in the bum. I felt a bit snowed under tonight with dishes, dinner, all the usual jazz and didn't think I'd get to do a bit of exercise, which seems to be a nearly daily affair lately. After reading this I got my determination back - 10 minutes with KBs is worth every second.

Thanks for all your comments guys. Looks like a common problem in the industry.

I know I just need to get back to the basics- lift heavy things off the ground and put heavy things overhead. The rest will take care of itself.

Anyway good luck to all of you in the same boat. Remember a little bit of momentum is a powerful thing when it comes to training.

To reiterate on what a few others have stated, it's the quality of the workout not the quantity. Does anyone else here train HIT? Does anyone else here train with dumbells, barbells and machines rather than kb's?

Hi Rick,
I've had that struggle many a time since starting our full time PtBusiness. Got smart though and started incorporating myself into my group sessions, like an aerobics instructor, yeh right, pick a heavy bell an do the lot with ur class thats gets you going hardrer and them too. I only run max of 10 people at once so it is quite easy to make sure you keep an eye on everyone. I strongly agree with the guys about practising what you preach.

I'm with you Rick. After leaving the Navy and retiring from regular sport I poured myself into the corporate lifestyle and let myself get out to 140kg. One day I looked in the mirror and said to myself,"YOU FAT $%#^!" I started with a personal trainer the next week and he introduced me to your KBs and I haven't looked back. I'm down to 80kg now with regular exercise and a great diet and now I'm using my own 16kg and 24 kg KBs to continue build and maintain lean muscle and a healthly lifestyle whilst still crunching out the corporate effort

I call the phenomena "Instructors Syndrome". Ive seen and experienced it in both the fitness and martial arts industry. Its easy to end up training other people, writing programmes, studying theory, and not notice the insidious decrease in quality and intensity of ones own training!!!
Talking about, reading about, or marketing fitness is not the same as being fit!!!
Ive made it a golden rule that my own conditioning must be maintained, I have to be able to lead from the front.
Very relevant blog for fitness and martial arts instructors!!

You are so right! I own a gym and cant find time to train - well I can - of course the language of me saying I cant find time means I'm not putting it high enough on the list of important stuff to do.. Plus I coach people to their healthy life so I HAVE To practice what I preach.. It has to be as important as breathing - we dont put that on our to do list do we..
Thanks for the reminder and on that note i will go an put my gym gear on!! :)

Hi Rick, Thanks for your email. Always pleasure to hear from you.After more then 40 years of training and trying every available gym routines and compiting in powerlifting I rediscovered my love to Kettlebell .With your techniques Rick you only need to spend 15 to 20 minutes of good Tabata or circuit with right selected weight of kettlebells and I am sure you can find time.Keep training. Simon

Hi Rick,

Thanks for you post. In my health and fitness training I like to make things as efficient as possible. This eventually led me to strength training with kettlebells and body weight exercises.

I agree with Julie's training thoughts of quality over quantity. I try not to get caught up numbers and exercises to much; I simply commit to doing "something" every day. Maybe today I only have 10 minutes to train when I get home from work so I rip out the kettlebells and do some swings, cleans and presses in as close to perfect form as I am able, or I may just do a static pushup for as long as I can if I don't have much time (believe me it'll be a short workout :-) )

Simply put, I have a do what you can when you can, with attention (be present) and control (safety and maximum efficiency) attitude to training. It's amazing how often my 10 minute workouts stretch to 25min+ and I realise that the time I "didn't have" has just been used to improve myself and acid burn that excuse away.

A few integrated training ideas:
-- Waiting for the bus and no ones around - Crank out a quick set of dips/pushups on the bench seat OR take your feet off the ground while sitting for as long as you can and balance until the bus/friend arrives (core work).

Good training everyone!

Have fallen in and out of the same situation over the years since starting my business but find the only way to keep on top of my training is to schedule it in the diary just like any other appointment or meeting. Then stick to it! Good luck

I'm hearing you! As a Fitness Instructor and Manager of a 24/7 club I too have fallen off the wagon. Only just got back on track on Monday, and am proud to say 2 work-outs done and dusted since! It is true sad but true that the analogy of a mechanic never finding the time to fix his own car can transpose itself on a Fitness Professional. I'm flying the flag to "walk-the-talk" more (and more consistently).

Hi Rick,

I get your emails thankyou.

I work 12.15 hour shifts and I have two jobs one full-time and one part-time. I have personal training sessions at least 3 times a week and I cycle around the 50km mark when possible --- in addition I try to do ballet classes (but with all the work - like you the past 15 months these have not been happening --- I use to do 7 classes a week). All I can say is that you need to plan your time well --- the support of a trainer for me is vital both physically and psychologically (though it costs money --- they are worth every cent)...and without the training I don't approach my work as positively. Yes, occassionally a little less sleep is good for you if it means getting to training....but don't beat yourself up if like me every four or five weeks you know you need time out and 13 hrs straight sleep. A good healthy fresh food diet limited processed food and you'll be back on the road again. Good luck,

Marianne

Putting Our Tools to Use - Bringing Inspiration into Form

Many of us have so many life tools we have learned, but sometimes we forget to use them. Revisit your toolbox.

Every craftsperson has a toolbox full of tools and a number of techniques to help them bring inspiration into form. In the same way, throughout our lives, we have discovered our own life tools and techniques—the ways and means that have helped us create our lives up to this point. Sometimes we forget about the tools and skills we’ve acquired, and we wonder why we aren’t moving forward. At times like these, it might just be a matter of remembering what we already know, and rediscovering the tools we already have at our disposal.

Have a great day, go ahead and pull out one of the tools you haven’t used for a little while. It may just create some new motivation for you.

Just like a good sculpture....with one chip at a time and the statue is unveiled!

I am an older female and aim to keep a strict training programme, but dont beat myself up if I miss a day. I have found though that always running up the stairs, and walking with intent - no dawdling, as well as swinging the kettlebells when at home keeps me in the right mindset as well as eating properly. Kettlebells are just the best, but cardio on the bike and work with the stretchy band is not difficult. I believe that it's not the length of time one works out at but the quality of the time spent.

Hey Rick,

After juggling morning and evening sessions with a daily commute I found that taking a break around lunch each weekday and swinging a bell for 20 minutes, before grabbing a bite to eat is something I've been able to do consistently for about 18 months. I'm fortunate in that we have a good shower at work - which is not going to be everyone's circumstance.

The weights vary between 16-24 kg and I don't stick to a program for more than a couple of months, but with the habit ingrained I now look forward to these short workouts as they break up the day. Lunch meetings etc provide random days off.

Perhaps your problem is exactly that you've got too much cool equipment to choose from? All the best :)

Hey Rick!
Great post and how very true it is ... especially with winter coming up, it seems just that little bit harder to motivate ourselves when it's wet and cold outside and just that little bit easier to eat more of the things that we really probably need to eat less and less of ... cooked foods, grains, comfort foods etc.

Coming from a hospo background it can be difficult eating right and finding time to train, with the odd hours, long days and often no time to sit down and actually eat something proper ... but I guess at the end of the day, we all just have to take responsibility for ourselves, man up and find a way to do it!!

An old friend of mine used to have a favourite saying which I've never forgotten and quote regularly ... "If you want to get something done ... give it to a busy person."

Have a great day!!

Great article mate!

That hit me right on the head! I've been a little bit distracted these days and so my workouts have been kinda pushed to the side.

All the best with your training mate and it seems like all your hard work put into the business have paid off!!

Hi Rick,

I know the feeling too well. Even a day away from training is too much for me these days and in the past has led me to overtrain a touch. Which is another reason why i'm pleased to see mobility and recovery products on the site such as foam rollers etc. The rest day can be a good recovery day focusing on mobility and healthy joints/muscles.. I find it stops be from getting bored aswell.

I also have been giving Jim Wendler's 531 program a good go with Mike Mahler's kettlebell template. Really good program IMO.

I find too many people run into ruts in their training and i find a well constructed program like 531 helps a lot with the (1 step back to take 2 steps forward) idea.

Looking forward to seeing Jamie Douse again at the LV2 workshop in perth coming up aswell.

Good on ya Rick, I know your pain!

Once was a time when I too would never miss a workout but that was a good number of years ago. I started getting back into it regularly a few months ago but then I lost my garage gym, sadly there is now a car parked where my power rack used to be.

Over the last few weeks I have recommitted to regular workouts with an emphasis on things I can do with little space and little equipment...

Monday I'm busting out kettlebell moves with 2 new adjustables, Wednesday is gymnastic rings/bodyweight day, Friday I'm dragging a tyre sled full of weight up and down my driveway and Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday are grip days!

I'm loving every minute of it right now because its all different stuff to what i'm used to, especially the sled dragging, that's hardcore stuff!!