OK . let just say it. if you get easily offended, do NOT read this.
After that cautionary statement, let me proceed….. This sunday morning I woke up to read a little bit of a book on hormones and nutrition.( yeah fun i know) as i was reading it I realized that it was getting close to 8 am and Have a long standing client at 9am at Body Shape gym usually every sunday. I texted the client but never recieved a response. It looked as it was going to pour down rain so i quickly started to leash up my dogs and go for a quick walk so they could eliminate before the rain. 3 min into the walk it i could see the down pour 50 feet ahead and closing in. Mind you i am in sandals and a grey Swing This T shirt. Probably the best gear to be in a thunderstorm in….
As the rain drenched me it ran through my head that i probably wasnt going to enjoy mountain biking for a quick hour this morning. So dog elimination successful, i decided to drive to the gym to be there for the client that i did NOT recieve a text from just in case cuz thats just how i am. So i get to the gym No client, not problem its sunday morning( lets call it Rainday for this morning) and i start doing a little Foam rolling and joint mobility exercises with Tony the owner and the Indian clubs that he has. Gloomy day outside and im really waking up feeling the increased motion and bloodflow in my shoulders . All this is on an empty stomach for a reason but ill get into that later… Pick up a light kettlebell and start doing a little cardio work .This turns into a bit of juggling basics with a 12 kg bell. Tony and i start talking about the fact that there is but ONE PERSON besides ourselves working out. and im not even gonna count that considering he does the SAME THING EVERYTIME HES IN THE GYM. Usually theres several people working out. AND THEY NEED TO. But today no one. is it because of the rain and gloomy morning? There is a reason that people like myself feel and look the way we do. ITS BECAUSE WE WORK FOR IT. not just one to three times per week. ITS BECAUSE WE LIVE ACTIVE LIVES EVERY DAY. And im not talking about walking around everyday and playing with the kids or driving from game to game. YOUR BODY IS USED TO THAT . YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOUR BODY WANT TO CHANGE. get off the damn treadmill and and pick up something. push it pull it swing it throw it slam it . try to break it!. get your hormones raging . Do you think our ancestors were 3-400 pounds trudgin through the forest to catch a wild boar?? NO. That wild boar would make a meal out of your leg before you had a chance to move. Come on people use more energy than you take in. and not just for a few weeks or months. KEEP AT it.
Quit complaining that its too hot or cold. its a gym you should be sweating. its good for you.
weve become too reliant on being comfortable. and thats just what your body is now. its comfortable at the state its in. Dont say that you are trying your best to lose fat and your laying next to the pool under an umbrella with a vampire book… get in and swim. then read. then swim again. read. SWIM AGAIN. Do you have a dog? if so WALK IT . WALK IT AGAIN . what about kids? PLAY OUTSIDe WITH THEM BEFORE THEY ARE IN YOUR SHOES AT 14!!!!! and if i see one more person texting during REST PERIODS on and AB CRUNCH MACHINE im going to get SICK AND MAKE SURE IM WALKING PAST THE DAMN CRUNCH MACHINE WHEN IT HAPPENS. WHEN I WAS OUT OF SHAPE AND SMOKING CIGARETTES , EATING CRAP AND FEELING LIKE S&*T I WENT TO THE GYM AND COPIED WHAT THE MOST BADASS PERSON IN THE GYM WAS DOING.
when that wasnt enough i tried to do it better. i asked them for help . motivation comes from within and a personal trainer is just a coach who can get you to MOTIVATE YOURSELf. Im sure im gonna lose a few people clients or friends on this one but the clients that i have and want to work with already train this way. they do whatever they can to make changes. Theres a reason that i dont have any machines at Swing This Studio.
ITS BECAUSE IM TRYING TO MAKE THEM. OUT OF YOU.
You dont have to be better than anyone else . but if you dont try to better yourself then whats the point of living?
Find someone thats light years ahead of you. read their writings. Follow them. Learn From them . Feed From them , but dont live off their achievements. Achieve for yourself.
I dont idolize any professional athlete. i look up to certain proven achievers. Mike Mahler http://www.mikemahler.com , Steve Cotter http://www.ikff.net , Jason Ferruggia http://www.jasonferruggia.com to name a few. and im sure they will understand when i say this because they are great coaches/trainers. … I follow them to LEARN from them so someday i can forward their thinking and someday someone can forward mine. And if this cycle of forward thinking doesnt continue, then we all might as well lay down and wallow in the oil leaks and mass pollution of our greedy world. .
ps i love most of you who will read this and i hope it sets a fire under the asses of those who are sitting and waiting for a change. go out there and make it happen.
and by the way double ps, this morning after i was done, i felt better from doing something during the rain. and guess what the sun came out and is shining as i type this. so guess what else? im going to go out and do some landscaping. LTW! ( thats LOVE the world) wake up everyone.
Never Give Up, Never Give In 
Very well written, motivational and true!!!!! Keep up what you do….you do it best!!!!
Joe, I agree, although I think I’m one of those one’s who just kinda do the same thing day in and day out and have gotten WAY to comfortable with myself and know that I need to lose weight, but keep making excuses as to why I don’t have the time to get to the gym!
Great article, very motivating and has me thinking and wanting to act on making some serious life changes!
alisha make obstacle courses for your little schweitzers!. would love to help plan if you need help . and tell scott id like to give him a free session to how the benefits of kettlebells for athletics
couldn’t agree with you more, Joe! Majority of society is looking for that quick fix — those magical pills, potions, lotions, drinks..whatever. If it were THAT easy wouldn’t everyone be built like greek gods?? We have to put in time and effort, focus, INTENSITY …give the body no choice but to change…shed that fat, gain lean muscle mass. Make us stronger and less prone to injury and illness.
Getting in shape for a party that no one will remember what you wore is pointless!!! Getting in shape for YOU ..for the QUALITY of YOUR LIFE is what is IMPORTANT. I want to LIVE as I get older…not just merely exist and float through life. And I want to pass this message onto everyone I know and meet … we are not supposed to get fat and lazy just because we are aging! I don’t believe in aging! I believe in getting in shape, lifting weights, swinging some bells and having FUN in life! Go out and MAKE something happen… it will never come if you just sit there and wait…
there is a magic pill its called motivation and you can find it on anything related to DFT.
i concur. today is rest day. but as soon as i fight this headache off i’m going for a bike ride! don’t worry about offending anyone. ppl need to hear it. keep motivating joe. you’re bettering lives.
Well Said Joe! Rock On! As we say in our gym….Nut Up OR Shut Up! Quit yer Bitching and do something.
Great Post Joe! If that dosent get people moving nothing will.
Just tellin it like it is. No harm no foul. No pain No gain.
We hear ya Joe!!!
that was offensive?? 🙂 right on bro!
Joe,
Never met you, but have seen some of your stuff on Natty and Beverly. This was the kick in the ass I needed after some poor decisions about fitness. Now I tust have to do as you say>
bill well im glad it gave you the kick in the rear. let me know if i can help with anything.
I hear ya! I essentially want to say this very same thing to the “walkers” in my subdivision. They walk with a friend, at a slow speed, gossiping and stopping along the way to admire the flowers in the yards. I’ve watched the same women doing this for YEARS, and they aren’t losing weight. I often wonder…do they ever stop to think why they aren’t losing weight? I’m sure they think they are out there doing their part, but in reality….not really. It’s really just one step above sitting on the couch. I desperately want to go out and put dumb bells in their hands. It would at least be a start.
Good post, Joe. I think the only ones that would be offended are the ones that aren’t trying hard enough, and they need a good kick in the pants anyway.
Joe:
People who know you, know you care, I doubt many were offended. People that don’t know you, maybe it’s a wake up call to some but I doubt many were upset. Kind of hard to take offense by what someone says if you don’t know them.
Focus on systems to help make those better who chose your path, for those that don’t, and most won’t, don’t let it damper your flame.
By the way I’m going to be 100 years old in August and I still have more muscle and fat than you so quit typing and swing this!
you need to stop down and learn the art of the swing so you can maintain a powerful and limber not to mention statuesque posture into your centennial age!
This is awesome!
It is actually raining heavily outside. I was about to cancel my meeting and stay at home. Hell not after this! Thanks 🙂 Love the website!
Dead on-
I’ve always said focus is the catalyst to anything, good or bad but it’s what the focus is on that determines which one dominates the lifestyle. There’s too much focus on things that don’t matter like total strangers with familar faces weighing in on topics that don’t change just because we devote worry to them.
Get a teacher
Learn a lot
Apply it non stop
Success.