Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Lots Of Diets

Nothing takes the place of hard work for lasting results - how many of these diets have u tried? http://www.everydiet.org

Friday, September 03, 2010

Pick A Fight

It's early and still dark.

I'm running 1 mile as fast as I can.

The only sounds  I hear are my labored breathing and the steady rhythm of my asics gels flying across the pavement.

I fight the urge to slow down.

I check my stopwatch.

I AM slowing down.

So I pick up the pace.

I'm about to pick a fight with myself.

And I already know who the winner will be.

There are 2 voices in this fight.

One of the voices seductively whispers :

"Walk, take a breather, no one will know."

The other voice fights back with:

"You can do this, Scott, you've been training for this, keep going."


"You need to save your energy for your 2 year old - you're going to need it today."


"I'm going to win this one."

And so it goes...

This is a typical battle that I engage in when I run.

I don't think of myself as a runner.

Running, for me, can be uncomfortable and foreign.

I'm more comfortable squatting, benching and curling.

But, you have to feel comfortable feeling uncomfortable if you're going to progress physically and mentally.

Of course, that's a tough price to pay these days in an immediate gratification society filled with progress killing excuses.

But deep down, we all know.

Don't we?

“When the fight begins within
himself, a man's worth something.”
- Robert Browning, 1855


"How much can you know about yourself if you've never been in a fight?"  ~Fight Club movie



Friday, August 27, 2010

Session 56 starts Monday, August 30th!

The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.
– Oliver Wendell Holmes

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

"How To Live Longer With Running"

Great post about the benefits of running.

I have not always enjoyed running but as I stick with it, it definitely gets easier...


Here's the article:  http://www.howtolivealongerlife.com/2009/11/how-to-live-longer-with-running.html

Friday, July 30, 2010

FullForceFitness Reviewed


"I am not sure where to start with other THANK YOU SCOTT for your program.

Before I get started talking about the program I am going to tell you my view of Scott York (http://twitter.com/ScottYork).

He's very friendly and you can tell he is doing this for the people and his own enjoyment and not the money.

To me this is a priceless trait and it just makes the camp fun.

He works to push you through the workouts and also to educate you on proper nutrition on your road to becoming fit. He also very giving, I once asked if he wouldn’t mind coming to talk to my fellow co-worker about fitness and he did not think twice before accepting the chance to come talk to them.

Overall Scott has a very calming and positive presence that when around you just want to push yourself to the best that you can. What more can you ask for from a coach.

About the camp (www.FullForceFitness.net) I have been attending this camp for two months now and about to go into my third and it is completely amazing.

I was not sure what to expect at first as I had never done any type of group training, so I entered with an open mind and ready body. I took it easy trying to learn things at first and everything we were doing was simple to pickup yet challenging as a workout.

Here are a few things I have gained from the camp:
  • Suffering in a group is truly easier than doing it alone. I have worked worked out with partners before, I have used a personal trainer, and even now workout alone regularly. But when I am training with my group, they push me harder than I can ever do myself and I also am able to push them also.
  • Beating things is a good thing. The class has a lot of MMA style training. Regularly we use focus mitts, heavy bags, and dummies to punch, elbow, kick, and knee. To me there is no better way to relieve stress than getting to punch and kick things, oh, it is a good workout also.
  • Keep it Simple and create your own intensity. Most of the workouts that we do are not complex nor use complex machines/equipment, but they are planned out in a method to get the most out of your complete body. There are very few days that I not completely drenched in sweat after 45 minute workout.
A few of my own lessons learned in class.
  • One of the first classes a 15+ foot rope climb was part of the workout. I had never climbed a rope, at least in my adult life, I am just getting where I can do a few pull-ups unassisted. Well Scott asked, “you think you can get to the top” and I was not sure and said I would give it a try. In the back of my head I was thinking there is no way, but as I was put into a small team and assigned the task of climbing, I pushed and to the top like a monkey in a tree without problem. I was able to push that negative thought out and complete it for my team and not just me.
  • We are pushed to complete a challenge and one of them is a 12 min mile. I have been working out pretty solid for about a year now and on a treadmill I can push a 10-11 minute mile with a good pace but it is not solid running. With that I was thinking ok this should not be too hard I can do this within 12 (thinking it would be 10-11 minute time). Well I got started and pushed and was able to not only run the entire thing, but do it in around 8:50.
  • The next challenge put in front of us was a monthly challenge: 1/3mile run, 5 double unders, 5 clapping pushups, 5 burpies, 5 squat jumps. Well the first time I did this it took me 4:19 to complete. Well through the training and learning to push myself I was recently able to set my new PR at 2:53.
So in conclusion, I would highly recommend Scott’s Full Force Fitness Camp to anyone (beginner to advanced).

For me, the camp has assisted me in learning new ways to do my workouts that I can take anywhere.

But the most important thing that I have gained from this camp is that I have a lot more in me that I know and I can dig deep and push a little harder when the time is tough and overcome the want to take it easy or quit.


This camp will not only assist you with your physical fitness but also your mental fitness. You will be pushed and learn to push yourself to new levels you didn’t know you could go to." - Michael F/Austin, TX

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Expectations

"Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality."
– Ralph Marsto

Monday, July 19, 2010

Did You Know?

Success Is The Doing

    Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be. - Zig Ziglar

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Session 54 Day 5

Today's workout:

Teams of 4
On my go:
Run 1/3 mile
5 Double Unders (or 15 regular Jump Rope)
5 Burpees
5 Clapping Pushups
5 Squat Jumps

Then:
50 reps each person of:
Lateral Box Jumps
Ring Rows
Burpees
Jackknife with Medicine Ball
Medicine Ball Slam

Then:
Flip Heavy Tractor Tire 20 yards to earn 1 point for your team (10 minutes)
No more than 2 people allowed to flip their teams tire at a time (others do Jumping Jacks until they switch - 30 seconds or so)

Team "Brian" takes it today!

Friday, July 09, 2010

Success

"Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be."
–Zig Ziglar

Friday, July 02, 2010

Austin Mayors Fitness Council Video

Lou Earle, Publisher of Austin Fit Magazine, and Paul Carrozza, Owner of RunTex, talk about how important it is to have goals with regard to fitness, Austin's desire to become the fittest city by 2010, how local companies can improve moral, productivity, reduce absenteeism, and more by encouraging a healthy and fit workplace in this interview conducted by Jen Ohlson.  Video by Scott York.


AMFC Lou and Paul from scott york on Vimeo.

Lou Earle and Paul Carrozza at RunTex Austin, Texas

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Persistence

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
– Calvin Coolidge

Thursday, June 17, 2010

What Matters...

"What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan."
–  by Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson

Monday, June 14, 2010

Richer Life

"Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives."
–Daniel H. Pin

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Do What It Takes

"If you're interested, you will do what is convenient; if you're committed, you'll do what it takes" – Assaraf

Friday, June 04, 2010

Intensity Is Relative

If you are signing up for a "Boot Camp" style fitness program this Summer, here are some points to remember:


  • If you haven't exercised in a while, use 75% of intensity for the first 2 weeks If not, you run the risk of overdoing it, getting sore, getting injured and then quitting all together.  It's easy to get caught up in the energetic, upbeat boot camp environment and overdo it.  Don't.  Ease into it.
  • Progression.  This is essential to making improvements in both your fitness abilities (improved heart rate, etc) as well as cosmetic changes (increased lean tissue, decreased body fat).  The body adapts quickly.  You must increase your intensity (do more reps in less time, run faster, rest less, increase resistance, etc) in order to progress. 
  • Variation.  Every boot camp workout is different from the last.  Variety keeps us fresh, interested and keeps our muscles confused (so that we don't adapt quickly).  Just as the workouts are varied, make sure to vary your intensity.  When you're "feeling it" - give it 100%.  When you're not, give it 90%.  Tip - even when you do not feel like getting out of bed for an early morning boot camp workout, DO IT ANYWAY.  If by the time you begin the workout and you're still not feeling it, use less intensity.  Work on your form, focus on your breathing.  
  • Consistency.  In order to maximize results, you must be consistent.  You cannot expect to get results by showing up to boot camp once a week.  It's just not going to happen.  The body is meant to be exercised, to be pushed (safely), to be challenged (mentally and physically).  Embrace this process and incredible results will follow.
  • Nutrition.  I'm convinced that nutrition is 80% of boot camp success.  Aim for 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight.  Less on days that you do not workout.  Reduce sugar, reduce alcohol.  Eat green leafy vegetables and less starchy carbs.  Eat healthy fats (omegas).  Stay away from processed foods.  And have 1 cheat day per week where you eat whatever you've been craving.  Drink lots of water.  
FullForceFitness Session 53 starts on June 7th.  If you have registered for this session or for a later one, use the tips above to get the most out of your boot camp experience!

P.S. 
"Pain doesn’t tell you when you ought to stop. Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue, you will change. Don’t let it stop you from being who you can be. Exhaustion tells you when you ought to stop. You only reach your limit when you can go no further." - Anon

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

May Your Trails Be Crooked...

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds"
–Edward Abbey