the pain diaries: Day 475...a nEw yEaR...a nEw sTaRt...

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Day 475...a nEw yEaR...a nEw sTaRt...

I have always loved writing here. I say I do it for me...and I do. At the same time, I've been busy for the past 2 weeks plus and I guess I figured that no one reads anyways...so I have taken the LONGEST break since starting this blog. I didn't even give it a thought until my best friend that doubles as my sister, fussed at me over hot sauce and chips at a Mexican restaurant.

S: OKAY MISSY! (that's what we call each other...dunno why) IS "PAIN DIARIES" OVER OR WHAT?!?

ME: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

S: I KEEP CHECKING AND YOU NEVER POST!

ME: OH YEAH...I KNOW!...BUT I FIGURE WHAT DOES IT MATTER?...I'M BUSY AND NOONE READS ANYWAY!

S: I DO! AM I NOBODY?!?!?!

ME: OKAY...OKAY.

That was about 2 weeks ago. I meant to catch up, but I just never did. So as I sit here on New Year's Eve, writing thoughts down for my other blog (I know!...a sad thing to do on the biggest party night of the year!) I realized that today...now officially January 1st as of 7 minutes ago...is the perfect day to make a fresh start. I'll go back to writing the events of each day in the gym and along the path towards getting stronger and better at what I love to do.

I'll start with some realizations that have come to me over the past 5 days or so that I have been working out at 24 HR Fitness because I have been traveling and away from my normal surroundings/gym. I've seen people flounder and flail at the gym...aimlessly wandering...no plan or direction. I've seen some movements that literally scared me and made me worry about the health of the person performing the movements. I've seen "Trainers"...walking clients around and plopping them on machines...no passion or enthusiasm for what they do. I've also seen these same "Trainers" sit by and allow their client to use really poor form and really light weight. I've had strange comments as I was deadlifting...something that I consider a STAPLE of ANY workout regimen...things like "Wow, you must be an athlete!". I'm thinking, "Wow, this guy must never see people do deadlifts!" I've seen the perplexed look and the awe as the "everyman" in the gym watches me workout. And after all this...I have come to some conclusions...

1. I am so glad that I have direction and goals. I KNOW what my one rep max is on deadlift and back squat and bench press...and I KNOW where I want to be in the future. The weight I choose is not random...it's calculated. Everyone should have goals in the gym...specific goals.

2. I am so lucky that I have spent the time and money necessary to attend classes and work with experts and trainers so that I have the knowledge and training that I need to do lifts and movements in the gym with correct form and efficient technique. Am I perfect? NO!!! Am I proficient? YES! It is worth every penny and every bit of discomfort that I have experienced over the years to learn how to do exercises CORRECTLY.

3. I am convinced that hiring a personal trainer is more of a necessity than it is a luxury. People don't need to hire a trainer indefinitely, but everyone can benefit from one on one TRAINING...not someone that sits you on a machine with a yawn and devoid of passion...a trainer that wants to teach and enlighten and change people's lives. It really can make a difference in the ability that people have to attain goals and be successful in the gym.

4. Olympic Lifts and Barbell Training is NOT just for Olympians and Power Lifters. These movements can greatly improve strength and coordination. People who are serious about their fitness should not take exercising lightly...they SHOULD train AS IF they ARE athletes. I feel so lucky to have learned these movements and to be able to practice them weekly.

5. FINALLY...I realized that what I do for a "living"...personal training...IS not a silly job...but a worthwhile service and a serious responsibility. I have become re-energized and re-committed to learning more and being the best trainer that I can be. What I do, can heal people's bodies and souls. What I do, can make a difference. What I do, IS important and I am so thankful to W and J for encouraging me and pushing me to face my fears and to do what I love...as a job.

Here's to a new year! 2009 will be the year that I accomplish things I never thought possible 5 years ago! Cheers!

1 comment:

Shorty said...: Glad you're back! I've missed you! And, yes..your job makes quite a difference in a lot of people's lives. Keep up the great work!; January 1, 2009 at 1:46 PM

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..............WHY?...............

This is my training log...my "workout diary" if you will. It is mostly for ME, but if it motivates someone else, that's great too! I write everday as a way of being accountable to myself. It's a way to track my progress, correct my mistakes, and a way to look back and view my day to day struggle to continue to work towards being the best possible version of myself. Sometimes, I am tired or lonely or unmotivated. Sometimes, I am "powerful beyond measure". Sometimes it is fun...easy. Other times, it is almost unbearable. I use to have my trainers to push me...but NOW I am on my own.

QUOTES THAT INSPIRE ME TO PUSH HARDER...GO FASTER...AND TRAIN LONGER

"SOME DEFINE OBSESSION AS NEGATIVE. I SAY IT'S HOW YOU GET THINGS DONE."

-MARK TWIGHT

"PAIN IS TEMPORARY. IT MAY LAST A MINUTE, OR AN HOUR, OR A DAY, OR A YEAR, BUT EVENTUALLY IT WILL SUBSIDE AND SOMETHING ELSE TAKES IT'S PLACE. IF I QUIT HOWEVER, IT LASTS FOREVER."

-LANCE ARMSTRONG

"TO BE TRANSFORMED BY EFFORT, ONE MUST DIG DEEP...SURPASS ONE'S EXPECTATIONS OR SELF-IMPOSED LIMITATIONS...RISK FAILURE...BLOW UP, AND 'GET THE FULL DOSE'...IT ALWAYS HURTS YOU GO AS HARD AS YOU CAN."

-MARK TWIGHT-"GYM JONES" WEBSITE

"TO GIVE ANYTHING LESS THAN YOUR BEST IS TO SACRIFICE THE GIFT."

-STEVE PREFONTAINE

“PUNISH YOUR BODY TO PERFECT YOUR SOUL.”

-MARK TWIGHT

“ONLY THOSE WHO WILL RISK GOING TOO FAR CAN POSSIBLY FIND OUT HOW FAR ONE CAN GO.”

-T.S. ELIOTT

"THE BENEFITS OF FITNESS ARE NOT MERELY PHYSICAL. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A SERIES OF DIFFICULT, SHORT-DURATION, HIGH INTENSITY EFFORTS BUILDS SELF-ASSUREDNESS IN A WAY THAT VERY FEW OTHER ACTIVITIES CAN. TOUGH WORKOUTS THAT PUSH AN INDIVIDUAL TO THE VERY LIMIT OF HIS OR HER CAPACITIES MAY BECOME THE GATEWAY TO HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS. AND THAT AWARENESS OFTEN LEADS TO CONFIDENCE."

-MARK TWIGHT

"WHEN A PERSON TRAINS ONCE, NOTHING HAPPENS. WHEN A PERSON FORCES HIMSELF TO DO A THING A HUNDRED OR A THOUSAND TIMES, THEN HE CERTAINLY HAS DEVELOPED IN MORE WAYS THAN PHYSICAL. IS IT RAINING? THAT DOESN'T MATTER. AM I TIRED? THAT DOESN'T MATTER EITHER. THEN WILLPOWER WILL BE NO PROBLEM"

-EMIL ZATOPEK

"GIVE IT EVERYTHING AND LET THE CHIPS...OR WHATEVER...FALL WHERE THEY MAY. IT WON'T EVER GET EASIER, BUT YOU MIGHT GO FASTER, OR LAST LONGER."

-MARK TWIGHT

“A LOT OF PEOPLE RUN A RACE TO SEE WHO IS FASTEST. I RUN TO SEE WHO HAS THE MOST GUTS WHO CAN PUNISH HIMSELF INTO EXHAUSTING PACE, AND THEN AT THE END, PUNISH HIMSELF EVEN MORE. NOBODY IS GOING TO WIN A 5,000METER RACE AFTER RUNNING AN EASY 2 MILES. NOT WITH ME. IF I LOSE FORCING THE PACE ALL THE WAY, WELL, AT LEAST I CAN LIVE WITH MYSELF.“

-STEVE PREFONTAINE

“SUFFERING PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE WILL AND DEVELOP GRIT… THE MIND AND BODY ADAPT TO BOTH COMFORT AND DEPRIVATION… RELISH THE CHALLENGE OF OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES THAT WOULD CRUSH ORDINARY MEN... LEARN TO SUFFER.”

-MARK TWIGHT – excerpts from "Extreme Alpinism - Climbing Light, Fast and High"

“SOMETIMES IF YOU WANT TO BE A WINNER, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BEAR THE SCARS FROM THE FIGHT.”

-PETRA SALVAJE

'EACH OF US GIVES WHAT WE ARE ABLE AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WILLING TO GIVE TO LIFE. HOW WE REACT WHEN OUR CAPACITY AND WILL FALL SHORT OF OUR EXPECTATIONS DETERMINES HOW WE VIEW OURSELVES...".

-MARK TWIGHT~"GYM JONES" website