Why Should I?

Coach Burgener

Why Should I? By James FitzGerald

What motivates people to strive for, maintain or enhance a state of being? What leads one into functional independence, or “knowing” endorphin release and lactic acid accumulation,or performing chin-ups? I come across many spirits, faces, bodies, personalities and often reflect on why one would do it, really? I see hundreds come through my door on a weekly basis and both question and admire their efforts.
Why do it? It leads to a larger life! That’s why!
But why buy into this if you – or someone you know – is on the outside looking in, thinking it is just way too much work? After all, you see that your peers are not doing it. A 20-minute walk three times a week, to the store and back, along with some fiber in your cereal should have you good to go. Boom – long-and-lasting life!
WRONG! Sorry folks, it doesn’t work that way. There has to be time and energy devoted to fitness and enhancement of your physical being. Perhaps arguable, but in my opinion this is the basis of all personal advancement. Tell me it’s the thinking (mind), the heart (will), the nutrition –and I’ll counter that it’s movement first.
Weight training. Vigorous exercise. Sweating. Getting slightly uncomfortable. These elements of improving function are necessary first; they create everything needed to explore all other levels.
I have proof in my clients. I see thousands per year and their lives support this fact: those that perform my routines enjoy decreased aging. They perform chin-ups at 20 and 60 years of age, squat without support, and run with – not after – their grandchildren. Those not following “the program” find it harder to recover from injuries due to lack of functional dominance, sit more than moving, and rest more than creating. Simply put - they are getting older.
Why not live a larger life? Why not persevere at times when it’s easy to just “take it easy”?
After all, you deserve it – right?
Why not challenge the status quo?
Why not become be a vital human and take
responsibility as an active role model for your
grandkids, peers, family!
Why not live a larger life and enhance your body to
peak levels so that at 95, you end the journey
performing squats and smiling – as opposed to
spending the last quarter of your life moving without
purpose and dependent on a walker?

Why not experiment? You have to!

Eat Clean: Eat Organic

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103569390

Another classic example of the damaging effects of pesticides.

OPT CREED

James Fitzgerald, owner of Optimum Performance Training is my Mentor and Coach. This was in his newsletter.

1. I will give 100% every workout for myself – whether or not its faster or better than the next person

2. I will be modest with my success and learn from my failures in exercise,nutrition and life

3. I will attract others to myself that want to live a bigger life with high expectations of sound nutrition and mental acuity – the more the merrier

4. I will take 100% personal responsibility for all of my actions

5. I will praise others for their achievements and create a competitive, healthy
environment where we can all move forward

6. I will show respect for others in our exercise community and welcome everyone with open arms to fitness no matter who they are

7. I will stick my neck out to help others trying to succeed in fitness if I have the
knowledge to do so

8. I will support fitness for all – no matter age/size/gender/ethnicity – and recommend all others do the same wherever they are

9. I will eat whole foods, workout intensely and smile more because I should

10. I will

Is this what "fitness" is?

A war zone



This was a recent article written in the Post Standard, where letters are written to Dr Paul Donohue regarding health and fitness, copied word for word.

Title: At-home tests can help determine fitness levels.

Dear Dr. Donohue:
I am a 44 yr old woman and have been exercising faithfully for the past 4 years. I feel quite fit, but how do I know for sure? How can i test myself for fitness? I would like some objective eviidence that these past 4 years have done something for me.

Dear R.C. A slew of books have tests for evaluation of fitness. You can find them in every library. For incontrovertible evidence of heart fitness, a stress test provides proof and an echo stress test provides even greater proof. These are specialized and expensive test and shouldnt be done on a whim. Many years ago the Univ of Californias wellness letter published fitness tests devised by Dr. James Rippe. Ill borrow some that apply to you. If a woman in her 40's can walk one mile in 14 minutes or less shes put in the very good category of fitness. A man of the same age qualifies for the level of fitness if he can walk the mile in 12 minutes and 54 sec or less. For strength woman in their 40's should be able to do 27 dumbell curls with a 5lb weight to qualify for the top strength position. A curl is performed with the exerciser holding on to the DB and with the arm hanging straight down.The elbow is bent so the DB is brought up to the shoulder. Both arms are tested. A man of the same age should be able to do 34 or more curls to make it to the highest category.

Is this really what doctors are telling our patients? Seriously? We have alot of educating to do...

Good article...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-469847/Face-face-Stone-Age-man-The-Hadzabe-tribe-Tanzania.html

Back at it....

I had 2 weeks off, to heal, rest mentally and physically...The first three workouts back were tough and I am sore as hell right now...the next 3 days OPT has 5 workouts scheduled for us...back to the grind.

A good read : In Defense of Food

Fact: The national average that farmers are receiving for their milk/gallon is $1.04 where most parts of the country is paying over 3.00 a gallon? Why? the government is driving smalls farms into the ground by not paying any $ for their milk, to gain more conrol over the industry and gain control of the prices which they want to control. They are also buying thousands of cows and having them put down, yes killed, in order to keep the price of milk and beef inflated....amazing isnt it?


SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMER/BUY LOCAL/EAT CLEAN