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Why limit yourself to being THE best? Being YOUR best is so much better!  I was listening to a podcast the other day (Dax Shepard, “Armchair Expert” - I highly recommend!) where Dax was dialoguing with Tom Brady. Brady made a comment that part of his success was from always "trying to be his best." That he knew and saw plenty of professional NFL players in the locker room who wanted to be THE best and never made it in the league.
That got me thinking about my own experience. As a young, aspiring high school trumpet player, I was always second chair to my high school trumpet nemesis, Jack Schantz. All through school, Jack was #1 and I was behind him. Always! One week I decided I had enough. The challenge piece for the first chair was a demanding piece by Boccherini. I practiced and practiced that piece until my lips chapped and cheeks burned. Come challenge day… I nailed it! I got first chair. I was the best! Until the next week and Jack was right there again. It wasn’t until much later in life when I was a little wiser than my 16 year old brain could comprehend what was going on. One of the differences (besides Jack being incredibly talented) is that Jack wasn’t trying to be THE best, he was always practicing and trying to be HIS best. Jack went on to become an outstanding professional musician whose resume includes being the artistic director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, playing with Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo and others. I went on became a big fan. Here are 3 reasons that being THE best may be a fool’s errand: 1. Artificial Limits When we limit ourselves with some esoteric goal like being THE best at something, we limit the potential of what may be beyond. And, as any old Western gunslinger movie teaches us, there is always someone faster on the draw that eventually comes along. If you keep challenging yourself to be YOUR Best, there is no limit to that potential. You have an ever expanding cornucopia of options and success. 2. THE BEST is arbitrary In most situations in life, No one really knows what THE best is. No one thought the 4 minute mile mark would ever be broken until Roger Bannister did it in 1954. That “best” has been bested many times since and currently is held by Hicham El Guerrouj from 1999. If Hicham had stopped at THE best, 4:00 minutes would be still be the record. Try thinking about your own experiences as if there is always something better to look forward to. Not a number on a scale or time in a race. Just a little better version of you. 3. The yardstick is skewed There is an expression gaining popularity right now called “Comparison Hangover”. It basically means looking around and worrying that we, our lives, our achievements, our experiences, don’t measure up. I call BS on that one. Comparison hangovers are hard to beat. But there is huge joy to be found in letting those go. Setting some artificial, arbitrary limit on success based on our perception of others is an exercise in futility. And we will fail at that every time! But, achieving YOUR BEST can be and is an everyday victory. I can be little better today than yesterday. In the gym we can see this all the time. I lifted a little more, ran a little farther (faster), completed more reps or improved my flexibility. Ultimately, achieving YOUR best will be far more rewarding than being THE best. For one week, I worked hard to be the best trumpet player in the band. Jack worked everyday at being his best… and it showed. What is your best? Work on it. Achieve it, Celebrate it everyday. There is no limit to what YOUR best might look like.
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 "The only place success comes before hard work is in the dictionary." Vince Lombardi We have been exploring the 3 C's of great fitness
Coaching You may not know this, but when I started running 614Fitness fulltime (almost 2 years ago now) I began working with a fitness business coach. I felt I needed someone with the knowledge and expertise to guide me toward success in running a business in this crowded, complex fitness industry. I have a Masters Degree in business and have had several successful careers. I could have thought: “I am smart, confident and competent! I got this!” But getting started right and doing the right thing was important to me. I met weekly with my "coach" and we developed strategic plans and goals, implemented our strategies and then held me accountable for the results. Then a funny thing happened... I was so busy with the business of the business, I stopped working out. So what did I do? I hired a coach. Now my personal trainer (Elicia) kicks my butt, challenges me to push my limits and keeps me accountable to my weekly routine. This got me thinking… to make improvements, to grow and excel, we all need a good coach! When it comes to our physical fitness and health, many people try to do it on their own and, grant it, a few are successful at going it alone. But most are not. Think about it: Most of us take our car to a mechanic… … our fur babies to a vet… … our clothes to a dry cleaner… … our hair to a stylist... But when it comes to our own health and fitness, we think we can go it alone. Big mistake! Here are six reasons that coaching will make a huge impact on your health and fitness: 1. Looking in the mirror Most of us, when we look in the mirror see only one side of the picture … the front. The same thing happens when we lift or engage in demanding physical activities. We often can’t see what our bodies are really doing. Expert coaching can look at, evaluate and correct those blind spots to make our workouts safer and more effective. 2. Expert instruction A good coach will formulate a comprehensive workout plan by ascertaining your goals, availability and health history. If you have a medical condition or any other limitation (such as chronic back pain), a coach can recognize the deficiency and design a customized regimen that suits your needs and abilities. If you're a beginner, a coach will provide valuable instruction on how to perform specific exercises, engage with proper form and use the equipment correctly and safely. 3. Challenge and Motivation (and Dare We Say FUN?) As we noted in last week's article, most of us simply do not push ourselves hard enough in the gym. I know I don't. But a good coach will use just the right amount of support and brutal honesty to get us out of that comfort zone. After we have worked out for a while, we all feel discouraged at times while at the gym. Your coach knows how to motivate you to get the most out of your workouts. That support can encourage you to push past those self-imposed limits and challenge you more than you could alone. And FUN! A good fitness regimen needs variety. Coaching will bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to challenge both your body and mind. You'll enjoy having new exercises and endless variety as part of your program. 4. Accountability When you exercise on your own, it's easy to skip a session here and there or fall off the wagon completely. A coach will keep you accountable, urging you to stick with your program. The support you receive may also include a review of your diet and an update on your fitness and/or weight-loss progress. 5. Plateau-busting advice Plateaus are an almost unavoidable part of a fitness journey as your body falls into a comfort zone from doing the same exercises day after day. If your weight-loss progress has stalled and you're not seeing any results, coaching can help you break out of a rut. They will mix up your routine to propel you through those obstacles or plateaus. 6. Efficiency Your coach will implement a fitness plan to help you maximize results in minimum time, increasing the efficiency of your exercise program. This is especially beneficial if you have limited time to exercise. You'll focus on results and proper techniques, and not waste your time and energy doing ineffective workouts. << Test First Name >>, Your health and fitness is important, at least as important as covering that gray hair, getting a little trim off the top or getting your nails done. Getting good coaching, whether one-on-one or in a small group setting, will pay huge dividends in creating and building the great fitness you deserve and desire.  "It's called the comfort zone for a reason!" Over the next 3 entries I want to give you a simple formula to get the best results from your fitness regimen. Utilizing the K.I.S.S. method, I boiled great fitness down to the tree C's:
Challenge Coaching Consistency This post we'll tackle the first C: Challenge I have been in the sports and fitness industry for enough years now to notice that 90% of the people who go to a gym and who workout on their own don’t even come close to challenging themselves enough. I know that because I am one of those people. If my daily routine calls for leg day and walking lunges, I know I will find a way to do bench press or biceps instead. So why is that? To paraphrase Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory: “It’s called the comfort zone for a reason!” Most of us do not want to get out of that comfort zone It’s hard. It sucks. And sometimes it makes us really, well, uncomfortable! Most of us do not consistently maintain the mental or physical fortitude to push ourselves past a certain point - to that point of total exhaustion, muscle fatigue or failure. But, you know how the old saying goes: “There’s no growth in the comfort zone!” So what can get you to push yourself out of that comfort zone and into the challenge zone? 1. Competition I really appreciate what CrossFit has done for the fitness community. Back before CrossFit, most would workout to accomplish something: To get better at a sport Lose weight Run faster Enter a bodybuilding competition Look better in a bikini The sport of CrossFit has allowed us to see working out and getting stronger as the competition in and of itself. Working out is no longer relegated to back rooms and sweaty gyms, it has become elevated as a competition worthy of prizes, acclaim and national attention. At 614Fitness, we routinely use competition to drive our success and push our limits. 2. A Good Plan and a Goal For some people, a well thought out plan with a beginning and end strategy is enough motivation to work out hard enough and push themselves. Of course developing a good plan is hard and sticking to it even harder. It takes a special kind of motivation and person to put in the hours and enough effort over a sustained period of time to get real results. That’s why we get new members all the time that say they’ve been a member of this or that gym but stopped going or didn’t get the results they wanted. A good goal is also important. One that is difficult to achieve… challenging. I know a lot of our runner athletes have been struggling with their running routines due to the cancelation/postponement of so many of their races. Most have had to pivot and find other more intrinsic goals. Unfortunately, some have found their motivation lag and drop off right along with their miles. 3. A Fitness Community Ask any 614Fitness member athlete and they will tell you that working out in our small groups motivates them to push harder, lift more and go beyond their comfort zones. The camaraderie, support and banter help to make those difficult reps go faster and the weights to seem lighter. When you look over at that workout neighbor and feel their effort, energy and shear will, it motivates you to push and challenge your own limits. 4. Coaching (And we’ll talk more about this in the next ‘C’) Many times I will see an athlete pick up a weight knowing that they can lift more. Not only does the athlete tend to underestimate themselves, they also may be trying to unconsciously stay in their comfort zone. Good coaching can recognize your strengths and limitations and challenge you to push past those artificial limitations. Having that coach set high expectations and then providing the support and encouragement to meet them will get you those fitness benefits you have been looking for. Challenge is critical in realizing your fitness gains. It is far too easy to fall into that comfort zone. If this is you, try some of the tips here to push past those limits. Your fitness and your gains will thank you for it.  We've already talked about the first 2 "C's" of great fitness:
Consistency. I don’t know a fitness professional out there who won’t tell you that consistency is the single most important key to great fitness. It’s also one of the hardest. In our busy, hectic, Covid-hazed world, there are distractions and roadblocks thrown at us all the time. I find it a lot harder to stick to my plans when there is so much noise. And, fitness is hard. Sometimes sitting idly in front of a screen seems easy. But we know, deep down, that is a false equivalency. That lethargy leads to more lethargy and then to that inevitable loss of fitness and dread. Unfortunately, our fitness industry plays into this:
Great fitness is built over time with dedicated, consistent effort. And, not just for an event or time period, but for a lifetime of healthy living. The Key To Consistency - Create Habits Changing your habits is about establishing a ‘new normal’ so that healthy living becomes your way of life rather than something you either do or don’t do, depending on which phase of your ‘yo-yo cycle’ you’re in. For instance, you don’t have to think about brushing your teeth, you simply make your way to the bathroom to do this before you go to bed… A habit You don’t have to think about having a shower in the morning, you simply switch on the hot water and jump in before you get dressed… A habit So, like those habits, what if you make healthy habits that promote a healthier, slimmer and happier you automatic as well? This is why we recommend scheduling your classes at 614Fitness well in advance. To set up a routine and commit to the habit. I know on certain mornings I can always count on certain members whose habit it is to make that morning class no matter what. Here are five things to consider when making consistent fitness your habit: Consistency Habit # 1: Define What REALLY Motivates You. Just to be clear, we’re not talking about a brief bout of motivation on the 1st of January or following a milestone birthday or an upcoming class reunion. This is about a deep inner desire to achieve a goal. The going will get tough at some point along your journey, and motivation is critical to keep you moving forward during those times. To help our members create and maintain motivation, we help them connect to a deep seated reason for wanting to achieve their goal. For example, we often hear that someone wants to join 614Fitness to lose weight. That’s all well and good, but there is another, deeper motivator. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to get fit.” Nobody really wants to lose weight per se. What they really want is the feeling or results they get by losing weight.
Quick success story: One of our members tells a story of her 6 year old whose friend asked him to come over Saturday morning and go to the movies. The 6 year old replied: “I can't, that's when my mom goes for her workout!” Consistency Habit # 2: Addition not Subtraction When creating new habits, we often devote all our energy to stopping our ‘bad habits’ and replacing these with new ‘good habits’. This is not necessarily wrong, and it may be a successful approach for some people. Many times it leaves us craving the forbidden fruit, and we’ve not provided an acceptable alternative. The process of adding new, healthy habits to our lifestyle won’t leave us with that empty feeling. I sometimes call this “The tail wagging the dog.” As you add in these consistent healthy fitness habits, you often find that your craving for the unhealthy ones just don’t work for you anymore. These new habits will naturally replace your old habits in time anyway. One final thought. Language matters. Try telling yourself “I GET to work out today.” vs “I HAVE to work out.” Try making your workout it’s own reward. More than one member has told us “This is MY time and no one is going to take it away from me!” Consistency Habit # 3: Love the Process Those of you who have known me very long know that I always talk about loving the process. “Love the process, get the results!” I heard an anecdote about the famous violinist Itzhak Perlman. During a master class he was asked if he knew that, when he was putting in hours upon hours practicing violin, he one day would become a world famous violinist. He replied, “No! I wanted to be a world famous tennis player. I practiced the violin so much because I loved it. Loved to play it. Loved how it sounded. I just happened to become a famous violinist.” He loved the process. Learn to love the process of working out... challenging your body in new ways, creating habits that build your fitness, doing things you weren't able to do before. That’s magic! And that's when the results happen. Consistency Habit # 4: Keep It Simple – That One Thing A common mistake most of us make is trying to do too much all at once. New Year’s resolutions are a lot like that: “I’m going to lose weight, start running, organize the office, quit eating sugar, stop watching Netflix and workout everyday!” Then January 2nd happens! Keep it simple. Plan that one thing you want to change. One January I gave up diet cola (2-3 can-a-day habit) and never looked back. The next year we opened 614Fitness! More often than not, changing just one small habit can empower us to take on and tackle more. And, the reward of having success in one small habit encourages us to keep challenging ourselves. Try making just one small change, something simple you can do. You might be surprised by what that success might lead to. Here are some examples to try:
Consistency Habit # 5: Use Support Systems No one said it was going to be easy. Having systems of support around you can help you stay on track when the going gets tough. And it will! One of the things we like to do at 614Fitness is throw challenges out to our member athletes. The accountability makes the process more fun. Relying on team members, family, or friends is a great way to stay on track. On your refrigerator, write a note of affirmation. Why are you REALLY motivated to do. Our small group personal training is so effective because we challenge and support each other to crank out one more rep or take on a bigger challenge. Weight Watchers is so successful because it builds on a community of support. Some ideas for support systems:
Handling the twists and turns in your fitness (and your life) - The Stockdale Paradox  If you know me very well, you know one of the ways I like to recharge and renew is in the saddle of my motorcycle.
My wife Susan and I were out for a ride the other day trying to blow the cobwebs off the news, trials and tribulations of the moment we are in. We were on a nice, challenging, twisty road when I got hit with an epiphany (it might have been a potato beetle, I'm not sure): Taking some of those tricky curves on a motorcycle is a lot like trying to negotiate our lives, businesses and relationships during this pandemic crisis. There are some lessons and examples to learn about this pandemic crisis that relate to successfully taking a twisty on a motorcycle. For example: Be Alert and Aware When you are approaching a curve, you first have to be very aware of your situation and conditions. Too fast and you crash. Not paying attention to the road, you crash. Too slow ... getting out of the curve is difficult at best, treacherous at worst. Prepare You always slow down as you approach the curve so you can get ready for what is to come. Check all the moving parts and get ready for what is to come. Take the Curve with Confidence - Lean In! Once you know you're ready, lean in and trust your awareness, preparation and machine will carry you into and through the curve. Accelerate at the Apex This is where it gets fun... and technical. Right when to curve is at its most, well, curvy, accelerate out of it. If done properly, you come out of the curve faster and more upright than you went in. Come Out on the Other Side That exhilaration and sense of accomplishment that you successfully negotiated the challenge! The situation we find ourselves right now is like a treacherous curve. And sometimes feels like we don't know when we are going to hit the apex and come out on the other side. But, you know what, we always do. During this time, some things may have slipped a little. Relationships, diet, working out. But if you apply those same principals, you can and will come out on the other side faster, stronger and more balanced. That is exactly what we are doing here at 614Fitness and what we are trying to help each of our member athletes do:
The Stockdale Paradox: The Stockdale Paradox is a concept that was popularized by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great. It was named after James Stockdale, former vice-presidential candidate. Who, during the Vietnam War, was held captive as a prisoner of war for over seven years. He was one of the highest-ranking naval officers at the time. The main gist of the idea is that you need to balance realism with optimism. In paradox we often find some of the greatest bits of wisdom. The difficulty in understanding a paradox comes from the fact that when it's heard as a maxim in some kind of verbal form, it is contradictory and not intuitively grasped. This said, paradoxes are best understood through experience. Collins describes this paradoxical concept through the experience of James Stockdale, and his survival as a prisoner of war. During this horrific period, Stockdale was repeatedly tortured and had no reason to believe he'd make it out alive. Held in the clutches of the grim reality of his hell world, he found a way to stay alive by embracing both the harshness of his situation with a balance of healthy optimism. Stockdale explained this idea as the following: "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be." In the most simplest explanation of this paradox, it's the idea of hoping for the best, but acknowledging and preparing for the worst. We all want things to workout for ourselves. We want to be successful, happy, and have achieved something no matter how trivial or personal it may be. For instance, we want to lose weight and get in shape, and going to the gym is one way to accomplish that. Reaching this state of accomplishment isn't going to come just by positive visualization. That's all well and good and it makes us feel nice. It's why so many people fall into the trap of the next best quick fix, miracle diet or magic pill. The Stockdale paradox tells us that no matter how dire our circumstances may seem, faith and perseverance will bring us out on the other side a better version of ourselves. To get back to a fitness analogy,... ever feel like you just couldn't complete one more round of a particularly challenging exercise, but found, once completed, you were utterly exhausted and thoroughly energized at the same time? Be both an optimist and a realist. It's going to be hard. We're going to struggle. We can't always see the apex of the curve. But prepare and lean in so that when that apex comes, and it will, you'll hit the throttle and come out of the curve taller, stronger and better than before! Here's to your health!  Balance and Stability
What it means in the gym and what it means to you today At 614Fitness we have themes each month in our Small Group Training curriculum:
Those workout themes are more than a framework for our exercises, they represent everything we work out for… the core values or essence of 614Fitness. The last article focused on Endurance. This week: Balance and Stability... Balance and Stability To be honest I was having a hard time writing this week’s article. Finding balance and stability has been a real challenge for me these past 2 weeks. I won’t travail you with all the details, but the 14 hour days and sleepless nights have contributed to my own imbalance and instability. I am not practicing what I preach. So I had to get back to basics. I had an epiphany: When we are training our members in Balance and Stability week, we often make adaptations and modifications to ensure the efficacy of a movement and create success. Well, I discovered that the same thing applies in life. Especially right now when our balance and stability is thrown off. << Test First Name >>, Here are some of the adaptations and modifications that are helping me and might help you right now: 1. Hold on to Something Oftentimes, you have seen me pullout my famous stick for a member to use to support the exercise to get the maximum benefit. The same thing applies today. Find something to hold on to in these turbulent times. One of our members whose job is either at home or traveling all over the Midwest gave us some solid advice: “Keep things as normal as possible, find a routine and control what you can.” Find something in your world to hang on to for support… especially right now. For me, My wife Susan and all our trainers are my sticks of support 2. Don't be Afraid to Modify a Little Bit Sometimes , a tiny tweak can make the difference in completing a task or pushing the challenge harder. For example, dropping to your knees in a push up makes the task a little easier. You still accomplish a lot, but you gave yourself permission to succeed another way. Maybe it’s changing your eating or sleeping habits. Maybe it’s meditating or taking more walks. Modifying your world just a little can restore your balance and stability. 3. Fail, and Try Again During Balance and Stability week in SGT we often put our members in uncomfortable positions to do a common exercise. Like standing on a balance disc to do rope slams. We fall off and look silly a few times before it finally kicks in and the task gets easier. Same thing during this crisis. Everything is new, throwing us off balance. We have to allow ourselves those initial failures, but have the perseverance to get right back on it again. As an editorial sidebar here, I want to thank all of our members who have been so patient and gracious as we’ve rolled out our virtual training. We fell off the disc a few times, but we are getting back on and getting better at it as we go! 4. Recognize the Energy it Takes One of our members famously noted: “Ever notice how quiet it is during balance week. We are focused so hard we can’t talk!” It’s true, I burn more calories in Balance and Stability than any other week, even cardio. Being off balance and trying to perform basic tasks takes an extraordinary amount of energy. You mind and body have to focus in new and different ways. And that takes energy. So when you are off balance - as we are right now with the changes and adaptations that have been thrust upon us - recognize that you are expending more energy. Get your sleep, plan your recovery time, implement strategies that recharge your battery. Now even more than ever. 5. Know that it will end One of our trainers, Josh, used to yell. “ONLY 45 SECONDS, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING FOR 45 SECONDS!” When you’re training, we know you look over to that timer to see how much more you have to endure. But that timer always dings. The exercise always stops. And the challenge is always met. This time of crisis and uncertainty will end. We can’t see the timer, I get that. But it’s out there. We can get through this! Hang on to something and modify your world a little bit. Know that you may fail a few times before you get it right and understand the amount of fortitude and energy this whole mess is requiring. I hope this helps. Hang in there and stay strong, stay safe and stay healthy!  How VO2Max and RMR testing can help guide the way I remember in graduate school at The Ohio State University, one of my professors shared an amusing anecdote about goal setting and measuring success.It goes something like this: An army is marching into battle when a lowly sergeant comes up to the captain and says, "Captain, we're going in the wrong direction to reach our destination!" "I know", the captain says. "Well then, why don't we turn around and go the right way?" Asks the sergeant. "Because," explains the captain, "We're making really good time!" Many of us train hard to reach our goals, whatever they may be:
How will you know if your training program was a success?
This is where some good, sound, scientific data could help. Cardiorespiratory fitness testing (or VO2Max + RMR) is one of the best ways to objectively measure fitness and look for markers of progress.. What Is Cardiorespiratory Fitness and VO2Max? According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), cardiorespiratory fitness is the ability to perform dynamic, moderate- to high-intensity exercise involving large-muscle groups for prolonged periods of time (aka running, rowing, cycling, swimming, etc). One of the most important measures of it is VO2Max or maximal oxygen consumption. It is a measure of how well the heart and lungs work to deliver oxygen and ATP (aka energy) to working muscles. Your gender, genetics, volume of training, and quality of training contribute to this number. The more undertrained you are, the more opportunity you have for it to rise. What happens in a VO2Max test? First of all, you can't train for a VO2Max test. The whole point of it is to give you a picture of your current fitness level and make a plan to improve your fitness. It will give you a snapshot of how effectively you burn calories from fat and carbohydrates. From there, you can build a workout plan based on your specific goals. After getting your weight, you’ll put on a mask (or nose plug and mouthpiece) and heart rate monitor strap. Sure, it’s a little awkward at first, but there’s nothing constricting your air. Then you’ll complete a graded exercise test, starting very slowly and gradually increasing your speed and/or grade. Everyone’s protocol is slightly different based on their current fitness level. If you’re doing lactate, we’ll take a small sample of blood from your ear (most people don’t even feel it) after each stage. Once you’ve gotten to your maximum capacity (VO2Max in most cases), you’ll grab the bars, straddle the belt and cool down very slowly. This gives us raw data, which we interpret into your heart rate and pace training zones as well as your fat burning capacity and recommendations for fueling during exercise. If you use the results correctly, YOU’LL IMPROVE (aka GET FASTER and FITTER). Here’s how: Get Objective Measurements (Information is Power!) If you are trying to make consistent improvements in your fitness,the more data you have, the better. That fancy Apple watch, Garmin or pulse monitor on the treadmill are just estimations... kind of one size fits all. VO2Max testing is the most scientific way to measure your fitness right now. You can also compare yourself to a population of people in your age range and gender to see where you stack up and how much you might be able to improve. And when (and if) you get tested down the road, you (and your coaches) can monitor the degree of change. Now, Create an Efficient Workout Plan Information is power, so use it effectively. Use your custom training zones from the testing data (i.e.lactate, heart rate, volume of oxygen) to train efficiently. This is important to avoid getting injured or overtraining. Using your specific heart rate zones where you most efficiently use the maximal energy, you’ll know exactly how hard to work and to separate your training days effectively. It’s all about training in the right zones at the right time in order to appropriately recover. Using those custom zones for optimal recovery means that you can build fitness…faster. Create a Nutrition Plan Again, the treadmill doesn’t know how many calories your burned. It’s just a built-in formula. By getting tested, you’ll know how many calories, carbohydrates and fat you burn at each stage. With this, you’ll get personal recommendations for how much you can consume at every intensity to optimize performance, avoid GI distress, and prevent cramping. You’ll also see how efficiently you burn fat, which is important (and free!) fuel source for endurance athletes AND for someone who might want to lose body fat. Again, information is power. And that information translates into creating an optimal fueling plan based on your goals. A well oiled machine operates smoothly just like a well nourished body runs well. A good nutritionist or coach can help you translate that into what should be on your plate for the best quality energy. So why not test yourself? The only thing you have to lose is a little sweat (and just a few dollars). We think it’s important to incorporate it into your exercise to take your fitness to that next level. Remember the famous Yogi Berra-ism: "If you don't know where you're going, you'll probably get there!" Habit #3 Put First Things First We are examining effective fitness through the prism of Stephen Covey' infamous "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". In Covey's writings, he argues that to be effective in any and all endeavors requires certain habits and ways of thinking. If you want your fitness regimen to reap results - whether it is a PR, a heavier lift, a longer, healthier life - employing effective habits will help get you there. Just to review: Covey's 7 Habits:
Habit #2 -- "Begin With the End in Mind" --builds off of the first. It instructs you to marshal the power of personal power and control. It is based on the principle that things are created twice. First creation is in your mind and the second is in physical reality. Habit #3 - Put First Things First When it comes to your fitness, putting this habit into effect will most likely be the difference between a successful fitness transformation and another set back. It means making those things MOST important to you the # 1 priority. And, my friends, it is not as easy as you think. Here's an example. Let's say you set your priority: "I want to be the best Mother/Father/Husband/Wife I can be." A noble priority and well worth all your best efforts. But where should you begin? Spending more time with your spouse and kids? Cleaning the house more? Date night once in a while? Again all noble things to do. But go back and look at that priority: "I want to be a better..." First word - I Okay, you should start to see where this is going. You can't be a better anything if you are not the best you. Making YOU a priority will allow you to fill the glass of all those people and priorities around you. It is no coincidence that on an airplane, the flight attendants instruct you to put on your oxygen mask before helping others, even if those others are the most precious in your life. (We'll discuss this in more depth in Habit #7). Covey used a quadrant system to help visualize these priorities.
So, when it comes to your fitness, how do you Put First Things First?
Put fitness in your First Things First box. Make it routine, an important part of you. All of those other priorities in your life will fit in neatly around you... I promise! See you in the gym!  We are examining effective fitness through the prism of Stephen Covey' infamous "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". In Covey's writings, he argues that to be effective in any and all endeavors requires certain habits and ways of thinking. If you want your fitness regimen to reap results - whether it is a PR, a heavier lift, a longer, healthier life - employing effective habits will help get you there. Just to review, here are Covey's 7 Habits:
Habit # 2: Begin with the End In MindThis Habit should, in my opinion, be #1. It is based on the principle that things are created twice. First creation is in your mind and the second is in physical reality. Studies suggest that when we visualize our goals and are conscious about them, our full energy and personal talents are activated in order to develop them effectively.
When embarking on a fitness program, you should have a clearly identified goal - and outcome. But these goals need to be concrete, measurable, SMART. (Remember those? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant & Time-limited). For example:
Yogi Berra is credited with a classic: "If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else". Begin your fitness regimen with the end in mind. Find a place, a fitness community that will support and drive you. And, by all means find a guru to help. Personal Trainers and Small Group Training will provide the guidance, direction and support when you get lost or stall along your journey. And you will. We all do. Dust yourself off, be proactive and begin again with the end in mind.  Any of us over 40 may remember the famous management guru of the 1990's Stephen Covey and his infamous "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Everyone in business had to read it and it became a cultural phenomenon. Without going into the nitty-gritty of the book, he studied and analyzed hundreds of successful leaders, politicians and business people to come up with the habits they had in common that made them successful. Core to Covey's paradigm is the belief that the way we see the world is entirely based on our own perceptions. In order to change a given situation, we must change ourselves, and in order to change ourselves, we must be able to change our perceptions. This is more true when it comes to fitness than anywhere else. As trainers, we often hear: "I can't do that!" right before the person does it. Perception. So, as I reflected on fitness and what I have witnessed through our members and trainers at 614Fitness, the 7 Habits stuck to me like an extended set of burpees. Just to review, here are Covey's 7 Habits:
 In this 7 part series, we will examine each of the habits and how they relate to becoming fitter, stronger and in the best shape of your life.
Habit # 1: Be Proactive Question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: 1 bite at a time. Often the hardest part of getting in shape is getting started. Not knowing where to begin. Stressing over past attempts and failures. Or simply being afraid of failure (or success). Being proactive involves taking control of your thoughts and messages. Replacing phrases like
You will need to do these 5 things to become a fitter, stronger version of yourself:
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Jim HofstetterCo-owner of 614Fitness Archives
June 2021
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