Posted by Michael Hartzell on Fri, Jun 11, 2010
What is appealing about being a personal trainer in a fitness club? Auburn, WA has an award winning fitness club by the name of Vision Quest Sport and Fitness. You will find the black shirts of personal trainers in every part of the gym. Maybe they like working in such a place because the Heavenly Cafe is connected to the fitness club and gives amazing service?
Here are a few of the issues about being a personal trainer:
- Everybody sweats too much. This is not when people look or smell their best.
- Those who are trained always want to rest.
- Who is truly honest about their eating habits when asked by the personal trainer?
- A personal trainer who works for a world champion (Brad Swartz) will probably need to have the highest of standards. Seems like more pressure.
- When a personal trainer spends their whole day training others, no way can they be in the mood to work out themselves.
- Locker rooms, dirty socks. Enough said.
- If a personal trainer loses muscle or gains even 5 pounds, there is probably heck to pay.
- Intimidation. Physical trainers are intimidating because they always seem fit, always have an attitude of "can-do". Keeping up with them must be tough and intimidating.
- Grocery shopping. If everyone knows that you are a personal trainer and you go grocery shopping, there can be no cheating. (Unless you say it is for a friend.)
Hearing people cry in pain and be so tired might be an occasional event for those who have very serious goals. (The goal is to have training be fast, easy and fun.)- Exercise equipment. Everywhere! Oh yeah, I guess that is just me who is getting accustomed to exercise equipment.
- Science, psychology, biology, math, coaching. Knowledge of each is necessary to be a personal trainer. Seems complicated.
- How many times can you say: "Faster, harder, you can do it, com'on --- three more." A personal trainer could go nuts with this over and over.
- Outright refusal. That is what I am sure what a trainer hears. Refusals.
They might hear: "OK, you can be my personal trainer but you have to do it my way."
- Can't take "no" for an answer. The rest of us who are not trainers are too busy, to tired, too weak and certainly will never look like that trainer, so why bother. The personal trainer won't take no for an answer. (Well, this one is actually a good thing.)
Over the years I have had an aversion to those working in fitness clubs. It could be partially due to those 1 year contracts where you have to sign in triplicate. (Lucky Vision Quest has no long term commitments.) It could be because of intimidation and my ability to not be the buff jock who could keep up.
I
look around the gym at Vision Quest and see people from a broad range of ages working out. Personal trainers treat everyone like a friend and they give out big smiles to all. (Even though there is a list of reasons why not to be a personal trainer.)
Why the heck would someone take on such a challenge deliberately?
Then I remember the testimonials at the end of the last Biggest Loser at the final weigh in. Each person talked about feeling better, improving relationships, doing more and connecting with life and not just the couch. Each tear was mixed with a smile.
I suppose if I was to hear such stories about every three months, it would be good motivation to tackle what seems to be an almost no-win situation. It is mind against body. The personal trainer's mind helps someone to improve their body. Interestingly enough it seems to come full circle and also improve the mind.
Now. Do you pay for a personal trainer? Well, if you can't make yourself feel better, do you go to the doctor? If you can't sing, do you get a singing coach? If you can't play the guitar, do you have someone show you how? If you are going to lose 25 pounds and have been trying for 10 years, how much time will it take you to feel better, play the guitar, sing, and lose 25 pounds? I wonder if you could save money by hiring a doctor who taught singing and guitar lessons and could also coach on losing weight. Now that would be an interesting session!
It's your turn. Why else do you think it would be hard to be a personal trainer? Or maybe you think it's easy? Share.
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Fri, Jun 11, 2010
After the experience at the weigh in for Biggest Loser VII at the fitness club in Auburn, WA, it was good to see the email today in my email inbox from Calorie Count. The second time around for the weight loss challenge at
Vision Quest Sport and Fitness seems just a bit tougher. Last night I missed my workout because I was 30 miles north. One demerit for me.
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Chocolate, Straight from the Source
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I used to think chocolate was a rich and sweet treat best enjoyed from fancy packages with European names. While by no means an expert, I thought I knew a thing or two about this dark and delicious food so many of us adore. However, after traveling directly to the source in Mexico and Central America, I now realize chocolate and cocoa is a much more interesting and diverse product, with a fascinating history...
continue reading |
From Calorie Count
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Fri, Jun 04, 2010
It is Biggest Loser Time. Biggest Loser VII at Vision Quest Sport and Fitness. This fitness club in Auburn, WA is an award winning business where over 2800 pounds were lost in the last biggest loser contest.
Who can become a big loser? What kind of person takes control of their life and tackles exercise equipment with no fear? Weight loss seems tough. Who can make it?
Who is willing to test the deep thoughts of fitness club managers at Vision Quest?
What kind of person will be willing to face celebrity personal trainers?
Who will be willing to follow the meal plan set by the personal trainer coach?
Can the exercise balls be mastered? How do you learn what to do for a workout?
It looks like I see a few. A full room of people in fact. This is the highest number of people to sign up for the Biggest Loser at Vision Quest Sport and Fitness to date.
Do you think these people are brave for taking action to change their lives? Do you believe it is possible to lose 25, 35 or 50 pounds in 13 weeks? If you don't believe, then know that it has already been done at this fitness club over and over.
Here is Brad Swartz. He is a world champion wrestler and lives what he teaches.
Handsome guy, don't you think?
On Thursday night he got the crowd motivated and inspired.
Yes, I was there. I expect to lose 25 more pounds. This last month has been busy, busy, busy. It appears I actually gained some pounds! I weighed in at about 249 pounds. No worries. I will go on the entrepreneur diet.
As Brad Swartz was giving an awesome and amazing presentation, I was thinking about chocolate. Take a look at the double vision of Brad showing the benefits of the very successful (and still growing) program.
Uh oh. Here is a photo with Brad Swartz smiling big with giant bags of Dove chocolate candy bars in his hand.
How can this be? We must rewind the clock and see how he came in possesion of the chocolate.
Back... back... back in time.
Ok. Here is Brad Swartz sharing wise words about fitness, health and losing weight.
Here I am concentrating on Brad's every word while standing next to him.
So far so good.
I think I remember. There was chocolate stuffed in my coat. It seems I was caught red handed with big bags of chocolate. I try to come up with an explanation. Brad smiles big because he knows that I am caught.
Here I am confessing and pouring out my guts to him. Coming clean, I tell him he can have a bag and my new personal trainer (Amber) can have the other as a token of my new commitment to Biggest Loser VII.
There is a reason Brad Swartz is a world champion. He knows how to make it happen. Here he is with my chocolate in hand. (Do you think he's gloating?)
Brad shares with the crowd what a sad case I am. Did he say it like this? "If you do what Michael Hartzell tried to do, you will fail, fail, fail. Stick to the meal plan, take the supplements, exercise, drink water and more water, and don't quit." My readers digest version I suppose.
He is holding that chocolate pretty tight. Wonder what he will do with it?
Now you know the rest of the story and how I was able to catch World Champion Brad Swartz with two bags of chocolate in his hand. It was me thinking I could sneak chocolate while on the Biggest Loser.
You must know? The photos are real but I did take just a bit of liberty and created a story that might be stretched just a bit.
The part where a giant room of people signed on to participate in the Biggest Loser VII at Vision Quest Sport and Fitness is the truth. They are amazing.
What do you think? Do you want to weigh in right now from wherever you are and see if you can beat my target? 25 pounds is my goal. I will be reposting my workout calendar in the next couple of days. Feel free to come on down.
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Wed, May 26, 2010
It is time to take a break from the fitness topics in Auburn, WA and reach out all the way to California. Here today is Michelle Aultman from "Elliptical Machines Blog". I have a bigger appreciation now for such a topic after working out and losing weight. This new information is perfect timing for me as I start again on June 3rd at the Biggest Loser VII.
Michelle Aultman is the guest blogger today and helps you with exercise tips:
Give me 5 mins and I'll give you a few exercising tips to prevent weak bones
Approximately ten million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 34 million have low bone mass (osteopenia).
A disease without symptoms, osteoporosis affects about 20 percent of men and 80 percent of women.
The bones gradually become weaker, they may break by a minor fall or, if left untreated, even from simple things like a sneeze.
The commonest fracture sites are hip, wrist and spine, although any bone in your body could be affected.
A diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis tend to be scary, leading a number of people to avoid exercise because of fear it will cause fractures.
The truth is that people with low bone mass should make sure to exercise on a regular basis.
Being active is shown to not merely assist in preventing osteoporosis, but slow bone loss once it has already begun.
Before beginning a workout program, you will need to check with your doctor for guidelines, as degree of bone loss determines how much exercise is best.
Physicians can assess density of bone and fracture risk by scanning the body with a special type of X-ray machine.
In conjunction with exercise, treatment may include dietary modifications and/or estrogen replacement therapy.
The more knowledge you get about this condition, the more you can do to help prevent its onset.
To build strength and bone mass, both weight-bearing and resistance training exercises are ideal.
Weight-bearing exercises are the ones that require the bones to fully support your weight against gravity.
Examples are walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing or using an elliptical machine.
Non-weight bearing exercises include biking, swimming, water aerobics and rowing.
Weight-bearing activities like walking less than 3 x a week will manage to benefit the bones.
Resistance training places mechanical force (stress) on our bodies that might increases density of bone.
Start by lifting light weights, moving in a slow and controlled manner, increasing resistance when you become stronger.
It's always recommended that people with osteoporosis avoid the following types of activity:
* Step aerobics and high-impact activities including running, jumping, tennis.
* Activities that involve rounding, bending and twisting of the spine.
* Moving the legs sideways or across the body, specially when performed against resistance.
* Rowing machines, trampolines.
* Every movement that involves pulling on the head and neck.
Exercise Tips:
* Even if you do not have osteoporosis, you need to talk with your medical provider before you begin a workout program.
* Remember to warm-up before beginning and cool-down at the conclusion of each exercise session.
* For the best benefit to your bone health, combine several different weight-bearing exercises.
* As you build strength, increase resistance, or weights, instead of repetitions.
* Make sure to drink a lot of water whenever exercising.
* Vary the types of exercise that you do each week.
* Combine weight bearing and resistance exercise with aerobic exercises to help you improve your general health.
* Bring your friend along to help you keep going or in addition to this, bring your family and encourage them to be healthy.
* Add more exercise to your day; take the stairs vs. the elevator, park further way, and walk to your co-worker's office rather than emailing.
Put LIVE into action!
L - Load or weight-bearing exercises make a difference for your bones
I - Intensity builds stronger bones.
V - Vary the types of exercise as well as your routine to keep interested.
E - Enjoy your exercises. Make exercise fun so you will continue into the future!
Specific factors raise the probability of developing osteoporosis. While some of these risk factors are controllable, others won't be.
Risk factors that may be controlled are:
- Sedentary lifestyle, excess intake of protein, sodium.
- Caffeine and/or alcohol, smoking, calcium and Vitamin D deficiencies and taking certain medicines.
- Body size (small frame), gender, family history and ethnicity are risk factors that cannot be controlled.
- Women can lose about 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years after menopause, which makes them more vulnerable to osteoporosis.
It is never too soon to start considering bone mineral density.
- About 85-90 percent of adult bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and 20 in boys.
- Nutrition and Exercise for Healthy Bones in childhood and Adolescence.
- Much of the reserve of healthy bone is built in youth and before the age of 30.
- Women can be more subject to an inadequate foundation process at this time than men.
- Sufficient calcium intake,a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veggies and load-bearing exercise are the secrets of solid bone growth when you're young. Then, with continued exercise into old age -- and this benefits men as well -- bone density decline can be kept to a minimum.
Although women are the main focus of data about osteoporosis and low bone density (osteopenia), some men are also seriously afflicted by this problem.
In case you do all the right things while growing up and into adulthood, your inherited characteristics "your genes" can present you with bones that are susceptible to osteoporosis. This is even greater reason to maximize your lifestyle to prevent poor bone health.
About Michelle Aultman
Michelle writes for the elliptical workout for fat loss blog, her personal hobby blog centered on ideas to prevent osteoporosis through home fitness.
Writer's note: The information provided on this document are designed to support, not substitute, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health practitioner.
Michelle Aultman has no business intent and does not accept direct source of promotion coming from health or pharmaceutical firms, doctors or clinics and websites. All content provided by her is based on her editorial common sense and is not driven by an advertising and marketing purpose.
How helpful was this information from Michelle? How will it change what you do?
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Sat, May 22, 2010
You know what this means for the fitness attitude and business, don't you?
It means that people will:
- Expect an exercise mimic pill to be served with every meal.
- Want meals with built-in exercise mimic pills.
- Have bosses who require exercise mimic pills to be taken to maintain weight.
- Suspect the Biggest Loser contestants will be cheating with an exercise mimic pill.
- Not know the difference between a real exercise mimic pill and a mimic of an exercise mimic pill.
- Overindulge on exercise mimic pills and then need to go on a feeding frenzy to gain weight.
- Instead say: "I can't talk right now, I am exercising," and then take an exercise mimic pill which means of course, you have not lied about exercise.
- Be able to exercise in their sleep with the exercise mimic pill?
- Hear from every marketing agency in the world: Viagra, Votox and Exercise Mimic Pill ... all in one!
- Be too tired at times for work because of too much exercise from the exercise mimic pill.
- Not be able to tell between the people who look fit from real exercise or the fake exercise mimic pill.
- Take an exercise mimic pill in the most unusual places. What the heck?
- Will no longer need to visit the health and fitness club in Auburn, WA. (There is, after all, an exercise mimic pill soon to be available).
- Will have contests on reality TV of who can lose the most weight WITHOUT regular exercise and ONLY use the exercise mimic pill.
- Begin to feed their children the exercise mimic pill before they need it as a "just in case".
- Over time expect to see special flavors and colors of exercise mimic pills.
- Will want cartoon shaped, cartoon named exercise mimic pills. (Take your Flintsones exercise mimic pill with iron now.)
If this continues to market, what do you expect to see from having a pill like this? How will it change your life?
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Wed, May 12, 2010
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"Bad" Foods You Should Eat
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Recently, a friend who was eating with me appeared shocked as I spread full-fat natural peanut butter on my whole-wheat toast. Isn't peanut butter super-fattening, she asked? It's high in fat but that doesn't mean it's fattening, I told her, noting that gaining or losing weight, and body fat, basically comes down to balancing calories. Knowing my master's work focused on weight loss, she took my word on this.
... continue reading
More from EatingWell.com:
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Sat, May 01, 2010
Here is Brad Swartz at Vision Quest Sport and Fitness fitness club staying in control of the microphone. I held back my urge to grab it and refrained from giving a speech. Since Brad Swartz is a World Champion Wrestler and I see him on occassion still coaching/wrestling at the fitness club in Auburn, WA, I know that if my hand reached for the microphone, he would have me at his mercy.
Yes, Matt Hoover (Winner of 2nd Season of Biggest Loser) was there and gave an inspirational and moving presentation. (I look good standing next to the large photo of Matt Hoover don't I?)
One lesson from Matt: When someone gives a compliment say "thank you" and then shut up. To say more that starts with a "thank you, yea but I need to ___" does no one any good. Thank you Matt for the lesson and inspiration.
24 pounds. That is the official weight loss for me in 13 weeks. The result of 30 to 40 minutes a day of workout at the fitness club, meal plan, supplements, water, more water, and of course attitude.
So the person sitting next to me at the finale (whose name I am withholding to protect her from the fanfare) decided at the very last second to sign up for Vision Quest VII which starts June 3rd. There was excitement, prizes and a promise of even more weight loss, personal training, and summer is looming.
I again became someone's buddy in the Biggest Loser VII competition. The good news is there will be less education needed and I am starting a a place where I am less of a wimp.
Do you wonder if:
- It is ok to wear weights under the clothes on the first weigh in?
- Is it a good thing to eat and eat for the next 30 days and put more weight on? (Does it even increase the chance of winning?)
- The old clothes are already baggy so does a person continue to put off buying a new wardrobe since more pounds are sure to go?
- Will the fact that summer is looming create outdoor temptations which become diversions from the mission? (Is it harder to stick to a plan in the summer?)
- Will losing another 24 pounds begin to make me look less attractive? (Some like the fat and friendly look.)
- What will the next goal be? 20 pounds? Less? More?
- What will the schedule allow? A daily routine for workouts? I will be committed to giving scholarships so time will be very tight. Will that mean there means to be an increase in the workouts?
- There will be a new trainer. How long will it take me to train them?
So many questions. Since the Biggest Loser Competition includes one personal training session every few weeks and my club membership includes a once a month personal training session, these are questions to be asked of whoever gets the joy and priviledge of being my personal coach.
June 3rd. You can do it as well. From there. Weigh in on the same day as me. Every two weeks, weigh in. Share your story. We can blog about it here. You can blog if you want. You have to send a "before photo" though!
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Thu, Apr 29, 2010
The health club in Auburn, WA took photos of me today. Twenty pounds the scale at home says. You get to see the photo above the day before the weigh in. Not sure of the final weigh in yet. My new scale at home says 20 pounds ... but that is not the official weight.
Tomorrow (Thursday 4-29) is the big bash in Auburn.
Matt Hoover will be at the final weigh in and celebration at the Vision Quest Sport and Fitness clubs. Season Two Biggest Loser Winner had a weight loss that inspires others to lose / win.
So here is a little poetry from the someone who flunked Poetry University:
I remember when,
I was afraid of the floor.
Because when I went down, getting up would make me sore.
The grocery aisles were faster and easier
Then came reading every box, bag and container.
Calorie intake was measured by how far to unbuckle
Now calorie is first consideration which makes others chuckle
Food was functional when in a hurry
No more is it grab and go, or just munch and scurry.
The best thing in life was a Jumbo Jack
Now the best I can hope for at fast food is an empty sack.
My fear grew quickly as people would say the word "exercise",
I can now talk about 'reps' and weights to rookies which makes me look wise.
I would find every excuse to avoid the walk just to walk,
Now I keep up and believe it or not, while I walk I talk!
For the longest time, the solution was "Just buy more clothes".
It was the simplest way to deal with no longer touching my toes.
I met Chip, Brad and Jeff at Vision Quest and they all said:
I expect a commitment from you, so get "no quitting" into your head.
Yes, I remember bits and pieces but it is all fading away.
Now I have less fat to haul so I will just celebrate with a big "hooray".
Dr. Seuss would not be very proud of my prose.
Since I flunked Poetry University, that is expected I suppose.
May you think of yourself at this moment in time?
Would you like to shed a few pounds and share in a rhyme?
Most the time when you hear of a loss there is sadness and a tear,
This loss is one that is only a win so please right now, give a big cheer.
There you have it but it is just the beginning. Why not go for more? So I will keep moving the bar and losing more. I have a membership at Vision Quest now so the millions of dollars worth of equipment is at my disposal. More exercise, more discipline. How long before another 20? AND will you be my next buddy?
If I can do it? Anyone can. The final weigh in is tomorrow but after that? Maybe I will be talking to you. I want to go for another twenty. How about you? Let's do it.
I averaged 30 to 40 minutes a day of working out. Stuck to a meal plan (five times a day). Drank more green tea in three months than all my life (I like green tea). Supplements three times a day (which kept me feeling much better). Ok... I missed about 10% of the days. (that only means I could have done even better).
Mike@biglosermike.com is waiting. Biggest Loser VII is around the corner already.
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Wed, Apr 14, 2010
Here I was hanging around a bunch of losers at the health club in Auburn, WA at 7:00 pm last Thursday. Because they were losers they are all BIG winners. I am in awe and appreciation of each person who went to the scale in the front of the room to weigh in. Some have amazing weight loss in the first 10 weeks. (One person has lost over 40 pounds.) Others lost not as much but are still moving forward.
The Biggest Loser Competition at Vision Quest Sport and Fitness was something I would walk by and say "not for me". There is so much hype around the TV show where participants cry, suffer, and tantrum. That is TV. I have lost 18 pounds in 10 weeks (as of this moment there are only 16 days to go) and have done so by following a specific meal plan, adding supplements, working out 30 to 40 minutes each day, drinking WATER (in reality I drink green tea) and not giving up.
I used to walk by and see a bunch of overweight people working out through the window. What the heck was wrong with that picture, I would ask. The problem was that I forgot to look at the reflection in the window of ME. That is what was wrong. I was on the wrong side of the glass.
Brad Swartz had said at the beginning: "Mike, we want the weight loss experience at Vision Quest to be fast, easy, and fun.' I can't say honestly that "fun" is on my list but then I am mostly a geek, and the computer, camera, books and people are my "fun". Even with missing about 10% of scheduled workout days, you have to admit my progress is pretty good. (18 pounds won't win a prize though.) During the first 10 weeks I was sore a few days when I tried to push it. When I am on cardio equipment, I count the minutes down one by one. The benefit, of course, is that I can now bend over and pick up a pencil from the floor without needing to find someone or something to lean on.
So we are coming down to the wire. There is NO excuse for not hitting my target (though Easter was very tough as Cherie cooked up an amazing feast). The question will not be if I can lose the remaining 2 pounds to hit my goal. The question is: How much more than the 20 pound target will I lose? Every weigh-in, they post the top 25 participants based on weight loss percentage. I have never been in the top 25 as of yet. Maybe if I add five minutes a day and skim a few calories a day, I might hit a magic number that puts my name in the top 25.
The final question:
Biggest Loser VII is coming up around the bend. Vision Quest has locations in Seattle, Kent, Auburn, Puyallup. Do I go for another 20? Want to do it with me? Have I made a case that it may not be quite as tough as it seems?
OR... maybe you will do it where you are while I do it here. I am looking for a buddy. Crystal was my buddy the Biggest Loser VI. She is amazing with a loss of 14 pounds thus far. Next time? Do you want to be here? Let me know at buddy@biglosermike.com.
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Wed, Apr 07, 2010
Sean shares his story about losing weight with the biggest loser competition at the local fitness club in Auburn, WA. (Vision Quest Sport and Fitness) Sean lost over 80 pounds. Incredible.
How did he lose over 80 pounds? The fitness club speaks often of the importance of coaching, supplements, meal plan, exercise workout plan, discipline, commitment, personal support, and, I suppose, the desire to make life just a little bit better. (and water)
I bet that work is easier, life is easier, and relationships are better for Shawn since his incredible change.
The countdown continues. Three weeks left in Biggest Loser VI in Auburn, WA.
Soon the sign-up will start for Biggest Loser VII contest. Go into Vision Quest Sport and Fitness in Auburn, WA and ask for Shawn. Tell him you saw the video on biglosermike.com and that you want to get into the Biggest Loser VII.
What a testimonial Sean has. It is good to know that those healthy people seen working in the fitness club / gym also know about the journey of weight loss from personal experience.
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