Posted by Michael Hartzell on Sun, Mar 21, 2010
What's the difference between a personal trainer and a business manager?
- Both the manager and personal trainer may ask people to do something which is unappealing (at first)..
- Both see and believe in the potential of others who may not see it in themselves.
- Both communicate hope.
- Both give inspiration.
- Both set goals to push an individual to a new level.
- Both have a deaf ear to complaining and whining.
- Both need to listen between the lines and be aware of potential risk.
- Both set up a system and live by a calendar.
- Both train and develop by improving knowledge.
- Both must be consistent and persistent to ensure success.
- Both are removed from doing the actual work but instead act as a coach, teacher and guide.
- Both measure results regularly.
- Both give feedback for success or failures.
- Both must live by strict principles which are not always popular.
- Both have better success by being the example and "walking the talk"
- Both help another overcome obstacles to ensure success.
- Both are evaluated on the results of others they influence.
- Both have success based on a vision, a plan, communication, great execution and in depth analysis of results.
- Both must be leaders and need willing cooperation of others to reach a common goal.
- Both need to show patience.
- Both depend heavily on persuasion.
- Both keep health at the top of their minds for the individual they are responsible for.
- Neither can be a quitter.
Looks to me like the training ground for business management might be as a personal trainer. Ever try to encourage someone who was trying to lose weight or get into better shape? Not always a pleasant conversation. What type of person would take on this burden? Must be someone special.
Don't look at a personal trainer as a person who is trying to sell you something. Seems to me they need to think at a higher level since poor judgment or giving up will have a serious impact on lives. Imagine the risk a personal trainer takes each day as the health and well being of the person they coach is at stake.
Fortunately for me, my experience at Vision Quest Sport and Fitness (Health Club in Auburn, WA) has certified personal trainers who are able to assist and answer questions. They have been available and friendly. (No, I am not giving a shout out because they could mop the floor with me.)
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Sun, Feb 21, 2010
Well, we hope so, right? Big loss for loser? To be sure the Health Club in Auburn, WA keeps me on track, they gave me a special diet. Cross that and instead say "meal plan".
Today I snuck (yes, I snuck) into the refrigerator. I was curious is all. A jar of pickles sitting there looked particularly delectable. Ok, anything looked pretty tasty after a workout today. Oddly the jar said; "Zero Calories". This can't be right, can it? Seems to me that food has to have calories.
Sure enough, I was right. Calories are in food even when the package says zero. However, when the calories get so low that the amount is negligible the FDA says "Hey there, it's close enough, just go ahead and put zero calories down for that."
This perks my interest and maybe yours, too? Weight loss by eating food with less calories? Maybe even zero calories? (almost zero) What a concept. (But not new.) Where the heck are these foods with low and no calories?
Here is the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 15
What is the good news? Spinach has 2 calories per leaf. I love spinach. Uh, I guess eating 50 leaves of spinach does not help me much.
Fortunately, my personal trainer Sara created a meal plan (for my diet) and balanced it with foods I love to eat already. Even so, seeing the low calorie food list gives peace of mind for any "emergency".
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Fri, Feb 12, 2010
FIVE POUNDS lost in first two weeks at the
health club in Auburn, WA. They didn't really force me to lose weight. Just trying to get your attention.
Everyone was weighed in one by one. The results were announced over the sound system so that it seemed the whole town would hear. No such thing as privacy during a competition. Guess I shouldn't care. After all, here I am sharing it with the planet.
So, first two weeks lost 5 pounds according to the official weight scale.
Is this good? Think so. I am averaging a 30 to 40 minute workout every day. (I missed a couple.) Length of workout time is expected to increase as I become a lean, mean workout machine. The recommended supplements are part of my new daily routine and, of course, the meal plan. I really like the new meal plan. Meals with less portion five times a day is working out very nicely.
There were those who lost 15 to 19 pounds in two weeks. That is amazing!
Had an epiphany. If you become a wimp it will be harder to lose weight. As a weak wimp, you will not have enough muscle to get your heart rate up before you get tired. So, those who are weak can't seem to exercise long and find it harder to make progress. This is why my personal trainer (Sara) is having me do lower weights with higher reps. Build the wimp into someone with more strength. Then I can really dig in and do something even more awesome.
Wish I could have a dark chocolate gourmet candy bar for each pound I lost as a prize. I will look for another reward instead.
How about a very fancy high tech sweat band to make me look very cool?.
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Wed, Feb 10, 2010
While daily visiting the
health club in Auburn, WA for the Biggest Loser VI at Vision Quest Sport and Fitness, the mind wandered to my list of dislikes.
Confession time. Here is the nine whine list of Big Loser Mike:
- Don't like exercise. Boring.
- Don't like exercise machines. intimidating.
- Don't like health clubs. Have to get healthy.
- Don't like sweating. Gets smelly.
- Don't like muscle pain. Or any pain for that matter.
- Definitely don't like counting calories. How much? When?
- Don't like being the person with the lightest weights.
- Don't like being publicly unable to lift, push, pull.
- Don't like pushy trainers who want to pump...me up.
This must be why people don't refer to me as jock. It might also be why I am better with people things. Marketing, Math, Management. People, Purpose, Profit. Computers, Collaboration, Connection. These are all good words I can relate with.
Here I am, almost at the end of two weeks, and I am beginning to note some issues with my dislike list. Not sure why.
Looking around the health club it appears my workout area is filled with regular folks.
I do not feel but the slightest muscle pain each morning. That makes me smile.
The sweating seems to be temporary. Who knew?
There are about eight televisions to watch while doing what they call cardio and a little gadget to connect microphones at each cardio machine. It's time to bring a few audio books on an mp3 player into the health club.
Jim (class leader) seems to always be there having a class of some sort. I am astounded at his ability to keep going and do the chants. His ability to keep moving is a show in and of itself as he leads people in a rhythm of movement while keeping beat to the music. How does he breathe, exercise and count / talk out loud all at the same time? Amazing!
No one seems to care that the weights I am lifting are less than an eight year old could pump. Guess they have their own weights to bear. (pun intended)
Thus far I am puzzled. Since I have spent so many years avoiding this health club environment because of what I call the nine whine list, what did I miss? Seems like my nine whine list is more like a lame game? Maybe.
Regardless of the weigh in on Thursday night I have doubled the amount of time before I am out of breath on the LifeCycle machine. (Too embarrassed to share what that is.) I have increased the resistance and number of "reps" on the weight machines. All that and still only the very slightest of muscle soreness. (Again, too embarrassed to share the light weight.)
What could be in those supplements, I wonder?
Time to start a new nine whine list. Vision Quest seems to have broken my view of health and fitness clubs and I can no longer use the old list as a defense.
I started on the first day wondering why I was pooped out after 6 minutes and dragging butt. Only two weeks in and while I am no superman, it is good to feel like there is something good happening.
Take-Aways.
- Burn the Nine Whine List.
- Things are not always as they appear.
- Just 'cause people are crying on TV when working out doesn't mean that is real life. (Oh yeah... TV is always like that.)
- Keep going. Don't waste it. Every day matters.
- The next two weeks I think I can do better.
What about you?
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Posted by Michael Hartzell on Thu, Jan 28, 2010
The water looks great but thoughts wandered to having a personal trainer as I prepare to get on the bandwagon of the Biggest Loser VI Competition at Vision Quest in Auburn, WA. It becomes obvious that achieving the desired success for weight loss is hardly different from success in marketing a business.
Last year I said I would lose 50 pounds and only lost 20. I failed. It may be time for you to take it up a notch? Do what I did, find someone in need to buddy up with.
It appears the personal trainer is not so far fry from a business coach as they make a list:
- Vision
- Mantra
- Goals / Targets
- Preparation
- Planning
- Support system in place?
These are a few of the steps necessary to transform from the old to the new.
Each day time has been blocked on my big loser calendar with training and workout as top priority. I will keep it up to date it will remain here on the website so that anyone (and you) who is interested can follow along.
Want to join me? Feel free. Here is the Biggest Loser VI Workout Schedule which includes workout times with a personal trainer and without. You can corner me and ask about inbound marketing.
Already as I speak with the personal trainer, it is again a testimony to systems, processes and coaching. We want to know it all but in the end, we all need a little help. Vision Quest Sports and Fitness in Auburn, WA will be giving me the help I need. Fortunately for me? The owners are champions and Vision Quest is an award winning facility which means they know how to be the best.
Why blog & write about it? Because "Knowledge Empowers so Learn & Teach” ™ remains my daily mantra.
If I can learn and share and one other person can benefit? Then it's all good. They say America is overweight. They say that it is killing people and causing more illness. I have had my fair share of bumps and would not want wish that on anyone. By putting myself out there, I hope to make it real, lose big and say "If I can do it, I am sure you will do even better!" and you can then change your life.
So, join me if you want or watch from afar. I weigh in every 2 weeks. There will be videos, thoughts, bits and pieces from the certified trainers at Vision Quest. I will keep the tally on the left and you can see the progress (don't laugh if I go backwards temporarily!)
When you watch the Biggest Loser on TV, there are tears and hardships. Most are trying to do what appears impossible. I am fortunate and the Vision Quest personal trainers in Auburn have promised to make it "fast, easy, fun". I like this kind of talk!
Want to be a loser with me? Comment is below. Or Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn are other options. It's time for more transformation. (and maybe win a prize)
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