What I learned at the 2013 So Cal 200 Mile Ragnar Relay Race

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photo(2)What’s up my fellow fitness friends?!  I’m pumped that you’re here to read this kickass blog post and Monday Motivator and I’d love to hear your comments at the end.

Some friends and I recently competed in and completed the Southern California 200 mile Ragnar Relay Race.  Our team name was Team 12 Pack (#Ragnar12Pack) and we were all different beers.  Shout out to fellow F.A.T. member Rob Freer for quite possibly the best costume as he was “Tiger Beer.”  As the fitness nut, I got nominated to be Michelob Ultra.  And Sara of course was O’Douls.  :-) This is what I learned and reinforced while at the event and I wanted to share it with you.  I hope it pumps you up to achieve your health and fitness goals and inspires you to greatness.

1)      What matters is that you finish

Your TIME does not matter. What matters is that you came out, did your best and finished. I’m sure most of our Team 12 Pack felt this way about Ragnar and what really made it hit home for me was watching my wife Sara.  Sara, who is 26 weeks pregnant with our

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first baby boy came out and rocked Ragnar.  I’ll admit I was worried about her competing….fair amount of mileage, extreme heat, cold, lack of sleep etc.  Yet every time

I saw her while on the run she was smiling and in great spirits.  Countless times she reminded me that she wasn’t out to get a personal record and if she needed to walk, take a break or stop, she would do it.  (For those of you that know how competitive Sara can be this was amazing to hear. ;-)   But she is so right.  As you reflect on this, remember that it could be about an upcoming event or race or it could be the timeline of achieving your fitness goals.  What matters is that you finish.  I’m so

proud of you Sara and I love you so much.

2)      Sleep is Vital

Nothing makes you appreciate sleep more than getting almost none of it and then having to go run many more miles.  I think I got just over 2 hours of sleep during our 32 hour race and I know that all of us were feeling the effects.  Tired, sore muscles, cranky, short fuses, less willpower to eat healthy items, etc.  Now imagine if you’re sleep deprived all the time?!  Not only are you just a bundle of joy to be around, you are also basically throwing in the towel to achieving your health and fitness goals and you’re most likely letting relationships deteriorate at the same time.  Sleep is essential for recovery, keeping hormones in balance and your sanity as well as the sanity of those that come in contact with you. :-)

3)      Support Structures are Essential

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I know I’ve preached this countless times before and I will say it again.  Positive support structures are essential to achieving your health and fitness goals.  The support we showed each other throughout the race was so awesome.  We would move the van to the halfway point of someone’s run and high five them, refill water, pump them up etc.  All of the other runners competing also supported and inspired one another.  High fives, (Fast Action Training members are you seeing a High Five theme? :-) cheering, honking and fist pumping as they drive by, and more.  This may have been heightened by the recent tragedies of Boston but I will say that the running community is one of the most supportive communities I’ve been involved in.  As a coach, this is always my favorite part and further reinforces the fact that you NEED positive support structures in your life if you truly wish to achieve your health and fitness goals.  You need someone in your corner to listen, let you vent frustrations, give you sound advice, pump you up and give you a smile of encouragement when you need it most.

4)      The mind is stronger than the body

Willpower, perseverance and determination.  You’ve got to have the mental strength to keep going, to keep pushing, no matter what.  There were definitely a few times where I wanted to stop.  Going into my final leg, my right hip felt like someone had taken a bat to it and my left knee/IT band was throbbing….but I finished.  This might be a stubborn plateau that you’re fighting through or the difficulty of creating new, healthy eating habits.  Whatever it is, remember that part of what we preach at Fast Action Training is not just physical strength, it’s mental toughness too.  With the proper dose of willpower, perseverance and determination (and some positive affirmations too) anything is possible.

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This race was thrilling, exhausting, amazing, extremely challenging and a TON of fun all rolled into one.  Special thanks to all of Team 12 Pack: Kelly, Chris, Micah, Michelle, Bryan, Tiffany, Shawn, Kara, Ashley, Rob and my wife Sara.  We can scratch that off of the bucket list and here’s to a lifetime of awesome memories.

Remember these principles everyone and go achieve greatness with your health, your fitness and your life.  Have a terrific start to your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

P.S. Yep, even mid my 8 mile run, I still love my catch phrases and high fives. Well done on the video shoot Mr. Desena. :-)

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude!

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What’s up everyone?!  John here and I’m back with another Monday Motivator to fire you up, help you get your mind right and achieve and maintain your health and fitness goals.

So I just got back from a kickass business trip and we talked a lot about our mission and vision for our companies as well as ourselves personally.  Let me tell you, this is a tough exercise and I’ve honestly been doing a lot of work on it over the last few months since I want Fast Action Training to help impact the lives of as many people as humanly possible.

Fast forward to me writing this now, at my gate, waiting for my flight and I can tell you that I feel re-vitalized, energized and excited to get home and start taking action.  My vision feels so real that I can touch it.  I can make out the details of everything, both personally and professionally and now I just have to let my mind steer me to that course.  And with the phenomenal team that we have at Fast Action Training combined with the support from the most awesome members ever, (and of course the best wife and family a guy can ask for. ;-) the sky is the limit.

think, do, be positive

But John, what the heck does this have to do with me, my motivation and my fitness goals?!

Keep reading young Skywalker.

I then happened to come across some quotes I had saved and it was unreal how well they summed up everything.  The first is by Zig Ziglar who said:

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”

The second, from William James who said:

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful outcome.”

How much do you love those quotes?!  :-) This is the CORE of what I believe in!  This is the kind of stuff you need to print and post where you can see it, read it and let it sink in on a daily basis.  And as you read this, you need you need to know that you are strong enough to achieve anything you set your mind to.  This simple idea of attitude is what separates champions and victims.

A champion knows that without a shadow of a doubt their dreams and goals are completely within reach to achieve.  A champion stays positive at all times.  A champion gets rid of self-doubt since it will only hinder and hurt him.  A champion surrounds himself with positive support groups, advisors and a “team” that will enable him to achieve his goals.

A victim does the opposite of all of these things, chooses to blame circumstance for their reality and takes no ownership for where they are.

Which do you want to be….a champion or a victim?

Losing weight, fitting back into clothes, changing eating and lifestyle habits are all difficult things to do.  However, if your attitude is always positive and you can believe in yourself, way deep down that you WILL overcome all of these challenges then you WILL achieve your goals.  You need to visualize the end result like it is tangible because you will make it real.

Change your attitude, chanSlogan en Anglais "Mind over Matter" - Cadres et pointsge your mind and change your life.

That’s all there is to it.

Have a terrific start to your week and I’d love to hear your comments below!!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

Beauty, Strength & Courage

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What’s up my fellow fitness friends? So glad you can join me for another kickass Monday Motivator and I hope to hear your comments below if you have enjoyed the blog post!

I’ve got to tell you I absolutely love writing these every week. They pump me up and I hope they pump you up as well. What’s crazy to think about sometimes is that I’ve written these consistently week in/week out for over 3 ½ years… and I still love it :-) . Ok, time to get pumped up and attack the week. I came across a great quote in a recent fitness industry magazine that quoted the late British minister, Reverend Bernard B. Edmonds. The RChallenge One Step Closer to Success Barricadeeverend said this:

“To dream anything that you want to dream. That’s the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed.

WOW! This quote says it all and this is what it’s all about. You have the power to dream and conceive of the fitness goal, challenge, or physique you want to achieve, the strength to take action and the courage to push yourself to the finish line and ultimate success.

I know, I know…easier said than done right?! One thing you have to come to terms with is that life will always throw things at you to get in your way. We may have nightmares now and then. We may lack willpower from time to time and we may doubt ourselves and our ability to achieve. However, it is ALWAYS your choice as to how you will respond to all of these events.

Will you remember that you have the power to change anything in your life and that you can achieve any health and fitness goal if you put your mind to it? You will always have the choice to eat clean, schedule some type of activity into your day, surround yourself with positive people, pump yourself up with positive affirmations and make shit happen.

ACTION ITEMS:Speedometer - Yes I Can

1) Create your GO-TO Positive Affirmations when the going gets tough. 3-5 phrases that will pull you out of your funk, help you realize that your positive mindset is your choice and help keep you on track.
2) Choose a REACH goal for yourself and the big reason WHY you want to achieve it.
3) Get to work. :-)

I hope you enjoyed the Monday Motivator and would love to hear your comments below!

Have a terrific start to your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

Monday Motivator & 1st F.A.T. Scholarship Recipient of 2013!

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Woo hoo!  John here everybody and it’s time to kickoff the back half of January 2013 and wish an awesome start to all of our 6 Week Body Transformation participants!  If you see them, be sure to give them an extra high-five. :-)

Ok, so let’s get down to business.  First, I want to share with you our 1st Fast Action Training Scholarship recipient for 2013.  As many of you know, our San Jose bootcamp and personal training studio thrives off of making in impact in people’s lives and one of the most fulfilling ways we get to accomplish this is by giving back through our scholarship fund.

I’d like to congratulate and wish a very warm welcome to our first recipient of 2013….Jeff Stephens!Support People Lifting Your Burden in Difficult Times

Jeff was gung ho to start rockin his workouts with F.A.T. but due to some personal situations he was going to be restricted from joining in the short-term.  After hearing his story, the team and I decided that we wanted him to start kickin butt and taking names now so we’re helping him out.  And with all of the recent donations of some of our awesome members who forewent their “referral reward” we will be giving Jeff a 3 Month VIP Membership so he can really get some phenomenal results. This just absolutely warms my heart because all of our members care just as much as we do about giving back and making a difference.  It really means a lot to me and I appreciate all of you for sharing in my beliefs and core values and for supporting one another so thoughtfully.

Be sure to leave a comment below for Jeff and if you see him in bootcamp, be sure to introduce yourself and pump him up as his goal is to get back down to 200 lbs….by the 200th day of the year (July 19th).  Good luck Jeff, let’s do this!

Ok, now on to some serious motivation and I feel it is fitting that I continue to brain-wash you again with my all-time favorite quote by Mr. Henry David Thoreau who said:

“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams, and endeavor to live the life which you have imagined, you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

You need to re-read this about 10 times and get seriously fired up.  Fitness and fat loss goals can be elusive but they CAN be achieved!  People do it all the time and the best part of achievement is knowing that you have created the lifestyle changes necessary to actually maintain those phenomenal results for life!

You need to know deep down that if continue to march forward confidently towards your end goal and keep aspiring to create the physique and healthy, happy lifestyle that you desire, that you will ultimately succeed.  However, this cannot be a half-assed confidence.  You need to KNOW that you will be successful and that is why it will be “unexpected in common hours.”

So keep your eye on the prize, keep marching and keep rockin’ those results.

Have a terrific start to your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

Some parting words of wisdom for 2012…

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What’s up my fellow fitness fanatics?!  John here and I’m pumped because I’ve got a sweet Monday Motivator for you and it’s the eve of 2013 which will bring entirely new b2013 here we come!eginnings for all of us and fun, new resolutions.  I know some of you get antsy when a New Year rolls around.  You think of being older, of past resolutions that you failed to achieve, of how busy you’ll be and a ton of other “headtrash” that will kill your momentum and positive growth.

That is exactly the opposite of what you should be thinking and doing and it is not what we preach at Fast Action Training.  In fact, I feel that we most closely align with the following quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who said:

“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you’ll help them become what they are capable of becoming.”

At F.A.T. we’re all about making in impact and changing the lives of as many people as possible and I truly think that it’s our attitude and actions that help our members create the positive change they are looking for.  The team and I all see the AMAZING potential in each and every person we touch….but do you see the potential in yourself?  Do you recognize the crazy amount of POWER that you have at your disposal to create the change you’re looking for?

The only roadblock to the success that just barely escapes you…is you.  Publiluis Syrus once said,

“Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.”

I have written hundreds of blog posts and Monday Motivators to inspire, motivate and educate you on what it takes to achieve the physique, health and fitness that you desire.  Can you honestly say that you have implemented and utilized the teachings and advice?  That you have completed the action items present in some of the posts?  I know it can be tough to create this change and while some kick butt workouts are important, the most vital thing you need to change coming in to 2013 is….

Your mindset.

Resolutions Green Road Sign Over Dramatic Clouds and Sky.You need to develop iron-clad willpower to see you through to the completion of your goals and New Years Resolutions.  You need to maintain positivity in your life NO MATTER WHAT so you stay pumped up and focused on what you need to do to change your life.  My advice is to do the following:

STOP watching the news.  Stop reading the stories in the paper about death and destruction. Stop hanging out with negative people that bring you down.  Stop yourself when you think about failure and giving up.

START hanging out with positive people. Start reading your favorite positive quote aloud every day. Start repeating your positive affirmations on a daily basis or listen to them on a recorder in the car like I do.  Start by joining a gym or fitness studio with a positive environment, culture and members that will support you. Start reading uplifting and inspiring stories about the strength of the human spirit and the power of a positive mindset.

If you’re serious about changing your life and achieving your goals, you will do this without hesitation.

2013 brings exciting, new beginnings and twelve awesome months to make serious changes and dramatic impacts in your life.  It’s time to unleash your power and potential and make 2013 a phenomenal year to remember.

ACTION ITEM:

Share your New Year’s Resolutions below AND what you will do to maintain accountability so that you see them through to completion.

Get ready for a fun-filled and wild ride! Have a great New Year and I’ll see you in 2013! :-)

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

Open your parachute! (plus tips to cut your cravings)

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Hey there! John here and I’m back with a sweet Monday Motivator and kick butt blog post on cutting those cravings!  But first, how was your

Thanksgiving?  I hope you had a great time connecting with family and friends and giving thanks for things you are grateful for in your life.  I also hope you were able to make it to the SV Turkey Trot (I can’t get enough of our awesome pic!) or at least 1 workout over the weekend for some kick butt san jose bootcamp or personal training extra calorie burning. :-)

All right, time to rock that motivation for the week and get cracking on your health and fitness! And read this cover to cover so you can get some tips on cutting your cravings….with some special insight in to some of trainer John’s own vices and why this particular quote has some special meaning… :-)

Oh and I’d love to hear your comments at the end!

Thomas Dewar, creator of the Dewar’s scotch whiskey, once said

“Minds are like parachutes.  They only function when they are open.”

So are you approaching your fitness goals with your mind open or your mind closed?  Are you looking at situations and challenges you’re having by seeking a solution or are you just sticking with the status quo and not making any progress?  This can be a tough process but difficult changes are usually the ones that lead to the best results both for your physique and your health and wellness.

Why does this hit home for me you might ask?  Well, two particular vices I have are with drinking diet soda and a satisfactory adult beverage in the evenings. :-)   Scotch actually (but JWB, not Dewars).  I found myself consuming way to many diet sodas and sometimes having 1 or two cocktails at night (scotch or wine).  GASP you say!  All I can tell you is that your trainers are human and as we guide you through the process of rocking a great body and staying healthy we can struggle just like you.

The fact is that you have to be open to change.  You have to recognize that most of the negative things that you do to your body – consuming too much food, alcohol, diet drinks, not enough exercise, etc – are just habits.  And like anything else, bad habits can be changed and good habits created.

I started with a detox for a few days.  Yes, difficult but many of you have done it.  Then comes the time where you make choices.  Choose to continue down the path of taking care of your self or revert back to old habits.

The key lies in re-working your “habit loop.”

Example #1:

I like the burning sensation of carbonation and taste of diet soda (yes I know I’m weird).

Trigger = bored or feeling deprived.

Routine = drink a diet soda

Rewards = how I feel and the “ahh” after the first sip.

Solution = Disrupt the loop.

Now I go for a pelegrino or any sparkling water.  Same trigger and reward possibly but DIFFERENT routine and much better outcome for my body.  And IF I choose to have a diet soda from time to time, I am in control and I make a conscious choice.

Example #2:

I feel I deserve a scotch after a long, hard day of work.

Trigger = Getting home and feeling tired, stress, etc.

Routine = Glass of wine or scotch

Reward = the “ahh” feeling again and euphoria that this is somehow making me feel better.

Solution = Disrupt the loop

I make a wicked tea with the Good Earth Sweet & Spicy (no sugar and tastes like a hot tamale…love it!)  Same reward and if need be I grab another pelegrino.  Now adult beverages are saved or occasional date nights and/or weekends only.

The fact of the matter is that all you have to do is CHANGE YOUR ROUTINES!  As long as you get some type of “reward” in the end to satisfy your brain and possible craving, you will succeed.  The same holds true for sweets vs. fruits, bad food choices, lack of exercise, etc.  It will take some true thought on your end to determine what is really the trigger and possible new routines but in the end, YOU CAN DO IT! (for more on new habits, check out an awesome book by Charles Duhigg, “The Power of Habit.”)

Want a few more reasons on why you want to reduce your alcohol consumption? Click here to check out a blog post I did awhile back and check out the calories involved as well as how alcohol breaks down in your body and can be so detrimental to fat loss.

Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It

1) Identify just one or two habits that are negatively affecting your health and fitness goals.

2) Write down what triggers these bad habits, the routines therein and the rewards you receive.

3) Brainstorm ways you can “disrupt” the habit loop, create healthier habits and get your health and wellness back on track.

4) Stay dialed in to these changes for a minimum of 21 days.

5) Rinse and repeat.

Let me hear your comments below and perhaps what habits are on the chopping block for you!

Till next time, have a terrific start to your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

What’s in your overalls?

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What’s up my fellow fitness friends! John here and I’m back with another kick butt Monday Motivator to get you primed and ready to attack your

health and fitness goals.  I’ve got an awesome quote by my main man, Mr. Thomas Edison who said this:

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

So I ask you, “what’s in your overalls?”

Do you miss opportunities because you’re not willing to do the work?  Are you a pessimist and looking at all the difficulties and challenges rather than the optimist that sees the light at the end of the tunnel?

This may seem obvious but too many of us create our own roadblocks.  You can either choose to prevent yourself from achieving your health and fitness goals or you can search for opportunity in EVERYTHING that life throws at you…no matter how difficult that may be.  When you start seeking solutions rather than focusing on the problem and look for opportunities in life, a whole world of possibilities opens up in front of you.

You have to have the wherewithal to STOP.

Action Item for the Week:

When faced with challenges or temptations in respect to your health and fitness….eating out at a restaurant, debating whether or not to workout, watching your calorie intake, holding yourself more accountable, etc. You need to STOP and follow these rules.

S eek the opportunity

T rash the negative thoughts

O pen yourself to solutions

P rogress towards positive outcomes

If you can do that with everything you encounter, you will never miss opportunities.  In fact, you will begin to CREATE positive opportunities and outcomes in everything you do….just remember to STOP. :-)

Until next time, have a terrific week!  I’d love to hear your comments below!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

 

San Jose Bootcamp – What you and Calvin Coolidge hopefully have in common

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Welcome back to another kickass Monday Motivator ladies and gents!  John Heringer comin’ at ya with some great advice and wisdom from our 30th President Calvin Coolidge.  Coolidge was a small town lawyer who worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts politics, eventually becoming governor of the state.  Then he was on to Vice President and ultimately President of the United States.  Coolidge said this:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.….Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

I hope you agree with this statement because it is completely true.  If you never give up and you are determined to achieve your health and fitness goals you will always be successful.  Even once you achieve the physique desired, it is this continuous persistence and determination that will keep you vigilant and help you maintain the fantastic results you have obtained.

No more yo-yo weight loss.  No more working hard at fitness and health for a little while and then completely letting yourself go.  No more letting others rule your time.  No more procrastinating.  No more shifting of blame somewhere else.

I know that persistence and determination can be tough qualities to truly emulate but that’s why you should always have constant reminders and support structures in place.

Think about it…what is the alternative?  Maintaining your current weight and body that you’re unhappy in? Going through constant weight loss and weight gain phases? Being embarrassed about particular clothes or beach season?

Why do this to yourself?  Think instead about ALL of the awesome positive bonuses that will arise from this consistent persistence and determination as it relates to your fitness, your health and your self-esteem!  How proud and happy you will be about your body!  How much confidence you will have in yourself knowing that YOU have the ability to maintain the figure and fitness you desire FOREVER!  Keep positive reminders around you at all times.  Positive quotes at work, your Goals and action steps to achieve written out and put on your bathroom mirror.  Keep your support structures involved and create an absolute atmosphere of positivity around you….(like we create on a daily basis at Fast Action Training….one helluva a San Jose personal training and bootcamp studio if I say so myself. :-)

This is powerful stuff.  And this is exactly what is possible with the right dose of persistence and determination.

Take some time to think about how you use persistence and determination in your life and in relation to your health and fitness goals.  Then think about how you can “up the ante” and really make some awesome progress.

Until next time my fitness friends, have a great week!!  And I’d love to hear your comments below!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

San Jose Personal Trainer – This Too, Shall Pass

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What’s up my fellow fitness fanatics!  Welcome to another Monday Motivator designed to help you continue to make great progress towards your health and fitness goals.  I truly think all of you reading this will get something out of it because it affects us all from time to time.  Histories are a bit vague but it was either Solomon himself or one of his closest advisers who said:

“This too, shall pass.”

I know that when I’m experiencing a hard time in my life, I try to remember this quote.  Whether it is bad news about the health of a loved one, losing someone close, stress at work, your child going through a tough time, a nagging injury, or the scale not moving as fast as you would like…..the important thing is to know that, with time, this moment will pass.

It is always hard to believe a quote like this when you’re the one personally experiencing the tough time but it truly serves to strengthen you emotionally and spiritually.

With fitness and health, we are always going to have ups and downs, especially when crises occur during life.  The important thing is to ensure that you are constantly aware of your fitness and health.  That you don’t let it slide too far away.  That you don’t “let yourself go.”  You need to remember and remind yourself that you are ALWAYS in control of your fitness, physique and your health.  Every day you make conscious choices and decisions that will affect you positively or negatively….and it’s all up to you.

These tough times are also when you need to lean on the support structures that you have in your life; friends, family, co-workers, loved ones….and of course all of your fellow members and personal trainers at your San Jose bootcamp, Fast Action Training. :-)   They and we are all here to help you and when crises hit, you should not feel bad about reaching out for some extra support.

Stay strong my fellow fitness friends and if this blog post and Monday Motivator spoke to you, be sure to leave a comment below.

Till next time, have a terrific start to your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

San Jose Personal Trainer says, “Stop Creating Obstacles!”

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What’s happenin’ everybody?!  Are you ready to get your head back in the game and finish off your summer months strong?  It’s crazy how summer and vacations and BBQ’s can completely throw people off of their routines and all of their fitness and fat loss progress comes to a crashing halt or even starts to regress!

This blog post and Monday Motivator is here to help attack that issue and make all of you “Solution Finders” instead of basking in and complaining about the “Problems.”  So read up and then comment below on what one or two of YOUR solutions are with some issues you’re having currently.  Chances are that when everyone shares some insight, there is going to be a lot of solutions available that you can try and implement into your life!

Ok so without further ado, here’s a great quote by Mr. Henry Ford that made me think about all of this.  Henry said this:

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”

You simply cannot give yourself the opportunity to take your eye off the prize.  When you do this, you allow (yes allow) all of the excuses, procrastinations and who knows what else to come into the picture and detract you from achieving what you can and should achieve.

I know it can be tough, but as a longtime personal trainer in San Jose I’ve realized that, in order to achieve your goals, you need to be a Solution Finder.

Some examples:

Problem: You try desperately to get into bootcamp consistently and it isn’t working.

Solution: How well are you planning out your week?  Are you looking at your schedule on Sat. or Sun and actually “blocking” time out for your workouts?  This is essential….as is communication with your loved ones if you need to coordinate the kids’ schedules.  This also must be done, week in and week out to be effective in the long haul.  Summer doesn’t mean you get to stop doing this even if things get a bit crazier.

Problem: You’re trying to get to your local gym to rock some more cardio but it’s not happening.

Solution: Be spontaneous.  Sure, access to a treadmill or bike or elliptical is nice but your body is your own vehicle so use it!  Go walking, hiking or running and don’t give yourself a chance to think twice, just do it!  Even if it means 3, 10 minute walks…at the end of the day that is still 30 minutes of exercise that you would not have done otherwise.

Problem: You’re eating too much and too many bad things.

Solution: Toss out the bad stuff that is still in the pantry, enlist the help of family and friends to cook healthier meals, eat out less often, etc.  And don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach!

That’s enough for now, but my point is that each day you are encountered with several obstacles and problems that can lead you away from your fitness goal.

The question is: can you focus on the solution?

I know you can and if you do, get ready to reap substantial reward!  So share your SOLUTIONS below and let’s all be successful together!

Have a terrific start to your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer and the F.A.T. Team

 

One of Trainer John’s Greatest Pleasures in Life

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What’s happenin everybody! John Heringer here comin’ at ya with another Monday Motivator that I’m super psyched about.  I’m about to give you a little insight as to how I operate (although some of you could have probably guessed it) and what one of my greatest pleasures is in life.

British businessman, essayist, and journalist Walter Bagehot once said:

“The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”

-          Walter Bagehot

STOP. Re-read that quote one more time and a lot slower.  Let it sink in.  Now some of you may not be very competitive and that’s ok, but you should never let others dictate your limits to you.

I can tell you that Walter and I have a lot in common because this is one of my greatest pleasures as well.  The thing you have to remember is that it should always be for the greater good and you should get something positive out of it.  I’m not recommending that if someone tells you that you cannot go 120 MPH in your car that you should….or if they say there is no way you can eat 30 pieces of pizza that you need to prove them wrong. :-)

In fact, I think these are best when directed towards health and fitness goals and challenging yourself in new and creative ways makes it fun and pushes you to your limit as a human being.  Fellow San Jose bootcamp and Fast Action Training member Rob Freer recently decided to go Vegan for at least one month.  He’s already surpassed that goal and says he feels so good that he may continue!

The beautiful thing about Walter’s quote is that you can fuel your level of commitment and desire to change through the challenge of others….or even challenge yourself as Rob did.  The point is that you should never have your limits so well defined because YOU are, in fact, more capable than you give yourself credit.

Trust me when I say that it’s not always your body that is giving up during workouts but your mind instead.  And while it may be your hand reaching for that slice of chocolate cake, it’s really your brain operating those controls behind the scene as your willpower diminishes.

YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK:

1) Find someone to give you an easy challenge for the week (or give one to yourself) and follow through to completion and sucess.  For all of our F.A.T. members, once achieved, POST ON THE “BRAG BOARD.” ;-)

2) Now get another challenge you can delve into and don’t limit yourself on what it is about.  It could be a 5K, 10K, coming to our fitness bootcamp in San Jose 5x in a row, cooking foods in advance for a week, planning and shopping ahead of time for your meals, making it through a whole workout without stopping once, using heavier weights etc. etc.

Be creative, have fun, jump outside of your comfort zones because it’s the only way you will truly grow and it will become a path to your fitness success and enjoyment forever.  Plus, when you call your friends to tell them all that you have done and achieved, they will be shocked….just like this guy. :-)

Now post below what your challenge is and then go rock your week!

Till next time my fitness friends.

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

A special Monday Motivator as Fast Action Training Turns 2

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Hey there! John here and I’m back with another Monday Motivator and a very special one to me personally.  This past Saturday was a big event for Fast Action Training…. our 2 Year Anniversary Party at Kirk Park in San Jose.  Preparing for this event was a lot more than I had anticipated and as the number of awesome members we have has grown, I was both anxious and excited for the big event.

We had phenomenal food from Tacos al Compa, Margs, brews, sodas, waters, ballons, a raffle, awards, piñatas (note to self: different games next year after piñata debacle) and an awesome group picture of everyone sporting their F.A.T. T-shirts and tanks!  Giving away our awards was an especially personal moment for me…Terri Vellios for being our “Biggest F.A.T. Fan” and Scott Flegel for “Member of the Year.”  You guys rock and thanks for being there for F.A.T. and for me.

Terri V! Our Biggest F.A.T. Fan!

 

Scott F. Our 2012 Member of the Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your F.A.T. San Jose bootcamp instructors, Keith, Kevin and Nadia were present as well and celebrating with all of you….instead of making you do burpees :-) . This is one of the best teams I have had the privilege of working with.  They have allowed me to fulfill our company mission and core values on a daily basis and I know will continue to do so into the future.

So as many of you know when I spoke at last year’s Anniversary Party I couldn’t get through 5 words without getting choked up.  Well apparently I saved all that for Sunday as I reflect about yesterday’s event and all the past events that have led up to this point.  So yes, tears have been shed on this Monday Motivator as I came across a great quote by Miss Oprah Winfrey who said this:

“There is nothing that can equal the feeling of contentment that comes from being the person you are meant to be.”

Although F.A.T. has been rocking since inception, it has been a long and difficult journey for me to reach this point.  In college I had planned on becoming a lawyer, taking the LSAT, applying to schools and deciding at the last minute that fitness was my calling.  After years of blood, sweat and tears with a local health club and operating one in San Mateo some unfortunate changes occurred which forced me to resign as I did not see a future with that company.

Then began the 2 months of unemployment in 2009 where I had feelings of self-doubt, uncertainty, and anger.  I had countless interviews for jobs I had no passion for and could not envision myself doing long term.  I was lost, hurt, confused and didn’t know what the hell to do.

Ultimately, after a lot of soul-searching I still knew that deep down, fitness was my true passion and calling.  Fast forward to present day and I can honestly say that Oprah’s quote rings true more than anything else.

The feeling of joy that I get from looking at each and every one of you and being able to witness the various fitness and health obstacles that you have overcome and achieved is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.

All of you made it possible for this dream to come true and I will never forget that.

So my challenge to you for the week is to think about the person, parent and employee you want to be.  Are you living up to your expectations?  Are you setting a good example for your family in regards to health and fitness?  Are you taking care of you?

Have a terrific start to your week everyone.  It has been and will continue to be a pleasure to serve you all and accompany and coach you on your health and fitness journey.

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

Special thanks to my honey Sara for all of her help with the event!

Thanks to our awesome office manager and good luck with Med School!

Special Thanks to Mama Heringer for all of her support and awesome pics!

What I PUSH for

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Hey there!  John here and I’m back with a post that means a lot to me so I want you to read it cover to cover.  As many of you know, I’ll be participating in our Pushups for Charity Challenge taking place this Saturday at our San Jose bootcamp and personal training studio, Fast Action Training.  Seeing what awesome support we’ve received from so many of you and other friends, family and sponsors, has been incredible.  The fact that we will be able to make such an impact and donate a considerable amount to The Boot Campaign and aid our armed services men and women that need our help is a great feeling.  Another little factoid about our PUC campaign is that our primary slogan is “What do you PUSH for?”

So the question is my faithful reader….what do YOU push for?

I’ve been thinking a lot about that and about what it means to me to be giving back to such a great non-profit like the Boot Campaign.  After you read this, I’d love for you to share a bit about what YOU push for in the comment section below.

I’ll tell you that I PUSH for a lot of things in my life.  I push for family.  I push for friends.  I push for our awesome clients at Fast Action Training.  I push to make a difference in the world and in people’s lives.  I push for fitness and health.  I push for love and respect.  I push for being in control of your own destiny and creating and living the life you want to live.

 

And none of this would be possible without the people that serve our country.  The people that put their lives on the line in the name of freedom.    The people that have given me the gift to live a wonderful life in a wonderful country where I feel safe.   The people that come home wounded both mentally and physically that believe in our country’s ideals.  The people that may never walk again, talk again, or might not even make it home.  These people that have the courage and bravery to allow me to continue to push for what I believe in.

And that’s what it is all about.  Paying respects to the people that fight for us and protect us is about continuing to PUSH for what we believe in.  This is how we show them that it’s all worth it and that we care.

 

If you’d like to help donate to our Pushups for Charity Challenge and benefit the Boot Campaign and all of the men and women that allow us something to PUSH for, you can go here:

www.crowdrise.com/fastactiontraining

Every little bit counts.  And if you’re around, come show your support by hanging out and having a good time (and maybe tossing in a few pushups :-) at our event this Saturday, May 19th from 9am-11am at our indoor bootcamp in San Jose.

So…..what do you PUSH for? Let me know in the comment section below and have a phenomenal rest of your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

 

What I learned at the 2012 Wildflower Triathlon

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What’s happenin?!  John here and I’m back with a different kind of Monday Motivator this week.  This week I’m going to chat about what I learned at the 2012 Wildflower Triathlon and how the experience left me motivated, inspired and ready to attack even more new things in life.  First off, let me say that the Wildflower is quite an experience.  Camping out at Lake San Antonio all weekend, crazy heat followed by super cold temps in the evening…..but everyone having a blast the whole time.

Now unlike the majority of crazy kids over at Kain Performance who did the Long Course (1.2 mile swim, 56 mi bike and 13.1 mile run) I just did the Olympic distance tri…. 0.93 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike and 6.2 mile run…which was enough for me this time around. :-)   Thousands of people participated in the races this weekend and I saw everyone from 12 year olds to one gentlemen who I’m pretty sure was 79 years young.  Some people were in crazy shape, others in not so good shape but everyone was just out to finish and have a good time.

Ok so after a quick background, here are some of the things I learned at the 2012 Wildflower Triathlon…maybe you can relate to a few.

1) Camaraderie and support are “must haves” in sports and life

The genuine feeling of support and camaraderie was all over the Wildflower Tri.  People came to race, some just to support and EVERYONE would give you a big cheer or words of encouragement.  Absolutely awesome.  As a racer on Sunday, having hundreds of people yell my number or “Go Kain!” (as I was wearing their jersey) kept me motivated and kept me pushing at times when I might not have.  Do you have people supporting and cheering you on in your life?  To achieve your fitness goals and pretty much anything in life, this is a must have.  At our bootcamp in San Jose one of our chief aims is to motivate and encourage all of our members on a daily basis….but you need it outside of the workouts as well.  If there are any “debbie downers” in your life, get rid of them.

2) Challenges improve our mental toughness

Getting stronger and faster and more fit is great, but are you getting mentally tough too?  The athletes that performed the Long Course definitely had resiliency and mental toughness like no others.  I don’t care if some of these athletes have been training like rockstars and happen to be in incredible shape….the fact that they performed this triathlon and pushed themselves for 5-9 hours of activity is absolutely incredible.  Do you consider yourself mentally tough?  Can you push through when all you want to do is stop?  You don’t need to necessarily push the envelope every time you workout, but approaching that extreme level from time to time will not only make you incredibly fit, but it will increase your mental toughness.  It’s also important to note that your “push” might just be a 30 min jog or a bike ride or a 5K….but those challenges make you tougher.

3) Most of us have it pretty damn good

By far the most inspiring thing of the entire weekend was watching, cheering and applauding the Challenged Athletes that participated in the triathlon and relays.  Athletes that were missing an arm, or a leg, completed these races; not to mention one woman was actually blind and did the entire triathlon with her mother at her side….un-freaking-believable.  Chances are that most of you reading this right now have the complete use of everything on your body and are not missing any limbs.  Now perhaps triathlons are not “your thing” but isn’t it amazing that these Challenged Athletes participated?! Amazing that they had the mental fortitude to say “I don’t care if I’m missing an (arm or leg) I’m going to do this damn triathlon anyway!”  Food for thought for all of us that think we don’t have what it takes at sometimes.

4) Step out of the impossible and into the possible

Although there were many “racing” athletes out to break their personal records and push to the max, there were a lot of other athletes out to just finish.  People that may have never, ever thought they would ever complete a sprint, olympic or long course triathlon….and they did it.  Now maybe for you the start is a 3K or a 5K or a swim event, or just going on a bike ride.  The point is that you’ve got to STOP thinking about why you can’t do it!  Don’t create unnecessary roadblocks and obstacles that don’t even exist yet!  Focus on the solution and the attainment of your goals in bite-sized pieces.

And one thing remains for certain.  Step out of the “impossible” mindset and into the “possible.”

If you want to lose 30 pounds, do it.

Run a 5K, do it.

Finish a 10K, do it.

rock an Ironman….do it.

If you have a plan of action, train smart, and remember the 4 things above that I learned at the 2012 Wildflower Triathlon, anything is possible.

Action items! Your action item is one of the following:

#1: Stop procrastinating or excusing the lack of achievement of a particular goal (whether it be weight loss, starting an exercise program etc) and just do it.

or #2: Step outside your comfort zones and plan your next exercise related activity to challenge yourself physically and mentally.

Remember that we’re always here to help you out along the way so call us anytime (408) 371-1212.

Until next time, keep kickin ass and takin names! Oh and I’d love to hear your comments below by submitting a reply or using the Facebook plug-in. Thanks!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

P.S. Special shout-outs to some awesome triathletes I had the pleasure to cheer on or share the battlefield with: Tim, Jody, Bastian, Jackson, Ryan, Reza, Lehon (sp), Dean, Ashley, Rob, Sid, Julia, Ashley F, and Danielle.  Apologies if I missed anyone and congrats to you all.

P.P.S. If you want to dabble in some triathlons I highly recommend Kain Performance to help you train specifically for all events.  Combine that with some great cross-training at our workouts and you’re set to jet.  And if you haven’t tried us out yet, click here for a trial workout.

P.P.P.S. Time to go take an ice bath for my hammies. :-)

San Jose Bootcamp – Reprogram your “computer” for fitness success!

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Hey there fitness fanatics!  John here and I’m back with a killer blog post about what you can do to reprogram your computer.  No, not your real computer you’re looking at now and not just your brain, but actually your subconscious.  Don’t underestimate the power of this internal computer because if you think it has nothing to do with the achievement of your health and fitness goals you would be dead wrong.

Consider the following quotes.  The first from Dr. Maxwell Maltz from his book “Psycho-Cybernetics.”

“The self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment.  It defines what you can and cannot do.  Expand the self-image and you expand the areas of the possible.”

The second from Lee Milteer’s book “Success is an Inside Job.”

“No matter how great your ability, how large your genius, or how extensive your education, your achievement will never rise higher than the confidence you have in yourself.”    

It’s your conscious mind that helps direct your thoughts and make decisions and that understands right from wrong.  However, it’s your subconscious mind that is like the biggest hard drive ever that takes in ALL data and records it.  It doesn’t know right from wrong it just receives data and files it away and does exactly what the conscious mind tells it to do.

Therefore, whatever data you take in, both good and bad becomes programmed into your subconscious mind, is what you believe to be true and becomes your self-image.  So what kind of data and information are you allowing into your computer?  If you feed it positive language and images you will help strengthen your self-image, your resolve to get things done and be successful.  (This is one of the main reasons we send out these Monday Motivators as aim to be a positive beacon as your bootcamp in San Jose.)  However, daily negative thoughts, negative energy, bad relationships and negative self-talk will yield ONLY negative outcomes.

But John, how can I change my bad habits and affect my self-image in a positive way?

You can start by getting rid of the negative people in your life.  You can stop watching the news and listening to the radio when it starts talking about chaos, rising debt and murders.  You can cease the negative self-talk about “why you are the way you are.”  Another quite I enjoyed from Lee is that harsh but true is that, “there are no victims, only volunteers.”  Stop volunteering yourself to stay the way you are. (and if you want help creating some positive affirmations, click here and read all about it.)

Start seeing yourself as the person you want to be that is in prime physical health, has a great physique, healthy relationships and loves life.  The more you work on this, the greater a reality it will become.

Have a great start to your week and stay positive!!

And don’t forget to share this with some friends and leave a comment below!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

 

San Jose Bootcamp – Tony Robbins Eat Your Heart Out

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What’s up! John here and it’s time to get ready to rock another week and kick some butt with those fitness goals!  I’m sure you have heard me say countless times how your “mindset” is extremely important in relation to achieving your goals.  The quote I’m sharing with you this week is from Miss Eleanor Roosevelt who said something very similar when she stated:

“You must do the things you think you cannot do.”

Have you ever stopped and thought about how many times you use negative language in your every day speech?  Things like “I can’t” or “I won’t” or even the grey area of “I’ll try?”  Why pigeonhole yourself?  Why limit yourself like that?

Usually it’s because you are afraid of failure.  It’s because you would rather stay where you are and not come up empty-handed.  However, if you thought this way all the time where would you be in life?  You might have never landed that job or gone in for that first kiss or finished that race.  Yet you went for it anyway! :-)

Your fitness is no different.  You’ve just got to go for it.  Don’t over think it, and do not create unnecessary roadblocks for yourself.  Having a plan is important but what is more important is TAKING ACTION!  Most of what we do not achieve in relation to our fitness goals is because of these self-limiting thoughts.  Get rid of the negative language and step into the positive.

Notice that I did not say to remove the word “no” from your everyday conversations.  You have to have the ability to set boundaries where needed in order to achieve your health and fitness goals and train the way you need.  If you do not, people will walk all over you.

In fact, I’m reminded of a conversation I had recently with a member who said that if it were not for work she would be at our san jose bootcamp more often.  We talked more about it and she joked saying that maybe she should get a note from her trainer (me).  I mentioned that even better would be a note from her doctor and an open, candid conversation with her manager that she needs to leave the office at “X” time (already a full shift) in order to take care of her health.  The doctor’s note is just for some extra “oomph” if you will. :-)

You have got to remember that without your health and wellness, where are you?  A shorter life span?  Moving less comfortably?  Embarrassed about the summer season when it arrives?  Take care of you FIRST because there is only one of you and you need to appreciate that.  You ARE worth it.

So start using that positive language and begin the journey to a healthier, happy, you.

And if you ever need more help with any of this, any of us at Fast Action Training are here for you.

I’d love to hear your comment below and what POSITIVE thoughts and phrases you use on a daily basis!

Have a great start to your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer and the F.A.T. Team

 

San Jose Bootcamp – To The Victor Goes The Spoils

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Welcome my faithful fitness friends to another Monday Motivator to help get your mind right and start your week off with a bang of positivity.  I just realized today that I’ve been writing these Motivators every week for over 2 ½ years now….so crazy!  I have had a blast writing them all and I hope you’ve been enjoying them as well.

Below is a great poem that I really feel sums up my overall philosophy of maintaining a positive mindset and realizing how important your thought patterns are to your fitness success.

The Victor

by: C. W. Longenecker

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will.
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you are out classed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of your-self before
You can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

Awesome right?!  Think about it.  How often have you challenged yourself with something only to have consistent nagging self-doubt?  Perhaps you’re already telling yourself you will not complete it or not achieve it?  That you don’t have it in you?  If you have this type of mindset you most certainly will NOT achieve anything.  You will stay where you are with your fitness and health and things really will not improve.

It all starts with your mindset and at our San Jose bootcamps we try to be pillars of constant motivation and positive reinforcement.  In a world filled with negativity, violence and stress, you need all you can get.  So what do you do to add more positivity to your life?

I recommend surrounding yourself with positive people that will help you achieve your goals.  People that will help lift you up, not drag you down.  I also recommend keeping a log of your achievements and having some positive affirmations that you can recite daily!  (You can check out another post I did on creating affirmation by clicking here).  In fact, I had mentioned that I have my affirmations on a digital recorder that I keep in my car and listen from time to time…sometimes daily.  Don’t’ believe me?! Just ask me and I’ll get it from my car and play it for you.

Having been a personal trainer in San Jose and Campbell for almost a decade I know there are stressors in life for all of our clients but just remember that as King Solomon said: “This too shall pass.”  I remind myself of that quote all the time because it is true.  Some things might get you down from time to time but they shouldn’t keep you there.

Success with your fitness and life goals all starts up top.  Just as Longenecker said, “sooner or later the man [or woman :-) ] who wins, is the one who thinks he [she] can.”

Now go apply ALL of this and let’s make it happen!  Heck, you might even want to print out this poem and post it somewhere you can see it daily.

I’d love to hear your comments below on the poem and post!

Have an awesome start to your week.

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

 

 

San Jose Bootcamp – Optimism Always Wins

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Good morning my faithful fitness followers and welcome to another Monday Motivator!  Read on and remember to toss a comment below and stay engaged! :-)

It’s time to get your mind right and stay focused on achieving your health and fitness goals.  This is extremely important because one of the primary reasons that people do not achieve resolutions or fitness goals is “negative self-talk.”

You berate yourself for eating something bad or not exercising.  You listen to the negative talk of others and it brings you down more.  You feed off of the negative energy on the news or in the paper and it brings you down further.  You tell yourself you cannot do something or that you’ll never achieve this or that.  You delude yourself into thinking that the weight you’ve gained is just “the way it is.”  That you will never change.

That is pure BS.  Say it to your freaking computer right now!  THAT IS BULLSHIT!

I want you to refuse to go down this dark path.  Check out what Hellen Keller says and follow her lead:

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.  Nothing can be done without hope or confidence.”

So if you need hope, confidence and optimism it is safe to assume that without those 3, your negative energy wins and you stay the same.

It’s all a choice that you have control of.  You can choose to make excuses for your circumstances or you can take charge!  I know I’ve said it before but it bears repeating….type of 3-5 positive affirmations for yourself and read them aloud 5x each in the morning when you wake up and the evening before you go to bed.

Slowly but surely it will influence your sub-conscious mind and without even realizing it you will become a more positive and successful person.  I still do this from time to time and went one step farther and recorded them on a mini recorder that I play to myself in the car! (don’t believe me?  Ask me and I’ll show it to you! :-)

Stay optimistic, positive, hopeful, confident and nothing can stand in your way.  And catch yourself when you start being negative!  Don’t allow it to happen.

You are in control, you can make the necessary changes and you can have the physique and lifestyle you desire.  Just make it happen.

Have a great start to your week ladies and gents and be sure to leave a comment below!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

San Jose Bootcamp – Member Loses 25lbs in 6 weeks

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Good Morning my dedicated fitness follower and welcome to a seriously awesome Monday Motivator for the week!  Pretty astounding title of our blog post right?!  Well that’s what Fast Action Training Member Irma Archut did just a few weeks ago after she finished our 6 Week Body Transformation Contest and she continues to rock it!

This Monday Motivator is designed to get you out of your usual frame of reference and perspective and step into the realm of what you are truly capable of.  Thomas Edison once said that:

“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

As I had mentioned in a previous email the reason I’m so proud of Irma is because she stepped outside of her comfort zone and realized what she is truly capable of.  Her email to me before our 6 week contest literally talked about how she’s “older and more overweight than she ever has been” and that “all of my clients were a lot younger than her” (would it surprise you to know that we have multiple members in their 60’s and one in their 70’s?!)  And yet, despite all of this, she faced her fears.  She looked fear and self-doubt in the eye and kicked it right in the ass!!!

You, my friend, are completely capable of doing the same thing.  You are capable of not only achieving whatever fitness and fat loss goal you have for yourself but to also maintain that achievement over the long haul!

So what’s holding you back?  Is it fear of failure?  Is it uncertainty?  Perhaps the responsibility to maintain the level of commitment required?

These are all head games!  Don’t allow your brain to get in the way and fill you with self-doubt or negative thoughts.  On the contrary, you need to ensure that you are constantly maintaining a positive mental attitude and surrounding yourself with positive people.

So right now, I want you to create 3-5 positive affirmations that you can repeat to yourself on a daily basis.  These affirmations will serve to challenge all the subconscious set of negative beliefs that you may have.  And over time, with continuous daily repetition, you will live these positive affirmations!

Here’s a great link to more about affirmations, what they are, how to create your own and a few examples as well.

http://www.vitalaffirmations.com/affirmations.htm

So go there right now, create your affirmations and post them below in our comment section for some extra accountability.  Don’t be afraid!  Put yourself out there and let’s make this happen!

 

Have a terrific start to your week and I’d love to hear your comments and see those affirmations below!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer and the F.A.T. Team

P.S. Keep an eye out for some awesome video testimonials of more success stories from our 6 week program. :-)

San Jose Bootcamp – Rock A Brand New Beginning

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What’s happenin’ my dedicated readers and welcome to another Monday Motivator from the San Jose bootcamp that you love and adore, Fast Action Training! :-)   Like I’ve said before, fitness can be a fickle thing.  Sometimes you’re on top of everything.  You’re feeling good, clothes are fitting better and you’re loving the results.  At other times you find yourself losing focus, making poor choices and your weight stagnating or perhaps increasing slightly.  I want you to remember the quote below then times like this hit you.

“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”

-          Carl Bard

You always have the opportunity to create the ending that you desire.

Let me repeat that.  You always have the opportunity to create the ending you desire.  It is NEVER too late to get in shape, create new eating habits and embrace a health and fitness lifestyle.

But are you willing to give up what you’re doing now to get there?  During times when you feel like you’re in a rut, I think it’s useful to ask yourself some difficult and emotional questions in order to motivate you to action.  Questions like these:

“Do I want to be around for my grandkids?”

“Am I setting a good example for my kids?”

“Am I constantly making excuses of why I ‘can’t’ do something?”

“Am I ok with the fact that I am literally killing myself by not taking care of my body?  That my life expectancy is dropping each day because of my choices?”

I know I’m being harsh right now but this is the reality and I REFUSE to allow you to be complacent.  Unfortunately I can’t do all the legwork and we at Fast Action Training can only motivate and encourage you and give you the correct tools to take control of your life.

Look, I totally understand that shit happens sometimes.  Maybe you get sick, injured, or there is a tragedy that happens in your life or to a loved one.  These things can de-rail you from time to time but it is so vitally important to get back on the horse!

Ultimately, the decision is yours and when you decide to take action, the results can be absolutely amazing.

And the key to ALL of this is to remember that your “ending” is never set in stone.  You will always have the ability to change your future, take care of your body, become a health and fitness maniac and rock the results and body that you desire.

Have a terrific start to your week and I’d love to hear a comment below! :-)

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

Do Or Do Not, There Is No Try

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Good Morning!

This is a combo Monday Motivator/Blog Post and it’s going to give you a quick shot in the arm of some motivation, accountability and all around pumped up energy.  I just got back from an awesome fitness conference and got to meet some phenomenal fitness professionals.

That’s right, tons of fit people with our jugs of water at the conference tables talking about fitness, marketing and getting people results. :-)   I was stoked to represent the San Jose Bootcamp/Campbell bootcamp area and met 2 other gals that run bootcamps in San Francisco and Los Gatos!  Go Bay Area, you know!  All of it fired me up even more and reaffirmed my passion to help you and as many other people as I possibly can claim back their bodies and rock an awesome physique that they love.

One thing we talked a lot about is client commitment.  Do you feel like you’re truly commited to a healthy lifestyle right now?  Or are you choosing to make poor decisions with your nutrition, make excuses about how you can’t exercise and ultimately doom yourself to failure?

If you’re on point, then rock on!  If you’re not, then let us know how we at Fast Action Training can help, let’s get your shit together and make this happen!  If you’re a member, perfect.  If not, shoot me an email or leave a comment on the blog or on our FB Fan Page (which you can “Like” by clicking here).

Look, I know the truth hurts sometimes and I’m not calling anyone out to criticize you or put you down.  It’s because I care.  I care a lot.  Do you know how much I would give to see every single member of F.A.T. rock their best physique ever and maintain it?  To see every person on our email list change their life?  To make San Jose the most fit city in America?

I LIVE for this stuff and nothing makes me happier than seeing you achieve your goals and achieve a new level of happiness (inside and out).  This being said, one of the presenters had 2 great quotes I wanted to share with you all (and I know all of my Star Wars fans will love these. :-)

“Do or do not, there is no try”

“Fear is the path to the dark side.”  Did you guess it?  Yep, the wise Jedi himself, Yoda.

Yoda

The word “try” is a common word in our vocabulary.  Hey I’m guilty of using it as well.  But stop yourself from doing it!  Every time you’re about to say “I’ll try to eat better” or “I’ll try to make it to my workout” catch yourself and replace it with “will!”  Positive verbiage will affect your subconscious mind without you realizing it and will lead to positive decisions affecting your fitness and health over the long haul.

Sometimes, however, you’re afraid to talk like that.  What if you fail?  What if you can’t keep up?  What if you have a bad nutrition day?  Guess what, you can’t predict what’s going to happen in the future.  But you CAN plan for success, use positive phrases and words, create healthy habits and kick some serious ass!

Just think for a moment what you could accomplish if you simply abolished this “what if” crap and just did what you said you were going to do, no excuses.  I’m 100% positive you would achieve ridiculous results!!!  So as the holidays approach, don’t get scared and let fear lead you down the “candy-laden, gravy-filled, and xmas treat” path.

Just tell yourself in the mirror every day for the next 10 weeks,

“Holidays, you WILL not get the best of me!  I will beat you into submission because I am in charge of my actions and I choose a hot-ass body and healthy lifestyle!”  Hell yell it to yourself, sing it to yourself, whatever.  Emotion creates motion ladies and gentlemen.

Stay positive, stay on track and let your actions speak louder than your words.

Enjoy the post? Let me hear your thoughts by sharing them below!

Till next time my fitness friends!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer and the Fast Action Training Team

 

San Jose Bootcamp Conquers Tough Mudder Norcal 2011

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Greetings my faithful fitness followers and welcome to another Monday Motivator but this one with a slight twist!  Instead of our usual quote of the week and pump up talk, you’re going to see some sweet videos and pics of Tough Mudder Norcal 2011! (a small disclaimer: please disregard any foul language from yours truly in any of the videos below)

This event was a grueling 12 mile challenge hosted at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe.  With over 20 obstacles and elevation hitting upwards of 9,000 feet, we were tested both mentally and physically.  I was joined by fellow Fast Action Training Members: Laura Peterson, Scott Flegel, Dawn Reed, Stephanie Rozenhart, Ann Marie Deas, Sara Stern, Ian Evans and Alana Fremgen.  Special shout outs also to fellow Team Bittersweet members (as we were known collectively): Aimie, Stephanie, Liz, Kim, Ariel, Jess, Wayne, Jen! :-)

This event was daunting and I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t freaked out about participating.  Several other team members were equally skeptical about participating and especially finishing this crazy Tough Mudder.

But after 6 long hours, all 15 team members finished the race together and with one of the most awesome spirits of camaraderie I have ever witnessed.  I’m not saying we came out unscathed, but at the end of the day we took Tough Mudder head on and won.

What I really want you to take away from this post and the videos and pics that follow is not only how much fun you can have at these events (as noticed by some wacky costumes!) but how much you can grow as a person by challenging yourself mentally and physically.

Maybe for you it’s a 3K or 5K or the Warrior Dash or a half marathon or even just attending a san jose bootcamp.  Whatever it is, don’t worry so much about competing….just finish it.  The amount of self-confidence, self-esteem and all around awesomeness that you will feel after finishing cannot be expressed in words.   Add to that the fact that you set a goal/challenge and completed it and you’ll feel like nothing can stand in your way.

So enjoy the videos and pics and start setting your sights on your next challenge!

To my fellow Team Bittersweet participants: it was a pleasure sharing the field of battle with you and I look forward to 2012.

To the rest of my faithful readers….I’ll see you at Tough Mudder Norcal 2012. :-)

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

P.S. Be sure to leave a comment below if you enjoyed the post, videos and pics!

 

These guys actually carried an inflatable dinosaur with them the entire 12 miles...wow

 

A quick view of the tons of people present and only 1 of the small hills. :-)

 

These guys had the shells on the back, and the poses...incredible. Can't wait to dress up next year!

Be sure to leave a comment if you enjoyed the post as well as what YOUR next challenge is!

 

San Jose Bootcamp Monday Motivator 9-5-11 – Get Back Up!

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Good morning my faithful fitness followers and welcome to another Monday Motivator!  I’m so excited to be in the 1st full week of our new Fast Action Training San Jose Bootcamp and Personal Training Facility!!  I hope all of you are enjoying the new studio and all of our fun toys because it’s just going to get better!

That being said, I’ve got a great motivator that a fellow gaucho, Mr. Bryan Plotts shared with me and it resonated with me deeply on many levels including: my own personal fitness, the trials by fire of Fast Action Training and of course, the steadfast dedication it takes from all of you to truly make fitness and health a part of your lifestyle and achieve the body you desire.

Enjoy the quote and be sure to leave a comment below with what it means to you!

“If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being the most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I would pick the trait of persistence.  Determination.  The will to endure to the end, to get knocked down seventy times and get up off the floor saying, “Here comes number 71!”

-          Richard DeVos, American Businessman

I’m getting fired up just typing this up!!  :-)

So are you getting back up?  Or are you letting some circumstances get in your way and keeping you down?

I recently talked to a member who has not been in to bootcamp for a short time as she works 80+ hours per week during a busy time of the season.  And although work has her a bit trapped to come into a workout she is super pumped up about getting back in and knows the exact date that she will be able to.

This is what Richard means about getting back up.  Sometimes we get sick or we’re overworked or have an injury or have certain family obligations or perhaps we’re still on “vacation mode.”  The point is that you should never let moments like those detract you from your fitness and health.

If getting results is important to you …whether that be weight loss, bodyfat loss, more conditioning or just feeling good about yourself then you need to make a firm commitment to continually GET BACK UP!

No excuses, no procrastinations.  It might even be an entire month that you get bogged down (and can’t make it in to our awesome bootcamp in san jose :-) ) but as long as you get back on the horse, then you’ll be just fine.

And if you need some further motivation then go download “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba…you will enjoy it. :-)

Have a terrific start to your week!

Till next time!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer and the F.A.T. Team

San Jose Bootcamp Monday Motivator – Expect The Best

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Good morning my faithful fitness followers and welcome to another Monday Motivator!  It’s time to stay serious about those fitness and fat loss goals and get ready to go full steam into the rest of the year (and school season. :-) .

Check out the quote of the week, let it sink in and think about how you can apply it to yourself and your fitness goals.  And be sure to leave a comment at the bottom!

“It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”

-          W. Somerset Maugham

Are you keeping your standards and ideals high?  It’s important to always be reaching for the stars with your fitness goals so you can continue to challenge yourself until you get to where you want to go.  The truth of the matter is that we very often do the opposite.

We may lose track of where we’re trying to go or lose the motivation necessary to get there.  Sometimes we may even set ridiculously easy goals so we’re not stressed to achieve them but that can have a backlash effect if you’re not truly working hard to get there.

How are you challenging yourself on a daily basis to get one step closer to achieving that ideal body, physique and fitness level that you desire?

List them out and remind yourself of them constantly so you can stay on track and keep pushing the envelope.  What you’ll notice is that by constantly “refusing to accept anything but the best” you will engage in new habits that will support your fitness and healthy lifestyle for the long haul!

Within a month or two of true dedication not only will you notice phenomenal results (as many of my 21 Day Bootcampers can already attest to) but you’ll realize that everything is on cruise control!  Things won’t seem hard to do or impossible to reach.  And with every step outside of that comfort zone, you will empower yourself and achieve a greatness that will amaze you.

So don’t be afraid.  Go out there, expect the best of yourself and make it happen!

And don’t forget that your team here at Fast Action Training is here to support you 100% of the way as are the rest of your fellow bootcampers.

Have a terrific start to your week and be sure to leave a comment below with what you’re going to challenge yourself with for the week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer and the F.A.T. Team

 

San Jose Bootcamp Monday Motivator 7-18-11 – You and Harry Potter

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Good morning my loyal fitness fanatics and welcome to another Monday Motivator designed to pump you up for the week and keep you on track with those fitness goals!  Would you agree with me that our choices ultimately determine where we stand with our fitness goals?  Whether we are taking steps forward toward their achievement or taking steps back?  Being that the final Harry Potter flick just came out, I thought this quote was very fitting by Professor Albus Dumbledore himself who said:

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

You may have the ability to perform great workouts or cook up a storm with nothing but healthy ingredients but are you?  Are you consciously making decisions that will lead you to better health, a tight and toned physique and a longer life?

Think about it.  We’re faced with choices everyday that determine where we are at in relation to our fitness goals.

We can choose to get up early and hit a workout, or not.

We can choose to select a healthy sandwich with no extra toppings or a sandwich full of fatty crap.

We can choose to have a glass of water or a soft drink.

We can choose to have no alcohol during the week or have 2 glasses of wine each night.

The point is that you are constantly making choices and decisions that will have an impact on your health and fitness goals.  You need to fight to be AWARE of ALL of these choices so you can put yourself in the driver’s seat and rock some serious results!

If you don’t, then you suffer the consequences.  And one of my favorite authors, Stephen Covey, put it best when he said:

“It’s not what happens to us that hurts us, but rather how we react to what happens to us that hurts us.”

How you react and the choices and decisions you make will ultimately determine if and when you achieve your fitness and fat loss goals.

I know you have it in you so make a conscious CHOICE to be present in the moment and aware of all the little choices you are making each day.  For example, I know some of us are work-a-holics so if someone is trying to suck your time away, don’t let them!  Make a choice, get out of there and get to that F.A.T. bootcamp workout! :-)

Have a terrific start to your week!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer

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