Believe it or not, many others have the same goals and challenges as you. A lot of ‘em will get hurt, get scared or just roll over and quit before they have a chance to taste victory.
Seeing others fail to overcome the same challenges (perceived or real) you expect to face might just scare the living crap out of you…
Maybe it’s a fear of failure, or of looking foolish, but too many people have “goals” they aren’t willing to talk about.
In my experience, it’s generally better to recognize (and respect) your challenges by stating your goals out loud – especially among others who can support you as you work towards that goal – than it is to keep it to yourself.
Once you have a clear picture of what’s standing between you and success, you’ll have a good idea what it’ll take to win.
So what challenges (fitness or otherwise) are you going to overcome this year?
Well?
Having won over 98% of 22,000+ games played over the past 85 years, the Harlem Globetrotters amazingly <wink, wink> scored yet another tally for their win column by defeating the Washington Generals in an ‘exhibition game’ here in Grand Rapids this weekend. Whew!
You can be anything that you can imagine – Meadowlark Lemon, Harlem Globetrotter for 22 seasons
Speaking of wins for the history books, my Green Bay Packers are going to the Superbowl. My prediction for Feb 6: Green Bay 41, Pittsburgh 17. (not to put any pressure on you, Green Bay, but my birthday is Feb 7. It sure would be nice if’n ya’ll would be so kind as to give me just one more win this season, eh?)
Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser. Vince Lombardi (1913-1970)
Last – but certainly not least – perhaps the most respected man in the fitness business, Jack LaLanne, completed the final set of his 96 year workout. While I’d assume he put the dumbbells back in the rack where they belong, I’m quite sure all of us who have been inspired, educated and motivated by Jack’s message and personality over the years would more than happily follow him around the gym, picking up his weights, in the hope that just a little of his mojo would rub off on us in the process.
I tell people I can’t afford to die; it will wreck my image! Jack LaLanne (1914-2011)
Jack, I think it’s safe to say, your image will remain intact for a long, long time.
Jack obviously read the latest Lou Schuler/Alwyn Cosgrove book, New Rules of Lifting for Abs
Does anybody understand there’s so much more to exercise than “calories burned”???
The ‘brains’ behind Trampoline fitness suggest such benefits <ahem> to their “low contact, high intensity workouts” as:
“…burn up to 1,000 calories an hour” and “many of the same toning and cardio effects as jogging, but without the jarring impact on the joints”
So what happens when you step back on terra firma where each and every step you take (whether walking, jogging, running or skipping) puts the “jarring impact” of 3 to 12 times your own bodyweight on your joints. I dunno about you, but I’d rather stick with good ol’ fashioned hard work and the full force of gravity to make my muscles the strongest, most reactive, energy-chomping machines they can be.
And I have no idea how anyone can call an hour of non-stop bouncing a “high intensity workout” while keeping a straight face. A non-stop hour of ANYTHING may make you sweat like a mountain goat in heat (or something to that effect), but it doesn’t make it intense. Although it may be considered challenging, by definition, anything short of a full-out sprint/max effort lift becomes LESS intense the longer you continually perform that activity.
No wonder America is getting fatter by the day. Seems a growing percentage of the population goes out of their way to avoid the exact kind of stress they really need – and these trampolidiots enable that kind of thinking.
Yeah, jumping around may be fun, but if we can’t make a cultural return to real strength training as the basis of “fitness”, it won’t be long until we implode under the weight of our collective gravitational pull.
Ted "Golden Voice" Williams
Certainly by now, you’ve heard all about Ted Williams fall and rise (and fall?) from glory. Not being one to pass up a good opportunity for shameless self-promotion, I figured if the Today Show, the Cleveland Cavaliers and umpteen other businesses are willing to ride Mr. Williams’ camouflaged coat-tails into viral-video stardom, then who the hell am I to sit here and think up my own unique marketing message to promote my new Grand Rapids personal trainer website?
After all, fame sells, baby.
It’s amazing what you can create with some cardboard, a couple of permanent markers and a camera, don’t ya’ think?
(Note to Matt Lauer & Meredith Vieira… have your people call my people and we’ll try to set up a time for me to come on your show.)
An Open Letter To The Fitness Industry
from Joe Stankowski
There’s no doubt that our industry is growing, but from my perspective, it’s steadily growing apart.
Case in point: I’ve long been amused by the way “chain” health clubs resist independent personal trainers, but a recent event has really opened my eyes to the way in which the “don’t even look at our members” mindset is sabotaging our entire industry.
The details of my own ‘event’ aren’t what’s important here, but what we NEED to do – if we’re to succeed as an industry – is change the current way of thinking. All of us need to realize that we can be more effective (and profitable) if we understand how we work together as an industry.
The fast food industry already figured this out. Perhaps an ironic ‘role model’ for us to consider, but hear me today and believe me next week…
When it comes to fast food, obviously there’s always going to be competition between brands (and I’d expect nothing less), BUT a customer who uses one drive-up window is more likely to use ‘em all. Now I don’t have “scientific research” to back this one, but find a client who regularly eats fast food and then take a look at all the different bags, wrappers and empty fry boxes on the floor of their car and under their seats and you’ll quickly understand the idea that “a buyer is a buyer.”
There’s actually a synergy among this type of… for lack of better word… restaurant.
Think about it: if any one of the fast food joints can ‘convert’ a non-customer into a ‘fan’, the customer will likely put on a few pounds, begin to enjoy the ‘convenience’ aspect of the ‘service’ provided and/or get hooked on the fatty/salty/chemical flavors and preservatives. It won’t be long before they’ll find themselves trying the offerings of the drive-up window next door.
The cycle continues and now their entire industry benefits from a fast food addict. The customer will likely have his/her favorite(s), but whatever sack of calorie-loaded poison they buy today, they’ll inevitably pull out their wallet for their “competition” tomorrow.
What if WE could work together to get people ‘addicted’ to moving, lifting, running, climbing, rowing, pedaling and playing, while still retaining our own “brand” identities?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m every bit a capitalist as the next guy (perhaps even more so), but doing things as we are now, who really wins?
The marketplace continue to grow fatter, sicker and weaker while their expectations from our industry are dropping, yet for some reason, they continue to pay for gym memberships and ineffective “solutions” – for now. Here in Michigan, we have 65% of our population overweight and rank as the 11th fattest state in the USA.
If we can’t remove our collective heads from the space between our glutes, I predict the entire fitness industry will soon experience a shift very few of us are ready (or willing) to handle.
[There are always going to be those who succeed in spite of the odds being against them. I wrote in detail about the failure of gyms to produce "success stories" in proportion to their growing membership base in "The Power of Champions"]
Unless – and until – the big box gyms figure out how to provide more than “membership” for the masses, I’m hoping, for the consumer’s sake, they’ll consider ways in which they can work alongside ‘outside’ trainers to deliver the best possible experience for their members.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
David Roddenberry roddenberry@healthywage.com or (917) 213-2235
“Mighty” Joe Stankowski news@JoeStankowski.com or (616) 827-7479
New York Based HealthyWage™ Enlists Grand Rapids’ Fitness Guru to Help Michigan Lose Weight
Jan 4, 2011 – Need extra motivation to lose weight this year? Modeling the success of the popular TV show, The Biggest Loser, New York based HealthyWage [www.HealthyWage.com] has issued a state-wide fitness challenge to all of Michigan with the help of a local fitness expert, plus some extra special incentive.
In “The Michigan Matchup,” teams of five will compete for the greatest percentage of weight lost from January 8 through April 15, 2011. To join the challenge, participants pay a modest registration fee and weigh in at the beginning and end of the contest at a local health club. The winning teams will receive a total of $18,000 in cash prizes ($10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second, and $3,000 for third). Additionally, individual participants can earn $100 cash if they start with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 30 and achieve a BMI below 25 after one year.
Grand Rapids’ resident fitness expert, “Mighty Joe” Stankowski, creator of “This Workout Doesn’t Suck” [www.ThisWorkout.com] and a co-author of “The Power of Champions,” was enlisted as The Michigan Matchup’s official spokesperson and will provide contestants advice, support and motivation via weekly Q&A-format telephone conference calls.
“The Michigan Matchup brings the state together in a collective effort to achieve weight-loss and health goals through a fun and lucrative contest,” said HealthyWage co-founder David Roddenberry. “Competing in teams of 5 against family, friends, and co-workers for added encouragement, bragging rights and big cash prizes leverages our social network model proven to help motivate and sustain weight-loss. Academic research shows that obesity has spread through social networks and will likely reverse through social networks.”
Stankowski adds, “Of course it would be great if everyone was motivated by improved health and wellness, but in reality, there’s a tendency to take those things for granted until it’s too late. Fortunately, HealthyWage understands the motivational power of cold, hard cash and they’re putting some serious money on the table to help those who need an extra kick in the backside!”
Over 90 health clubs throughout Michigan have signed on to support contestants and serve as weigh-in locations, including many YMCA’s, Endurance, Bally Total Fitness and MVP Sports Clubs. Registration for the contest is open now through January 8 for all Michigan residents.
Those interested in joining The Michigan Matchup may do so online at www.michiganmatchup.com.
# # #
It’s that time of year when a lot of people traditionally “resolve” to lose weight.
Problem is, “losing weight” isn’t an action one can resolve to do; it’s an outcome.
Lifting weights 3 times a week – now THAT’S an action.
Planning your meals a week in advance… THAT’S an action, too.
Drinking water instead of soda… more ACTION. (I’m 3+ months diet coke-free, by the way!)
Resolve to take positive action and there’s a much better chance you’ll get the outcome you want.
***** ***** *****
Last week, I was a guest on the Tim Doctor radio show (WJRW 1340AM right here in Grand Rapids) where we discussed some other common problems people have with their resolutions and training plans. While it’s obviously too late to call in with your questions, you can listen to the podcast at the links below.
[UPDATE - 1/20/11: THE PODCAST IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AT THESE LINKS. IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST LISTEN TO IT, CONTACT ME (SEE "HOLLA'" AT TOP OF PAGE) AND I'LL FIND A WAY TO GET IT TO YOU]
I’ve been thinking a lot about this blog lately.
Which way to go? What news is comment-worthy? When will I have time to write out all these ideas that are sticking in my head? etc…
Then I started to remember why I started The Cup in the first place.
Unlike high-fructose corn syrup, this was never really intended for human consumption (though like HFCS, it did turn out to be somewhat ‘addicting’ for more than a few readers.)
I’m still really not sure how or why all of ya’ll found The Cup, but truth is, I started this li’l endeavor as nothing more than my personal sounding board – a place to exercise my creative writing skills away from editors, corporate sponsors, word count limits or any other outside “control”.
Of course, I suspected that there might be the occasional, random neighbor peering over the fence to see what’s going on in my yard, but never imagined this li’l ol’ blog would develop any sort of “following”.
Back in the formative days of The Cup, I met award-winning journalist and author of too many fitness books to name (and a fan of The Cup), Lou Schuler, at a photo shoot in NYC (that name drop is for you, Mr. Holt). He asked me if I know why people read my blog.
I didn’t know the answer (fortunately, he did and was willing to enlighten me.)
Lou’s simple explanation: “It’s ENTERTAINING.“
Moi? Entertaining? Really?
Maybe sarcastic, twisted, cocky or borderline insane… but entertaining?
Bah! I found that awfully hard to believe.
I admit, I have something of an ego (after all, the universe does revolve around me, but I didn’t have to tell you that, did I?). Even so, I’d like to think I also have a semi-reliable system of ‘self-check-and-balance’ to keep the weight of my big head from imploding upon itself.
But when a writer as respected as Lou gives your personal writing playground a high-5, well… it’s bound to have some effect, right?
I mean, yeah, my posts entertained ME… but THAT was really one of my initial goals, anyway: Write stuff that I’d want to read. Throw in some twisted humor, hidden messages, backward song lyrics and subliminal messages. Anything that would make me laugh – or THINK.
Until that chance meeting, I wrote new posts simply for the exercise, experience and growth that comes with putting in the reps… kind of like deadlifting ;-)
Looking back, it’s fair to say that I came to the conclusion that since I had such a good thing going, I might as well flaunt it. Eventually, I became paralyzingly selective on the topics, stories I’d write (or ramble) about.
Always wanting to make the next post better than the last, I became my own worst critic. While I suppose that’s somewhat natural, I also became my own personal road-block. If you’ve been a reader for any length of time, you’ve no doubt realized that my posts have become increasingly infrequent.
It’s not that I don’t still enjoy spouting off on any of the topics that interest me, but with the explosion of social media, I found it so much simpler to throw a link and a brief comment on Facebook than to write out an entire blog post.
Now I’m not saying social media ‘killed’ this blog by any means. In fact, I’m guessing this blog will get even BETTER because of it.
Why? An art form I never really respected when I was sitting in Mrs. Robison’s high-school English class, I now totally appreciate the limitations of the structure of a Haiku – as well as the modern equivalent, 160 character limit of Twitter.
Have a point. Say it succinctly. Move on.
(something I’m obviously not doing here, but that’s because I have no limits on my blog, now do I?)
I have no doubt that I will continue to use social media as an outlet for my creative side. Sparking discussion, thought and possibly even persuading a friend/fan/reader now and then to shift their thinking to a new level.
But I also intend to make a meaningful return to this blog. To write about things I want to read about. But also, to branch out BEYOND the realm of ‘eat right and exercise’.
If you stick around to see what’s been rattling around in my head, you may be surprised, shocked, scared… maybe even entertained?
I’m always happy to see your comments on my posts, whether good, bad or ugly. I continue to delete obvious spam as soon as I find it, but if you want to agree or disagree, that’s up to you. Your comments, however contrary to my own, never offend me. I do read and appreciate all of ‘em, but unlike many other bloggers, my goal has never been to get everyone to agree with me.
I don’t typically respond to comments on the blog (though I will often reply directly if you leave an email address). I figure, if I can write my uncensored opinions/thoughts/ideas here, daddgummit, you can, too.
I’m not sure what the future of The Cup will bring, but I can assure you that changes are on the way. I’ll continue to experiment with the words and ideas that flow through my fingers. I imagine I’ll change the look of the blog, too.
The one thing I can tell you with absolute certainty: This blog is NOT going away anytime soon.
It’s just going to change.
A lot.
But for now, this is the end of my blog as we know it…and I feel fine.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned. ;-)
-JS-
For the record, here’s a screen grab of The Cup as we’ve known it until now:
No, I'm STILL Not Joe Scarborough
"Mighty" Joe Stankowski