Thinking Out Loud (And On Paper) About Blogging.

Blogging has its challenges — like everything else in life, to be sure.

(Interesting way to open a post on a site dedicated to ‘heath and fitness’, isn’t it??)

I battle with it all the time.

There’s so much I feel like sharing.  So much I want to share, with the off chance that I help just 1 person, 1 time and it makes their life better.

Then learning about ‘how to run a business effectively’ gets in the way.  You learn what works best vs. what doesn’t.  You learn: “I think you should do things this way — not that.”

You learn to stick to one specific topic – your area of expertise – and make the website about that because this builds relevance in the eyes of your readers (and the eyes of Google), and keeps everybody coming back for more . . . presumably because they ‘like’ you, and, well, because they know what they’re going to get.

The thing is, for me, being a coach encapsulates so many different areas of interest, information and knowledge to pass on, that it’s hard for me to pick exactly what to write about!

Stick to exercise?  Nutrition?  Health?  Psychology?  Lifestyle?  Enlightenment?

Short posts?  Long Posts?  Anecdotal posts?  Technical, scientifically-backed posts?  Use thoughts I ‘own’?  Or employ the work of fellow professionals and friends?

Does it matter, as long as the purpose is served?  (That purpose being: helping others to have better lives, with the hope that ’sharing my perspective and expertise’ becomes contagious, enabling me to reach and help a growing web of people.)

Does it matter, as long as all that I do comes from the heart . . . and that it’s always being presented with the best intentions regardless of how readers react to it?

Of course not!

So, I need to get to writing then.

Writing about: Nutrition.  Health.  Lifestyle.  Psychology.  Exercise.  Enlightenment.

Writing long posts.  Short posts.  Anecdotal posts.  Scientifically-backed posts.  ‘Borrowed’ posts and my own posts.

All these topics.  All these presentation styles . . .

All that matters is that it’s transparent, and that it’s dedicated to helping others to enhance their lives mentally, emotionally, spiritually and, of course, physically . . .

Because that’s what my purpose and passion is all about.

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My Personal Trainer NYC, Live . . . From Morocco??

Yes, you’ve read that correctly.

And, amazingly, it may continue this way for an indefinite amount of time.

Life’s been a whirlwind for the past year, and an outright hurricane for the last few weeks.

To summarize:

Business was doing well.

Professional and personal growth was really taking off with the assistance of incredible new friends, mentors, clients and my ever-supportive family.

Family was planning move to Colorado and was selling NYC home to do so.  (But home wasn’t selling after 6+ months.)

Career opportunity and adventure of a lifetime appear out of nowhere . . . and my supportive wife tells me to jump on it.

The house gets an offer.

Career opportunity becomes an offer.

Instead of moving west to Boulder, I’m now east, across the Atlantic, on the continent of Africa, living in Morocco.  (That’s crazy to write . . . and crazier to read! )

My supportive wife and family will be here in a few short days.

And we’ll be here until . . . well, we’re just going to take that one-day-at-a-time. 

Regardless of all this change, and regardless of the fact that ‘My Personal Trainer NYC’ is now being written from another continent, I’ll still be here to serve you as much as I can.

And soon, I may even be able to help you in French or Arabic!

Thanks for reading!

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The Rules For Health And Performance.

If You Want Change . . . You Have To Change!

You’ve received the message here many times on this site.   You may have even picked up on it via my training philosophy that’s shared over on the website of my coaching business.

The message?

If you want optimal fitness and a body that looks and feels amazing, you’ve got to start with health first.

There’s just no way around it, whether you merely want short term, significant results or if you want results that last a lifetime — you’ve got to start with health first!

Health cultivated by quality nutrition.

Health elevated through stress management.

Health derived from a strong, positive mindset.

Health nourished thorough quality movement.

Health fostered by being fully in the moment, right now.

You know all of this . . . because you’ve heard it all before.  (Not to mention the fact that it’s pretty common sense, right?)

But at the end of the day, knowing it and knowing how to implement it are two different things.

And that’s where I’ll turn this post over to my friend and colleague, the UK’s very own Jon Le Tocq. 

In his article below, he discusses the ‘New Rules For Health and Performance’ and the importance of health coming first . . . and through his delivery, he provides a list telling you the exact steps you can take to get the health, looks and performance that you desire.

It’s a great read, a great perspective, and a clear action plan that will help you get your health and fitness on track now.

Enjoy!  And Take Action!!

The New Rules Of Health And Performance

Jon Le Tocq (13 January 2010) What I am about to tell you may seem strange and in direct opposition to what you think you know, but remember this:

I have used these methods to maintain a body fat percentage of 5% on myself, help a lady lose 120lbs in 7 months having tried all the ‘famous’ diets with no success and restore the health of everyone from regular sports fanatics to stressed out business men who were heart attacks waiting to happen!

Also, if you are reading this with excitement at the thought of finally being able to drop body fat, it is clear that what you think you know doesn’t work so listen up!

Here is a list of actions you must start climbing to quickly develop a lean, athletic body and restore your health, dramatically reducing your risk of common ‘affluence diseases’ such as diabetes, heart disease and various cancers which are often non-existent in areas which no access to the Western diet.

The truth is that whilst anyone can drop a few pounds quite quickly, long-term astounding, life-changing results can only be achieved when optimal health is achieved FIRST.

Too many people miss out on this fact while searching for the quick-fix fat loss method.

You must become aware of the following:

1) The media will glamourize whatever will sell newspapers and magazines regardless of the effect on your health. These journalists have not thoroughly researched studies that often contradict the random advice thrown around about nutrition, and using them as your main reference source for fat loss advice is like getting a dentist to fix your car.

2) The medical profession is controlled by drugs companies and is under so much pressure that those who do want to know and dish ou the truth about nutrition simply do not have the time to offer advice and planning which will truly make a difference to you. It is easier, and unfortunately more profitable in many cases, to simply prescribe another pill or shot of insulin.

3) Often the truth has been covered up in order to protect what are very lucrative industries. The government heavily relies on donations from food and drugs companies and often could not afford to lose the backing of entire industries. The truth mysteriously disappears in a lot of these cases.

This is an express guide to give you something to work from. The three points above should illustrate that there is a huge amount of science and critical issues to consider but as you don’t have time for all that, make sure you do all you can to implement the steps below.

Results will be achieved much quicker if you can work with a health and fitness professional who understands the mechanisms behind these steps so please seek one out as soon as possible.  (Continue Reading . . . )

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Thanks for reading!

YOUR Personal Trainer NYC

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Goal Achievement – Using Deadlines To Get The Best Out Of You

“Psychology Trumps Physiology . . .”

Are you using your deadlines effectively?

Set a deadline.

You hear that often in terms of goal achievement, right?

Set specific fitness goals . . . and give yourself a specific deadline.

A deadline contributes to the magic in the ‘magic trick’ of getting your goals accomplished.  Without it, you may never get started.  (Read: “I can start that tomorrow, next week, next month . . . next year.”)  With it, you get the proverbial ‘kick in the pants’ that propels you forward.

That is, if the deadline influences your psyche the right way.

Some individuals have a negative reaction to the word ‘deadline’, whether it’s a feeling of unbearable pressure, or if it’s resorting to less-than-ideal strategies for accomplishing a goal — both of them contributing to a journey that’s really unpleasant, or that you end up dropping out of altogether.

What’s one of the most common ‘less-than-ideal’ strategies?

Reacting to a deadline with the mindset that you’ve got to speed things up.

Speed up, as in resorting to drastic calorie cutting.

Speed up, as in drinking magic potions guaranteed to help you lose weight.

Speed up, as in passing on sleep so that you can train more and work harder.

‘Speeding up’ is akin to cutting corners  and oftentimes neglecting the very things that give you the success you’re looking for.  This might work with last minute deadlines like  turning in a paper, getting your car fixed, or finalizing the details of tomorrow’s hot date . . .

But so much with health and fitness goals.

So, what’s the solution?

Adjust your mindset!

1. Use the deadline to create a sense of urgency, not a case of neuroticism.

2. Instead of thinking ‘Speed Up!’, focus on producing QUALITY.  Instead of ‘Do it faster’, think ‘Do ALL that I can, the BEST that I can!’

• Eat quality, nutritious whole foods.
• Get your sleep.
• Drink lots of pure water.
• Follow a specific training protocol — train SMART and HARD!
• Live according to your values so that you’re as happy and stress free as possible.

Do these things, all to the best of your ability, and speed won’t be an issue.  Neither will the deadline.

You’re psyche, your actions and the health you create will take care of you, and you’ll have accomplished your objectives before you know it.

Your thoughts?

Thanks for reading!

Your Personal Trainer NYC

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Goal Achievement – Give ALL Of You If You Want Success.

“I want to see you through ALL of your goals and will do everything in my power to help you.  You should know, however, that my family and I will be moving at the year’s end . . .”

Those words began my relationship with a client that’s been with me for over 6 months (and 60 pounds lost!) . . . and the amazing thing was she admitted to me just days ago that she’d never fully opened herself up to me.

6 months plus of trust, heart-to-heart communication and success without fully ‘letting go’.  It was an understandable decision on her part because, as she explained, she was protecting her heart against the end of our 1-to-1 time together.

But I couldn’t help thinking, what would have happened if . . . . ?

What would have happened if she’d fully opened herself to freedom?  To the moment?

How much more should she have accomplished?

How much more fulfilled would she feel?

The point here isn’t to focus on anything negative.  To the contrary, it’s to find enlightenment through her incredible journey which very well could have been (and could become) that much more incredible!!

The fact is, nothing in life is guaranteed.  Nothing is permanent.

So if you’re going to make a decision to do something, give ALL of you to it!!

Why not, right?

The worst that will happen is you’ll ‘fail’ to achieve your goal and end up where you are, right now.  (And that’s okay!   You can just choose another direction.)  But if everything goes as well as planned, you might just end up with everything you wish for . . . and more!!

All you’ve got to do is allow yourself to be open to the process.  Be open to putting your heart, soul and all that you believe in on the line.

Are you ready to commit to that, here in 2010?

The choice is yours.

The New Year’s upon you and the ‘tradition’ of setting goals from mundane to magical is well under way.

What do you want to accomplish?

What MAGIC do you want to make happen?

Are you ready to give ALL of you to the process?

Let’s get started!

YOUR Personal Trainer NYC

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A New Year’s Message From Christopher

Can You See The Forest Through The Trees? Are You LIVING Your Purpose?

As 2009 closes, I find myself (like most people) reflecting on the past — the past year, the past decade . . . the course of my life so far.

It’s been an amazing journey, with this year being one of the best yet, filled with the laughter of my daughter and my newborn son, international travel, growing business, support from my wife, new relationships and incredible amounts of personal and professional growth.

And I just topped it all off as I was going through old personal files on my hard drive . . . and stumbled across the original copy of a letter I’d written to my family and friends as I was preparing to uproot my life by leaving the Twin Cities and moving to NYC:

. . . we’re on this planet to LIVE — to discover and to utilize to our fullest ability whatever gifts we’ve been given, so that we can live truly happy lives and contribute to the many lives we encounter. . .

I have been gifted opportunities to meet people and influence them through the world of personal training.  This career forces me to be the best I can be while allowing me the privilege to motivate and to teach by sharing my education and example with others.  My wish for you during this holiday season and for the rest of your life is as follows:

1.  Discover your purpose in life (or continue to develop that purpose if you’ve already successfully found it).
2.  Believe in that purpose.
3.  Face all your fears, take risks and don’t quit when pushing onward is difficult.
4.  Wake up every morning, thankful for another day, and LIVE each day so that you don’t wake up the next with regrets of not having accomplished what you desire.
5.  Strive for and achieve success!! (on your spiritual terms)

What struck me about this letter?  The message I delivered was a less refined, but very similar version of what I believe today.  It probably shouldn’t be surprising at all.  But when life is busy swirling around you, it’s easy to lose sight of your overall purpose and current place in life — akin to the phrase ‘you can’t see the forest through the trees.’

And it’s nice when we can be reminded of the path we’re on, and discover that we’ve managed to stay close to it, and cultivate it, for a prolonged period of time — especially when there’s growth and success attached to it!!

Have you taken the time to reflect on your purpose lately . . . or ever?  What drives you?  What do you want?  What does your heart tell you?

Now is as good a time as any to reflect on it, isn’t it? 

So, go do it . . . and then act!  And may those actions bring you fulfillment in 2010 and beyond!!

Happy New Year to you!  Thank you for all of your support!

Your Personal Trainer NYC

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The 3 Best Ways To Ensure Your Fitness Program Is Working For You.

The training programs tried by the masses that guarantee their abilities to shed fat, build muscle and deliver incredible health are typically rigorous and very stressful on the body.

There’s nothing wrong with them (and they obviously work well for thousands of people), but there are many times where the training doesn’t work, despite the research (and results) that indicate they should, leaving those that ‘fail’ frustrated and wondering what to do.

If you’re frustrated because repeated attempts at ‘getting in shape’ have failed to bring you results, or if you’re simply a beginner struggling with ‘where to begin’ your journey to improved health and fitness, here are 3 things you can do to ensure you get the most out of your training:

1.  Assess Yourself. An assessment is one of the most basic and important steps to getting results, yet it’s also one of the most overlooked (or ignored).  You might have a clear vision of the health and fitness goals you want to achieve, but the road map you use to get there can only be drawn if you know your starting point.  The best way to determine your starting point?  An assessment!

2.  Use an assessment that goes beyond ‘health history’ and postural/movement analysis . . . and digs deeper into your current lifestyle. The importance of health (and family) history can’t be denied because it gives you a ‘heads up’ about ailments/injuries you’re predisposed to.  Postural assessment and movement analysis is also important because it enables you to effectively deliver structural balance to your body, ensuring that you’re actually ‘working the parts you think you’re working’ while preventing injury.

But an equally important assessment that you’ll want to do (that’s rarely ever done) is a lifestyle assessment because it helps you to objectively look at the elements of your life that are significantly influencing the health and function of your body right now.  Not only will a lifestyle assessment direct you toward the specific areas of your life you can improve upon, but it will also help you to create a training program that will most benefit you.

Which leads to . . .

3.  Use a training program that’s ‘ideal’ based on your current stress/health status. If your body isn’t functioning properly on the inside (i.e. if it can’t handle and positively adapt to the stress of training) it won’t respond to exercise in the way you think it’s supposed to . . . and you won’t see the expected results.  It doesn’t matter if you’re training hard, using most ‘proven’ fitness program on Earth!

Simply put, it’s not often the training program that’s not working — it’s your body that’s not working with the program.  And one of the most effective ways to fix the problem is to utilize training that emphasizes rejuvenation, rebuilding and recovery (like Qi-Gong, Yoga or a walk in the park) instead of solely following the latest, greatest ‘run yourself into the ground’ fat loss program.
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Assess yourself (including a lifestyle assessment) and create/use an exercise program that works best with your body as you strive to reach greater levels of health and fitness.  They may be simple and obvious concepts, but they’re frequently overlooked, misunderstood or ignored.  Make a concerted effort to do these 3 things, and you’ll open the door the greatest, longest-lasting results of your dreams.

What are your thoughts on this?  Let me know by leaving a comment!

Thanks for reading!

YOUR Personal Trainer NYC

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Is Your Training Program Unrealistic? (Or Are You Just Unwilling?)

You can do anything you want, as long as you put your heart and mind into it . . . as long as your heart and mind wants to be in it!

It’s not uncommon to read interviews where a trainer suggests that people fail to accomplish optimal fitness because the training programs they’re being exposed to have unrealistic expectations and unrealistic time requirements.

Is the fitness program too demanding (or are you simply unwilling?)

They demand too much of a lifestyle change. . .

They require ‘radical’ change in diet. . .

They require too much time. . .

While this logic may resonate with you, I think it’s just another in a long list of excuses for not ‘living a healthy lifestyle’ or ‘taking the time to train’.

In fact, I don’t think the problem is a fitness program’s unrealistic expectations or time constraints at all.

The problem . . . lies within you.

Worded better (and less harshly!) the problem is lack of a deeply-rooted desire to train and face a ‘fitness challenge’ that requires you to make significant changes to your life.

Think about that for a second . . .

In your time on the planet, what did you do when the path to your ‘dream job’ presented itself to you?

What did you do when you met your first ‘dream guy/girl’?

What did you do when you wanted to satisfy the desires of somebody you love?

Or when you had the opportunity to buy your first dream (insert object here)?

You did what you had to do in order to achieve, right?

No obstacle, no time constraint — nothing was going to stop you from doing what you wanted to do.

Pursuing your health and fitness is no different if you’re really serious about it!!

Don’t you think that you’d pursue it relentlessly if you knew that you not only needed it, but that you wanted it too?

Of course you would!

– You’d be open to altering your nutrition, especially if it was evident that ‘everything you’ve tried in the past’ had failed to work.

– You’d be open to altering your lifestyle, knowing that that way you are currently living isn’t cutting it.

– You’d make the time to put this high on your priority list because, frankly, very little would be more important than finding a way to make your health, and the quality of your life, better!

So, instead of looking for ‘fault’ in the programs that are out there, look within yourself first.

The ‘right’ training program — the world — is right in front of you, ready to deliver exactly what you want . . . as long as you’re open to receive it!

The question is, are you willing . . . and do you really want it?

If so, leap over the perceived obstacles in your mind, throw out all of your excuses, make your schedule work, and take action.

If others can find a way to make fitness work, you can too!

What do you have to lose?

After all, the least you can expect from reward for making time and taking action, is the reward of MORE time for yourself due to the energy and empowerment cultivated by your training!

Your Personal Trainer NYC

Fifth Power Fitness, “Turning Fitness Inside Out”

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The Worldwide Release Of ‘Women’s Fitness Beyond 40.’

After years of studying, practicing ‘in the trenches’ and dreaming, one of my dreams is finally coming true — the chance to bring a message and an opportunity for health and fitness worldwide!!

I can’t believe it . . . and I can’t wait!

6 months ago, I finally began writing the book that I’d been writing in my head for years.

The result was a project that became much more than a book — it became a full-on coaching program specifically for Women over the age of 40, complete with:

• a program manual (‘The Book’)
• exercise videos and descriptions
• training charts mapping out the program in full
• an online community where you can find inspiration and moral support.

AND

• 90 days of coaching — 90 days, every day — that arrives in your mailbox each morning . . . there to educate you, motivate and inspire you AND tell you EXACTLY what to do each day.

(Most importantly, those emails push you into action, so the program doesn’t collect dust inside your computer or on your desktop!  )

And now I’m ‘releasing it to the world’!!

Women’s Fitness Beyond 40

The site is up and running, and for the first 50 people who purchase, beginning at 12 EST tomorrow, I’ll have a special bonus for you, as a thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Women’s Fitness Beyond 40

Check out the site, and be ready to go back tomorrow after 12 noon, EST, to pick up your copy!

Sweeping The World, 10/22/09 -- Grab Your Copy!

It’s a health and fitness training program that can truly transform your life — and I can’t wait to use it with you!

Are you ready?

Women’s Fitness Beyond 40

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Is The “Everything In Moderation” Mindset Holding You Back From Optimal Health and Fitness?

One of the most common phrases uttered by clients around the world is ‘everything in moderation’ – as in, “I’ll be fine, I’ll shed weight, I’ll get healthier . . . as long as I stay the course and do everything in moderation.”

The thing is, individuals have come to me after years of practicing the ‘everything in moderation’ lifestyle . . . and they’re living with anything BUT the health and fitness they desire.

I believe that ‘everything in moderation’ is a crutch used to avoid choosing a specific path.

It’s an ‘easy way out’ when individuals don’t want to make tough choices and would rather pacify themselves by choosing to be moderate.

Now, some may argue that ‘moderation’ equals ‘balance’ and that being balanced is much healthier physically, mentally and emotionally than living at one extreme or another.

The thing is, 9 times out of 10 when I hear ‘everything in moderation’, the individual saying it isn’t searching for balance. They’re searching for the aforementioned easy way out — the way to live without making sacrifices — while also expecting the world!

And unfortunately, (of course) change isn’t going to come about with that mindset!

Is ‘everything in moderation’ a choice?

Sure!

Choosing moderation is a perfectly viable solution.

So is choosing ‘mediocrity’; choosing ‘average’; choosing ’standard’.

But you don’t choose ‘mediocrity’ when you aim for improved health, do you?

No! You choose to have the best health you can possibly have, right?

You don’t choose ‘average’ when you’re striving for fat loss, do you?

No! You choose to shed as much fat as you can . . . in the shortest amount of time.

You don’t look for a ’standard’ training program to do deliver you health, fitness and fat loss, right?

No! You want an excellent training program that’s going to take into consideration all of your needs, and deliver EXACTLY what you’re striving for!

So, than the question is, why would you choose anything ‘in moderation’, when achieving success requires actions above and beyond . . . average?

Take a chance!

Go beyond ‘moderation’ with your nutrition. Dedicate above average effort to your training; commit to the ‘extremes’ of a healthy lifestyle that suits you perfectly . . .

It’s the surest way to go beyond ‘moderate’ to ‘overwhelming’ health and fitness success.

Your Personal Trainer NYC – ‘Turning Fitness Inside Out.”

Women’s Fitness Beyond 40

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