Coulee Region Bootcamps

2010 is just over 5% completed.

It may not seem like much, but it will slip away before you know it. 

The question is are you 5% closer to your goals? 

If you wanted to read 20 books in 2010, do you have one done already?  If your goal was to drop 30lbs of fat are you down 1.5lbs? 

This isn’t about making you feel bad if you are falling short.  The point is ARE YOU TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS?  If you are not, then how do you know if you are achieving your goal?  How do you know if you are heading in the right direction?

WHAT GETS MEASURED, GETS DONE

When you track your goals set up intermediate milestones to measure your progress.  If you are on track, then great keep doing what you are doing.  If you are falling behind, now is the time to take action and get back on the train.

The key is to take ACTION.  Don’t think about what to do for weeks on end.  If what you are doing currently is not working, then change your behavior. 

Hopefully you are well on your way to results.

“I am convinced that success is not measured by what you get out of life, but by what you give back. ” – Jerry Moran

I think Jerry hit the nail right on the head.  So many people’s only concern is what they can get out of life.  Everything is focused on getting something from someone. 

The average employee switches jobs every 5 years.  Usually looking for a better paycheck or promotion.

I have seen many “relationships” based on what can the other person do for me.

It seems society thinks that is the normal way to do things.  I disagree.  People should be more focused on helping others than themselves. 

I have noticed that when we help others we get much more than what we gave in return.  You just have to open your eyes/mind to see the benefits.  For example, if you give money to a charity, you may not get financial benefits back, but you’ll be suprised at what does come your way.  It can be a thank you card to brighten your day.  A recognition somewhere.  The joy of seeing others benefit from your giving.  Those things are worth much more than what you gave.

The New Horizon’s Womens Shelter in La Crosse recently had a fundraiser.  The county no longer gives them any aid and they must raise everything they need from donations.  They held a silent auction and raised over $3500 with pledges exceeding $4000!  That is amazing! 

Check out the website for the event here.

I was fortunate enough to be able to donate some free months of bootcamps for the silent auction.  That’s not to brag or anything.  The point I am making is I received much more than what I donated in return.  I met some really interesting people.  I had a great afternoon at the silent auction.  I was able to make a difference for the shelter. 

You don’t have to give a lot.  Start with something small.  It will snowball from there. 

If you don’t think you have something worthwhile to give or don’t have enough to give, do it anyways.  I have found when give a little we realize how much we actually have.  Our mindset changes from giving out of our lack to realizing we are giving out of our abundance. 

You just have to see where you have abundance.  Either in material goods or talents.

Let your neighbor have that tool you never use, but he always borrows.  Same could go for some clothes or toys.  Cook a meal or bake some goodies for a shut in or someone struggling to put food on the table.  Spend time with someone who might not have anyone else. 

You will be surprised at what benefits might come your way.

So how are you paying it forward?

I recently had a conversation with a guy named Jerry about John Deere garden tractors.  The short version is John Deere started making garden tractors (smaller than regular tractors, but larger than lawn tractors) in the 1960’s.  They were overdesigned and could handle anything.  They were also higher priced than most of the competitors.  In the 1980’s John Deere realized many of the competition were selling smaller and much cheaper models.  So John Deere developed a cheaper version to compete in that market.

Jerry said there is now a big market for the old garden tractors.  Thousands of people go to shows to buy, sell and trade parts and/or whole tractors so they can keep using tractors made 30-40 years ago.

So what you may ask.  What does that have to do with fitness & weight loss?  Well people always want things for as cheap as they can get them.  And they have every right to.  In fact I am the same way. 

Sometimes though, we get so focused on  getting a cheap price we forget about quality.

The cheapest food is not always the best for us. Organic produce and grass fed meats are more expensive, but they are much higher quality than conventional produce and meats.

The same can be said of fitness programs.  There are gyms that offer monthly memberships for $30.  But there is no one to motivate and encourage you.  No accountability.  No one to care for you.  Do you want to spend $30 a month for minimal results?

Now I am not saying to start buying the most expensive items you can.  NO WAY!  Many of those are not worth it.

I am saying look for value.  What gives you the most bang for your buck. 

I know you are not going to find value with those magic weight loss pills or gadgets that promise 6-pack abs in 8 minutes a day.

When you become member of Coulee Region Boot Camps, you get energetic, fast paced workouts, social support, nutritional guidelines and meal plans.  And I promise to work tirelessly to help you achieve your goals. 

The old John Deere garden tractors may not be the cleanest or most attractive tractors out there.  They may not have all the fancy gadgets modern tractors have today.  But they are a workhorse.  They get the job done and get it done for decades.  New tractors don’t last that long, but they are cheaper and have radios and all the bells and whistles.

But is that what you paid for? Bells and whistles?  Or results?

So here’s my question to you.

Are you getting the most value for your hard earned $$?

Have you ever had to push a car that ran out gas or had the battery die?  Can you remember how hard it was to get that vehicle moving?  Once it started moving, wasn’t it much easier to maintain its momentum?  That’s inertia baby!  Either creating motion of a static object or stopping the motion of a moving object.

Inertia is a very powerful force.  Without getting too geeky with the physics, it takes much more force to start or stop motion than it does to maintain motion (aka momentum).

Think about your daily habits.  Its easier to maintain your routine than it is to create a new one.  Routine is easy and new habits take energy.  Routine can be mindless, new habits take focus.

These are especially true of your fitness habits. 

It’s easier to go to the gym and run on the treadmill for 30 minutes than to strength train.  The treadmill takes care of everything for you.  You just hop on and hit the green button.  Strength training takes some thought & planning.  What exercises, how many reps, how much weight all go into strength training.

It’s also easier to sit on the couch and watch TV than it is to go for a walk or play with your kids in the yard. 

We often choose the easy way out.  We say we’ll go to the gym or lift weights or play with our kids tomorrow.  But guess what?  Inertia takes over.  Everyday it gets easier to follow our habits and avoid changes.

But we all know what it best for us don’t we?

Start tomorrow.

Put a little effort into creating new habits. Healthy habits.  It will take work and maybe more effort than you are used to.  You might have to force yourself to keep doing it for a week or two or three. 

Don’t give up!! 

Cause guess what will happen when your new habits start to become routine? 

It will be harder to break those beneficial habits than it will be to sustain them.

And that’s the goal. 

So build a new life, one new habit at a time.

Everyone has reasons for their actions.  The reasons may be personal or professional.  You may be trying to obtain some big “reward” or trying to avoid some “punishment”.  Whatever the case may be every one needs to know what their motivation is.

This is definitely the case with health & fitness goals.  Do you want to get in shape for that class reunion?   Do you want to be able to play with your kids/grandkids with out being exhausted?  Do you want to avoid the heart disease/diabetes/high cholesterol that has affected other members of your family. 

I have many different motivations for being healthy and improving my physical condition.

- I want to be able to play & run with my son without any hinderance

- I want to avoid the back surgery my dad and grandpa have had

- I want to be capable of doing any physical task that may present itself

- I want to look good for my wife

My motivation for running Coulee Region Boot Camps is a little different.  I want to be able to help others achieve the health & fitness goals of their dreams.  Seeing others make progress gets me fired up beyond belief.  Everyone has so much power inside of themselves.  Seeing that power come out in boot camp and areas beyond is what I love to see.  The people at my boot camp are what motivates me to get up 4:30am. I desire to make their experience one of a kind. 

So what’s your motivation?  And does your motivation fit with your goals & values?