ryans-blog

Check out this video on supplements

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:46:13 +0100

Hey, Ryan here,

Hope your health and fitness are both doin' great.

My friend Krista Salter sent me this video on supplements that you have to check out...http://www.usana.com/dotCom/mediaCenter/video?category=Prospecting&id=ven140&SET_LOCALE=en_CA

Supplements are the best way to get all of the vitamins and minerals that you need when you don't have time to prepare all of the foods that you need. It's difficult these days to find time to prepare all of the fruits and vegetables that you need and that's why we supplement.

Check out the video here..
http://www.usana.com/dotCom/mediaCenter/video?category=Prospecting&id=ven140&SET_LOCALE=en_CA

Rock on!

Ryan

The Myth of the "Plateau"

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:12:24 +0100

The myth of the "plateau"

Its in times like these that I am drawn to the concepts outlined in the book, Peaks and Valleys, by Spencer Johnson. To break down the central concept to its basest level, this is what I took from it:

The decisions we make today are what effect the outcomes tomorrow

During the good times, we make decisions on what is happening to us right now, when things are really good, we never think of the bad times because when you're on top, you will always be on top. This is the peak.

This is the valley. Valleys happen when in the good times; when you're on top, you make decisions that are counter to the decisions you made to get you there. Its a bit of an arrogance, I suppose, but hey, we're all human and the Greeks were writing about hubris a couple of millennia ago, so it's not like it's a new concept.

When I started this, people started reminding me about the dreaded plateau.

"Watch out Gord, you will get to a point where your body will stop responding to the training. You'll get through it."

Now, I'm no philosopher, just a keen observer, of myself anyway. I've always said I would be honest on here, because if I'm not, why write about such a personal event? With all that inward observation I learned that the plateau is a myth. One myth that in times of weakness, I've used as a crutch.

In the gym, as in life; if you aren't winning, you're losing. Peaks and valleys, there is no room for plateaus in my game plan. What there is room for is a wider definition of success or winning and a narrower definition of failure, or losing. The peaks and valleys happen within those two lines, losing doesn't mean failure and winning doesn't mean success, because the closer your peak gets to that goal, it means you need to move that goal to the next level.

Right now, I feel like I'm in a valley, I've made a week of less than stellar food decisions and let life get in the way of doing what is right by me. My training is doing rather well, I'm feeling stronger, I'm looking towards adding running as another way help me accomplish my goals. But the eating thing is what makes me feel like I'm in a valley, right now.

I guess the only way to get out of that valley is to start climbing out...

Another Milestone Reached

Fri, 07 May 2010 14:01:45 +0100

Another milestone reached...

Well folks, I have crossed a threshold, jumped a hurdle and pretty well done something I never really thought I would......I cracked the 300 lb barrier

What you are probably thinking is this “schnikes, Gord weighs 300 lbs!”

Well, when I started, I weighed 329.8 lbs, to be exact (measured on Ryan's electronic scale, always post workout).

This is a milestone because for the first time in eight years, I am now below the 300 lb mark. Eight years! There is a certain point where you begin to accept that your fate is to always be that big, to just maintain as healthy a lifestyle as you can while hovering around 330 lbs.

Let me tell you this: it ain't much of a lifestyle at 330 lbs, those of you who know first hand can attest to this.

I am inspired to do more, hard work has never felt so good. But, going back to my last post, had I not self-sabotaged by harmlessly “cheating” on my eating, how much more could I have lost. No sense trying to figure it out, because I will chalk that up to spilt milk and we all know there is no use in crying over it, or making myself crazy over it.

What I can do is use it as a wake up call, make it be the kick in the butt to make me think next time I'm reaching for a doughnut.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot; my weight at last unofficial weigh in was 299.6 lbs, that means I am down 30.2 lbs for those of you keeping score at home.

I was a little tardy with this post, it's been over a week of me basking in the glow. Tomorrow is the official weigh in and the tale of the tape. Ryan will be measuring me with the tape measure to see how many inches I have lost thus far.

Success and Self-Defeatism

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:11:09 +0100

Success and self-defeatism

If you know me, you probably know this about me:

I am my own worst enemy

Self-defeatism has been my chosen method of sabotage in the past, if you have known me for a long time, you have no choice but to wholeheartedly agree. I know it, you know it, many times it is the elephant in the room.

To coin a phrase from the band Garbage, “I'm only happy when it rains.” Why else, when confronted with success would someone do something to hamper it? I can't explain it; it defies all reason and logic, even though I define myself as a reasonable and logical person.

A conundrum? Yes. Can I overcome it? Absolutely.

Borrowing another phrase, from G.I. Joe this time, “Knowing is half the battle.” Knowing that I am prone to this makes the battle a little easier. Applying this knowledge to what I need to do, what tools I need to find within and without to help me through this are how I will succeed.

I know what you're thinking: “What the hell does this have to do with working out?”

Here's the short answer: everything

Without setting goals and working towards them, how can I measure progress, or more aptly, my successes? Without a goal it is like shooting an arrow into the fog and expecting a bullseye. I am a big guy, a fat guy, one that has always been fat and one that had quietly resigned himself to always being fat. That was until I met Ryan. I believe that without his help, I would have been happy to maintain my body weight, losing a bit here and gaining a bit there, but really never doing anything about it.

I have been over 300 lbs for about the last 8 or 9 years of my life. Sometimes as low as 320, sometimes as high as 370, but never as low as I am now (302.5) and never below 300 lbs. I've been stuck at this point for over a week now, is it that I'm not working as hard in the gym? Nope. Ryan does a great job of pushing me and keeping up muscle confusion for maximum weight loss. Is it injury? No again.

I think we can all guess what it is....poor eating choices.

These are decisions I make each day, a few days of poor eating has caused me to gain a couple extra pounds and move farther away from my short term goal of breaking the 300 lb barrier. I don't think I am alone in this, I think its something we all do. Success comes knocking, we are on a great run of weight loss, we get arrogant, we slip back into those comfortable eating habits. Pizza, cookies, chocolate. You get the idea.

It starts with going out and deciding to get a salad when at dinner, sure a salad is a healthy choice, but what if it's a ceasar salad? Or going with the “healthy” choice of a whole grain crust for your pizza at BP, even though you know you're only lying to yourself.

I believe in the idea of a cheat day, but diligence is what is needed here, because cheat day turns into cheat days, turns into cheat week and there I am, back to where I started. Unhealthy, fat and with a poor self-image.

So for now, cheat day is not in my vocabulary, sweat, hard work and healthy food choices are the flavor of the day. I look forward to writing the blog celebrating a short-term goal any day now, because I know I will get there by watching what I eat and with Ryan's help.

Thanks For the Inspiration...

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:59:58 +0100

Thanks for the inspiration...

Inspiration is a funny thing, it's usually not the thing that gets you up in the morning; that's the dog, or the alarm, or a combination of the two. It's not the thing that makes you show up at work every day, many times it only pays enough to make you show up the next day.

What is it?

It varies for many people, we all find it in different ways. That thing, person, goal, hero...whatever it is that gives us the strength to be brash enough to work towards that next level. Whatever that level might be, one more mile run, more weight lifted, getting that better job, completing the project (you get the idea).

I've got two people who are my inspiration, these are the people that allow me to do what I need to do to get where I need to be. Eilish and Ryan, my partner in life and my trainer (Ryan isn't my partner in life, he's my trainer.....not that there's anything wrong with that).

Having a strong partner in life who will kick my butt when it needs kicking and get me into the gym when I might not exactly feel like it is crucial to my success. Having a trainer that isn't afraid to push me and work me hard when I get there is the other part of the success.

This might not be said enough, but thanks. I appreciate the pushing, the butt kicking and the positive vibes you both share with me on a daily basis.

Now, let's light this candle, I got a flyweight boxer to lose off my gut.

Are you Lazy?

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:04:09 +0100

Of course not, but here are some reasons why you might not be feeling motivated all of the time!

Sleep Deprivation: When you're short on sleep it's easy to become unmotivated, which quickly turns into laziness. Get a minimum of eight hours of sleep each night in order to maintain enough energy to get you through the day. Some experts even say that ten hours of sleep each night is what you need to function at your best.

Caffeine Abuse: Starting your day with a jolt of java may help with your initial alertness, but the dip in energy that takes place a few hours later could be the reason that you become lazy later in the day. Avoid the rush and crash of caffeine and instead rely on your steady supply of natural energy.

Bad Habit: At some point being lazy simply becomes a habit. If every night after work you head straight to the couch, it soon becomes automatic and not a conscious decision. Breaking the habit of laziness is actually quite easy. Simply take yourself off of autopilot and make the conscious decision to do something productive instead - like heading to No Excuse Fitness and Training rather than the couch.

Inactivity: If your job keeps you in a chair for hours at a time, and you don't exercise when off the clock, then your body is just accustomed to inactivity. It's time to wake up your under-used muscles and to reacquaint yourself with the joy of motion. A simple way to get back into the swing of things is to go on a 30 to 60 minute walk either before work or after you return home. Once you've broken yourself in with consistent walks, contact me to get started on a fitness program that will quickly get your body back into great shape.
Laziness begins when you ignore that little nagging voice in your head. You know, the one that reminds you when you should take action on something rather than sit by and let the opportunity slip away.

Is today the day that you will kick laziness/Excuses to the curb?

Is today the day that you will take action toward achieving your goals?

Is today the day that you will listen to that little voice of reason?

Call 289-439-4953 today to schedule your first workout.

P.S. Visit our home page and download this free report that reveals 21 fitness tips to help you achieve your goals!

Accountability

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:39:44 +0100

Every one of us are accountable to someone or something, maybe the manager who expects you to finish that project on time, the bank which is expecting that mortgage payment next week, or a little one that needs to get picked up from daycare. I find that accountability is all relative to the situation you find yourself in.

When was the last time you were accountable to yourself?

Think about it; we all are accountable to others that depend or rely on us, hold sway over our careers, but when is your time? I asked myself those questions before I started taking my working out seriously.

I shunned a trainer by thinking I had enough willpower to eat good and exercise regularly, to stay with a program. I did that for about three weeks, then old habits came back, poor exercise regimen (if any), bad eating habits, you name it. I used the same excuses that you do, I don't have the time, personal training is expensive, I need to work out a bit to get back into shape before starting with a trainer (does that one make any sense?).

They were all just excuses, reasons to not be accountable to me. This is my body, my life and I wasn't able to live it to it's fullest. I love team sports, haven't played in years, walking, wasn't doing it for enjoyment even though I have the best walking partner on four legs, eating takeout when what I really want is a delicious, healthy whole food meal.

I chose to be accountable to me, to show up, to work hard and to get fit. But, even better, I Ryan, he's accountable to me. His job is to be there, show me what I need to do to get more fit and to kick my butt and make me work harder than I would on my own.

As far as the excuses I mentioned above, do yourself a favor, think of a trainer as a little indulgence, three hours a week where its all about you. Cut out the unhealthy and expensive restaurant food and then just do it, everyone has a place to start from, like everything else, it's all relative.

Make a goal, talk to Ryan, he can help you get there.

The road thus far

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:34:58 +0100

After a month of working out with Ryan, I can attest to two things:

1. I feel great

2. I've never been so motivated to succeed

Do I look different? Probably, but not that much. Looks haven't been what this is all about, it's about feeling good and making positive, healthy lifestyle choices.

I am taking the time to actually review the way I am living my life, the choices I have made and to listen to what my body is telling me. This has all contributed to one of my most successful weight loss campaigns to date, the X factor has been using a trainer. By pushing me, Ryan keeps me honest and on track, in the past when I may have accepted mediocrity I no longer choose to, because I'm not just letting myself down, I'm letting Ryan down.

The other intangible behind this is what I truly believe will make the difference is that this isn't just about losing weight. This is about living a healthy lifestyle, not just throwing around weights and losing some fat, this is a sea change for me. I am choosing to eat healthy and ethically, to make diet and workout as holistic and organic a part of me as my Canadian accent. These are the steps I need to take to get to the point where I don't just choose to eat a healthy, whole food diet, I just eat a healthy, whole food diet because that's how I live.

Sure, I have lost some weight, I'm not forgetting “Target 195”, but now I am just using that as one of the markers of true success; a changed lifestyle, one that is richer and more fulfilling than I ever dreamed because I am a fit, healthy person.

Gettin' Real- The Fear

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:11:45 +0100

This might sound silly and maybe I am alone in this fear, but for a long time I have held on to the fear of losing weight. Right now you are thinking what is there to fear. Well it’s simple in my mind, for most of my live I have been the “fat” friend, the one girl in the group that was always larger than the rest. I have accepted my role and played it rather well.

What I feared was becoming the friend who was once fat, got fit and fat again. I don’t know how to be that person. I also don’t know how to be the fit person of the group, but I am up for the challenge.

This is a story I shared with Ryan today during our workout. I seemed to benefit from being the only one up for an 11 am workout on a beautiful spring Saturday.

Ryan listens well giving me direction on my next task. It was something that I have been afraid to share even with myself and I am not sure what compelled me to tell my very fit trainer such a personal fear. But I got it out there and that’s when I knew I needed to let go of the fear, because I have been using it as an excuse and like Ryan says “No Excuses”.

I am ready to take on the challenge of being the fit girl in the room and will keep this healthy life style up and not fear returning to this place. Because I believe in myself and that I am stronger than my fears.

Who know that Ryan is more than a personal trainer... seems he’s also earned the title of therapist or at least great listener!

Gettin' Real -Emotional Workout

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:10:12 +0100

Gettin’ Real-Emotional ~~Eater~~ Workout

I will be the first to admit when things get tough in life or I get stressed, I turn to food for comfort. It’s that one “friend” that will never let you down. That is until you are done and realize what you did and how guilty and worse you feel for allowing yourself to lose control.

However there now seems to be a more powerful force in my life other then food. It’s the force and will to be healthy and happy.

On Wednesday after already missing my last two sessions (both to the excuse of working over-time), I was down and upset after working all day and having your normal life stuff to deal with. Had this day happened 3 weeks earlier I would have stopped off at a fast-food restaurant for dinner or grabbed a bag a chips to ease my worries. But I didn’t... I took myself to best place for me. I want to my workout. Ryan seemed to work me harder and I didn’t mind, I seemed to hit harder when we jumped in the ring for our boxing part of the session. I walked out feeling less stress, better about my situation I was dealing with and so excited that I was able to make that change.

I can’t promise I will make this choice all the time and I am pretty sure I will slip a time or two, but in the moment I did the right thing for me. I had an Emotional Workout, instead of Emotional Eating.