I’ve recently made a resolution.
In keeping with this resolution, I want to share with you a recent failure of mine. Because it’s okay to fail. Because I’ve learned from it.
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Mastering Fitness
Personal Trainer, Fitness Educator, and Web Developer
Category: Philosophy (Page 3 of 3)
I used to be a genius. I knew everything because I read T-Nation. That’s all it took; I didn’t need school. The ONLY reason I was in college was to get a degree. I already knew everything I needed to know, and anything else I could learn extracurricularly.
Then I grew up.
The invincible feeling that youth brings is nice at the time, but looking back it’s borderline embarrassing. Young kids are some of the worst humans to deal with. At least I can take solace in the fact that everyone’s been young before.
I always thought I was better than the rest. I’ve learned a lot since then, and ironically now see myself as much less intelligent. But I’ve learned that it is never a conversation of better – only different.
Some use their hours to learn therapy. Some learn how to train Olympic athletes. Some fine-tune their research skills. Some can recite whole movies word for word. Some are great at make people feel good just through conversation.
Some spend their time building a strong network.
Time offers experience, but everyone values different things. I like to study things, but if a client wants someone to pump in energy and motivation into their fitness lives, my experience means nothing to them. They won’t think I’m better than anyone because I don’t care about pumping in fake energy at all.
Young Lance didn’t value school, but I had a drastic change in tone towards the end of my degree program. It’s silly really: how could I possibly know that chemistry is worthless… without knowing chemistry? These days it’s easier for me to just assume everything is important and learn it all.
Instead of waiting for an experience to be over, search to uncover its value.
Have you been there? Tell me about a time you’ve been short-sighted or a subject that you think everyone should learn about in the comments below!
A quick synopsis of the final Game 6
Face meets glass, blood spilled, 5 minute major.
This penalty led to THREE goals for the Kings.
Ref gets trucked, blood spilled.
Dustin Brown is a phenomenal captain: scoring goals, getting assists, blocking shots, and being a very strong physical presence.
Attacking the goalie: game misconduct.
Irate Devils coach.
Peter DeBoer was really letting the refs get to him.
Blonde with a rack behind New Jersey’s bench.
It’s funny to watch her having such a good time behind DeBoer who is screaming his lungs out.
Final game of the playoffs and NJ gets plowed.
It ended 6-1. There were four goals, then an empty net goal, followed by another goal on Martin Brodeur. Ouch.
Los Angeles Kings get their first Stanley Cup.
Making history.
Dustin Brown becomes the first US born captain to drop an F-bomb in a live interview right before hoisting the cup.
Apparently he’s done it before…
UPDATE: Jonathan Quick did it too.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Henrik Lundqvist did it too on stage receiving the Vezina trophy at the NHL Awards.
Simon Gagne carries the cup for the first time and almost eats it.
I don’t think I could have more respect for Dustin Brown. He is such a physical presence, but never seems to lose his cool. He opened the floodgates when he started scoring and his team followed suit. And he swears on live television. I wish he was a Red Wing.
If you don’t think hockey can be interesting, you didn’t watch this game.
How to be more like a Stanley Cup championship team’s captain
My personal developmental take-home points:
- Don’t let minutia bother you. The end goal is the only thing that deserves your focus.
- Leading by example is a very strong leadership trait.
- Be prepared to divulge blood, sweat, and tears when everything is on the line.
When I see someone who looks strikingly similar to a toothpick, I feel bad for them. Sure, they’re missing out on all of the great things that can come from having a healthy, muscley body, such as not constantly feeling cold, being strong enough to move furniture, and increased frequency of sexual interactions (no guarantees on duration of said interactions, sadly). However, my real concern is the ignorance to all there is to be experienced in this hypertrophic journey.
The First Rule
Every person who can’t seem to put on weight has one thing in common: they’re not eating enough.
The n00bz make this rule especially important, so much so that I suggest it being the only dietary advice you suggest to them. Now, if we talk a little about the psychology of this suggestion, I would be a little more specific, showing examples to the person in question as to what exactly you mean.
I put on 5 pounds during a hockey season in high school by eating 6000 calories a day. How did I get that many calories? I had a gallon of milk every day. I always had double lunches when I was at school. I had 5 meals a day, and after at least 2 of these meals, I would feel like the food was at the edge of my esophagus, full to the brim.
Paint a picture. Engage their senses. Your advice will stick. They’ll picture you with your gallon of milk every time they sit down for a meal. They’ll put an extra scoop on their plate at dinner, and you know what else? They just might accomplish their goals.
Where is the Journey?
The journey comes from within. Aside from that being the most cliche thing I have ever said, there are tremendous benefits to be gained. Shoveling in perseverance, however trivial the task may be, can give this person heaping amounts of perspective. They can always think back to the time they were convinced they were never going to get any bigger. They thought, “I couldn’t have another bite,” but when they filled another plate, they dominated it like it was their job and overcame expectations.
Losing weight can give you a similar experience, albeit slightly different. I prefer gaining weight because it places more emphasis on putting in hard work (eating more) than developing the willpower to say no (eating less). Obviously, both have their benefits.
I mentioned the trivial nature of this whole topic. The rich kid can’t stuff his face more? Boo hoo, Africa is starving.
There are many things far more important in the grand scheme of things than putting meat on some kid’s bones, but I take you back to the topic of gaining perspective.
Now that they have succeeded, this person knows what it means to work hard and how great it feels when all of that dedication pays off. What if they get the chance to go to Africa? They want to experience that success again. They help out, bring food, and feed the people there. How many lives have you indirectly impacted by teaching this person to put on weight?
It seems simple, but simple is most often the way to go.
Live, Learn, and Pay it Forward
We’re all in the business of education. Parents, coaches, mentors of all kinds. Nobody wants to leave the world before they’ve left their mark on it. Whenever you get the chance, try to teach something to someone. I don’t believe that there is a single feeling that I enjoy more than seeing something click in someone else’s mind.
Think about it: planting ideas of hard work in those around you will surely not go to waste.
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