 You may not see me struggle - even though I do. People often tell me “Cj it’s easy for you” or “But you make it look so easy.” That doesn’t mean it is. I don't always feel like training, I often make poor nutrition choices, I sometimes get overwhelmed by my life situation. Like some of you reading this, I have my own inner demons to face. I've broken several ribs and dislodged them from the costal cartillage. I've fractured all the carpal bones in both my hands. I've prolapsed a disc in my lower back. My acromioclavicular joint is stil separated after an accident 15 years ago. I've had pulmonary embolisms in both my lungs, and I've even been concussed many a time (my injury list is far more extensive but I think you get the picture). It's not that I can't stop - it's just that I won't stop (well not just yet anyway). My personal belief is that defeat is a state of mind. While we can be destroyed, we cannot be defeated (unless we choose to be). I found out my brother was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer via a telephone call while at work, I then had to go in and teach a class of 30 people - like nothing had happened. When he died 3 years later on valentines day, after dealing with the logistics of the funeral, I had the following 5 years of emotional fall out on my part. It took me a while to get my shit together. I still worked, I still studied. I still maintained my relationships. I still supported my family - while dealing with the grief in the background. I’m not telling you this because I want a pity party. I’m telling you this to help expand your view of what’s possible. When I ended up in hospital in 2013 close to my death bed, it took me over a year to get back to a decent level of health. During that time my relationship collapsed, work went downhill. Frequent hospital visits proved fruitless and to this day I haven’t been signed off and live with potential risks and side effects. The list goes on - as does life. I could bore you with more life dramas but I won’t. So why am I telling you this? Here's what I want you to understand.... It’s by comparing ourselves to where others are in life - or where we think we should be, that we get weighed down with self doubt, shame and other overwhelming emotions that can cripple your confidence. As a coach I work with many clients who are extremely successful in one area, but like many of us do not have everything perfect, or their life completely in order - and that’s ok. Understand that it’s a work in progress. Aim your sights on progress not perfection. Simply do your “best”, and understand that on any given day, what your “best” looks like will differ. It’s ok to struggle. Often things are not designed, or even meant to be easy. Struggle is simply the pursuit of advantage. You really do have a choice. I keep falling down, but when I hit the ground I know that I’ll hit the ground running.  2/19/2018 Kettlebell Workout of The Week: #8 Kettlebell MetConHere's the final workout of the "Super Eight" Kettlebell MetCons to kick start your 2018. You ready? Here's what this sigle kettlebell and bodyweight workout looks like,
This workout is a ladder format. So you do 1 rep of each in a circuit format, the 2 reps of each, then 3 reps and so on, until you get up to 10 reps of each exercise. Then this is where it gets interesting. You then work your way back down the ladder, 10 reps all the way back to 1. A perfectly brutal end to "The Super Eight" Kettlebell WOW series. If you enjoyed doing these workouts then you are going to love my 30/30 Kettlebell Program. Remember to head over to The WPU Collective over on Facebook and let us know how you got on!  2/18/2018 If Fat is a Feminist issue... Fat is a social disease and fat is a Feminist issue. Fat is not about lack of self -control or lack of will power. Fat is about protection sex nurturance, strength, boundries, mothering, substance, assertion and rage. Written in 1978, Fat is a Feminist Issue bears some truths that still hold today. I recently picked up this book after an evening with Susie Orbach at The Welcome Collection in London. As I devour each nugget of wisdom in the pages, and capture insights that challenge my perspective as both a Coach and as a human being, I can't help but think, "If Fat is a Feminist Issue, then steroids are a Masculine one."   Kettlebell MetCon I pulled this MetCon from the vault - the last time I did this was September 2010. I remember it vividly. No doubt you will too. Take a look at this workout of the week, A1) 1 min of double Kettlebell swing to renegade row A2) 30 sec burpees. B1) 1 min of 2 x KB alternate cleans B2) 30 sec push ups C1) 1 min of double KB pull over C2) 30 sec bear crawl D1) 1 min of TGU D2) 30 sec plank All this is one round. Complete 4 rounds. No rest until all 4 rounds are finished (no - that is not a mistake) Remember to swing by The WPU Collective over on Facebook and let us know how you got on!  |
2/27/2018
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