Ch 13 Our Heroes and Heroines
_________________________________________________________________
If only we could follow through with her for the long haul. That is the place to start--where we're at, which is probably just after having quit not that long ago. Of course, Jillian is always on top of her game and always there. All we have to do is subscribe to her website, religiously turn into her TV programs, and do what she suggests.
The only question is will we do all that, or if so. for how long? There needs to be follow through for the long haul. Simply trying to get into it, only to quit after a few weeks, does nothing. Any pounds we may have lost all come back, as if with a vengeance. Lasting fitness doesn't come overnight. The lifestyle changes which are required take months, sometimes years to master.
___________________________________________________________________________
Why Jillian? Why a Corporate Fitness Director?
Supposedly Jillian connects with fifteen million viewers per week. In theory, and as most would agree, she has killer exercises, perfect diets, and even her own line of supplements. Then too, she has a special fat burning capsule, which probably works, but which some authorities think is very unsafe.
Nevertheless, she has a national presence, meaning that virtually everyone knows about her, and is thus interested in following her advice. Most of us get blanket emails from her, probably not even to junk, delivered right to our in-boxes. So, it's hard to ignore her. And, who would want to? She certainly has an attractive, enviable athletic appearance. The question is does all of what she says work for everyone?
Perhaps it should. There's very little in what she basically recommends that anyone would have a lot of trouble with. Granted, her fat burner may be a bit radical, but it probably works wonders without side effects for some. The important thing is that she appeals to a considerable number. That's pretty much the same as the other celebrities.
For example, Jack Lalanne had a TV show and a similar national presence for quite a long run. The same was true for Jane Fonda, though she's perhaps best known for her videos, which sold by the tens of thousands. Jillian can be thought of granddaughter to these icons, who influenced millions of lives. But how many of us actually connected with them at every available opportunity through the course of one full year, to say nothing of numerous years? A few most likely, but how many really?
Not to discredit any of these super stars. They're all exceptional in their own rights. Possibly they can even be thought of as the trainers of trainers (who, are likely to keep posters of them, check their websites often, possibly buy their products.) But what about the people just starting out--those with less than eighteen months of experience? Aren't these folks the ones that Jillian is talking about in the above quote (and whom Jack and Jane both know all too well,) namely the ones who "fall off the wagon," looking for a little encouragement to get back on? Where are the results of the icons' efforts on these newbies?
In other words, why do the streets of Downtown USA look as bad, in fact worse, this year than last? As if that's not enough, why didn't the over-forties get more influenced by their parents to religiously follow the advice of Lalanne and Fonda?
Fitness takes time and hands on support. That's why a fitness director is necessary for a company. This is a professional ( a seasoned, fit person, but not an icon,) who has an office right next to the brand new gym. That person can : 1.) be visited before during or after a daily workout; 2.) be talked to about their twenty five years of experience with supplements; 3.) give face to face counsel about the latest ideas on eating right; 4.) discuss the details of regular workouts, which can be analyzed and perfected until they become part of our lifestyles.
Everyone new needs all of that. Everyone needs it within the context of a personal relationship--a standing side by side, facing the realities of fitness. And, unless we say "no," everyone needs an email when there is a no-show, followed by a discussion about why and what can be done to make tomorrow different.
The TV icons cannot be there through the ups and downs. Jillian with her fifteen million viewers simply does not have time, as much as she may wish she did Nor does Jane Fonda; nor did Jack Lalanne, or, if they did, they would have to charge(d) dearly for their presence-- something which would make most of us never contact them again. If only they had an office down the hall. If only they could actively care if we stayed at our daily routines. For obvious reasons, they can't.
Nevertheless, many people get turned on by celebrities. It's the mystique (where they're coming from, what they've become, what they've got to say) that does it, presumably. That's their total package, which has an irresistible power to bring us along into their way of thinking. With each, there's something that grasps our attention and keeps us doing what without them would be impossible. In essence, they're our heroes or heroines, and they really should be revered as such.
A "with it" corporate fitness director will support an interest in any of these people, or any others, who are sure to follow. They really can get the ball rolling, so to speak. In some cases, they may even keep it doing so for quite some time. That is why saying "yes, they're exceptional, but we are looking at at least six months worth of everyday following their advice to the letter" is essential. In short, hero worship with disciplined follow through is what's required.
Clearly, if we would all connect for our required turn-ons (perhaps "inspirations" is more polite,) get a gym membership, change our eating habits, and get into supplementation, the company would have no need of hiring a corporate fitness director or implementing a fitness program. Those are things we all can do. The question is "will we all follow through on our own?"
Perhaps the answer is dependent upon why we're doing what we're doing. After all, we really are rational beings, difficult as we may sometimes feel to be true. In other words, if the reason for doing it is right (something we can live with for the long haul,) we'll have a chance of continuing to do it. So, it makes good sense to get into some brutal self-honesty.That's because persistence is the name of the true and lasting fitness game.
To help in the process, it should be remembered that most of our primary motivations are generally dependent upon age. For those under forty, it's appearance. Under-forty people are not that far away from being on eHarmony, hopefully with great past success. Too, there is still the desire to attain a great body, perhaps like the one they had in college or might have liked to have had at some previous period.
Moreover, as it is unlikely that under-forties have had significant health issues, there is a greater emphasis on physical aesthetics than on health.That is, fitness is pursued in order that a great body may follow. There is nothing wrong with that. The only trouble from a corporate perspective is that the body builder motif may take precedence over a more holistic emphasis--one which can have a significant positive effect on performance in the business world.
For those over forty, things are somewhat different, though not entirely. Physical attractiveness is still a goal but it is not as prevalent. Much more so is the concern with staying young. This connotes overall healthiness (unlike parents perhaps who started having health troubles as they went past their forties,) remaining with it, optimistic and enthusiastic. But the desire to look like a favorite movie star may still be hidden in the background. For that, no one (especially doctors) should fault us. Self-esteem is part and parcel of being "with it."
Jillian, Jack or Jane can be icons for both groups, but will probably be viewed a little differently by each. For example the under-forties will be most interested in these peoples' physiques. The over-forties will probably be intrigued at how well the older icons (or possibly even Jillian at 37) are doing in spite of their years.
A corporate fitness director should be supportive of all of that. It's all about getting everyone to be "with it." every hour of every day. People like Jillian, Jack, or Jane can be used as touchstones in that effort. In other words, getting us to imagine what would Jillian, Jack or Jane have to say about what we're doing can make a huge difference. Keeping these types in mind is a help to all of us.
However, doing this is often thought of as encouraging "hero worship," which has a negative spin. It suggests excessive adulation or veneration, which exceeds healthy respect. That's another way of saying not using one's head. Yet, when negatives present themselves--negatives such as I'm too tired to workout, I don't have the time and the like, thinking is completely inappropriate. One must simply do it. And that's what any of our icons would say if they were right there beside us. Therefore, raising the question what would Jillian say to not showing up for today's workout will be far more effective than anything the corporate fitness director might be thinking of coming up with.
Being More with It--The Corporate Fitness Directors Goal for Everyone
Getting everyone to be more "with it" (an aspect of being youthful) is the business reason for the fitness director's job. That's the company's reason for the new gym. It's believed that if everyone were more "with it", the bottom line would in fact be better. Besides, it just makes for a better company--a more enjoyable attractive place to work. That's what brings in more dollars. It gets more out of the people who work there. It makes the company's investment in all of us pay off-- what's expected of each of us whether we ourselves are into looking better on the beach or impressing our doctors during our annual physicals. Either, or both, will go hand in hand with all of us being more in touch with the here and now.
Not everyone can be 100% "with it " (as in the opposite of "presenteeism") all the time. It's even doubtful that a real life version of Rocky would always be "with it." Of course, the movie portrayed him as always being in touch, always going beyond, always getting better--whether that meant running, doing sit-ups or pounding the side of beef. What we never saw was the hour to hour, day to day struggle to make the gains he made. Of course, no movie director would bore an audience with that. But that is how it is in the real world.
While we may not be in training to go the distance with an Apollo Creed, we must still do the same things that a Rocky-type does. We must remain constant in their training practices. We must do better the next day than the one before. We need to eat right, sleep right, focus, keep our lives in order. But the opponent of our effort is different than Rocky's. The opponent shifts from Apollo Creed to ourselves.
Granted, there still are some who will just always like "real competition." For the modern day office worker, this is sometimes the marathon runner. For them, fitness is training to do the Boston Marathon in a set time. For others, there may just always be that need to outdo someone a floor down in something like a biggest loser contest. None of this is bad, it's just not one hundred percent congruent with developing a more effective business professional.
Actual competition is something which may have made sense when we went against the school in the next suburb, eventually going against the regional winners in the state meet. It's just that we're grown up now; we're real people : at least that's how we think of ourselves. We've got families, jobs aspirations for promotions, concerns about retirement. While doing the Boston Marathon, or winning a few bucks as the biggest loser may have some allure, it's hardly as much as the other more pressing "mature" motivations.
So how do we get more "with it"--healthier (less overweight), attractive (look better in our business casuals,) optimistic (more enjoyable for our families and co-workers), effective (more upwardly mobile-- promotion material.) We get into fitness!
What's everybody up to fitness-wise at this very moment?
This is a difficult question to answer without a questionnaire and a lot of interviews. Nevertheless, it is possible to make a guess without any of these. We can conjecture that everybody is doing what they think is right when it comes to fitness. That may be anything from "Lets' wait and see what might get us into it" to "I've already started with the intent of having a fitness lifestyle as regular as tooth brushing by June of next year." But more than likely, for most, it's trying to get back into fitness, just like Jillian talked about above. Whatever the reality, it is not as important as the ideal.
That's why icons (heroes and heroines) are so important. We need them much more than the facts about us. We need to think about something different than that we've started again, with an even greater fear that this time will be no different. That's the sad result of realistic thinking based on history : what happened before will happen again; and, we'll be no better off for yet another effort. No one needs this kind of realistic thought--thought which possibly should be labelled "negative." Still, the truth remains that unless the reasons for backsliding in the past have been isolated and corrected, failure is again to be expected. That is realistic.
The best antidote for negative thinking is concentration on the ideal. In this chapter, that means getting into our heroes and heroines. In other words, it means really answering questions like "What would Jack, Jane, Jillian have to say in an instance like this?" That is, it means answering ones which are all about again giving up and going back to old ways.
It would be wonderful if we all had the personal email addresses or phone numbers of our icons. It would be even more wonderful if they would return our emails and calls.That could really save us from forgetting about them when we need them the most. But that's just not realistic. That's why we need a corporate fitness director--one who knows that from time to time we all need a reminder that there is a Jillian Jane or Jack, and that it's time to think more about them than ourselves.
As can be seen above, even the country's toughest trainer, Jillian Michaels, knows we all need to get back into fitness without any insults to our characters. That's the unexpected nice side of her. Of course, we all know she will get tough (probably much like a drill sergeant) with us later, like when we're thinking about going through the motions instead of going for the gold, or however we want to talk. But, being up and going's primary, and that's what she's helping us to do.
So...have we all talked with our imaginary heroes and heroines today?
For further thought on inspirational personalities order my e-book "Think and Grow Fit."
From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Friday, December 30, 2011
Those are the words of Jillian Michaels, the nation's toughest trainer. The temptation is to say that they're taken out of context, or only to entice folks into being in one of her classes. After that, she turns into her real self : she gets tough. Nevertheless, the words are there, and they do speak to a truth needed to be heard by all, namely, "Just because you made bad choices today doesn't mean you can't start over tomorrow." No matter how we slice it (unless we haven't backslid in months) , she is right. Friday, December 30, 2011
How to Get Back on the Wagon
It
happens — you over-indulged over the holidays, missed a few workouts
and now you feel like you've fallen off the weight-loss wagon. It's
tempting to mentally slap yourself around, right? (Or head for the
fridge.) Before you start, I want to remind you of something: Being hard
on yourself is so 2009 — that's the Old You.
The New You knows how to deal with setbacks and get back on the wagon. And after all, there are no mistakes, just learning experiences. Weight loss is a process — it takes time. You will encounter small failures — everyone does — but every pound you gain can be lost.
And if you miss a workout, it's not the end of the world! Get to the gym the next day and continue to focus on your short-term goals. Just because you made bad choices today doesn't mean you can't start over tomorrow. New day? New beginning. And don't you forget it!
__________________________________________________________________________
If only we could follow through with her for the long haul. That is the place to start--where we're at, which is probably just after having quit not that long ago. Of course, Jillian is always on top of her game and always there. All we have to do is subscribe to her website, religiously turn into her TV programs, and do what she suggests.
The only question is will we do all that, or if so. for how long? There needs to be follow through for the long haul. Simply trying to get into it, only to quit after a few weeks, does nothing. Any pounds we may have lost all come back, as if with a vengeance. Lasting fitness doesn't come overnight. The lifestyle changes which are required take months, sometimes years to master.
___________________________________________________________________________
Why Jillian? Why a Corporate Fitness Director?
Supposedly Jillian connects with fifteen million viewers per week. In theory, and as most would agree, she has killer exercises, perfect diets, and even her own line of supplements. Then too, she has a special fat burning capsule, which probably works, but which some authorities think is very unsafe.
Nevertheless, she has a national presence, meaning that virtually everyone knows about her, and is thus interested in following her advice. Most of us get blanket emails from her, probably not even to junk, delivered right to our in-boxes. So, it's hard to ignore her. And, who would want to? She certainly has an attractive, enviable athletic appearance. The question is does all of what she says work for everyone?
Perhaps it should. There's very little in what she basically recommends that anyone would have a lot of trouble with. Granted, her fat burner may be a bit radical, but it probably works wonders without side effects for some. The important thing is that she appeals to a considerable number. That's pretty much the same as the other celebrities.
For example, Jack Lalanne had a TV show and a similar national presence for quite a long run. The same was true for Jane Fonda, though she's perhaps best known for her videos, which sold by the tens of thousands. Jillian can be thought of granddaughter to these icons, who influenced millions of lives. But how many of us actually connected with them at every available opportunity through the course of one full year, to say nothing of numerous years? A few most likely, but how many really?
Not to discredit any of these super stars. They're all exceptional in their own rights. Possibly they can even be thought of as the trainers of trainers (who, are likely to keep posters of them, check their websites often, possibly buy their products.) But what about the people just starting out--those with less than eighteen months of experience? Aren't these folks the ones that Jillian is talking about in the above quote (and whom Jack and Jane both know all too well,) namely the ones who "fall off the wagon," looking for a little encouragement to get back on? Where are the results of the icons' efforts on these newbies?
In other words, why do the streets of Downtown USA look as bad, in fact worse, this year than last? As if that's not enough, why didn't the over-forties get more influenced by their parents to religiously follow the advice of Lalanne and Fonda?
Fitness takes time and hands on support. That's why a fitness director is necessary for a company. This is a professional ( a seasoned, fit person, but not an icon,) who has an office right next to the brand new gym. That person can : 1.) be visited before during or after a daily workout; 2.) be talked to about their twenty five years of experience with supplements; 3.) give face to face counsel about the latest ideas on eating right; 4.) discuss the details of regular workouts, which can be analyzed and perfected until they become part of our lifestyles.
Everyone new needs all of that. Everyone needs it within the context of a personal relationship--a standing side by side, facing the realities of fitness. And, unless we say "no," everyone needs an email when there is a no-show, followed by a discussion about why and what can be done to make tomorrow different.
The TV icons cannot be there through the ups and downs. Jillian with her fifteen million viewers simply does not have time, as much as she may wish she did Nor does Jane Fonda; nor did Jack Lalanne, or, if they did, they would have to charge(d) dearly for their presence-- something which would make most of us never contact them again. If only they had an office down the hall. If only they could actively care if we stayed at our daily routines. For obvious reasons, they can't.
Nevertheless, many people get turned on by celebrities. It's the mystique (where they're coming from, what they've become, what they've got to say) that does it, presumably. That's their total package, which has an irresistible power to bring us along into their way of thinking. With each, there's something that grasps our attention and keeps us doing what without them would be impossible. In essence, they're our heroes or heroines, and they really should be revered as such.
A "with it" corporate fitness director will support an interest in any of these people, or any others, who are sure to follow. They really can get the ball rolling, so to speak. In some cases, they may even keep it doing so for quite some time. That is why saying "yes, they're exceptional, but we are looking at at least six months worth of everyday following their advice to the letter" is essential. In short, hero worship with disciplined follow through is what's required.
Clearly, if we would all connect for our required turn-ons (perhaps "inspirations" is more polite,) get a gym membership, change our eating habits, and get into supplementation, the company would have no need of hiring a corporate fitness director or implementing a fitness program. Those are things we all can do. The question is "will we all follow through on our own?"
Perhaps the answer is dependent upon why we're doing what we're doing. After all, we really are rational beings, difficult as we may sometimes feel to be true. In other words, if the reason for doing it is right (something we can live with for the long haul,) we'll have a chance of continuing to do it. So, it makes good sense to get into some brutal self-honesty.That's because persistence is the name of the true and lasting fitness game.
To help in the process, it should be remembered that most of our primary motivations are generally dependent upon age. For those under forty, it's appearance. Under-forty people are not that far away from being on eHarmony, hopefully with great past success. Too, there is still the desire to attain a great body, perhaps like the one they had in college or might have liked to have had at some previous period.
Moreover, as it is unlikely that under-forties have had significant health issues, there is a greater emphasis on physical aesthetics than on health.That is, fitness is pursued in order that a great body may follow. There is nothing wrong with that. The only trouble from a corporate perspective is that the body builder motif may take precedence over a more holistic emphasis--one which can have a significant positive effect on performance in the business world.
For those over forty, things are somewhat different, though not entirely. Physical attractiveness is still a goal but it is not as prevalent. Much more so is the concern with staying young. This connotes overall healthiness (unlike parents perhaps who started having health troubles as they went past their forties,) remaining with it, optimistic and enthusiastic. But the desire to look like a favorite movie star may still be hidden in the background. For that, no one (especially doctors) should fault us. Self-esteem is part and parcel of being "with it."
Jillian, Jack or Jane can be icons for both groups, but will probably be viewed a little differently by each. For example the under-forties will be most interested in these peoples' physiques. The over-forties will probably be intrigued at how well the older icons (or possibly even Jillian at 37) are doing in spite of their years.
A corporate fitness director should be supportive of all of that. It's all about getting everyone to be "with it." every hour of every day. People like Jillian, Jack, or Jane can be used as touchstones in that effort. In other words, getting us to imagine what would Jillian, Jack or Jane have to say about what we're doing can make a huge difference. Keeping these types in mind is a help to all of us.
However, doing this is often thought of as encouraging "hero worship," which has a negative spin. It suggests excessive adulation or veneration, which exceeds healthy respect. That's another way of saying not using one's head. Yet, when negatives present themselves--negatives such as I'm too tired to workout, I don't have the time and the like, thinking is completely inappropriate. One must simply do it. And that's what any of our icons would say if they were right there beside us. Therefore, raising the question what would Jillian say to not showing up for today's workout will be far more effective than anything the corporate fitness director might be thinking of coming up with.
Being More with It--The Corporate Fitness Directors Goal for Everyone
Getting everyone to be more "with it" (an aspect of being youthful) is the business reason for the fitness director's job. That's the company's reason for the new gym. It's believed that if everyone were more "with it", the bottom line would in fact be better. Besides, it just makes for a better company--a more enjoyable attractive place to work. That's what brings in more dollars. It gets more out of the people who work there. It makes the company's investment in all of us pay off-- what's expected of each of us whether we ourselves are into looking better on the beach or impressing our doctors during our annual physicals. Either, or both, will go hand in hand with all of us being more in touch with the here and now.
Not everyone can be 100% "with it " (as in the opposite of "presenteeism") all the time. It's even doubtful that a real life version of Rocky would always be "with it." Of course, the movie portrayed him as always being in touch, always going beyond, always getting better--whether that meant running, doing sit-ups or pounding the side of beef. What we never saw was the hour to hour, day to day struggle to make the gains he made. Of course, no movie director would bore an audience with that. But that is how it is in the real world.
While we may not be in training to go the distance with an Apollo Creed, we must still do the same things that a Rocky-type does. We must remain constant in their training practices. We must do better the next day than the one before. We need to eat right, sleep right, focus, keep our lives in order. But the opponent of our effort is different than Rocky's. The opponent shifts from Apollo Creed to ourselves.
Granted, there still are some who will just always like "real competition." For the modern day office worker, this is sometimes the marathon runner. For them, fitness is training to do the Boston Marathon in a set time. For others, there may just always be that need to outdo someone a floor down in something like a biggest loser contest. None of this is bad, it's just not one hundred percent congruent with developing a more effective business professional.
Actual competition is something which may have made sense when we went against the school in the next suburb, eventually going against the regional winners in the state meet. It's just that we're grown up now; we're real people : at least that's how we think of ourselves. We've got families, jobs aspirations for promotions, concerns about retirement. While doing the Boston Marathon, or winning a few bucks as the biggest loser may have some allure, it's hardly as much as the other more pressing "mature" motivations.
So how do we get more "with it"--healthier (less overweight), attractive (look better in our business casuals,) optimistic (more enjoyable for our families and co-workers), effective (more upwardly mobile-- promotion material.) We get into fitness!
What's everybody up to fitness-wise at this very moment?
This is a difficult question to answer without a questionnaire and a lot of interviews. Nevertheless, it is possible to make a guess without any of these. We can conjecture that everybody is doing what they think is right when it comes to fitness. That may be anything from "Lets' wait and see what might get us into it" to "I've already started with the intent of having a fitness lifestyle as regular as tooth brushing by June of next year." But more than likely, for most, it's trying to get back into fitness, just like Jillian talked about above. Whatever the reality, it is not as important as the ideal.
That's why icons (heroes and heroines) are so important. We need them much more than the facts about us. We need to think about something different than that we've started again, with an even greater fear that this time will be no different. That's the sad result of realistic thinking based on history : what happened before will happen again; and, we'll be no better off for yet another effort. No one needs this kind of realistic thought--thought which possibly should be labelled "negative." Still, the truth remains that unless the reasons for backsliding in the past have been isolated and corrected, failure is again to be expected. That is realistic.
The best antidote for negative thinking is concentration on the ideal. In this chapter, that means getting into our heroes and heroines. In other words, it means really answering questions like "What would Jack, Jane, Jillian have to say in an instance like this?" That is, it means answering ones which are all about again giving up and going back to old ways.
It would be wonderful if we all had the personal email addresses or phone numbers of our icons. It would be even more wonderful if they would return our emails and calls.That could really save us from forgetting about them when we need them the most. But that's just not realistic. That's why we need a corporate fitness director--one who knows that from time to time we all need a reminder that there is a Jillian Jane or Jack, and that it's time to think more about them than ourselves.
As can be seen above, even the country's toughest trainer, Jillian Michaels, knows we all need to get back into fitness without any insults to our characters. That's the unexpected nice side of her. Of course, we all know she will get tough (probably much like a drill sergeant) with us later, like when we're thinking about going through the motions instead of going for the gold, or however we want to talk. But, being up and going's primary, and that's what she's helping us to do.
So...have we all talked with our imaginary heroes and heroines today?
For further thought on inspirational personalities order my e-book "Think and Grow Fit."
Posted by mark clemens at 1/20/2012 1:44 PM 
Categories: begining training, fitness, exercise. diet, Fountain of Youth, battle of the bulge, baby boomer, hard work, Foreverfitness, diet
Tags: markclemens jacklalanne janefonda sylvesterstallone
Categories: begining training, fitness, exercise. diet, Fountain of Youth, battle of the bulge, baby boomer, hard work, Foreverfitness, diet
Tags: markclemens jacklalanne janefonda sylvesterstallone
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