Dancing in the rain

"Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain."
~Vivian Greene

This post is going to be short and sweet, in the spirit of getting things done and not procrastinating!

There is never going to be an ideal time to start something, in reality for most people the 'right time' is nothing more than a fantasy and will simply never come, but this doesn't stop many people waiting for it to come. So what's the solution to this seemingly cynical observation? Take the first step now. Not later today, but now, before you read the rest of this blog. Something small, but a definite first step on whatever journey is necessary to reach your end goal.

Feel better?

As I sit and write this, I have a number of pressing commitments, but by getting through things one by one we build momentum, and make entire process a whole lot more efficient.

The beauty of momentum is that if you do one thing, that one thing will turn to two things, and pretty soon you'll be well on your way.

Start today. MAKE things happen for yourself, by getting it done today.

"A year from now, you will wish you started today" ~ Karen Lamb

I'll post this entry again one year from today, so it's over to you, where will you be?

Twitter: @JRPTfitness

Email: jhlrees@aol.com

Tornado Training

Nothing burns fat and improves conditioning as fast as this. You may even put on some muscle due to the cascade of anabolic hormones, such as growth hormone, from this beast.

Credit for Tornado training must go to Martin Rooney of the Parisi Speed School in New Jersey for inspiring me to try this and modifying his Hurricane training for his professional UFC fighters [Mixed Martial Arts, commonly know as MMA] for their fight conditioning training. This is what led to the Tornado Training!

This was brutal, especially on my current very low intake of carbohydrates. The beauty of it is that it can be tweaked to challenge almost anyone, by changing the speed and incline on the treadmill, the reps and resistance used, rest periods and the total duration.

Anyway this is what I did today:

Alternating between the following 2 Tornado sets for 30 minutes, with three 1 minute recovery periods when I thought I may throw up or collapse, taken roughly at 8 minutes in, 15 minutes in, and 22 minutes in.

30 seconds on treadmill 13kph @10 incline

50 metre Farmers’ walks (24kg dumbbell each hand)

Press ups (15)

30 seconds on treadmill 13kph @10 incline

30 seconds on treadmill 13kph @10 incline

Bent over/upright rows (12 reps with 40kg)

Kettlebell swings 12 reps with 24kg – thanks Ben Lauder-Dykes)

30 seconds on treadmill 13kph @10 incline

Give it a try, this will test you both physically and mentally! Can you handle it?

The Sweat Equity Complex

In these times of economic austerity, it's great to know that some things don't need much financial equity but can be gained through sweat equity - ie good old fashioned hard work!

Sometimes, especially with lower body training, there is no way around putting in some sweat equity. The returns you get are more than worth the initial sweat equity.

I've had great results with myself and others using this brutal complex as a finisher to promote muscle gain (hypertrophy), fat loss, muscular endurance and even helping to teach athletes to remain powerful and explosive while extremely fatigued.

Try this lower body complex from PT Nick Tumminello of Performance U. Throw it in at the end of a leg session, certainly not before the session!

20 body weight squats (fast and powerful)

12 squat jumps (powerful, jump high!)

20 second static hold with thighs parallel to the ground (ie bottom of the squat position)

REPEAT ad nauseam!

My friend and training partner, celebrity PT and Biosignature Practitioner Ben Lauder-Dykes and I managed to go through it 3 times with no rest in between, at the end of our lower body sessions. I challenge you guys and girls to beat that! Let me know if you do!