Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Hunger

A Cherokee elder sitting with his grandchildren told them, "In every life there is a terrible fight - a fight between two wolves.

One is evil: he is fear, anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity,resentment and deceit.

The other is good: joy, serenity, humility,confidence, generosity, truth, gentleness, and compassion."

A child asked, "Grandfather, which wolf will win?"

The elder looked him in the eye. "The one you feed."

I received this from a guy in England named Dax Moy. I post a number of the quotes that he sends me here in this blog. Great question. Which wolf are you feeding? Are you feeding the good wolf, or the bad one?

Did you have a great workout today, or did you just go through the motions? Did you even work out today? When we make the goals to lose weight, tone up or get in shape then we are feeding the good wolf. To continue to feed the good wolf, you must take action. Thinking about it won't make it happen. Try these tips to keep the big bad wolf hungry.

  1. Make a journal of everything that you eat. When it is on paper, then there is some measure of accountability. Even if you "cheat" write it down. I promise that you will cheat a whole lot less this way.
  2. Plan your attack. If you have a day planner or use a pocket PC, then schedule in advance when you are going to work out. When you have a plan, then you will make time for it instead of not having time for it.
  3. Chart your results. You always balance your check book at the end of the month, right? That way you know what money you have spent and/or saved. The same goes for your goals. Measure your waist, chest/bust, hips, thighs and arms to see that good things are happening. This will keep you excited and ready for more action!

Keep training hard, and if you have any questions, or if I can help you in any way email me at jason@safatloss.com or call me direct at 210-887-2304

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Never Quit!

My partner, Steve Payne, included this in his last newsletter. I never want to miss another workout, and neither should you after watching this video. This woman is amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA_Wcwt4e-o

Monday, October 20, 2008

Effort

"The one thing that matters is the effort."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery, French pilot, author 61096017
It's not hard, but it sure as heck ain't easy! It can be overwhelming at times and it may be a little intimidating, but getting in shape is not as hard as you think it is. The problem is that most people do not know the RIGHT way to get in shape. We try get thin quick schemes, starve ourselves and even take harmful pills to get that body we have always wanted. So...STOP IT!
All you really need is to apply the effort where it counts. But be careful who you listen to. 90% of so called fitness experts know very little about what they are talking about. Your program should involve you working smarter, not harder. If you want to hear the truth about what it REALLY takes to get fit, then email me at jason@safatloss.com.
Once you are on the right tracks, then a little effort will go a long long way! Train Hard!

Friday, October 17, 2008

What are you capable of?

"We differ, blind and seeing, one from another, not in our senses, but in the use we make of them, in the imagination and courage with which we seek wisdom beyond all senses."
- Helen Keller, lecturer, author
People come in all different shapes and sizes. Especially in a town like San Antonio. People also go to Personal Trainers for all different reasons. Some people have large goals such as losing lots of weight. While some goals are much smaller, say to lose a few vanity pounds. Regardless of what your goals are be it fat loss, weight loss or body sculpting you cannot change the shape you start off with. We all start with today. Whatever today brings, each of us must deal with it in our own way. That's the beauty of it. What you can change is you!
By changing the way you think and act, you set the stage for whatever shape you end up with! Helen Keller was able to unlock every bit of potential that she had inside by changing the way she thought and acted. She went from being handicapped to being a champion!
We all have handicaps. Some of them are physical, some of them are mental, some of them we were born with and some of them we inflict on ourselves. Whatever your limitations are, embrace them. Stop trying to fix what you have no control of, and just do the best you can with what you have. Helen could not change the fact that she was blind, but that did not stop her from becoming a successful writer.
Become the champion in your own life. You CAN do it! You ARE worth it! You do DESERVE it! Don't let ME be the only one who believes in YOU!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Fitness is "Fun"-damental

That's right! If you want to be successful in fat loss, fitness, weight loss, body sculpting, body building or preparing for a sport...YOU MUST MAKE IT FUN, San Antonio!
A lot of time, people are put off by long bouts of exercise, or performing exercises that they do not feel comfortable doing. That is why San Antonio is ranked THIRD on the nation's fattest cities list. It is because we either are listening to the wrong people, or we are doing the wrong things.
Fitness should be fun! All my clients will admit that training with me is difficult, but they also have a blast doing it. Little do they know, that they are working as hard as professional athletes. They do not realize it though because I make it fun! Working out is hard enough, try to make things as enjoyable as possible. Here are some ideas,
  • Wear an Ipod, or equivalent when you train. It will help keep you focused and actually motivate you when you are listening to your favorite music.
  • Try moving your treadmill into the living room. Catch up on your favorite shows while going for a walk. This will kill two birds with one stone.
  • Train in a small group or class designed around your goals. When you train in a group whether you realize it or not, competition will drive you to succeed.
For information on my group classes, or semi-private training log onto www.fittobeanamerican.com or email me at jason@safatloss.com
"Opportunity's favorite disguise is trouble."
- English proverb

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

perserverance

"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable."
- Coco Chanel, fashion designer

Whatever your goal is...reach for it. Do not try to reach for it, but rather go for it. Commit yourself to accomplishing that very goal. Do everything that you can. Do the very best that you can with whatever you have. And after it is all said and done if you still don't reach that goal, understand that you have not failed. The only failure would have been to not do your best.

Fat loss is no different. Why do we fall? To learn to pick ourselves back up again. If you are in San Antonio, or even if you aren't and you have been reaching for a weight loss goal, fat loss goal or any type of fitness solution and you just have yet to get there for whatever reason. Email me jason@safatloss.com, call me 210-887-2304 or log onto my website www.fittobeanamerican.com and let me help you. Don't let me be the only one who believes in you!

-Jason "Shark" (Mc)Guckian
San Antonio, Texas' Top Personal Trainer, Body Sculptor & Fitness Mentor

Saturday, October 11, 2008

What you leave behind

Today I was doing squats, like every Saturday at Olympic Gym, and I noticed something. Someone was making excuses. He actually pretended to pull a groin muscle. I know this because of my years inside a training room; watching, rehabbing, taping and observing all kinds of injuries. This was not a groin pull.

Look, if the workout is tough...just say so. All he had to do was be honest. Instead he left the gym limping on the wrong foot. We don't care how much you lift or don't lift. We just care that you do your best! When it comes to fat loss, weight loss, strengthening & toning muscles, stretching or any club sport you may play....just be honest!

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."
- Pericles

Friday, October 10, 2008

Sore Muscles?

The week is finally over for the campers in my new 5:30am Fat Loss, Fitness Developing, Strength Building and Flexability Creating Fit Camp Right here in San Antonio, Texas! It's a long name, but promises quick results!

As when starting any exercise program, you are going to get sore. Believe me my class is feeling that right now! So, here a a few tips to help beat soreness.

  1. Try to make time for a 20 minute walk, jog or bike ride. Soreness is called by a build up of lactic acid. Performing 20 minutes of light to medium cardio will help to flush that out!
  2. STRETCH!!! Be sure to warm your body appropriately for a minimum of 7 minutes. Hold each stretch for 35 to 60 seconds, not the old school 10 count. Your muscle needs 35 seconds to be able to completely relax.
  3. Glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid. It so happens to be the most abundant amino acid in your muscular system. It is responsable for healing and also aides in boosting you imune system. 10-30g daily (take your body weight and drop off the last number. Ex - if you weigh 165lbs, then use 16g of glutamine each day)
  4. Vitamin C. This vitamin does more than help you get over a cold. It boosts your imune system!!!! When training take 3 to 10g spread out over the day, as it is a water soluble vitamin.

Notice I didn't say anything about Motrin or Ibuprophin. I am not against using things for pain, but try these other remedies first. They will fix the problem, Ibuprophin only masks the problem.

"Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is
not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
-
William Jennings Bryan, secretary of state

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

What are you missing?

Hello again, this is your friendly neighborhood Shark with your fat loss, muscle tone, training tip of the day for all my clients in San Antonio, TX and around the world! Are you ready? Here it is....

"Believe"

That is all you ever have to do is believe. A lot of times we get lost and never find our destination. Most of the time it has to do more with the directions we were given. No matter how hard you try to get to destination, if you don't have the correct directions...well then you won't get there. The difference is, that you do have the right directions. Before it wasn't your fault because you were working harder instead of smarter. Now when you combine the determination and will that you have in your heart along with the knowledge and experience of Fit To Be An American and myself, then you have a synergistic combination that is sure to blow you away!! All you have to do...is believe.

Jason "Shark" (Mc) Guckian


Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Two For Tuesday

Fat loss, health and fitness is the goal! I have been helping San Antonio fight the good fight against obesity for the past 12 years. One of the best ways to fight fat, and lose weight is to keep your body guessing. So try going for a Two For Tuesday!

A Two For Tuesday is when you shock the body by throwing in a second workout. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply go for a walk. You have your regular workout for the day, but on tuesday you add a 20 minute walk.

The best time to walk is in the morning on an empty stomach, but timing you walk for 15 minutes after a meal can be a great time, too!

Why after a meal, you ask? The reason is simple. When you eat, your body begins what is called thermo-genesis. That means that your body's engine is geared up and red hot, to help digest the meal you just ate. When you time your walk to coincide with a thermo-genic state, you amplify your ability to burn fat as fuel!!!

Give it a try and watch the inches fall off!

-Jason "Shark" (Mc)Guckian
Personal Trainer/ Body Stylist/ Fitness Mentor

fittobeanamerican.com
safatloss.com
jason@safatloss.com
210-887-2304

Monday, October 6, 2008

First Day of Fitness!!!!

Today we started with our very first Firestorm Fit-camp at the Let's Get Loud Cheer-leading facility. 5:30 is early for anyone, but everyone that showed up really did great! If you're reading this, you should be very proud of yourselves, I am. They worked hard, and even though it was only a basic routine, they had fun with it. If you feel like trying out our routine today...here it is!

Round 1 -

perform 10 reps of each exercise. Repeat the round over and over as many times as you can for a 10 minute duration.
  1. Push Ups
  2. Squats (body weight)
  3. Front to back Lunges (each leg)
  4. Bent over Row (with rubber band)
  5. Burpees

Round 2 -

perform 10 reps of each exercise. Repeat the round over and over as many times as you can for a 7 minute duration.

  1. Side Lunges (each leg)
  2. Broad Jumps
  3. Thrusters (with rubber band)
  4. Plank (10seconds each side)
  5. Jump rope

That's it for today. You can still take advantage of the free two weeks! Just send ma an email, or call to reserve your spot. jason.guckian@gmail.com or 210-887-2304.

Train Hard,

Shark

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Rest on Sundays?

I am always getting questioned by people whether or not they should rest, or how often they should rest from training. I am a firm believer in taking breaks. That is if you earn it. For those people who continuously go through the motions week in and week out, performing the same tired old routine, then no. No breaks for you. However if you are constantly varying your training, incorporating new ideas and really pushing your body to the max, then yes. You deserve a break. For those fanatics, one or two days a week should be enough to give your body the rest it needs. If you need help learning ways to change out of that old routine, then feel free to send me an email. I'd love to help. jason.guckian@gmail.com
Shark

Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Problem with Legs

A lot of people who work out on a consistent basis dread training their legs, especially men. Women are much stronger in their lower-body then men are, so they feel more comfortable training their legs, than we do. The problem is that if you do not train your legs, not only will you eventually look like a golf tee, but you are missing out on unlocking the secret to enhanced strength and fat loss. Two thirds of our muscle bellies are in our lower body. The only way to burn fat is by increasing your muscle mass, so if you skip out on legs then you are skipping out on your most powerful weapon against fat! If you can't lift heavy due to lower back issues or knee problems, then try going for high volume. Today this was my leg routine, and I didn't even have to squat!

Leg press:

1 x 100 reps with the right leg only, 1 x 100 reps with the left leg only (with no weight at all)

1 x 50 reps with both legs (450lbs)

1 x 25 reps with both legs (900lbs)

1 x 40 reps with both legs (900lbs)

1 x 40 reps with both legs (990lbs)

It was a very challenging work out, even without squats. The point of this session is to do perform a high level of repetitions. Only use weight that you can handle, and never sacrifice form for added weight. Give this a try and watch your legs grow, your strength increase and your body fat melt off! Happy training!

-Jason "Shark" McGuckian

Friday, October 3, 2008

Firestorm Fitness Systems Fat Burning Fit Camp

This is your friendly neighborhood Shark, with some important information, especially after the unfortunate events on Wall street.

Please foreword this on to any friends or family you think would benefit, thank you.

As you may already know my partner (Steve Payne) and I run the Firestorm Fitness Systems Fat Burning Fit Camps located at Let's Get Loud cheer leading facility (located @ 12066 Starcrest # 100 San Antonio, TX 78247 Get directions). And after the unfortunate events on Wall street this week, we would like to offer a special FREE "get to know us" bonus package for all of San Antonio residents.

The offer includes;

2 weeks of FREE classes (8 sessions beginning Oct. 6th at 5:30am- Mon., Tue., Thurs., Fri.)

FREE e-book "125 Smoothie Recipes For Athletes"

FREE bonus report "The Eat Out Guide"

FREE personalized custom meal plan

We also offer more FREE time for referrals

Space is limited for this FREE offer, so please call or email us now to reserve your spot.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you again,
Jason "Shark" (Mc)Guckian
8611 N New Braunfels
San Antonio, Texas 78217
210-887-2304 Mobile


Steve Payne
8611 N New Braunfels
San Antonio, Texas 78217
210-884-2072 Mobile

www.safatloss.com
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