Albert K. Park

                         Bosu Balls, Cross-fit, Kettlebells, Spin Classes, and Hot Yoga all dominate our fitness world today. In an industry where fads rule the market and demand attention, it's hard to keep up. It's a constant struggle to keep motivating yourself and to stay inspired. We can not continually rely on the "Next Big thing" to be the logs fueling our fire.

                          I sat daydreaming and thumbing the lid to my Americano in a busy starbucks the other day. The complex array of personalities accompanied by espresso machines working overtime created a difficult environment to concentrate. In the cafe cacophony, one conversation rose above all the noise.


                            A man in his late 20's, revealed his goals for the future to a friend. He was dressed like a J Crew ad and seemed to have is head on straight.

"Yeah times are tough, but I still dream of the same things. A 40 hour a week job, a good 401k, the weekends off, and some paid vacation time."

                             His mirror image of a friend fired back in conversation with words that reassured their goals. They both sighed in agreement.

" I need a house in the suburbs, 2 kids, and maybe a boat. Yeah that would be the life!"

                             My standard smart ass smirk turned into a mean mug as my mind revved at maximum rpm's. I couldn't believe what these two young guys were talking about. They used words like "dream" and phrases like "that would be the life". By no means am I knocking their personal choices in lifestyles and there is nothing wrong with a life filled with comfort. But there has to be something more, right? Passion, drive, inspiration, conviction, you take your pick.

                           It's very possible that I am wired differently. They do say I am a little bit like the black sheep of the family. Maybe I have different blood cells that pump through my veins. Maybe I am missing or have an additional chromosome in my DNA, but their conversation didn't sit well in my stomach.

                           I guess Michelangelo said it best,

              "The greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."

                          That very moment, in cookie cutter Starbucks, I vowed never to settle for comfort like those guys. I mean, they were practically the same age as me, 23. It echoed in my skull. Strive for unrealistically high goals so when you reach them, you can conquer new ones.

                           This is the same mentality and philosophy we should be taking to training. It doesn't matter what your workout goals are. Whether your striving to become a professional athlete or training to lose 30 lbs. It's more than what lies on the surface. I truly feel that we all have an engraved mindset for self improvement and in a chaotic world, that innate thought process is often buried under bullshit.

                            Why do you workout? Is it to lose 30 pounds and look good in a bathing suit. That's probably what your mind will tell you at first but when you sift past societies brainwash bull, you know that training has the power to change your entire fu*king life. Self-confidence, more energy, health, and a revitalization of that innate vigor for life. These things are the very ingredients that sustain us all.


                            I honestly feel bad for the next person to ask me "Why are you training so hard?" or "What are you training for all the time?" because I'm going to lay it down hard with a chip on my freaking shoulder. There are only a few things in this world that I can fully take pride in and put my personal stamp of approval on. In order is God, Family, Friends, Health/training, and your Legacy. These are the very things that ignite the explosion in life for me.
                             Training has climbed the hierarchy mountain to become a lifestyle and not some hobby like collecting snow globes. No offense. I train to maximize my potential mentally, spiritually, and physically. Have you ever been stressed out and decided to go for a run, only to find that you have a certain peace after you physically drained yourself. Or have you ever been on an endurance testing hike, to find yourself standing at the top, overwhelmed with a strange feeling of Joy. It's what we were designed to do, hence the "hunter and gatherer" description of homosapiens. Our bodies are designed to chase down meat and gather food up to 10-12 hours a day in order to survive. Without this physical stimulation we lose something.


                            Don't even let my hierarchy chart influence your thought process. Reject the media's consistent pursuit of defining your reasoning behind working out and training. You need to define your own philosophy for training. It needs to be dangerously personal so that inconsistency and set backs aren't an option.

                           To the two guys I eavesdropped on, I want to sincerely thank you. Next time both of your coffees are on me. Your conversation reassured the way I live my life. Your comfortable vision poured gasoline on my fire and refocused my aim even hire. Your perception of "the good life" reinforced my pedal to the floor mentality. Go big or get the fu*k out of the way.

The innate drive is there, it's just under all the bullshit.


                     

1. Park further away

"Are you still going out for your run in the rain? "

           "Yeah"

"Really! How does that thing do in the rain?"

           "I don't know, I guess I'm going to find out!"

      All I have to say is that is pretty awesome. I don't think I would even go for a jog when it's raining outside but the least I can do is start parking a little farther away since I got the legs to walk.

2.Take the Stairs

3. Wash Your Car
Next time you decide that you need a car wash and grab your keys to drive to closest Brown Bear, Stop! You burn tons of calories washing your car. It's probably why you don't want to do it because it's hard. Just suck it up and enjoy the fact that you are getting a calorie burning activity in.

4. Walk at Lunch
I got this idea from a friend of mine. After eating her lunch at work, she will, with a co-worker, just take a walk around the area. Not only does it give you a time to get out and breathe some fresh air but you will be able to use it to relieve some stress while burning some extra calories. Take this time to recharge before you had back in to work.

5. Commercial Break Planks

Whenever I am at home and just watching some espn, buried life (a pretty good new show I like), or whatever other show you enjoy, I take the commerical breaks as prime time opportunities. Use this time to lower yourself into a plank and work on some core stability. Go 30 seconds on each side, then on the front. Usually there will be 2-3 commericals if not more each show there is 2-3 sets for you.

         I hope you can adopt some of these things into your everyday life to help you burn some extra calories. If not, maybe it can give you some more ideas on how you can find ways to burn more calories, I would love to hear your ideas, just post them or send me an email.

         
   Along with lifting big ass weight and training your ass off, we all know that eating like a bad ass is more important than anything. Despite how much you lift like a bad ass, if you eat like a junior high girl, your not going to feel or see any changes.

             Most of us all know that lean meats and healthy carps are vital. Chicken, lean beef, turkey, tuna, buffalo, salmon...etc.etc. So in the pursuit of tyring to find the X-factor/Bad Assness in nutrition, I had no choice but to draft #1 overall, this green.

                      Before my childhood was rocked by the super ripped mutant figures of X-men, G.I. Joe's, and WCW/WWF wrestler, there were only cartoons. Most cartoons didn't really portray any abd ass characters, except one man. He beat up the bad guys, was in the military, had tattoos, and got all the chicks. His name was Popeye. Don't you ever forget this OG. (origianal gangster)

• Spinach posesses 2 compounds that you don't want to live without. Beta-ecdysterone, which has the ability to aid in muscle size and strength. Also this grean leaf contains octacosanol that promotes strength.
• If your a nutrition label reading freak, nothing wrong with that, let me make it easy for you and break it down. A single 3 ounce serving will contain 20 calories, 2 grams of protein, 3 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fat, and 2 grams of fiber.
• 3 cups of this super green stuff will contain up to 3 mg of iron. Try eating it with foods higher in content of vitamin c for easier absorption.
• What do all the supplements out there have in common besides creatine? It is probably a high dose of amino acids and glutamine. Glutamine helps in raising growth hormone levels and increase levels of protein-synthesis, by boosting leucine in muscle tissues. It will in turn decrease muscle breakdown and help keep a healthy immune system.

Are you a pick eater and won't eat greens?

                Stop acting like a child! This stuff is a legal growth hormone and it's good for you. When you are trying to become a real bad ass, you stop eating for taste and start eating for fuel. You need to start eating things that are going to help you train hard, look good, melt fat off your body, and help you get strong. Start eating this stuff RAW! as a salad. By throwing on some chicken, fresh furit, and a light olive oil based dressing, it will go down easy and fuel you up faster than you can say " I need to stop eating like a junior high girl!" - Good Luck!