What Do I Feed My Kid Vol. III

ShouldeRok Review: Personal and Practical application of the ShouldeRok

What Do I Feed My Kid: Vol II

What Do Feed My Kid: Vol I

Legacy Strength Systems: Lift to Lift?Had an interesting conversation yest...

Legacy Strength Systems: Lift to Lift?
Had an interesting conversation yest...: Lift to Lift? Had an interesting conversation yesterday with a father of one of my wrestlers.  He asked, "When does my son lift to...

Lift to Lift?

Had an interesting conversation yesterday with a father of one of my wrestlers.  He asked, "When does my son lift to lift?"  At first, I didn't know what to think of the question but my instincts kicked in and I replied, "When he retires from wrestling."  A simple answer I know but several underlying thoughts also exist here.  I do understand that the training we do provides an outlet beyond one's current competitive endeavors.  There is no denying the power that the team environment has on individual progress.  In no other place or athletic endeavor is that more prevalent than in the weight room setting.  In fact this is how our barbell sports (and to an certain extent our individual sports like track and field, wrestling, tennis, etc)  operate; when a lifter is up they take center stage at that moment.  For WLers, respect and courtesy dictate a silence before a maximal attempt; in contrast PLers are given support through an immense amount vocal support and emphatic coaching.  In both cases the lifters have a "team" of supporters during your lift.  

 Most sports in the US operate in opposition. You can conceivably work your tail off in a great individual effort but yet you "team" can lose for various reasons irreverent of that individual's accomplishments that day.  So when do we Lift to lift? or train to train?  When we are no longer in competitive pursuits.  Every one of my athletes and clients understands this. We are in a state of TRAINING...I.E. preparation and practice for performances that are bigger and better.  For my clients who do not participate in sport, it may be to fit into a smaller dress size or to have less aches and pains or to manage their internal health better.  In either case we are looking to do better than before, if even a little better.  Our "performances" keep us in check.  They give us something to look forward to, inspire us to adhere to our plan, and helps keep us consistent in our DAILY PROCESS to give us the best chance we can to progress.  

In essence, lifting to lift or training to train  DOES NOT EXIST.  If we have no amiable goals then it is merely exercise, activity, and participation.  Was it not the great coach John Wooden that said, "Reward achievement not participation."?  So whatever your endeavor may be, competitive sportsman or sportswoman, "fitness" enthusiast, lifter, runner, jogger, or for your mental and physical health...don't be afraid to keep yourself in check and challenge yourself.  

Sense of Pride or Selfish Proud Papa Moment?

This past wed night I had the privilege to once again knock out two birds with one stone.  On one hand I had two of my private trainees headlining the Redhawk line-up and on the other of course are my Husky Amazons that I've told you guys about.  While it is of proper etiquette to be "neutral" at such an event, where I get to interact with several families I work with, I really want "my kids" to play well and love it when they are victorious in their efforts like any proud mother or father would be while living vicariously through their children.  Although I do not have any blood daughters on these teams I do have a sense of pride when "MY GIRLS" meet their expectations and at times,exceed above and beyond their expectations.  After all I do get to interact with them in a "training" setting several times a week.  Now I'm going to use TRAINING SETTING in lose terms here because while we are trying to "physically prepare for the rigors of sporting demand," the weight room represents a haven of sorts.  For some (if not more than some) of these athletes "lifting time" is a time to let loose while engaging in a physically empowering activity that allows them to get away from the stresses of practice, academics, and  maybe even everyday life itself.  A time to for everyone to come together as equals in the pursuit of STRENGTH.  The strength we're talking about is not merely limited to how much more they can pull, or how many more pullups they can do, or having the ability to get through one more GHETTO PROWLER set. In deeper and more meaningful sense its the fact that they know they are strong or at least stronger than last time.  And when you know this about yourself you play and perform without restriction.  For these young ladies (and I would guess for most people in general) confidence and self assurance is everything.  So when I ask is this a SENSE OF PRIDE that these young ladies are representing my brand so well? or am I just another SELFISH PROUD PAPA?   I can tell you I don't mind it being a little bit of both.  

To Kaela and Sara, continue your hard work because it will and it is paying off!

To my Huskies, keep relentlessly pursuing perfection so that you may all certainly find excellence!

Doing what needs to be done and beyond.

During this break let us not forget that some of us are still striving for perfection while attaining excellence.  My Husky Poloettes (I prefer my husky amazons) have made some monumental strides in the initial part of their 2015 campaign.  So far they are unbeaten and their STRENGTH allowed them to over take the number one ranking in the state of Illinois.  The scary thing is I don't think this team is done nor have they shown their best just yet.  This post is not meant to be a challenge nor a criticism to "Keep it up!" But rather a give a glimpse into why I am supremely confident in their ability to do so because we are doing things like this at 545 in the morning on top of a demanding practice and academic schedule.  THE STRENGTH! THE GAS!! and THE GUTS!!! 

Pride and Growth

Been way too long since I've written any thing. Call it laziness.  Call it complacency. Call it what you will but I will do this more often.  I really have no excuse to not be on here more often.  No one who relies on themselves really has an excuse to be lazy or complacent.  In fact the opposite should be true.  We should be PROUD enough of what we do to let others know of the positivity, accomplishments, and inspiration that's happening around us.  And for the sake of GROWTH (survival and prosperity) we MUST do this.  So out of PRIDE (for my clients and what I do) and the expectation of GROWTH (of my business and myself) I report the following:

February 28, 2015; Winetka, IL : NAPERVILLE CENTRAL MEN'S SWIMMING

On this day I attended my 2nd state swim meet which featured a four team battle for the state trophy of Illinois.  Last season we finished in the four spot led by senior Connor Lamb.  This season even more expectations were exceeded with a third place finish and state championship in the 400 relay.  I was PROUD to have worked with every swimmer on that team.  PROUD to have over 20 qualifiers on that team for this meet.  PROUD to have gotten to know their stories and their families.  PROUD to have made that journey with them.  Struggling through the tough days and enjoying the good ones.  PROUD to have my seniors get the best out of themselves and come home with token of fulfillment awarding four years of pain, suffering, discipline, and sacrifice.

February 13-14, 2015: Downer's Grove, IL: Stevie "Floyd" Schmult qualifies for state!!!

On these days I witnessed long time Legacy Strength athlete Stevie Schmult fight his ass off and qualify for the state tournament as a junior for Naperville North high.  "Floyd" battled two hyper extended elbows, among other aches and pains that wrestlers do, to nab the fourth place spot in a double overtime victory that left him bloody and exhausted.   Bloody and exhausted is the way this kid functions, exists, and thrives.  In a tough 165 lb. division "Floyd's" was often overlooked by his competitors for his shorter stature until they locked up with him.  At which time his opponents would regret ever letting him grab a hold of them...Stevie's strength is exactly that...STRENGTH.  The same STRENGTH that allowed him to deadlift 440lbs. and bench press 253lbs in a powerlifitng meet in october just a few weeks before the season.  The same STRENGTH that allowed him to pin an opponent during the state wrestling meet that pinned  him twice during the regular season.  And the same STRENGTH that allowed him take a top 8 at that very state meet.  

March 21, 2015: Sycamore, IL

Long time client Megan Capek embarked on a goal setting mission for 2015 taking the plunge into a powerlifitng contest.  Just a quick background on Meg...She has been training with me consistently for 3 years (even bringing her mom in who has been with me for 2)  and has enjoyed the strength element since the get go.  Pressing, pulling, ans squatting her way to levels of strength she didn't think possible as well as lunging, dragging,  PROWLing, and dieting her way to decreased body fat.  And on this day (after a few years of encouraging her to do a meet) Megan surprised no one but herself.  Ending the day 9 for 9 with bests of 237 squat, 148 bench, and 270 deadlift.  Keep in mind Megan let me know she wanted to lift 3 weeks before the meet...YEAR ROUND STRENGTH!!!