Inspirational
Who Is Vineeth?
Aug 12th
I had said that I would share a similar story (David Smith) with you. Vineeth is a 19 year old college student whose height is 5.7 and weighed 108 kilos when he enrolled in my gym. Right now, he is 77 kilos which means that he has lost substantial amount of fat in a period of 9 months and that is to say he has lost nearly 68 pounds. I couldn’t believe my eyes, as I hardly remembered the way he looked when he started to frequent the gym. Upon my request he brought his before picture, and my gym members and I were both astounded as the difference was and is markedly visible. However, I had earlier thought that this kid like many others would lose his interest and would quit coming to gym sooner or later. To my surprise, he didn’t stop and hung on to enjoy the pain and pleasure of working out.
In the meantime, I had expressed my concern to him that he should take things under control, and that weight should be lost now or it will be never, as I thought once if he secures a job his priorities would change forever and it is very unlikely that he would think about his health and weight. Life unexpectedly turns out to be very busy when we embark into an unknown territory called WORK. I have to reiterate that he, surprisingly, took my words seriously and continued coming to the gym, as I have rarely seen individuals consider their weight to pose a huge problem, for they do not know that it can lead to serious health maladies like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart ailments, etc. Blood pressure and diabetes which are termed as silent killers can wreck havoc in our health and well being, and it should be known that obesity plays a major role in contributing to the above mentioned illnesses.
On the contrary to the above stated reasons, I am very happy for Vineeth as he continues to impress me, for he seems to have realized the labor of working out and eating healthy food for better health, well being, and weight management. He diligently frequents the gym which has to be appreciated. Stories of these kinds should not go unnoticed. It is for us to take notice of it and appreciate the work.
Furthermore, I am glad to express that I neither suggested him to take any fat loss pills nor put him under those endless cardio sessions. I instructed him to avoid eating out and see to it that he eats unprocessed food and eats protein in every meal of his. As far as his routines are concerned, I integrate resistance training with high intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with strongman workouts. It is a time-tested approach, as martial artists train much similarly and it has proved beyond any doubt to be the best mode for fat loss. Also, I vividly remember him not able to a single box jump because of his weight, but it is now heartening to watch him do most of the body weight exercises with ease. Above all, what is important is that Vineeth and many others have continued to lose weight which is very gratifying.
By the way, enjoy watching his before and after pictures.
PS: We neither use nor recommend the usage of fat loss pills and steroids at Ironcult. Fitness building has to be approached from inside-out. Our bodies are temples and thus should be treated justifiably, and we should try to lessen ego’s gratification and not abuse the body by using various chemicals. Bruce Lee says, “Showing off is fool’s idea of glory.” Though Bruce Lee was a world class martial artist, you can identify the humility he carried by observing the above statement. We as individuals will appreciate our efforts either in losing fat or in building muscle if we do it the hard way, as there lies no shortcut. It is time we realize that fitness and health should be a way of life rather thought as something which can be achieved overnight.
Terence Haynes Part 2
Jun 4th
Here is a follow up to the story of Terence Haynes which I had posted earlier. I should thank Ross (www.rossboxing.com) for coming up with this video in his blog. Do watch the video, as it is a better version than the earlier one. Those interested in losing weight will find this story/video tremendously inspiring. What is more inspiring is that he completes his bachelor’s degree at the age of 45. He obtains the bachelor’s degree motivated by his fat loss. The positive carry over effect of physical training shows up in every aspect of our life. We should be able to recognize the benefit of physical training, and take cue from it.
The Blind Side
May 25th
“There is nothing sadder in the world than the waste of human potential. The purpose of evolution is to raise us out of the mud, not have us groveling in it” said Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Emmy award winning American screen writers. How many of us realize the unquestionable potentiality we possess? I believe many of us fail to realize the true strength we bear in ourselves. I have to recall what Robert Heinlein, American novelist and fiction writer, had aptly said about losing our way; he says, “In the absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it.” How true the above statement is? If you review the video of Rocky Story which is posted in a previous entry, you can recollect that Stallone didn’t want to procure a job though he was starving, couldn’t pay for heat in his apartment, and though his wife was screaming at him to get a job. He didn’t want to budge, as he knew that he would lose his hunger to achieve his goal. He also knew that his hunger was his true strength. He knew that if he ever worked he would be caught up in that rhythm, feeling okay about life. Now we can see how the above quote by Robert Heinlein that we become enslaved by daily trivia is serving to be a sensible assertion.
You may call the man in the video is either destined or lucky; whatever, he truly has proved the potential in him. It is a story about exploring unknown territories; a story about tapping the innate potential a man possesses. He could have succumbed to drugs, street fight or any other contemptible trait; instead, he chose to live life like a MAN. It should be known that drug use is prevalent in the US. This man will truly inspire you.
Action Speaks Louder Than Words.
May 20th
I had promised that I would restore some of the inspiring videos which existed in my earlier blog. We all know that action communicates more clearly than words. As the title suggests the same, I will talk less, for I want you all to watch Dustin Carter in action. He is a true example who is walking the talk. After you watch the video, you will feel to hit the gym and workout like a monster. Enjoy the video.
Rocky Story
Apr 24th
Rocky movies have all inspired many of us and will continue to do so. These invigorating movies make us repeatedly to go back to them as they are a source of tremendous inspiration. Be it “Eye of the Tiger” song, or the theme song, or the background score when Rocky trains are all scintillating. The best part I personally adore is when Rocky Balboa in the 6th part trains for the match. Can you imagine that a man who is more than 60 years old training like a beast? I mean the speed and explosiveness he possesses is incredible. Moreover, since I believe in functional training I genuinely admire the way Rocky trains in his movies; that is, when Rocky tries to catch a chicken, or when he trains hardcore in Russia for brute strength where he drags a sledge, cuts a tree and performs repetitions on flag, an exercise which Bruce Lee was fond off. I would like to restate that Rocky’s training in the 6th part is breath taking; precisely, the way he performs single arm pushup on a ball, snatches a kettle bell, and last but not the least when he runs with his dog.
Talking about the video, please listen to the narration by Antony Robbins. The best part of the story is when Stallone has to sell his pooch for a few dollars as he was in dire straits and consequently getting back his dog for a whooping 15,000 dollars. I don’t want to talk more. Watch the video and enjoy the story. Stallone has really achieved a lot in life, and he should continue to do more, for we all have a lot to learn from him.
Inspiration From Matt Scott
Apr 6th
Please watch the video and then read my comments.
We all get bogged down for various reasons, and we draw inspiration from some or the other source to get going. Warhawk Matt Scott is the man in the video. He is a wheelchair basket ball player. Matt Scott details many of the reasons we all complain for not working out: I am too big, I have a headache, I had a heavy breakfast, my favorite shown is on, I am thin, my coach hates me, etc , etc are all those ridiculous reasons we give not to work out on a regular basis. The present generation is too impatient to stick to any discipline. Everybody wants quick- fix solutions without any commitment from their side. How on earth is this going to happen? It takes a lot of time to master a discipline, and we better know that.
Men come and ask me, “How long will it take to reduce their tummy size?” Or, “how long will take to get lean?” I know that I need to answer them and can’t vaguely state them that they need to commit for a longer time and that they will have to change their lifestyle for the better, but they want me concrete answers from me. I advice them that it may take few to several months to reach the desired results. I explain to them using my reasoning and experience and depending on the individual fitness level, previous lifting experience, his/her health status, previous and present injuries, etc. I am uncertain what these people are going to do after they reach their goal. Being fit and healthy is a lifelong quest, and we should not undermine the idea of being fit and healthy by giving it fixed time period.
What I mean by lifestyle changes in the above paragraph is that we will have to choose healthy foods, eat smaller meals throughout the day, quit alcohol and smoking, and to eat out less. A Google search will assist us in knowing the foods that are healthy and it is from there we need to take the lead towards healthy eating which is very important for our well being.
Many of us are so badly used to be in the comfort zone, and we do not want to come out of it. We do not want to see any change happening. We procrastinate and try giving reasons for our inaction. Perhaps, a quote by Mary C Crawley would help me to put my intention and purpose of writing this blog entry into proper perspective. “Two little words that make the difference: START NOW.” Yes, start now and don’t give any reasons. And as also Bruce Lee had rightly said, “If you always put limits on yourself and what you can do, physically or otherwise, you might as well be dead. It will spread over your work, your mortality, your entire being. There are no limits, only plateaus. You must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”
Coming back to video, men like Matt could have given various reasons and ruined their lives, as they have some inherent problem with them, but they didn’t do it. They didn’t stop, and they pushed their bodies and went beyond their limitations. It is high time we realize the importance of being fit and healthy, for we will have to suffer a lot in the later stages of our life.
Another Inspiring Video and that Age is Just a Number
Feb 24th
Do you believe that the man in the video is 67 years young. Most of us cannot perform some of the routines which he performs. What is more important is that his routine in the video is very simple. He is not using any fancy equipment, but hard work and consistency seems to be his principles. You can see in the background which looks like his personal gym that there are no “state of the art” equipment. What I meant to say is that we can get lost with the countless information we have been fed from various sources, but basic equipment like dumbell, barbell, and more importantly our bodyweight is what is important for an intense workout. Enjoy the video, and don’t feel ashamed after watching the video.
Terry Fox
Feb 23rd
How about this story to inspire us all? Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer in his right knee resulting in amputating his right leg. Then starts the marathon of hope. I know that it is almost a 9 minute video, and we all will be impatient and perhaps even not watch it. Anyway, I request you to watch the video. I felt that the words engraved on his grave is worth mentioning here: “Somewhere the hurting must stop”. I honestly feel, people who live for a cause are the most worthy, and they are the ones who really deserve to live.
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