Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday Update and Motivation

Just arrived in Leipzig, Germany. Spending tomorrow driving at Porsche and then back to Munich for Oktoberfest and BMW later this week.

Cool bodyweight workouts start tomorrow.

The only way to beat procrastination is to just get started. Put on your training gear, at least do your warm-up. Build momentum and finish strong. Make your grocery list. Get to the store, prepare your meals in advance. That is how you will succeed - by taking massive action. Action takers rule the world.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Don't let the little things in life get in the way of the massively important ones. Only you know what these are. Choose wisely.

No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. - Samuel Beckett

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Saturday Success Steps

Set goals with consequences for not achieving them. Get a mentor. Get accountability and social support. Take action every day. Baby steps. Always be better today than yesterday. Never give up. Be positive. The world is good, people are great. There is LOVE out there. It's not all negative. Be a force for good and positive change. It's easier to be positive than to deal with the frustrations of being negative.

Today's workout: Box jumps, squats, split squats, leg curls.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
To find out what to do with your life, ask yourself: "What is my purpose/higher calling here on earth?" "What did my higher power put me here on this earth to do?" "Who was I put here to serve?" (this helps you determine your "niche market") "What skill/ability do I have that NO ONE else in the world can do better?" "What do I want my legacy to be?"

"Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity. Successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes a reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results." – William James

"Waiting is a trap. There will always be reasons to wait. The truth is, there are only two things in life, reasons and results, and reasons simply don't count." - Dr. Robert Anthony

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Good reading...

4.7/5 stars for this important article on the key to successful living
- http://www.earlytorise.com/the-great-key-to-successful-living/

Friday, September 28, 2012

Questions for you

Do you use drop sets or down sets when you do heavy lifting?

Once a month I use a down set after squats and deadlifts and go for reps to failure...anyone else do this in any way shape or form?

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Questions:
To find out what to do with your life, ask yourself: "What is my purpose/higher calling here on earth?" "What did my higher power put me here on this earth to do?" "Who was I put here to serve?" (this helps you determine your "niche market") "What skill/ability do I have that NO ONE else in the world can do better?" "What do I want my legacy to be?"

And 4.8/5 stars for this important article on the key to successful living
- http://www.earlytorise.com/the-great-key-to-successful-living/

Off to Germany tomorrow,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Thursday, September 27, 2012

German Cheat Meal

After a couple of days at home chauffeuring Bally the Dog
around to his various appointments (yes, he has the life), it's
time for me to head out on the road again.
 
This weekend I'm off to Germany, and I'll be bringing you 
some really cool bodyweight circuit hotel room workouts and
hotel gym dumbbell workouts, plus many exciting adventures
from Oktoberfest. (How do you say "Turbulence" in German?)
 
While I'm gone, I plan to (strategically, of course) eat the ONE
food that we can all get away with eating once in a while.
 
 
And my cheat meal will occur in the "Hippodrom" tent at Oktoberfest 
next Thursday. (Just translated it, Turbulence is Turbulenzen!)
 
Done right, cheating will ADD to your fat loss efforts.
 
Done wrong of course, and you can make things worse.
 
Fortunately, the right way is the easy way and it just involves
controlling a simple hormone for fat loss...in just a few seconds.
 
 
In fact, if you don't learn to control this hormone, you can pretty
much forget about losing fat altogether...it really is that BIG of a
deal. So if you're struggling, you MUST read this article.

SEVENTEEN "Cheat" Foods that Burn Belly Fat FAST <------- free access

Auf Wiedersehen goooodbyyyye (sing it like the kids from The Sound of Music),

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer
 
PS - Stay tuned for awesome 4-minute bodyweight interval workouts...
 
...from Germany next week.
 
I'll be training a few of my friends that are going on the trip with me.
 
Plus, we are doing a few really cool adventures (not just Oktoberfest).
 
Have a great weekend.

Deadlift Workout and the Success Pathway

My training today: Hang Cleans, Deadlifts, Front Squat, Good Mornings. I use my Meathead style of training combined with Jim Wendler's 5-3-1. You can search "meathead" on www.ttfatloss.com for articles or check out Jim's articles

Success – It all starts with preparation and planning to avoid wrong people/environments/habits & to connect with the right people/environments/habits. Success is simple once you accept how difficult it is.

Success begins and ends with your personal responsibility. Success lives and dies with YOU and your ability to take action. Identify what needs to be done and take action today.

A productive morning starts with prioritizing and preparing the night before. It's one thing to make a to-do list - that's easy - but it's another thing to be properly prepared to attack each one of those items with efficiency and energy. Plan ahead.

If you want to be successful in anything...The best plan of action is to study what you want to be, hire one someone that is good at what you want to be and have them be your mentor, and then do whatever you want to be good at - a lot. If you believe in the 10,000 mastery rule, you have 10,000 hours of of your activity that you need to do.

And if you want to be a successful trainer, read this article on the 10 step guide to becoming a successful personal trainer:

And this article on why the Golden Rule matters more than ever in business
- http://www.earlytorise.com/your-first-priority-in-business/

Be successful,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - One of my favorite quotes.

"Before you are a leader, success is all about yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." – Jack Welch

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Let's Go!

You can't change your genetics, but you can change your attitude, your persistence, your environment, the people you listen to and hang around with, and the things you do. You can change, so if you want to, just get started.

Let's go!

You can work hard and a good many hours and still have a life. Most people don't have a balance problem, they have a time wasting problem. Find your magic time. Get more done in less time. Set an end to your day. Do a brain dump. Shut it down. Go spend time with your family. Don't answer email at all hours of the day. Set limits. But know what you should be doing at all times, and do it.

Let's go!

"The most important things to know in life take a lifetime to learn. Our first lessons come early — but we grasp only the surface. As we gain life experience we gain deeper understanding. All great truths are both simple and complex, easy to understand yet difficult to master." – Mark Ford

Let's go!

Stay strong,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Bodyweight Circuit Workout

Did a 5-exercise bodyweight circuit in the Biltmore Inn today at 6am. It used the 20-10 protocol, and I look forward to bringing this to TT members in the December 2012 workout.

BTW, the TT Halloween Metabolic Havoc (Oct 2012 workout) is now available for all TT members at www.TTMembers.com.

"In my opinion this is could be the program of the year so far. For me anyway. Looks really tough and really awesome." - Peter J., TT Member

And here's another one of my favorite workout styles
  www.facebook.com/workoutfinishers

Workout Question of the Day:

Q: I am a bariatric physician and I love the turbulence training model. Which turbulence training program would you recommend to the bariatric patient who can barely move? - Spencer

Answer:
Spencer, great to hear from you. Glad you like the TT approach. The beginner "Total Torso Training" workouts here have been use with obese clients of 300 pounds.
- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/totalbeginnerworkouts/

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Thank you for being an action taker. That's the greatest thing you can ever do for me is to take action towards your goals. Keep going, keep pushing, keep trying, keep learning, and never give up.

And the Take Action Question of the Day:

Q: Hi Craig, any tips on how to stay efficient and not get bogged down in detail? Motivation also? - Nina

Answer:
Hi Nina, motivation can only truly come from within. You must know what you want and what are you willing to do to achieve your goals. For efficiency, try
this
- http://www.earlytorise.com/time-management-tips/

Go get it,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - 2 things in life that you cannot obtain by chasing them...

...are Balance and Happiness. No one can tell you what your "balance" is any more than you can tell them what their "happiness" is. Everyone has their own definitions. Don't let anyone force their definitions on you or tell you how to live your life.

#1 secret for changing your body from Flavia

I've stumbled across three big discoveries this week.

First, the 20-10 bodyweight interval training study I shared
with you yesterday, showing that 4 minutes of intense exercise
is as good as 30 minutes of moderate exercise.

Second, another study, this one from the Journal of Strength
and Conditioning Research showed that training 2 times per
week was just as good as training 6 times per week.

(NOTE: Both of those studies were performed with female subjects.)

And third, after touring the 260+ room mansion on the historic
Biltmore Estate in North Carolina with Vince and Flavia Del
Monte, Mike Geary, Joel Marion, Adam Steer, and a dozen
other fitness experts, I asked Flavia for her #1 secret.

"#1 secret for what?", she asked as we walked back into the
Biltmore Inn for a pre-dinner break.

"Flavia, I want you to tell my readers the #1 secret that
most people don't know about how to get results from their
workout programs. After all, you clearly know something that
99% of people in the gym don't know," was my reply.

So here's what she emailed me 10 minutes later...

"Craig, the #1 secret to getting a sexy body is to train with
INTENTION & INTENSITY. The more intense the workout,
and the more muscles used, the more calories you burn and
sexy curves that you sculpt. That's it. Simple, but not easy. But
truly the #1 secret to getting a beautiful body."

"You don't need to spend hours in the gym or even at home on
training. You just need to know HOW to train and how to choose
the right foods for SUCCESS!"

Thank you, Flavia, greatly appreciated.

Follow a proven plan from a pro, like Flavia.

Monday, September 24, 2012

New Workout and Health Research

Today I'm going to urge you swap some of your TV watching for short, burst workouts. First, the bad news.

"TV viewing time may be associated with a loss of life similar to other risk factors such as physical inactivity & obesity...On average, every single hour of TV viewed after the age of 25 reduces the viewer's life expectancy by 21.8 minutes." - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/13/927.abstract?etoc

Okay, that's not good. But this is.

And it might be the most interesting – and shocking – workout study ever.

Crazy Canadian researchers at Queen's University (my sister's alma mater) tested a Turbulence Training style workout against long cardio. (Reference: Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Sep 20.)

22 college-aged women did 4 workouts per week for 4 weeks in one of three groups.

Group A did 30 minutes of treadmill running at 85% max heart rate

Group B did 8 rounds of 20 seconds of a single exercise (burpees, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, or squat thrusts) with 10 seconds of rest between rounds.

Group C did nothing (they were the non-training control group).

Results:
Both training groups increased their aerobic fitness levels by the SAME amount (about 7-8%). That's right, the short bodyweight workouts (of 4 minutes) worked just as well as 30 minutes of cardio. Shocking.

BUT…only Group B, the TT style training, also increased muscular endurance in common exercises like chest presses, leg extensions, sit-ups, and push-ups.

And finally, the TT style training used by Group B also resulted in greater overall workout enjoyment.

The Crazy Canadian Scientists concluded that "extremely low volume bodyweight interval-style training" will boost cardiovascular fitness just as well as cardio while giving you BETTER improvements in muscle endurance. All in just 4 minutes.

So swap out some TV watching for bodyweight circuits at home. For a complete plan, use my simple secret circuits here:

MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.cbathletics.com" claiming to be www.TurbulenceTraining.com/bwc

And if that wasn't enough, here is today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:

Stay strong through the dips this week and keep the momentum going with your wins. Plan ahead for the obstacles and you'll make big progress.

Make the right choices today,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - You can bounce back from anything. No matter how bad it was, no how tough it is, you come back. Stronger. There will be better days.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Ballantyne Hotel Gym Workout

Now here's a funny workout story for you. I thought this was hilarious. You might not think it's as funny, for obvious reasons, but still, there's a lot to learn from it.

This weekend I'm on my way down to beautiful Asheville, North Carolina, to hang out with my friend Joel Marion (that's funny enough on its own, trust me).

And on my way I decided to make a little detour to, get this, The Ballantyne Hotel just outside of Charlotte.

Apparently it's where Obama stayed during his recent big event, but I'm pretty sure I'm not staying in the same room.

(Clearly, being a Ballantyne, I'd get a better room at The Ballantyne Hotel, right?)

That said, I arrived on Saturday afternoon and went to check out the gym. I ended up talking to a guy that was using the elliptical machine.

"How many calories did you burn?", I asked.

"350 in only 25 minutes," he said with pride.

Inside, I laughed. There's just no way that was accurate.

In fact, a report published by ABC news found that the elliptical machine overestimated calories burnt by 42 percent.

That means he probably burned 250 calories or so.

It's laughable. Hilarious, even.

Besides, slow cardio doesn't even work that well for fat loss.

So stop worrying about calories burned on machines.

Instead, think about what you are getting out of each minute, out of each set, and out of each repetition.

Use Metabolic Resistance Training instead. Here's a video where I give you MRT explained
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMx5b_lQ4Tw

And my workout? Well, today's Ballantyne Meathead workout in the above-average Ballantyne Hotel gym was DB Press, DB Row, DB Incline, pulldowns, db rear delt raise. Great place to visit and stay.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
For every obstacle in your life you must identify at least two solutions to overcome it. If you have a workout scheduling issue, what are at least two ways you can work around it? If you have a nutrition weakness, what are two ways you can beat it? Having more solutions than problems will put you on the fast track to success.

You cannot have self-doubt. You must truly believe in yourself. You must end the "I'll give this a try" mindset, and switch to an, "I'm going to succeed" belief.

How to be what you want to be (one of our most popular articles at ETR)
- http://www.earlytorise.com/how-to-become-what-you-want-to-be-3/

If you are struggling, you might be attempted to make excuses. But…please, don't. Don't waste your energy. Don't invest your emotions in excuses. Instead, take that energy and use it to fuel your continued persistence in making improvements, in overcoming obstacles, and breaking down barriers.

Stay strong,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - The weekend is a great time to consider setting the rules for your life...

...Discover mine, and why you need your own, here
- http://www.earlytorise.com/12-rules/

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Weekend Plans

Today's schedule includes an Old-man warmup, Athletic Greens, airport, breakfast, flight to Carolina, Ballantyne Hotel. (<=Yes, going there for one reason only. Can you guess what it is?) Then driving to Asheville on Sunday.

Today's Training Resource:
No TRX straps? If you have dumbbells, you have no problem - some upper back substitutions
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgUsXA4JX0w

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
You can bounce back from anything. No matter how bad it was, no how tough it is, you come back. Stronger. There will be better days.

Great quote:
"Every time you blame someone else or make excuses, you give your power away. You feel weakened and diminished… Without the acceptance of complete personal responsibility, no progress is possible. On the other hand, once you accept total responsibility for your life, there are no limits to what you can be, do and have." – Brian Tracy

And Saturday's www.InternetIndependence.com Tip:
"The fastest, easiest and most direct way to success is to model it. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, surround yourself with people who are already achieving what you want. Model success." – Bedros Keuilian

Stay strong and get stronger,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "If it is not right, do not do it: if it is not true, do not say it." – Marcus Aurelius

Friday, September 21, 2012

Power of Time and Words and Deadlines

FINAL 36 hours to enter the 15th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest and get a full 12-weeks of Transformation. You can win up to $1000 just for losing your belly fat. Let this deadline motivate you into action.

All the details at www.TransformationContest.com

Today's workout for me: Squats, box jumps, split squats, DB RDL, ball rollout. Good and as quick as possible. Travel day to Toronto and tomorrow is a travel day to Carolina.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
2 things in life you cannot obtain by chasing them - Balance and Happiness. No one can tell you what your "balance" is any more than you can tell them what their "happiness" is. Everyone has their own definitions. Don't let anyone force theirs on you or tell you how to live your life.

The power of words
- http://www.earlytorise.com/the-three-nicest-words-anyone-has-ever-said-to-me/

"Know yourself. Choose the right medium, choose the right topic, create awesome content, and you can make a lot of money being happy." – Gary Vaynerchuk

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "Cherish time, your most valuable resource. You can never make up the time you lose. It's the most important value for any productive happy individual and is the only limitation to all accomplishment. To waste time is to waste your life. The most important choices you'll ever make are how you use your time." – Kekich Credo #2

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Answer to a Trainer's Question

Each morning on Facebook I try to do a workout QnA with
my fans. (You should do this with your clients and readers.)
 
Almost every training related question is about "What's the
best workout to use for this goal or that goal?"
 
I love getting these questions and being able to help people out.
 
Recently a trainer asked me:

"Craig, I'm a bootcamp trainer looking to add more variety
into my sessions. What can I do that's different than circuits?"
 
The answer is simple.

You need bootcamp challenge workouts. Challenges get your
clients hooked on training because they will want to come back
and improve their scores.
 
I call this, "Workout Golf". As you know, golfers get obsessed
with improving their game, and that's because they have a score
that they can judge themselves against.
 
That's what is missing from the workout world, and that's one
reason the 300 Workout was so popular.
 
So try these 24 done-for-you bootcamp challenges that will help
your clients get more results AND refer you more clients.

=> Advanced Bootcamp Challenge Workouts

These are fun, fast, and effective. You'll even get TRX challenges,
because you know those are the hottest workouts going today.

Plus, these workouts will differentiate you from ALL other
bootcamps in your area.

These will set you apart and make it easy for your current
clients to refer NEW bootcamp members to you.

And it will make the ones that you already have stay with
you longer.

These challenges are like a license to print money in your business
while helping more people get MASSIVE results.

Print these workouts for easy reference:

=> Bootcamp Challenge Workouts
 
But hurry, this sale is only on this week...don't miss out on these
proven calorie burning challenges.

Helping you get more out of bootcamps,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Tabata Training

There is a lot of confusion about Tabata training. Let me clear it up for you.

Tabata training is a strict protocol. 20 seconds at 170% VO2 max and 10 seconds recovery. That's the ONLY way to do it. Therefore, it's almost impossible to do (at the proper level) unless you are using a specialized treadmill that is set up for it. You can't do it on an elliptical machine or spin bike at your gym.

Some of today's fitness QnA from www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Q: Which TT workout would you recommend for a couple who are switching from years of regular gym-style workouts to TT workouts for the first time? - Bob

Answer:
Hi, and welcome. Get the main program (comes with lots of workouts, including the intermediate one that you'll start with) at www.turbulencetraining.com. Thank you.

Q: I'm going to be in Hawaii for 12 days next month, away from the gym What can I do so I don't lose ground on my fitness? - Scott

Answer:
Bodyweight programs like this one
- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/workouts/2010/june2010_bwcardio.shtml

Q: I just did heavy lifting workouts, but this is not the feeling i want when training, i want a better challenge? - Olivier

Answer:
If you want to train harder, you'll love my MRT workout here
- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/workouts/2011/May2011_MRT.shtml

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
"Set lofty goals. Proclaim them to the world. And take massive action on achieving the goals you set out to achieve. It's as simple as that. And even if you don't reach 100% of your goals, you've still failed forward and your life and business are in a better place because of it." – Bedros Keuilian

"I'm of the opinion that hardship shapes us. Coming from nothing served my family well. It also gave me the hunger to want it all, and the wisdom to know that none of it matters." - Gary Vaynerchuk, Crush It

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone." – Henry Thoreau

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Meathead Wednesday Workout

Yesterday's workout was supposed to have included military press, but my deltoids were too sore from an earlier Meathead workout this week. So today I snuck back in and did military press, some torso training, and meathead arms. Good times.

And speaking of good times, Team Turbulence, don't forget about your chance to win $1000 in one of the four categories of our 15th Turbulence Training Transformation contest. All the details are here
- MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.cbathletics.com" claiming to be www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-d1bnds5Q

Now for the TT Question of the day from www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Q: How do you work around the "I just don't have the right genetic to acheive any good results" argument? My spouse and friends just seem to be caught on that as an excuse (I see it as an excuse) for not working out and taking care of themselves. - Jean-Marc

Answer:
I let other people make their own decisions in life and I just live by example. Those that want to change eventually do. Or you could buy them some personal training sessions and tell them that there is a no refund policy.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Never give up. Never lose faith. Believe in yourself. You've made it this far. That's farther than most ever dare to venture. Most people fear the idea of finding themselves at all. They seek comfort. They want security. But that's not living, that's hiding. You are not like that. You are an explorer, an adventurer, a dreamer, and a most importantly, a value adder. And you are what the world needs.

Past success doesn't guarantee future success. Past failure doesn't guarantee future failure. You CAN change. Don't tell me you can't, because you can. I believe in you.

If I can, you can too. Lessons from the lowest point of my life
- http://www.earlytorise.com/lessons-from-the-lowest-point-of-my-life/  

You must look at what could be, not what you are. You can change. Things can be different. It's up to you. So much can be accomplished with a long-term vision and resilience to short-term setbacks. Stay strong, and let us know how we can help.

Help others…and…"Recognize your highest calling as early as possible in life."
– Frank McKinney

And some blunt advice to finish off
- http://internetindependence.com/business-success

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Don't forget...

"Avoid negative people at all costs. They are the greatest destroyers of self confidence and self-esteem." - Brian Tracy

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

burn up to 1000 calories with bootcamp workouts

Intense bootcamp workouts can give you and your clients
results like almost no other type of training.
 
When you combine metabolic workouts with a positive 
group environment and "The X Factor", your clients can
burn up to 1000 calories per workout.
 
But wait, what's the X-Factor in burning 1000 calories?
 
Don't worry, it's not a secret pill, or even a piece of equipment.
 
The X-Factor is a workout challenge. Specifically, a unique
bootcamp workout challenge.
  
Here are 24 done-for-you bootcamp challenges that will help
your clients get more results AND refer you more clients.

=> Advanced Bootcamp Challenge Workouts

These are fun, fast, and effective. You'll even get TRX challenges,
because you know those are the hottest workouts going today.

Plus, these workouts will differentiate you from ALL other
bootcamps in your area.

These will set you apart and make it easy for your current
clients to refer NEW bootcamp members to you.

And it will make the ones that you already have stay with
you longer.

These challenges are like a license to print money in your business
while helping more people get MASSIVE results.

Print these workouts for easy reference:

=> Bootcamp Challenge Workouts
 
But hurry, this sale is only on this week...don't miss out on these
proven calorie burning challenges.

Helping you get more out of bootcamps,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Free Workout and a challenge

Nice empty gym this morning for my workout.

My training today: Hang Clean, Deadlift, Front Squat, good morning.

TRX + KB + Outdoor training = 444 Challenge Workout. Try this FREE outdoor workout
- www.TurbulenceTraining.com/444

(dog not included)

And a challenge for you...

Awesome "Spiderman Audition" workout. Tough challenge
- http://ptpower.com/boot-camp-challenge-workouts/

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
"Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal." - Vince Lombardi

"A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. It's only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate." ― Steven Pressfield, Do the Work

""We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune or attention or applause." - Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Do the work,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Monday, September 17, 2012

15th TT Contest Update

Hey everyone, just a quick 15th www.TransformationContest.com update.

You don't need to send in your before photo now. You only need to send in your photos and 300-word entry when you are done the program and before the deadline. You can email that information (and any customer service questions you ever have) to TurbulenceTraininghelp @ gmail.com.

Thanks so much.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Have the uncomfortable conversations this week. Clear the air. Deal with the issues. Be the better person. Apologize when necessary, forgive when possible. Conflict builds relationships. This approach will strengthen you – and them.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark Twain

Today's www.SuccessQnA.com

Q: With so many different options and opportunities available, how do you focus on one and follow through? - Robert


Answer:

Only you can determine what your top priorities are in life. You must spend time in introspection and self-reflection. You must identify a long-term vision for your life (use www.AnewAmericanDream.com) and then it will be easy to identify what you should spend your time on. Make sure to read today's ETR as well:
- http://www.earlytorise.com/17821/

Books and mentors
http://www.earlytorise.com/mentor

Today's www.InternetIndependence.com Tip:
Identify those people with unmet specialized needs that will allow you to fill a gap in the marketplace and stand out from all of your competitors.

Get focused,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS – "You do the things that need to be done according to priority." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Do Not Sell Yourself Short

Most people sell themselves short. I do this too.

There are few people in the world that are doing all they are capable of doing. So here's what you need to do. Dedicate yourself to getting better every day. This is a lifelong project. Keep going. Keep adding value. Keep learning. Keep connecting with other good people. The breakthroughs will come. Stay strong.

"Fill your life with positive expectations. Demand the best. Attitude and desire contribute to 90% of your achievement." – Kekich Credo #86…Drop the negatives. Hang around positive people. And most importantly, believe in – and expect more of – yourself. You can do it. I believe in you.

Today's outdoor training: TRX, KB, sprints, dog walks. Today's indoor training: Checking football scores, reading books, random plotting and scheming.

And remember...

Past success doesn't guarantee future success. Past failure doesn't guarantee future failure. You CAN change. Don't tell me you can't, because you can.

I believe in you,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Life is easy when you workout hard

Short term pain from discipline equals long-term gain from progress. Long-term pain comes from lacking short-term discipline.

"Life's easy when you live it the hard way…and hard if you try to live it the easy way." – Kekich Credo #4

Today's workout was hard and fast, but fun.

#Meathead Training today: Chinups, Bench Press, db incline, db row, barbell row, overhead squat.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this." - Henry David Thoreau

"Attack everything with the mindset that you're going to succeed. If it doesn't work out, the bottom line is that you can walk away and be sure that you gave it all you had. Figure out where your niche is in life, and go after it 100%. You only live once, so you might as well chase those dreams." – John Elway

Off to do my Daily Documents right now
- http://youtu.be/WdH5kF-9650

Today's www.InternetIndependence.com Tip:
"Be willing to repel those that are not your perfect profile prospect." – Ben Glass

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Clarity + managing expectations + mutual respect = good communication

Friday, September 14, 2012

Weekend Bootcamp Challenge

So earlier this week, after my calf cramp, but before I
returned to Toronto, I had another weird muscle experience.

Fortunately, I'm going to my chiropractor, the excellent Dr.
Michael Sommers, later on today to set my body straight.

But it was an experimental workout that left me with a
twitching lat muscle. Never had that before.

Now I've got to warn you...this little challenge workout that
we're about to give you for the weekend is sure to leave your
muscles singing with a metabolic burn (but probably not
twitching, no worries).

It's just a great way to cap off a TT Bootcamp workout.

Here's a new metabolic finisher from Mike Whitfield, Certified
Turbulence Trainer.

Do the following bootcamp finisher AFTER your main bootcamp
workout. (It can also be done in place of intervals after
a regular TT Fat Loss workout - but not after a TT Meathead
workout or hard-core TT Metabolic Workout.)

Finisher #4 from the Bootcamp Finishers Manual
http://workoutfinishers.com/bootcampfinishers/

By Mike Whitfield, CTT

"Partner Metabolic 200"

Split your bootcamp into partners (that's group of two - ha...
I'm hilarious).

Each team is to complete the following circuit, however only
one person can go at a time.

For example, person 1 would do 20 prisoner squats and then
rests, and while he/she rests, his/her partner would jump in  
and complete 20 prisoner squats. That's 40 total, so 10 to go.
The first team to complete all reps wins.

1A) Prisoner Squat (50)
1B) Close-Grip Pushups (50)
1C) Bodyweight, Strap or Band Row (50)
1D) KB/DB Swings (50)

Now that's an amazing way to finish off ANY bootcamp workout.
That sure does beat long, boring cardio...
 
Get more bootcamp finishers here

***
Back to ol' Craiggy, here.

Of course, you can do this on your own instead of in partners,
if you want a solo challenge.

Record your time and try again next week. Don't do this after
every workout. Just once a week for 3-4 weeks straight and
then move on to one of the many other challenges in the
Turbulence Training world.

Get more workout finisher challenges here <= on sale today only

And watch for a really cool surprise early next week. Lots of
great gifts and workouts coming your way to keep you lean
and sexy all year long.

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Don't forget about entering...

...the 15th TT Transformation Contest. It's free to enter and
you could win $1000 just for transforming your body.

Start here: www.TransformationContest.com

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Squat Workout and Skipping Breakfast

Back in Toronto for a few days and the start of a new personal 4-week program. My training today: Squats, box jumps, split squats, leg curls.

Now for some controversy. Men's Journal recently had a cover article called, "Skip breakfast".

Check it out. It's the about Intermittent fasting. Congratulations to Brad Pilon for having his Eat-Stop-Eat method mentioned as the standard Intermittent Fasting guide. Brad's proven program has been used by many TT Transformation Contest winners to win their categories. It really is a good life when we are connected to so many great people.

I usually eat dinner at 6pm and don't eat again until 9am the next day, although I do have Athletic Greens (20 calories) around 6am.

Today's Training Resources:
Check out the partner metabolic 200 in Mikey "Pancake Finishers" Whitfield's latest article
- http://www.ttfatloss.com/getting-more-clients/

Inspiration on transforming your body and losing fat in the 15th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest
- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/howtotransformNOW

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips - CLASSICS edition:
You must look at what could be, not what is. You can change. Things can be different. It's up to you. So much can be accomplished with a long-term vision and resilience to short-term setbacks.

Whatever is in your way, you're stronger than it, you're tougher than it, and you're better than it. You're going to beat it. Things will get better.

Today's ETR:
Taking a big step, and trusting other people with your money?
- http://www.earlytorise.com/who-to-trust-with-your-money/

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Denver to Toronto to Nutrition to Training

Yesterday's workout was in Denver was a nice deadlift session at the Denver Athletic Club. Great gym. Right downtown. Two squat racks, a deadlift platform, and even some chalk. Plus, lots of TRX's, a mobility area, and tons and tons and tons of interval equipment (read: cardio machines).

After the workout I met up with Jeff from www.BeyondDiet.com and we had a conference call with Isabel. So proud of them for all the people they are helping. Isabel will be a household name one day, and on TV shows soon. She's fantastic and really cares about changing your nutrition for the better.

And then it was on to the airport for a smooth trip home. I read the recent Men's Journal magazine, and it featured an article on our long-time friend, Brad Pilon. Congrats to Brad for having his Eat-Stop-Eat method mentioned as the standard Intermittent Fasting guide. Here's another expert that has a proven nutrition program (many TT Transformation Contest winners have used it to win their categories).

It really is a good life when you are connected to so many great people.

Now...Lots of workout resources for you:

On pg. 58 of the October 2012, Men's Health magazine, you'll find my "1 pair of dumbbells only" workout. It's called "Fast Lane to Fitness". If anyone can find a link to the article online, please post it here. It's uses one set of dumbbells (the same weight) for all exercises in the workout.

30-Minute Thermogenic workout demonstration
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Yq9ixEQG2g

For trainers, the #1 workout method for getting more clients:
- http://www.ttfatloss.com/getting-more-clients/

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
I believe that most people sell themselves short. Even I do it to myself. There are few people in the world that are doing all they are capable of doing. So here's what you need to do. Dedicate yourself to getting better every day. This is a lifelong project. Keep going. Keep adding value. Keep learning. Keep connecting with other good people. The breakthroughs will come. Stay strong.

"Cherish time, your most valuable resource. You can never make up the time you lose. It's the most important value for any productive happy individual and is the only limitation to all accomplishment. To waste time is to waste your life. The most important choices you'll ever make are how you use your time." – Kekich Credo #2

Put a little urgency in your life
http://www.earlytorise.com/why-the-best-day-is-today/

And today's www.InternetIndependence.com tip:
"Get your idea out there as fast as possible even if it's not quite ready by setting must hit deadlines. Let the market tell you if you have a winner or not. If no – move on and fail forward fast! If it's got potential – then make it better." – Yanik Silver, Maverick business rule #10

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses." - James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Secret Addictive Workout Secret

I'm traveling back from Denver to Toronto today, so we have
an entertaining guest post from Certified Turbulence Trainer,
Mikey "Pancake Finishers" Whitfield.

The Secret Addicting Workout Secret

By Mike Whitfield, CTT
http://workoutfinishers.com/bootcampfinishers/


One of my favorite scenes of all time is just after the first
big battle in the movie, "Braveheart", where the leader William
Wallace is out of breath as he makes his way to the top of
the hill.

Tired from pouring himself into the epic battle against the
English, he raises his sword and yells as loud as he can
while his army cheers in a unified and victorious voice.

That was my approach with bootcamps.

"Mike, your camp wore kilts and painted their faces? That's
awesome! Weird... but awesome
".

You bet that would have been awesome, but no, we didn't do
any of that.

However, I did encourage a victorious, unified front against
fat. For one thing, I know that's what it takes from my own
experience of losing 105 pounds of ugly fat.

But more importantly, when you get your campers to look at
their own battle against thunder thighs, muffin tops and more
this way, that mentality can transform not only their bodies,
but their minds.

That's why after every bootcamp workout, we would use a grand
finale workout secret. This method practically had my campers
addicted to working out...and each session had over 20 people
at 6:00AM each day in the summer.

The grand finale (aka metabolic bootcamp finisher) was my
favorite part.

We would leave it all on the table (yes, sometimes, I even
participated myself). The finisher was pure chaos, but effective.
 
With bootcamps, you can get really creative with the set and
rep schemes like the density method. My campers love the
density approach, and yours will, too.

In fact, recently Craig and I put over 50 trainers through the
infamous density finisher called the "3's Company" bootamp
finisher in the morning workout at the last TT Summit.

The feedback was amazing. The response was so positive, it
made it into the NEW Bootcamp Finishers manual. It's #8 in
the training manual listed under "Good Times".

But here is yet another density bootcamp finisher you can do
at the end of your next bootcamp workout to get YOUR campers
addicted to working out and coming back for more:

The "It's Just Deuce" Bootcamp Finisher


(Finisher #11 from the manual here)

Do the following circuit as many times as possible in 3-minutes.

Tell your campers to rest when needed, but the clock will
continue to tick:

1A) Burpees (2)
1B) Narrow Stance Squat (2)
1C) Spiderman Climb Pushup (2/side)
1D) Jumping Jacks (2)
1E) Squat Thrusts (2)

As many rounds of two reps ... geez, who does that?

Mike Whitfield <== This guy, because bootcamp finishers rock

This addicting workout secret is what brought in dozens of
referrals into my bootcamp business. I thrived on seeing,
"Mike's finisher kicked my butt today!" on Facebook.

In fact, referrals were 98% of my business, so I knew I had
to "bring it" with every bootcamp, and now, you can, too, if
you are a trainer.

But even if you just workout by yourself, you can use this
secret workout secret and you'll be addicted to burning fat fast.

Let me know how it goes.

Do the Deuce,

Mike Whitfield, CTT
Author, Bootcamp Finishers <= On sale this week only

*****

Thanks Mike, and I'll be back later this week. I still owe you
a weird workout story.

Hang tight and get lean,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Truth About Losing Fat

Losing fat is a game between you and the outside world.

Everyone, from family to friends to co-workers to restaurant owners to TV advertisers are conspiring against you to make you eat more and exercise less. Like it or not, it's true.

They might not be doing it on purpose, or with bad intentions, but they are happier when you are fed, full, and flat out on the couch. You must always know your options.

You must have Plans A, B, C, D, and E. You must be prepared to counter-attack. When they say pizza, you say sushi. When they say take-out, you say, "I've already prepared my lunch". When they say, "Happy Hour", you say, "Workout first."

Surround yourself with people who are fitter and healthier than you.

Today's Kickbutt Time Management Tips:

If you're struggling with time now, make sure you go back and do a "time journal". Then ruthlessly plan your work day. The more work you can get done during work hours, the less time you'll have to steal from your family, friends, fitness, and fun hobbies. That's what is meant by getting more freedom from structure.

"Cherish time, your most valuable resource. You can never make up the time you lose. It's the most important value for any productive happy individual and is the only limitation to all accomplishment. To waste time is to waste your life. The most important choices you'll ever make are how you use your time." - Kekich Credo #2

Put a little urgency in your life
http://www.earlytorise.com/why-the-best-day-is-today/

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
You are the type of person who takes action, doesn't complain, finds a way to get it done, and never gives up, right? The answer is yes, you are. Remember that during the tough times today.

"Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined." - Henry David Thoreau

How to get back on track when things feel like they are 'slip slidin away'
- http://www.earlytorise.com/how-to-get-back-on-track/

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Monday, September 10, 2012

Make today a better day

Today's another day, so get back on track on move closer to your dreams and goals. You can do it. Don't let yesterday or last week put you off track. You are not the mistakes of your past. You are what you can become.

Remember - If you want advanced results, you must take advanced measures. Do MORE than what is expected of you, not LESS than what you are capable of. You have been given great gifts. Earn the rewards that those gifts make possible.

"If you want to accomplish anything, get out of your comfort zone." - Kekich Credo #1

Share your goals with the RIGHT people - the ones who will encourage you, motivate you, and connect you with others who will move you forward towards your goals and dreams. And constantly take action - one step (baby or giant, doesn't matter) every day closer to your goals and dreams.

For fitness, here's an important report to read:

Cardio vs. Intervals - Everything explained here for you (share with your workout buddies)
- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/freeintervalreport

And your www.InternetIndependence.com tip of the day:

Remember Ballantyne's Law that states: "The more technical expertise you have about such things as building websites, connecting merchant accounts to your
online shopping cart, or writing computer code, etc., the LESS money you'll make on the Internet."

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou

Saturday, September 08, 2012

6am and 6pm Vegas

I just did a 6am walk on the Vegas Strip. Words cannot do justice for the sites and scenes of 6am Saturday Vegas. haha

Here's a quick 6pm tip for Vegas. Visit the Lobby Bar on the 23rd floor of the Mandarin Oriental. I've posted some great photos on my Facebook pages.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
The motivation for anything we do in life can only come from within...through self-reflection and introspection.

You - and only you - can identify what really matters, what your priorities must be, and therefore, what actions must be taken. It's not easy, but it is simple. Then you just start.

You stumble, you fall, and while you fail forward, you never truly "fail" - unless you quit.

You learn from experiences. You adjust course. You develop better habits and routines. You get closer to your dreams. You begin to believe in yourself…more and more every day.

Progress comes - in spurts - and it is your passion that gets you through the dips. So always believe in yourself and never, ever, ever, EVER give up.

That's what you must do. And of course, you take the red pill. (<= Matrix reference)

"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start." - Nido Qubein

"You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want." - Zig Ziglar

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Friday, September 07, 2012

2X your 2012

What are the blocks and obstacles in the way of you accomplishing TWICE as much in the remaining days of 2012 as what you had planned? And if you eliminate these chokepoints, just imagine what you could accomplish.

When life brings you discomfort, mental or physical, do not waste your energy trying to repel it. Instead, embrace it. Channel it. Use it to fuel your efforts to persevere through it. Breathe it in, work it out. Do not fight against it, but instead flow with it. That is how you will get through it.

Don't tell me you can't, because you can.

4.7/5 stars for "how to achieve your dreams" by one of our ETR Mastermind members
- http://www.earlytorise.com/how-to-make-dreams-come-true/

You can,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "Give to Get. Push the free line and start giving your best stuff away. Work – for free – with people of influence. Get them fantastic results, show them loads of appreciation, and get them to talk you up to the marketplace/community." - Bedros Keuilian

Thursday, September 06, 2012

Meathead Workout in Sin City

A good #meathead workout experiment today in Bellagio's gym.

Workout was neutral grip pullups, DB Press, DB Row, DB Incline, Seated Row. 2 sets each. More rest between sets.

Great dinner at the China Grill in Mandalay Bay last night. Giant plate of rib eye steak and steamed vegetables.  Earlier in the day a friend shared with us a Maca Raw Food Chocolate bar from Whole Foods. Really good.

I also learned how to play blackjack better thanks to Bedros and a 50 year old guy named Steve from Jersey who has worked in Vegas on and off for 30 years. Now I want to learn how to play chess. I know, crazy that I don't know how.

Also crazy...today is the last day (sad face) for
www.TurbulenceTraining.com/thermodeal

It's my best 30 minute (and not a minute more) workouts for fat loss

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Don't let your good habits slip slide away from you. Write out your personal philosophies, your rules to live by, your big ideas for life, or whatever it is that you want to call them. You need them. Just as I believe that waking up early makes almost everything better, having a set of well-defined personal philosophies makes every decision quicker and easier. Add these to your life today.

"For each important action you take, ask yourself if you would be embarrassed if it were published. It takes a lifetime of effort to build a good reputation, but only a moment of stupidity to destroy it." – Kekich Credo #94

"The world does not reward average people well so I will be extraordinary." – Ted Nicholas

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Pump YOU up

About to head down for an awesome #Meathead workout here
in the Bellagio hotel in Vegas...been pumped for this since yesterday.
 
Will be hitting the heavy DB presses instead of bench...since they
don't have a bench press but do have 100 pound dumbbells.
 
And rows too.
 
That superset alone would be enough for most folks...but stupid
magazine workouts tell men AND women that they need to do 
4 chest exercises for 3-4 sets each for 12-15 reps...
 
...and then people wonder why their shoulders are screwed up.
 
If you are doing that then you need a NEW workout system.
 
So as my friends Hanz and Franz once said...
 
Listen to me now and believe me later, jah?
 
You don't have to spend 60 minutes on a body part.
 
You don't even need to spend 60 minutes on a workout.
 
So cut back to 30 minutes, three times per week, and you'll 
burn a ton of calories during AND after your workouts
with the TT Thermogenic-30 system.
 
That will (clap) pump up your fat burning.

 
30 minutes and not a minute more,
 
Craig "30-Minute Man" Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Thermogenic Trainer

PS - Today's KICK-BUTT Mindset Tips is...
 
When life brings you discomfort, mental or physical, do not waste
your energy trying to repel it. Instead, embrace it. Channel it.
Use it to fuel your efforts to persevere through it. Breathe it in,
work it out. Do not fight against it, but instead flow with it.
That is how you will get through it.
 
You'll need this for these intense workouts:
 
Try the TT Thermogenic workouts right here
 
Price INCREASES at midnight.

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

How to Play Up A Level

A secret to success in life is "playing up a level".

Surround yourself with the best. Build a better network of people that you spend the most time with. Increase your average. Find opportunities that challenge you, terrify you, and bring out the best in you.

Find your opportunity to play at a higher level. Get out of your comfort zone, and seek to be pushed to that potential you are capable of achieving. It's the only way to know what truly resides inside of you.

True story of what brought out the best in me and my brothers
- http://www.earlytorise.com/do-this-to-bring-out-the-best-in-you/

At Early To Rise, we preach self-reliance. After all, the only person you can ever truly rely on is yourself. And when you understand that, things will begin to change for you. You will have more mental freedom, knowing that you are in control of your life. Never forget this empowering belief.

And remember...

"Action alleviates anxiety" - author unknown

Take action,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Just finished amazing Day 1 of 4 masterminding with Bedros Keuilian and over 35 fitness pro's in Vegas. Big B was dropping knowledge bombs left and right. Got a ton of notes...and today was just a warm-up day.

For more internet business info, visit www.InternetIndependence.com for your free guide on how to make $100K in 12 months.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Dear Belly Fat

Dear Belly Fat, your letter is hilarious.

Please read this classic letter from our dear ol' friend Belly Fat. He hasn't changed a bit since we first heard from him back in 2007 (thinks he's a pretty funny guy)

- http://www.ttfatloss.com/belly-fat-letter/

My workout today: Squats, box jumps, pistols, leg curls.

Heading to Vegas tonight. I promise to do something as relatively stupid as Prince Harry. Key word, relatively. He lives a crazy life, so he had to do something really crazy. I live a tame life, so I just need to do something slightly crazy, like stay up until 10:30pm. We'll see how wild it gets with a bunch of fitness experts.

Rules of the 15th TT Transformation Contest...get your paper, take your before photos, and let's do this. Lots of time to transform before the end of 2012

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-d1bnds5Q

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Success comes in spurts. You'll work & feel like you're getting nowhere, & suddenly, WHOOOOOSH. Success. It comes in spurts. Never give up. Believe me, I know how you feel. But I discovered that success happens by taking action every day, strong and steady, by overcoming obstacles and powering through the dips, by trudging onward through tough days and getting energized by great days. The backbone for it all was my clear vision of what I wanted to achieve. Each action a small victory, each accomplishment another step closer to my big breakthrough.

And when life brings you discomfort, mental or physical, do not waste your energy trying to repel it. Instead, embrace it. Channel it. Use it to fuel your efforts to persevere through it. Breathe it in, work it out. Do not fight against it, but instead flow with it. That is how you will get through it.

Success is simple, not easy, but simple. Just follow the steps that everyone else used to get to the top of the mountain. Then put one foot in front of the other and welcome the discomfort. Breathe it in, and out. That's literally what I did when climbing hills in the Tough Mudder races…Apply to each rep of your MRT workouts and to every aspect of your goal pursuit in "real life" as well. Step-by-step, rep-by-rep, you will get there.

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Monday, September 03, 2012

14th and 15th TT Transformation Contests

Keep going. Keep pushing. Take action and you'll attract good people, great opportunity, and exactly, yes exactly, what you want in life. Do not get down, and never, ever, ever give up.

There is still a lot of time left in 2012 for you to transform your body and your life.

Congratulations to the winners of our 14th TT Transformation Contest. Check out the amazing results here (can we get a shout-out to the ultra-competitive over-40 men's division?)
- http://www.transformationcontest.com/

Our 15th TT Contest started Sunday, Sept 2nd. Here are all of the details, including a short video by me:

- www.TransformationContest.com/rules

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
We have NO choice but to deal with the present and the future that gets thrown at us. We must deal with reality and make the best out of whatever situation we are in. You can't change the past. You can't control others. But you can control your future, and you control how you respond to everything.

I have great faith in you. Whether you are 16 or 76, you still have so much to offer the world and yes, you can make it a better place. The sun will come up tomorrow whether you're angry or optimistic. It's your day. We all have the same 24 hours, and it's up to you to choose what to do with it. Choose well. Choose to change. Choose to add value to the world.

And remember...

"Life is not a dress rehearsal." - Rose Tremain

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear." - Marcus Aurelius

Saturday, September 01, 2012

What Can You Get Done in 2012?

Earlier today I was invited to do another Tough Mudder. I laughed. I'm done with that BS. Those races are fun, but they are getting in the way of my real training goals. I've not gotten as strong as I want. Too many training sessions missed because of Tough Mudder tapering and recovery.

So it's time to get back to my priorities.

Today's workout:
Deadlift, Military Press, Front Squat, Good Morning, Shrug.

Four months left. About 120 days. What do you have left in you? What is there still to accomplish?

Think dammit, take this seriously. This is your life. And life is not a dress rehearsal.

Stop paying lip service to your goals. Stop dreaming about dreams. Start living as if they really mattered. Today. Right now.

"We are entering the last few months of 2012. That means if you lose 1-2 lbs on average of fat per week, you could be as much as 32 lbs lighter by Christmas. Now that's a cool gift. Just something to think about." - Mike Whitfield, CTT, https://www.facebook.com/WorkoutFinishers

What are the best workouts to change your body?

From oldest to newest, here are the 7 best Turbulence Training workout programs ever:
1) TT2K3 - in main Turbulence Training program
2) TT2K4 - in main Turbulence Training program
3) TT Buff Dudes Hot Chicks (Feb. 2009)
4) TT Hardcore 2K10 (May 2010)
5) TT Metabolic Resistance Training (May 2011)
6) 24-7 Fat Loss - www.247fatloss.com
7) TT MRT 2.0 (May 2012)

And my latest, TT Thermogenic-30, on sale this week only at
www.TurbulenceTraining.com/thermodeal

And that's just the short list. Dang, those are awesome workouts.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset:
"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny." – Albert Ellis

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."— Dale Carnegie

"Let no act be done without a purpose." – Marcus Aurelius

Time to change,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer