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artofll · 4 years

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Imposter

Recently i started reading Abba’s Child by Brennan Manning. The book presents the idea of how we tend to have an artificial self (aka an Imposter) that we present to the world vs our authentic, imperfect selves. At the end of chapter 2, the author writes a letter to his imposter after 20 days of a retreat with himself in the woods. He first starts out by actually thanking the imposter because when it first appeared was during the Great Depression. This mask helped keep the author strong and not constantly being afraid when there was barely any food to survive.. But the letter goes on to tell the imposter to leave because it’s now a soul crusher to the author...

After hearing that section of the book I paused and self reflected to find out what my imposter is and why it exists. My imposter presented it self off and on during my early child hood but stayed around up to this date starting from the time i had my neck fusion in 2001. What are it’s characteristics.

It’s unemotional, not the most observant, close minded, not an independent thinker, always trying to be normal, not accepting help or adaptations. Why does this exist for me?

It’s 2 fold...first i was forced by necessity to endure numerous surgeries, medical tests, and various treatments at a very young age. This forced me to mature /take life extremely serious very quickly. I was totally focused on just working through what was going on, so i shut down my emotions (subconsciously), became tough (subconsciously to an extent) and went with the flow, and delayed the normal psychological developments of a child. Because most of my serious were pretty intense i was dependent on my support system. Which is great, that’s what you’re suppose to do...But when you get past say high school, you should be itching to get out into the world and make it on your own....yea that wasn’t me. I was successfully in college and professionally, but socially and emotionally i never really cared or knew i needed to grow in those areas.

In parallel to all of these medical procedures i was still attending school. I was born with Ectodermal Dysplasia (look it up on Google). Long story short i did not appear like everyone else nor did i function like everyone else. My imposter came out when in public to the best of its ability to try and fit in, to be normal. This involved being tough, as much as possible, not putting my foot down when i should have, lack of confidence, naively not accepting my limitations, etc. I also rejected any adaptions because they were too clumsy and made me look even less normal.

So the above was pretty much elementary through high school. Not accepting my limitations, well I’ve only recently started to be ok with my own skin until a few weeks ago, never late then never!...Ok, moving into college is where my imposter just dug a hole to china for my authentic self to the point of almost no return, until now. Going into college i was still extremely dependent on my parents in an unhealthy way (i went home nearly every weekend), i was shy/lack of confidence because i was afraid i wouldn’t appear to be normal. I also do not and frustratingly enough sometimes still don’t think for myself. A. I never learned how to and B. I had so much other stuff going on medically, etc that i was too oblivious on observing how to mature. Fast forward again to 2011-2014, when i got my first job and then got married....

From 2011 to about 2014 i really started to go down hill emotionally/socially. What i mean is started hanging out with people i normally wouldn’t hang out with; im an intelligent introvert who genuinely hates any sort of social stuff. Anyways, these guys were idiots, arrogant, like to drink and hooters, etc. I was in a stage where i was so use to being in a certain environment that i didn’t know how to function any other way. Best way to describe is when the Amish turn 18 they get some time to try out normal english life, sometimes it goes great and sometimes it doesn’t (drugs, drinking, driving fast etc). Thank fully God didn’t let me do anything that dumb....

In July 20, 2014 i said I do to my amazing wife. She has put in a superb amount of effort to learn about me, to be a better communicator, take care of me (both physically and emotionally). While we each bring our own challenges, marriage is a two way street, a team effort. My “imposter” has happily allowed me to be completely unobservant, be Mr. tough guy, not want kids bc it’s not cool/im afraid of not messing up, not putting God as the center of my life, because it’s not cool/, don’t show emotion, because it’s not the manly tough guy thing to do, ignoring help, not seeking help, etc. My imposter tough guy also didn’t have his values straight, he just went with whatever the people around him thought, pretty shallow. With all of this “not cool stuff or being afraid”, it became even more engrained the first few years out of school and a fish out of water. I didn’t allow myself to stay connected with nice folks from college because they weren’t the cool kids, stupid i know.

My authentic self, the one who show’s emotion, pushes through barriers by accepting help and asking for help. The person who wants to make people happy and inspire them through words and actions. He loves God and believes he is his rock during tough times. That is who i need to be to be a Godly man.

You know what? my recent research from multiple sources tells me it’s normal, cool, expected, etc to be a dad. It’s important to ask for and accept help; it’s healthy, it’s not a sign of weakness. Respecting, loving your wife, being goofy with your wife, every proper gentleman does it. Marriage is hard, it only gets harder if you don’t put the work in. Study your wife, be a servant leader, protect her, love her, say affectionate words to her, etc. If you don’t know how to do something in a relationship or you fail the first time. Own up to it and ask your friends, family and/or use the INTERWEBS. I had the fortune of my wife telling my these things vs play hard to get but i missed those bc i thought (naively) marriage just happens/pssh those things aren’t important, You know what happened? Her and I more or less turned into roommates, two separate people no longer teammates. She got frustrated and i got frustrated, we are now in that same gosh darn whole dug to China by my imposter.

Communication during marriage is number one, but there’s a lot more to it then just being transparent...yes that’s good, but words have power. You have to know what you’re saying, can’t just say whatever comes out of your head. I don’t mean filter to make the conversation sway one way or another but to present your thought in a way that is straight forward and easy to understand to the best of your ability.

Also your priorities in life as a husband is to serve, protect and love your wife above all else. Show her off in public, defend her in public, don’t make her feel bad, argue maturely (it’s ok to take a 5 minute break to cool down). Life is a journey, not a destination, enjoy it.

Also, here is a list of resources for you on relationships/marriage:

https://www.marriagelaboratory.com/

https://www.marriage365.org/

http://www.markmerrill.com

https://www.familylife.com

https://www.theadultman.com

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denisalvney · 5 years

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How Jennifer the Photographer Discovered a Love of Strength Training, Lost 20 Pounds, and Leveled up Her Life.

“This is why we do this.”

When I heard Jennifer’s story, I knew I had to share it.

She’s a member of the Nerd Fitness community who for years struggled with things most of us can relate to:

Seeking comfort in sugary foods and alcohol.

A lack of energy and all around feeling of fatigue.

An eating disorder as a teenager that created an unhealthy relationship with food.

Not knowing her next step towards a healthier lifestyle.

Jennifer found herself stuck in this pattern until rock bottom presented itself: divorce.

When bad times strike, it becomes easy to slip further into bad habits and vices.

Jennifer knew this and realized she had to turn her life around.

Six months ago, she did just that.

Today, Jennifer loves strength training and is the strongest she’s ever been. She changed her views on food and nutrition and is no longer intimidated by the kitchen. Jennifer recently completed her first 8k, something she couldn’t have dreamed of doing before.

And oh, Jennifer just came back from an epic photography trip where her new found stamina and strength allowed her to hike mountains to capture some awesome shots:

That’s her!

I’m honored that Jennifer has been a member of our 1-on-1 Online Coaching program since August, and has used our guidance to level up her life!

While strength training and getting comfortable in the kitchen are important, the real success for Jennifer has been with her mindset. She knows she can’t change everything at once and is using one small change to spring into another change and then another, using each as a stepping stone to the next.

This new frame of mind is something we can all learn from.

It’s how Jennifer was able to transform so quickly and lose 20 pounds in a healthy, sustainable way. While it seems like changing everything at once is the quickest way to success, it’s often too stressful and thus abandoned.

However, if you do what Jennifer did, and start with one simple habit like a food journal – it can start improving other areas of your life too.

You don’t need to hear it from me though…

Let’s bring in Jennifer!

HOW JENNIFER THE PHOTOGRAPHER LOST 20 POUNDS AND LEVELED UP HER LIFE

STEVE: Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me.

I’d love to hear from you about your past – can you describe a normal day for you before you joined NF Coaching?

JENNIFER: My day was pretty random, with no real set schedule. It would be hard for me to get up in the morning, and then I’d have an unhealthy breakfast – the American South is full of delicious things like biscuits and fried foods. Later in the day, I’d often find myself needing to take a long nap.

Looking back, I did not have any sort of set schedule and spent my days with a foggy brain and zero energy.

STEVE: I hear ya. A super carb heavy and sugary breakfast can send your blood sugar on a rollercoaster for the day. Sometimes a nap is the only way off of it.

What changed? What made you invest in yourself by joining Nerd Fitness Coaching last summer?

JENNIFER: I had a really horrific divorce and hit an all time low. I moved out of my home in Seattle, WA, back to my hometown in North Carolina. Sometimes you just have to escape your surroundings.

I found myself comforting with sugary foods and alcohol. You know, totally healthy antidepressants.

This really started to take a toll on my body.

I had a moment of clarity then, as I realized I just didn’t have enough knowledge or drive to make changes on my own. I’m a believer in the “spoon theory,” which is a metaphor you see around the internet, which helps explain the limited amount of energy we face.

Imagine having twelve spoons handed to you each morning. Every task or difficult scenario takes a spoon from you. Often at the end of the day, you have no more “spoons” to give.

I knew I’d be much more successful with a routine that didn’t require any “spoons” to get to the gym. Instead, I could just start with workouts from home.

It was right about then I decided to give the Nerd Fitness Coaching program a try. I decided I wanted to be told exactly what to do, which again would require less “spoons” from me.

STEVE: I love the analogy of “spoons!” We’ve talked here in the past that willpower can be a finite resource for many. By the end of the day, you really can just be drained. Our philosophy on the subject matches your thoughts on spoon theory. That’s why we always encourage people to design systems that have the least amount of friction and require the least amount of willpower, or “spoons.”

I’m glad you realized this and wanted to create a system where you could start working out from home. You can grow the practice into a gym routine (or not) later. The important thing is finding a system that allows you to start TODAY.

You’ve been with coach Evan now for six months. Can you talk to me a little bit about what he had you do?

JENNIFER: Evan started me out just counting calories, learning about the foods I ate, and getting used to comfortably logging my meals.

I had an eating disorder as a teenager. Hyper-focusing on everything I was eating and logging it all was really starting to trigger a lot of anxiety and bad memories in the beginning.

But I told Evan all of this at our first meeting and he has been very good about helping me completely turn my perspective around about tracking my meals. He told me not to have any judgment about what I was eating, and to view the practice as a scientist collecting data.

That perspective helped (Steve’s note: woo! Science rules!)

For exercise, Evan started me out just taking a walk every day, followed shortly by some basic bodyweight exercises. At first, these were really tough, because I was really out of shape to start. I’d end most sessions a sweaty exhausted mess on the floor.

Then Evan added in more dumbbell exercises (I have a small set at home and borrowed a bench from my family) and I instantly fell in love with those exercises! Evan made sure to add more of those into my routine as well.

STEVE: That’s great to hear Jennifer. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of strength training.

What’s your routine like now? What else is Evan having you do?

JENNIFER: 5 months in, I’m even more of an avid walker. I walk daily, sometimes over 5 miles, or sometimes shorter if my walking buddies bail on me.

Total flakes (j/k, I love you guys).

I do strength training 3 days a week with a combination of bodyweight and dumbbell exercises.

We just introduced some yoga routines to both help with stress relief and to help with stretching and mobility. I have had some issues with cranky muscles and joints on occasion, which yoga is helping with.

The whole experience has been crazy to me.

I’ve gotten to the point where I enjoy some kind of physical activity every day of the week.

And fell IN LOVE with lifting weights.

It is damn satisfying to see myself becoming a chick with “guns.”

At this point, I have bigger biceps than my father and brother, haha. I am loving every second of that. It feels so good to be strong and be able to handle things on my own.

As a female, that is even more important to me because society is pretty much built around telling us women that we can’t be strong enough and we cannot do things on our own. I am fed up with that cultural stereotype!

As an aside, prior to joining NF Coaching, I was greatly inspired by Staci’s story and transformation. I like to think I’m following in her footsteps.

STEVE: Yes! I love it. I think everyone should follow a strength training practice: man, woman, child, grandparent, self-aware robot… all of them! I’m really glad you found this new passion.

Also, I’m glad you found inspiration from Staci! Many a rebel around here have also changed their lives after reading about Staci.

You sent over some awesome pics of a recent trip in Scotland. Can you talk to me a little bit about that?

JENNIFER: It was my goal in 2018 to do a hiking trip in Scotland. With Evan’s help, I got enough strength and endurance to do exactly that!

I went on a photography workshop on the Isle of Skye and completed the most difficult hike I have ever done up to a rock structure called the Old Man of Storr. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. I couldn’t have done it without Evan’s help. So I am quite grateful.

I wanted to be able to do the mountain hikes with all my heavy camera gear on my back, without being assigned to the group of folks who couldn’t do as much. I knew I was in no shape to do it originally.

However, Evan and I created a plan, executed it, and boom! Up the mountain I went.

I can do so many cool things with my body that I wasn’t able to do 5 months ago! I power walked my first 8k about a month after starting with Evan. It was hard but I had built the endurance from walking every single day before it.

STEVE: I think it’s so great that you worked towards a goal and then hit it. I often encourage people to try and build up strength for an event. Something like a marathon, a ski trip, or in your case a photography workshop on the top of a mountain.

It gives you something to shoot for, something to motivate you to work out when it seems so much easier to skip it. I’m glad you created a goal for yourself, made a plan with your coach, and then nailed it!

Your physical appearance has changed. What else has changed about you?

JENNIFER: I’ve had vast improvements in my posture which I think in turn has improved my self-confidence.

There’s something about standing straight and tall with your shoulders back that makes you feel a bit like a badass. Someone who can conquer anything the day will throw at you.

I’ve also battled depression for most of my adult life. And while it by no means is cured, the severity of it has been lessened by the daily physical activity and improved nutrition.

All around, today I have the general ability to do more things because I have more energy and focus than I used to.

I still have days when I get overly stressed out and go a bit off the rails with my nutrition and make unhealthy choices. However, I appreciate Nerd Fitness for the “never twice in a row” mindset. It keeps me from feeling like an utter failure if I have a day with too much pizza or delicious cake or something. I just know the next day, it’s time for me to get back on track.

STEVE: That’s so cool! I’m happy “never twice in a row” resonated with you. I think it’s an important tool for preventing bad habits from developing. When people slip up (and we all slip up), it can become so easy to continue. Having a motto that stops this trend from continuing is a game-changer. I’m proud of you Jennifer.

You mentioned a need to adjust your relationship with food. Can you talk to me a little bit about that? What’s your nutrition strategy like now?

JENNIFER: I’m proud to say I’ve changed my relationship with food. I’ve always used food as a comfort. Knowing this, I was really nervous about even just logging my food. Looking back though, it was such an important first step.

Tracking everything I was eating was eye-opening.

It helped me see what I was putting into my body, which gave me more confidence and determination in the kitchen. As of today, I’ve conquered cooking all kinds of foods, founds healthy recipes I enjoy, and am beginning to work on meal prep. Evan has a strategy for me to plan ahead on food preparation.

Healthy eating really has been a game changer. I am much more clear-headed today than I was six months ago, and I credit nutrition as a huge reason why.

I don’t really follow Paleo or anything like that.

Coach Evan has introduced me more into a “If It Fits Your Macros” style of eating. He really hammered in the thought that I had to eat protein with every meal.

I’ve also drastically reduced my sugar and alcohol consumption, although I’ll still indulge from time to time. Going back to “If It Fits Your Macros,” if I know I’m going to be eating dessert or having some drinks, I’ll plan for it and reduce my calories and carbs beforehand. Again though, I’m doing this less and less. I actually prefer healthier foods now, to be honest.

STEVE: That’s great to hear you say that. We here at Nerd Fitness continuously remind everyone that 80-90% of the weight loss comes down to nutrition. Not only that, but REAL food just makes you feel better. Which will give you more energy to workout. I’m glad that Evan has helped you see a plate of food differently.

What are you still working on? What new habits are you trying to develop?

JENNIFER: I am still establishing a fixed routine for sleeping and waking up, which is definitely something that has been a struggle to do. I have seen improvements though.

I’ve created a pretty solid breakfast routine, prioritizing protein. Oftentimes it’ll be cottage cheese, which I never realized I’d like!

I also have a glass of water upon waking up, which has been a good change.

Earlier I mentioned I started doing yoga. I’m experimenting with doing it first thing in the morning.

My biggest challenge for creating a successful morning routine is going to bed on time. I would say this is still a work in progress. One habit at a time.

STEVE: Getting to bed on time can be such a critical step. I’ve struggled with being a “morning person” myself, but it really is worth pursuing the routine. Keep at it, Jennifer!

Do you have any words of advice for somebody who hasn’t invested in any program and can’t seem to make any progress?

JENNIFER: Don’t fall into the perfectionistic trap that I did and feel like you have to do ALL the things at once or you are a total failure. No human can dive into deep water before learning to swim.

Trying to do that is like taking a starter character in World of Warcraft and heading straight to a high-level dungeon: you’ll get trampled.

If you cannot commit to a program or feel overwhelmed that’s completely okay. Start small. Pick a small change and stick to that and build onto that routine once you’ve gotten comfortable. This way you slowly mold yourself into the person you want to be.

I loved RPGs and grew up during the NES and SNES era and building good habits and getting healthy feels exactly like those games in a way. You don’t start at level 99,999 doing max damage to everything. You level up from the beginning and gain spells and abilities along the way and your character slowly evolves into the one you want it to be.

I think the Nerd Fitness “Level Up Your Life” motto is incredibly accurate.

Great change is made by accomplishing many smaller changes. And you’re so much less likely to become discouraged and just rage-quit if you go about change this way.

STEVE: That’s amazing Jennifer. You nailed the whole philosophy on “Level Up Your Life.” Start small, and before you know it you’re a top-level mage slaying dragons with ice spells. Or in your case, climbing up mountains.

Alright, one last question: you’ve already used some of our language, but what makes you a nerd?

JENNIFER: I consider myself a multi-dimensional nerd! If that’s not a phrase I am deeming it thus. I’ve loved video games since I was very small. Loved all the NES and Mario games, as well as the Zelda series and RPGs like Chrono Trigger and the Final Fantasy series.

I’ve played World of Warcraft with an awesome guild of all women for over 10 years.

Shout out to Daughters of the Alliance!

Comics are also a love. My absolute favorite is Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, and pretty much anything else he or David Mack have been involved in. I pretty much love all things nerdy.

STEVE: I do love me some Neil Gaiman too – I actually have Vol 1 of Sandman sitting on my coffee table! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Jennifer! All the best!

THE SIX KEYS TO JENNIFER’S WEIGHT LOSS AND LEVEL UP SUCCESS!

In speaking with Jennifer, I realized she had a few great traits which helped her succeed.

Lots of people embark on a fitness journey. Unfortunately, many of them are exactly where they started six months later.

Jennifer is different. In half a year, she’s changed her relationship with food, begun strength training, and has taken an epic trip.

After a rough patch, she used hitting rock bottom to turn her life around.

In speaking with her, and analyzing her choices and decisions, I think there are six traits that set Jennifer apart.

Here’s what we can learn from Jennifer’s success:

#1) JENNIFER STOPPED RELYING ON WILLPOWER

I love Jennifer’s “spoon” analogy. She knew she only had so much energy, only so much willpower, to get things done. So she sought a system that would require the least amount from her:

Instead of buying a gym membership she would never use, she started working out from her home.

Jennifer started with simple bodyweight exercises, a solid strategy to build momentum

Once she got a little more comfortable from working out at home, she starting using dumbbells and a bench press that she had access to. Again, all from home.

Working out and going to the gym are not tied together. If you have limited experience and/or motivation, start by doing simple bodyweight exercises at home. This is what Jennifer did!

Second, know that working out gives you more energy. Which can help give you more willpower. Which can help you embark on other habits like cooking or meal prep.

If you want to head to a gym for exercise, great! I do. However, if you have a hard time motivating yourself to leave the house, it doesn’t have to be the only option.

Starting small requires less willpower, which can help make your actions more likely to become routine.

#2) JENNIFER INVESTED IN HERSELF AND ASKED FOR HELP

Continuing on the theme of limited willpower, Jennifer knew she needed to do things differently. She saw herself with destructive habits that needed to be changed.

Doing it alone seemed impossible. It was hard enough for Jennifer to get out of bed and face the day. She knew that creating a plan and then sticking with it would require a lot of energy. Energy and willpower she was already having trouble coming up with.

So she asked for help. Jennifer wanted “Someone in MY corner to help cheer me on and guide me into a better way of living.” I’m proud that she reached out to us for that someone, and that she made a connection with her NF Coach, Evan.

It’s okay to ask for help! Knowing what to do, how to do it, and how to tell if it’s working requires a lot of energy. Some can do it alone. But many can’t. Asking for help, and then being willing to invest in that help can be a life-changing decision. Jennifer knew this and was willing to take the step to hire someone to create a plan and help her execute it.

I’ve had an online coach myself for 4 years and it has changed my life.

#3) JENNIFER HAD DRAGONS TO SLAY

I love that Jennifer planned a photography workshop in Scotland that required some physical strength and endurance. Hiking up a mountain with camera equipment isn’t easy, and Jennifer knew she’d have to train if she was going to make it.

So she asked for help, developed a plan on how to do it, and followed the plan. And boom! She was able to hike up her equipment for her class.

Having a goal gave Jennifer her “Big Why.”

When Jennifer started logging her food, it gave her anxiety. When she first started working out, she would be exhausted. When her walking buddies bailed on her, she went anyway.

Jennifer did these things because she knew they were part of a plan to get her up the Old Man of Storr in Scotland. Without doing the work, she would never get to the top. She would have to be part of the group that stuck to the sidelines.

Having a goal can provide the “Big Why.” When things get tough (and they will get tough), knowing “why” you are working hard can make all the difference.

Perhaps you want to go skiing with your kids and don’t want to be exhausted halfway through. Maybe there’s a marathon your friends are doing, and you want to go with them. Perhaps it’s practicing pull-ups so you can go tag along with your spouse who loves rock climbing.

Having a “Big Why” can be the key to making or breaking a fitness journey. And what happens after you slay a dragon? You go find a bigger dragon!

4#) JENNIFER STARTED HER JOURNEY WITH SMALL STEPS

Jennifer began with two small habits that most people can start today:

Jennifer started logging her food.

Jennifer started taking a daily walk.

We often advise people to pick a small habit they can imagine sticking with permanently. Once this becomes part of a normal routine, they can think about picking another.

This can be better than planning on “Going full Paleo, start rock climbing, and beginning a ballroom dancing practice.” If you don’t do any of these things currently, it could be very tough to start doing them all at once.

And we all know temporary changes produce temporary results. We want results that last!

That’s why Coach Evan had Jennifer start with small changes she could actually sustain.

For nutrition changes, Evan just had Jennifer track her food.

No judgment. No “eat this, not that.”

Just a log of everything she was consuming. Once Jennifer got comfortable doing this, and only once Jennifer became comfortable doing this, did Evan start to make recommendations for adjustments.

Jennifer also started small with exercises: just a walk.

Walking is a great start for a fitness journey (it’s also a great way to get to Mordor). It’ll get your heart rate up and your muscles moving, and it’s something you can do around your neighborhood. Even just a five-minute walk is a great start. Once you get in the habit of that, you can make take it to 10 minutes or even a full mile. If you start this way, eventually you can be like Jennifer and crush miles each and every day.

After you get in the habit of walking, you can switch to picking up some weights every other day. The habit of walking is easy to adapt to another exercise practice, like strength training.

“Instead of my 2pm walk, it’s now my 2pm bench press time.”

Be like Jennifer and start small. Once the habit is built, you can work to grow it from there.

5#) JENNIFER PLANNED ON WHAT TO DO WHEN SHE FELL DOWN

It brought a smile to my face when I heard Jennifer say “never two in a row.”

It’s a great frame of mind to keep.

Things will come up. You will miss a workout. You will have some beers and eat pizza. You will sleep in and miss your walking groups AM meeting. Your kid will get sick.

When you miss these things consistently, you start creating bad habits. And what you do most of the time is how you create a healthy life.

Missing one workout is okay. Missing two is bad because then it’s really easy to miss three.

Eating pizza is fine. But “once and a while” can quickly become an “everyday” thing. Continue this for too long and then you’re just living off pizza!

“Never two in a row” provides a framework for making sure bad habits don’t develop:

“If I miss today’s workout, there is no way I’m missing tomorrow’s.”

“If I eat pizza tonight, it’s eggs and a little bit of fruit in the morning.”

Create a mindset of stopping these things before they get out of hand. Be like Jennifer and create a plan on what to do when you inevitable stray from the path.

6#) JENNIFER IS HAVING FUN ALONG THE WAY

Jennifer considers herself a work in progress. When you think about it, we’re all works in progress! She knows this. But she is having fun now, which makes the days ahead seem sustainable.

We are not on a month-long journey. We are in this for the rest of our lives. To make sure we stick with it, we need to have fun! And as I say in this video: we stop thinking in terms of “weeks and months,” and instead start thinking in terms of “days and years”

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Jennifer legitimately loves strength training. You can tell she’s looking forward to one day doing pull-ups.

Jennifer likes eating nutritious food and loves how much energy she derives from those meals.

My favorite part: she views where she’s at as an experiment. She highlights this when she talks about her morning routine and yoga. She’s still not sure how to get the AM just right and thinks a little yoga in the morning might help. She’ll try it to see if it works. If it doesn’t, she’ll try something else.

IN SIX MONTHS, CAN YOU TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND LIKE JENNIFER?

All of us will hit tough spots in life.

Maybe it’s losing a job. Perhaps it’s a sick family member. Or a child that’s struggling in school.

For Jennifer, it was a nasty divorce. At first, she coped in the ways many of us cope: food and alcohol.

Jennifer decided this couldn’t continue. So she sought help. And in six months time, Jennifer has leveled up her life. She can pursue her passion for photography and not be afraid of the literal mountain ahead. She knows the shot at the top of the climb, is not only worth it, but doable.

Where will you be six months from now?

It’s enough time to build some great healthy habits as Jennifer did. However, it’s also a short enough time which can fly by if you’re not looking.

If you’re standing in the same place you were six months ago, think about what you can learn from Jennifer:

Don’t rely on willpower, build systems. Take the path of least resistance. Instead of starting with an hour-long workout program at the gym, start with exercises you can do at home.

Ask for help. You are not the first person who has tried to get fit. It’s okay to reach out to those who’ve had success, or those who have helped others. You don’t have to do this alone.

Have a goal. A “Big Why” can be critical when things get tough. When everyone is ordering pizza, or the gym seems so far away, having a goal can help you remember why you are putting in all the work.

Start small. Don’t try and change every aspect of your life tomorrow. Some can handle this approach, but most can’t. Adopt one habit you can see yourself sticking with and grow it from there.

Plan for failure. Things will come up. Having a motto like “never two in a row” can help prevent one instance of a slip up into turning into a reoccurring habit.

Have fun. Getting fit is not a 30-day experiment. It really is about a lifestyle. Pick and choose things you have fun doing. This will help ensure your new habits are sustainable.

If you relate to Jennifer and find yourself in a tough spot, we can help you turn it around.

Depending on your current situation, our 1-on-1 NF Coaching Program might be just what you need. We help people everyday complete life overhauls.

If you’re trying to get in shape, searching for a new way of eating, or want help developing a strength training practice, we know exactly how to get you there. You can learn more by clicking on the big box below and scheduling a free call with our team!

The next six months will come and go no matter what you do today.

I’d love it if half a year from now, you tell me Jennifer’s story was something you related to. Which inspired you to make some changes.

You started walking every day. You began a food journal. You finally decided to ask for help.

As always, if you do need somewhere to go for help, you know Nerd Fitness will be here.

For the Rebellion!

-Steve

PS: I want to give a special shout out to Jennifer’s Coach Evan, who has been the Dumbledore to her Hermione over these past 6 months. And I’m proud of Jennifer’s success and can’t wait to see what she does next.

If you are somebody that wants to have your own Yoda guiding you in the ways of the Force, check out or 1-on-1 coaching program, and I could be sharing YOUR story six months from now!

PPS: Speaking of success stories…If you’ve had success with any aspect of Nerd Fitness, whether it’s our free workouts, Academy, or Coaching, email us! Send your story to contact(at)NerdFitness(dot)com and let us know so we can share your adventure with the galaxy!

PPPS: We are very grateful to Guinevere’s Mirror, who provided some epic shots of Jennifer for this article.

How Jennifer the Photographer Discovered a Love of Strength Training, Lost 20 Pounds, and Leveled up Her Life. published first on https://www.nerdfitness.com

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globlenet-blog · 7 years

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Arnold Palmer obituary

https://clearwatergolfclub.com/arnold-palmer-obituary/

Arnold Palmer obituary

Among the finest players within the good reputation for golf who won 73 tournaments

In almost any listing of causes of the current recognition and financial standing of golf, the name, and also the game, of Arnold Palmer are irresistibly linked.

Palmer, that has died aged 87, was probably the most charismatic golfers ever to experience the sport, your man who had been admired by ladies and a person to whom no play was ever impossible. She got into, and from, more trouble around the course than any one of his championship winning peers, and thus crazy were his recovery shots he rapidly attracted an enormous following.

The fans, the feet soldiers, who adopted him through good or ill grew to become referred to as Arnies Army plus they never deserted him. Despite the fact that his golf inevitably declined as we grow older, their fervour for him was undimmed, as well as around the US Seniors tour he almost always departed the very first tee having a bigger gallery than other people. Nor was his appeal limited to periodic fans. Jack Statter, golf correspondent for that Sun newspaper, used to be watching his beloved Arnie as he observed the great mans caddie had unsuccessful to exchange an enormous divot. He nipped in rapidly, trousered it, required it home and finally increased an entire front lawn from that certain small bit of turf. He known as it, proudly, Palmers Piece.

Such devotion was inspired through the apparent passion that Palmer had for that game. He’d a slashing, dashing style, frequently supported with a grin. He’d hit the ball hard, the conclusion to his swing resembling an area athlete attempting to break the planet record for that hammer throw. It wasn’t a swing that may be certain to keep your ball from the trees, nor made it happen. Jim Murray, the late and great La sportswriter, along with a fan of Ben Hogan was eventually watching Palmer when certainly one of his drives carried out in deep rough. Based on Murray the ball is at a stack of twigs leaving and i believe there is a defunct squirrel along with a beer can inside too. Anyway, Palmer walked over and looked lower at his ball. He then saw me standing there and requested: OK wise guy, what can your idol Hogan do here? I told him: Hogan wouldnt be around. Palmer chuckled striking the ball to the eco-friendly anyway. Trouble, he once stated, isn’t good to get involved with but fun to get away from. I guess there is a spot to be cautious but so far as Im concerned it is not around the course.

Palmer was among the couple of men to possess given a thing new meaning in golfs lexicon. In 1960 he won the united states Masters at Augusta by finishing birdie, birdie, birdie. The majority of the sportswriters known Palmer charging right through to the win, and that he duly grew to become renowned for his final round finishes, the Palmer Charge.

3 several weeks next Augusta win, also, he won the united states Open and again the charge is at evidence. After three models it looked as if he was lacking an opportunity, and prior to the final round he was discussing his prospects having a sportswriter friend, Bob Drum. What, wondered Palmer aloud, would a 65 provide for me this mid-day? Drum, a large, burly and blunt man, was dismissive. Nothing, he stated. Palmer, stung, recently drove the very first eco-friendly at Cherry Hillsides, Denver, an opening calculating 346 yards. She got towards the submit 30, returned in 35 and won that which was to become his only US Open. He won the Masters four occasions, in 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964, and the seven majors were performed by winning outdoors championship two times.

Palmer was appropriately credited with reviving the virtually moribund Open by playing inside it the very first time at St Andrews in 1960. Couple of Americans thought it worth their while in the future and participate in the earliest of golfs major titles, but Palmer made the decision otherwise and encouraged a lot of his compatriots to help make the trip too. He was runner-in 1960 after which won two times in succession, in 1961 and 1962, at Royal Birkdale and Troon correspondingly. The outcome was immediate and immense. Just before Palmer, 3 Americans had won outdoors because the finish of world war ii: Sam Snead in 1946 and Hogan in 1953. Within the years 1961-81 they won 14 occasions, through which time outdoors took over as most cosmopolitan, and perhaps probably the most influential, championship on the planet.

Palmer was created in Latrobe, a little industrial town in western Pennsylvania, to Deacon, a golf professional in the Latrobe Country Club, and the wife, Doris. He started playing at Latrobe at 4 years old, began caddying at 11, and it was winning big local tournaments in the teens. He began their studies at Wake Forest College (now College), but was badly impacted by the dying of his room-mate Bud Worsham inside a vehicle accident, and left college throughout his senior year to start a 3-year stint using the US Coast Guard, mainly in Cleveland, Ohio, where he felt he could re-think his existence. After finishing using the Coast Guard he labored like a salesperson in Cleveland and rekindled his curiosity about golf, winning the united states Amateur championship in 1954 and turning pro exactly the same year.

The following decade was certainly one of heroic achievement, despite the fact that Palmers last win inside a major arrived 1964, his affect on the sport continued to be undiminished. He ongoing winning other big tournaments in america until his last victory there in 1973, and the last win in Europe is at 1975. Also, he ran their own tournament around the US tour, the Bay Hill Classic, which, due to his status, attracted fields just like might be found outdoors the majors. The programme for your event, locked in Orlando, Florida, transported advertisements for products endorsed by Palmer, varying from cans of oil to tractors, from Cadillacs to Rolexes, from private banks to batteries, and that he was making increased sums of cash around the back nine of his career than he did around the front.

For those his fame, however, Palmer would be a modest man. Every so often people attempted to obtain him thinking about politics, also it was seriously suggested, in the height of his recognition, he run not only for governor of Florida as well as the US presidency. He never as it were considered such nonsense, for he would be a man much more happy in the living room or his workshop compared to any high office.

In the living room he’d a Moving Rock beer dispenser, well used when buddies known as round, as well as in his workshop he’d all of the tools any-time club professional ever possessed. He never was more happy than when trying out clubs, re-gripping or re-whipping a classic set, altering a golf club loft or adding some lead strip. Some who saw him during these surrounds recommended he could have been more happy in the existence to be the club pro his father was before him. However that point of view overlooked the fierce competitive instinct which, although it consumed him, always continued to be well-hidden.

There wasn’t any better illustration of that instinct once the draw introduced him and Jack Nicklaus together for that final round from the 1980 Masters. At that time Palmer hadn’t won a competitive sport for 5 years, and Nicklaus, uncle and great rival, was the reigning US PGA champion. It ought to happen to be no contest. But Palmers wife, Winnie, understood better. Arnie plays better when hes got something similar to this to light his fire, she stated. Palmer, whose reaction on hearing the draw have been to roar Ill whip his ass, recently shot a 69 to Nicklauss 73, finishing fifth. In the previous 18 attempts at Augusta he’d unsuccessful to interrupt 70. Palmer were built with a lengthy romance with Augusta, so when in The month of january 1997 he found that he’d cancer of the prostate, his first reaction ended up being to ask whether, if he’d the surgery immediately, he’d be fit to experience at Augusta in April. The solution was yes, and that he was.

Altogether Palmer won 73 tournaments worldwide, including greater than 60 around the US tour. Only Snead, Tiger Forest, Nicklaus and Hogan are in front of him for the reason that department. Twenty-nine of his victories were at that time 1960-63, which brought eventually to him being named Connected Press athlete from the decade for that 60s. He made an appearance in six Ryder Cups from 1961 to 1973, playing in 32 matches and winning 22, and it was two times a Ryder Cup captain inside a playing role in 1963 along with a non-playing capacity in 1975, winning both occasions.

He joined his last US Open at Oakmont, in Pennsylvania, in 1994 4 decades after first playing in case and the enthusiasm and durability is shown because the space between his US Amateur championship win in 1954 and the US Senior Open victory almost 30 years ago was 27 years. Possibly no professional ever loved the sport more. Most of the top players cannot bear to experience unless of course there’s an aggressive aspect, along with a round with buddies for pure enjoyment is unthinkable. But Palmer performed for that pleasure from it, as well as in his communication of this fact lay the key of his incredible recognition.

There is an event away Hill as he and also the then emerging Forest found one another around the practice range simultaneously. Palmer requested Forest if he was enjoying existence around the tour and Forest responded he was, because, the thing is, the factor is the fact that I enjoy play golf. Palmer smiled and responded: Well, thats good. I understand something about this. Its an issue Ive had for around the final six decades.

Winnie (nee Walzer), whom he married in 1954, died in 1999. He’s survived by their two kids, Peggy and Amy, by his second wife Package (nee Gawthrop), whom he married in 2005.

Arnold Daniel Palmer, golfer, born 10 September 1929 died 25 September 2016

David Davies died in 2008

Find out more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/26/arnold-palmer-obituaries

#Golf #PGA Tour #The Masters #US news #US Open

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worldscollideca · 7 years

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Valiant doesn’t hate you (despite my claims to the contrary)

The long and furious blog I posted last week and subsequently shared across many social media platforms, (up to and including Valiant’s Facebook page) was my frustrated reaction to what i saw/see as manipulation of the fan base, abuse of the direct market system and at the very least a skewing of sales that inaccurately forecasts readership going forward while simultaneously putting undue pressure on the stores that (right or wrong) cave and acquiesse to these marketing schemes, endangering their own longevity and directly harming the businesses of other brick and mortar stores in the immediate area. And then there is the online effect. We all know that as soon as one of these rare/special/unique/lackluster variants hit the shelves they miraculously appear on the resale market at prices even more exorbitant than what was the in store sticker price. A few short hours after I posted my concerns and frustrations I received a phone call from Atom at Valiant Entertainment, who wanted to discuss my concerns and to correct a few inaccuracies/vagueries that had been posted by both me and the proprietors at Collector’s Paradise. Firsty, he cleared up the misconception that there would be original/exclusive story pages contained within the additional 8pgs of exclusive content. The additional pages are to contain sketches, additional virgin art and some info about the process involved with the creation of the store’s variant cover and about the relaunch. This information calmed my indignant fires some, but I still find the whole process elitist and not in the best interest of the Direct Market. While most of our stores are independant we are part of a larger collective organism that operates not against our “competitors” but with and because of them. I am not a fan of the “industry” labels applied to much of what we do we are a community and sure the publishers jockey for shelf space and hype while . I do not think “Dollar First”. My method as a store operator is not to undercut the other shops or to do something they are unable/unwilling to do but to offer things that they don’t. Fill a vaccuum. If they do good biz selling Funk-yO toys, I’m not afraid to let my customers know that “Foxy Marv’s” is the place to get em..

My concern is in having the things they want, listening to the customers, constantly building my knowledge so that i can find new interesting things to read. Without it being part of my decision process I am keenly aware that if you provide people with good service and get things they will enjoy into their hands, they will come back again and again to buy things. READ. READERS. THIS IS KEY. Speculative fads come and go and require a kind of his energy reactionary involvement that I’ve no interest in. I sell books. The gimmick of the month, trendy product of the year, or that superhyped licensed product, these are transient, unreliable, and even if they prove somewhat sustainable they neglect the essence of what we do. I was assured through my discussion with Valiant that story, art and quality books are their main goal, tho they feel behooved to try some of these marketing gambits to keep pace with Mickey Mouse and Bat Bunny. I will counter that Image comics is now the 3rd largest publisher of comics, the first to crack a 10% market share and they have done this laregly without any particular hustle. They went through that and now the books are the thing and the only thing, There is certain differences here, being that Image is not trying to cut in on the Superhero genre, content to produce every other kind of sci-fi/western/post-apocalyptic/fantasy/roamnce/BBQcrime drama. With nary a cape in sight. Their readership is different. But there’s that seemingly ephemeral concept of readership again. No matter how far we get from thinking of it, reading and the stories will always be the core. Part of what was so frustrating to me is seeing devoted readers/customers who have followed Valiant from the Shooter days, thru the Acclaim era, up to the lovingly produced, well scripted, expertly illustrated epoch they are in now. If this was another company, who I had already rock bottom expectations of , who produce souless poorly assembled books that have more variants of a title and Deluxe Naugahyde boxed set ,than they have actual issues, I wouldnt be nearly as aggravated., Valiant makes good comics. they make quality stuff. they have gone to great efforts to resussitate their characters, deal with the divorce from the Gold Key characters, hire talented artists and produce what are generally excellent , quality books. I expect more from them. The ideas that you need these tricks to sell mags is nonsense and it only contributes to, encourages and caters to a increasingly volitile, fickle and fragile demographic. The collector, speculator, investor type might have deep pockets but they are the first to bail when there is any dip in interest in comic books, leaving all the retailers and publishers holding their...books, looking puzzled. But none of should really be surprised,and I know the people at Valiant are aware of this dynamic. Take other booksellers: Indigo/Chapters, Borders and others... they dont need this and dont resort to thist type of marketing to grab attention. Their employees aslo never field questions about 1st prints, variants, exclusive covers or exclusive content. Try this in a regular shop and you’d alientate not just the folks who missed out on said “special” but you’d piss off and probably lose the entire customer base. These people want books, literature, reading material. This is sustainable. This is reasonable. In stead of using fear and consumerist greed against the customer, appeal to what they actually want and whhat they may continue to follow month after month. Pumping out #1′s and Ultra Rare shiny think beyond this month. It’s curious that so many people seem to understand the long game when t comes to sitting on a stack of 1st appearences while waiting for the next Hollywood adaption to drop but they can’t have even a modicum of foresite when it comes to the core of their businesses. All this hype and scheming is not a strength of the direct market no matter how its positioned, it is a detractor that keeps peope away. " I cant get into comics", "i dont know where to start", " I’d be afraid to read them because they could get damaged. " We all have heard this. Or my favourite,”Is this good?” Which is meant as,”Is this gonna make me rich?" These are malignant peculiarities of the comics trade. We need to get past this.

The so called graphic novel, which we all know is usually just reprints, is the foot in the door to legitiamcy, to have the form fully appreciated widely. And they are getting there. Comics are taught in schools,libraries everywhere have graphic novel sections, but there still is this lingering 1954 attitutde that does not see comics as valid literature or art, just as a collectible commodity to be sealed locked away and sold. Why bother printing the stories inside if this is the case.Just make them into 7″x10″ trading cards? End rarities. Give me ISBNs and barcodes that end in X! This in the end should be no threat to us the, DM retailers because such a wealth of this hybrid artform it cant be fully embraced or understood with a couple shelves of mostly Marvel, DC and Viz books. We provide a gateway, a love and understanding of the medium, a grasp of history and appreciation you wont get in a Chapters deals with Amazon too, and the creeping digital comics threat, but people love books, all kinds of books . There is a whole section of humanity who don’t love comics, and in this case I mean comics as the floppy, stapled, increasingly archaic, NorthAm curiousity, bastard child of Pulps, Newspapers and sleazy tabloid mags. Make the best books you can. make them accessible so that people other than the frenzied OCD colectors can get them. Reject elite one-upmanship. In stead of trying to extract max dollars from dwindling buyers thru schemes like getting them to consume multiple copies. And be realistic here, quite often the store is the end user, stats sales and highfives are based on how many we the retailers panicked and bought. The kind of statistical data released by Diamond or thru other chains of info generally does not describe or track or care about who is taking these things home, if they are a reader, or if the person who just bought 20 copies to put under this bed until they are worth more than silver. They also don’t track how many are returned/destroyed I believe wholeheartedly in readership. I trust in this. This belief, this principle, this ideal has nothing to do with profit, tho it has borne out over the 30+ yrs of our store that this is still profitable. And durable. Publishers, your company will get space on merit. Sometimes i'll have to shrink that because no matter what we do they just wont buy but it wont be for a lack of effort. Valiant comics also believes in it’s readership. They are doing what they think is best to get attention to their books. I still disagree with it, but I do believe in the end their goal is to produce quality books to interest new readers and to continue to impress and engage their life long fans. The battle continues in this “post-literate” society to keeps people reading and to make sure books are in their hands. Keep making good stuff and I’ll be on your side. The medium of comics, as a form of art and literature needs to flourish. And it can be bigger and better than ever if we maintain focus wthout succumbing to shortsighted grabs at a brass ring. This is a business, but it is also more than that. Stories are central to humanity. Storytelling and oral histories are of primary importance to how we got where we are and how we maintain it and move forward. It is how we communicate. The comics medium does this in a wholly unique way and we need to strengthen this and affirm it as intrinsic to our human culture. Keep reading. See you all Wednesday.

#valiantcomics #valiant #comicsarebooks #xomanowar

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