“It amazes me that most people spend more time planning out next summer’s vacation than they do planning the rest of their lives.” Patricia Fripp, Professional Speaker
This can certainly be true for many people especially when it comes to planning their exercise and nutrition during these challenging summer months. To combat this dilemma we are trying a couple of new things this summer. First, we are taking our workouts outside. The morning boot camps are actually outside at a near by park. Second, we are having the first ever EXL Fitness Skinny Jeans Lifestyle Transformation Contest. It’s fun to mix it up a little bit and the weather couldn’t be better. But more importantly, I wanted to show my campers the possibilities that they have when traveling for work or holiday this summer. As well as help them stay accountable with a compliant dependent lifestyle transformation contest.
Summer is one of the hardest times to stay committed to an exercise and nutrition program. The kids are out of school. We have holidays, reunions, vacations, BBQ’s all sorts of events to pull us out of our routine. Don’t get me wrong we should take breaks from both exercise and nutrition at certain times in the year, but only after we’ve been committed for extended periods of time.
For outdoor enthusiasts summer can be the easiest time to get in their exercise
As part of the skinny jeans contest I’m challenging my clients to perform exercise on a daily basis and to follow a nutrition plan. Points are alloted for various forms of exercise and diet adherence. Up for grabs are free training packages, massages, spa packages and a pair of designer jeans. I would love to have a half a dozen winners tied with the most points, all with perfect scores. But reality is, is that life happens. Somethings are unavoidable, but there are many things we can do to schedule in our exercise, plan out our nutrition and get results. Plus, I’m a firm believer in the 90% rule. If you’re 90% compliant to your exercise and diet routine you will see results. In fact, studies have shown almost immeasurable difference between 100% and 90% adherence (BTW, 90% adherence to 3 strength training workouts and 3 interval workouts a week in a 6 week phase means only missing 3 workouts. 90% adherence to 6 meals a week means out of 42 meals you only skip or eat something not on the meal plan 4 times a week). So plan on being completely fervid and faithful with an occasional mishap. In the end you will see your goals to fruition.
To help with your exercise here is one of the outdoor boot camps we’re doing this week. We just so happen to be doing this workout on a grass hill, but the workout is challenging even on flat ground. There are 3 exercises in each circuit. Each exercise is performed for the prescribed reps and then repeated continuously for 10 minutes with a 1 minute rest between circuits. We actually perform a core specific circuit afterwards and then some energy system development (a sophisticated way of saying cardio). This workout is definitely metabolic, the first few laps may seem a little easy, but it’ll catch up with you.
Circuit 1
1. Bear Crawls up and down the hill: 1 rep up and down. The first time through the circuit face up the hill, the second time through face left, then faceright and then back to facing up hill.
2. Partner Rows: 10 reps
3. V rotations: 10 reps each side
Circuit 2
1. Forward lunges up the hill, backward lunges down the hill: 1 rep up and down the hill
2. Straight-leg sit ups: 10 reps
3. Down Hill Skiers: 20 reps
Stay Fit
Mat “the trainer”
PS- Feel free to share your feelings and excitement about the Skinny Jeans Contest. Or if you have any prizes you would be willing to throw into the competition let me know.
PPS- as always feel free to share this blog post with anyone that is motivated by competition or anyone looking to shed some fat, get stronger and feel more energy.
PPPS- word of the day: fervid [fur-vid] heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm
To book Mat to speak at your Utah Valley company, club, or organizations please contact him by email at matgover@mac.com or by phone at (801) 836.7185. For a free one-week trial to his Orem boot camp to experience the best personal training in Utah Valley please call Mat or drop by the gym (1623 N State St, Orem right next to Costa Vida).
As most of you know I am an outdoor/adventure enthusiast. For some individuals working out is an end in and of itself. Which is fine because improved health and wellness are great reasons to workout. For me its a means with which to enjoy life more fully. What good is fitness if you can’t use it? And I prefer to use my fitness for fun whether it’s skiing off Mount Timpanogos, rock climbing the face of Angel’s Landing in Zion NP, or mountain biking the White Rim trail in Canyonlands NP. 
I want to share some tips with you today that pretty much sums up what all of us need to do to get lean and stay lean for life.
I remember the days when I used to exclusively workout at a big commercial gym. I used to think it was absolutely necessary to be in a gym to get results- that a good workout required you to be in a health club with all the equipment. Today I find myself at the best point of my life, from both a business and fitness standpoint, and I haven’t stepped foot in a commercial gym for almost 2 years now. After some thought, I wrote down what I felt were the top 10 reasons NOT
