I just finished reading one of the most powerful and inspiring books that I have ever read on transforming live. The book is entitled, Making the Impossible Possible. It is by a Mr. Bill Strickland (profile) who is president-CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation and its subsidiaries in Manchester, PA. The book discusses the methodology that Mr. Strickland has employed very effectively for the past 30 years to radically transform the lives of those who are damaged souls, disadvantaged or disenfranchised in some way.
I found this book while doing some research online. This book is so powerful and so moving that once I picked it up, I could not put it down. For readers of this blog and for clients of Better Bodies in Training, you know that I have not made any product recommendations in the past. However, whenever I am moved in such a powerful way, I have to share it. Now, I have not been asked by Mr. Strickland nor anyone else to make this recommendation. Nor have I been giving anything in return. I simply make this recommendation because I believe that this is a book that can put achievement and the quest for a meaningful life in greater perspective.
I will not go into much details about the book's content. I would not want to spoil your discovery of the wisdoms and insights revealed. But I will end this post by saying that if you are struggling to find the meaning and purpose of your life, if you struggle to stay focused and motivated to reach your goals, if you allow others to place limitation on what you believe is possible, then this most definitely a book you want to read.
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We have been contemplating on whether we should cut our own exercise videos for demonstration purposes or use existing videos that meet your standards for quality work. By this video being on our site, we have made the former. However, we don't do so lightly. One of our goals in putting exercise videos, or any content for that matter on our site, is to provide powerful resources that inspires and motivates our readers and clients to achieve a better body. To do so, require that videos be short, clear, easy to execute and at a low to moderate exercise level. I believe that the above video does all that.
I do need to make a few notes. One, the exercise demonstated in the video is for developing the rotational core. Second, the level of execution is medium. To reduce its degree of difficulty, simply use no weight and use the resistance of the swiss ball. I recommend that this exercise be apart of a complete core exercise including a frontal core and posterior core exercises. Also, shot for 30-60 seconds to really get that burn and the sweat factor. Repeat 2-3 times. If you should have any questions or need clarification simply email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
As always, the situation we find ourselves in today, is a direct result of the choices and decisions we have made and the actions we have taken. If you want to make some changes, you need to begin with choosing some of the best exercises for you. This exercise is a great beginning.
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Resistant Training
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(Confidence = Practice+ Practice + Practice + Practice…)
There is a story I heard awhile back about how a little league coach developed confidence in his young players. I am not sure of the source, but I think that the morale of the story rings true.
At the beginning of each baseball season about half the youngsters were afraid of facing the fastball. They could not concentrate on hitting the ball because they were too afraid of being hit.
Normally during practice the kids face about 60 pitches a week mostly from coaches because the kids are less scared when a coach is pitching.
He decided to change this. He decided that instead of 60 pitches per week, these kids would face 300 pitches. These pitches would be delivered by the best pitchers so that the kids would get used to facing the fastball faster.
The amazing thing was that the longer the kids did it, the more comfortable they become and the more confidence they displayed during a live game.
He came to realize that fear can be conquered by facing the thing you are afraid of over and over again. This repeated exposure eventually will lead to a high comfort level, which in turn leads to confidence.
So, if you want to develop confidence in a particular task or action, try practicing that task or action over and over again, until you are comfortable with its execution. In other words with repeated practice, you can learn to have confidence or be confident in just about anything.
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Inspirational/Motivational
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Do you want to lose weight? If you do – you’re not alone. More and more people are finding out that they are not at a healthy weight. Maybe you are overweight and want to lose the excess. Maybe you are underweight and want to gain needed pounds. This acknowledgement can and does have serious health consequences. Whatever you desire, one of our major goals at Better Bodies in Training is to provide you with resources that will aide you in your quest.
Below is a list of articles that we believe will serve as a great starting point for you. We are adding more and more content each day that we hope will help inspire and motivate you to achieve whatever your weight management goals might be. In this same spirit, we are always open to ideas and suggestions that might make this site the best source, bar-none. If you have a thought or two about additional content that we should add, or topics which we might write about, do send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
- Weight Management-What is it?
- BMI: What it means!
- How to determine and understand your % of Bodyfat
- What is the importance of waist size?
- How to determine your waist-to-hip ratio!
- How to understand the weightloss process!
Published in
Weight Management
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I have always wondered why there are many of us, who either are unwilling or unable to achieve the seemingly impossible. Yet, there are a few, who despite the circumstances of their existence, despite the obstacles put before them, despite the problems faced, despite the tragedies suffered, despite the odds against them, they not only dream the impossible, but also achieve it.
What is it that this individuals have that far too many of us lack? Are they somehow inherently superior to us in mind, body or character? Do they somehow have some magic powers that permit them to transcend it all; or, do they simply have the faith and belief in themselves and incorporate the characteristics of resolve and grit into the very fiber of their being, that no matter what, no matter who, no matter where, no matter when, or no matter how, the impossible is possible?
The lyrics to this song is so moving and so inspiring to me, I wanted to share it with others. So, below is a copy of the Lyrics by Joe Darion and Music by Mitch Leigh. I do hope that it inspires someone, somewhere to dream the impossible dream.
To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong,
To love pure and chaste from afar,
To try when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star.
This is my quest,
To follow that star --
No matter how hopeless,
No matter how far.
To fight for the right
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march
Into hell for a heavenly cause.
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will be peaceful and calm
when I'm laid to my rest.
And the world will be better for this,
that one man scorned and covered with scars
still strove with his last ounce of courage.
To reach the unreachable star.
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong
To be better far than you are
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star.
This is my quest, to follow that star,
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To be willing to give when there's no more to give
To be willing to die so that honor and justice may live
And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star.
Published in
Inspirational/Motivational
Tagged under
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No matter what people say, no matter what happens, no matter what obstacles are put in your way, no matter what set backs you have, no matter what challenges you face, no matter what problems are born, no matter what trials you endure, do you have what it takes to be better, feel better, do better or have better? Do have what it takes to achieve the impossible?
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Inspirational/Motivational
Tagged under
BMI
Of all the body composition measurement tools, the BMI calculation seems to be the most common measurement used to determine healthy bodyweight. Some fitness and health professional treat the BMI as the gold standard. According to the CDC, “ BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems” http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.html.
BMI simply takes into consideration a person’s weight in pounds divided by that persons height in inches, the quotient is then mulitiped by 703. This is the manual calculation. There are many online versions that will make this calculation much easier. These would include:
- http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html
- http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
- http://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/bmi_calculator/?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-HEA&HBX_PK=bmi_calculator
- http://www.bmi-calculator.net/
Whichever method you use, the results are assessed using the following parameters:
|
Category |
BMI Range |
|
Severly underweight |
< 16.5 |
|
Underweight |
16.5-18.4 |
|
Normal Weight |
18.5 – 24.9 |
|
Overweight |
25 - 30 |
|
Obese Class I |
30.1-34.9 |
|
Obese Class II |
35-40 |
|
Obese Class III (Morbid Obese) |
40.1 + |
According to http://lapbandcanada.ca , “there are several problems, however, with using BMI calculations as a determination of ideal weight:
- body fat percentage or distribution is not accounted for;
- only some of the tables account for different body frames or ages; and
- most importantly, there is no consensus about which formula or table to use.
The BMI gives particularly inaccurate information with regard to individuals with above-average lean muscle mass, classifying such individuals as "overweight" or "obese" despite the fact that their body fat percentage would indicate they are in excellent physical condition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage).
There are some online BMI calculators which include a frame size calculation. A couple examples include:
- http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/ideal-body-weight-3146-143.html?ic=4004
- http://www.dietandfitnesstoday.com/bodyFrame.php
Whichever method is used, the key point is to determine not just your ideal body weight but to also assess your risks for obesity and heart related diseases and conditions. Once such information is obtain, it is then imperative to take positive steps to correct, reduce and improve your overal health and fitness.
Published in
Weight Management
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