The Beauty of Intense Conditioning

"Never cut corners. Train hard and don't cut corners. Because if you do, it will come back to kick you in the ass. Guaranteed." - Micky Ward

I want to start off by saying that I am proud of each and every one of you for the effort and dedication you put in your training this week. WAY TO DO IT! CONTINUE TO STRIVE AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

There are so many topics, concepts, and ideas that I want to share with you. Each day I am back and forth on what concepts and points I want to bring to the table. Each day I get so excited to share my insight with you and look forward to the next day so I can give you more of this passion that lives inside me. THANKS for reading my messages and I hope that you can apply each message to your training plan.

So I changed my concept for today ten times, and finally decided to discuss the importance of CONDITIONING. I tend to put alot of pressure on my clients when it comes to conditioning...wanting them to be the most conditioned athletes in the gym. I heard this saying many years ago and I have applied it to my own training and have been such a believer ever since. "Strength is important, but USELESS without the endurance to apply it." I believe in an overall conditioned athlete...someone who is versatile and can transition and recover from one exercise to another. Someone who is able to take on any challenge that is put in front of them.

The exciting thing about this concept is that you are in complete control of your conditioning. There is no excuse to neglect physical conditioning. How many people are successful in overall conditioning? SOME ARE! But conditioning and maintaining that conditioning is difficult. That's when I say, YOU MUST DIG DEEP! DIG IN AND GET IT DONE! IF IT HURTS, IT'S WORKING AND YOU ARE RIGHT ON TRACK!

Your main goal is to get in shape BUT my main goal for you is the STAY IN SHAPE! It is easy to stay in shape for one week, but how difficult is it to maintain that shape through time. How many of you have taken breaks from training? How many of you have prepared for a trip or an event and then once it is over you have taken a few weeks off? If you have taken breaks from training, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.

What happens is that a person must spend more time and energy getting back to where they were. They must work twice as hard to reach the level that they were at and sadly but true they are more than likely to mentally deteriorate and lose the confidence and the drive they once had to be a successful athlete. As a trainer, I see this too often and I refuse to let my clients take two steps backward when I know they can take 4 steps forward.

One of my favorite overall conditioning drills (if you train with me...you know what I am about to say) is the Burpee. It is the ultimate bodyweight conditioning exercise. It will strengthen the entire body, while developing indomitable endurance, both muscular and anaerobic. When performing this movement, you must move through the exercise at a FURIOUS PACE. The main goal of the Burpee and all the different combinations of the Burpee is to improve total body conditioning, so in order to do this you must move through the exercise sequence as fast and as controlled as possible.

So because I want to see you succeed with your overall conditioning...I have included a SPECIAL BURPEE GIFT for those of you that want to give it a try.

The CHALLENGE is Burpees x 100 reps
How long will it take you to perform 100 Burpees?

**I know some of you will laugh and say WHATEVER! At least give it a try, don't mentally take yourself out of the challenge because you see the number 100 and the word Burpees. Challenge yourself and BELIEVE YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING THAT IS PUT IN FRONT OF YOU!