Baseball's Best Lessons

Whether you've been a fan since birth (like me), or you're just starting to catch some baseball fever (like my mom). It's hard not to get excited when your team (the Blue Jays of course) is on a hot streak! It brings people together, it re-charges your mojo and it instills hope in an otherwise hopeless world.  That is the magic of summer's greatest pastime.  So if you're feeling a little blah when it comes to your workout, your work, or just life in general, here are my Top Ten baseball quotes to help maybe light a match under that unmotivated butt!

"I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile.”        Tom Clark

"Life will always throw you curves, just keep fouling them off... the right pitch will come, but when it does, be prepared to run the bases."
Rick Maksian

"Some days you tame the tiger,
and some days the tiger has you for lunch."
Tug McGraw
(1944-2004; American Major League Baseball relief pitcher)

"Things could be worse. Suppose your errors were counted and published every day, like those of a baseball player."

 Unknown

"Sweat plus sacrifice equals success."

Charlie Finley (past owner of the Oakland A's) 

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.”

Tommy Lasorda (manager for LA Dodgers 1976-1996)

“Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”

Satchel Paige

“Every strike brings me closer to the next homerun.”

Babe Ruth

“Progress always involves risks. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.”  

Frederick B. Wilcox

“Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” 

Babe Ruth

 

 

 

Think of this next time you're asked to do Burpees...

I'm tempted to do this for one of Beef's Boot Camp classes...

I'd especially like to see the guys in some of these outfits, hahahaha.

Enjoy a little blast from the past...

(Click on the text, not the photo, for the link).

-->

This Aerobic Video Wins Everything

 

D'oh! Canada

Exciting.

Gutt-wrenching.

Inspiring.

Heart-breaking.

It was quite the ride and I'm sad that it's come to an end. 

Christine Sinclair, with her dogged determination, showed us once again why she's a star.

And Kadeisha Buchanan, with her calm, effortless technique, easily convinced us that we were witnessing a rising star. 

 

Sure, it would've been sweet to see Team Canada move onto the next stage...and then win the cup, but we've got 2019 to look forward to, as the squad just keeps getting better and better.

So while our hearts are heavy with the pain of defeat, let's take comfort knowing that not only did the ladies qualify, they fought a good fight.  Our men's team on the other hand hasn't qualified for a World Cup since...

1986.

Ouch.  Hopefully this takes the sting out of our nation's loss.  At least a little anyway.

HULK SMASH!

Ever since I was a kid, I've loved the HULK.  Who wouldn't want to turn into a giant, green, unstoppable super-human with the strength of 10,000 men and smash everything in sight! 

So in order to get you pumped for this month's Beef Boot Camp session, here is the Big Guy, in all his wonderfully strong glory...

HULK SMASH!

I never get sick of seeing the Hulk dispose of the "Mighty" Thor so effectively in just one quick stroke!

Enjoy and get ready for some smashing strength training this month!

Spring Training

It's my favorite time of the year...Spring is here and that means, so is BASEBALL (any day now...April 6th to be exact)!

Even if you're not a baseball fan (the tragedy), you can still find a little inspiration from this baseball video below since the message applies to all forms of training and striving to be the best you can be.

Besides, there is no better coach or trainer than the man himself...ROCKY! (Listen towards the end).

Enjoy and let's get ready to PLAY BALL!

Dream

You’ve Been Lied To — Getting Started Isn’t The Hardest Part

Check out this great article (without the sugar-coating) by Master Motivator, Coach Kozak of HASfit:

For years I’ve heard well-intentioned fitness experts talk about how getting started is the hardest part. They contend that once you get started on a diet and fitness regimen that it is all downhill from there. Well, my experience has taught me that this is just a flat out lie.

Every year at this time we start hearing about “New Years’ Resolutions” and “New Year New You,” but 15 days later everyone is back to eating pizza and cake. Want to know the ugly truth? The hardest part is keeping it up.

Why do we tell everyone that getting started is the hard part? We’ll probably never know for sure, but my guess is we’re just trying to motivate people to get started. The problem is that we are setting you up for failure, because when it really gets tough and you want to quit then you aren’t prepared. 

Prepared for the rainy days when all you want to do is sleep. Prepared for the long days at work or school when you just want to lie on the couch when you get home. Prepared for the food temptations around the holidays. Prepared to scroll through a social media feed and see nothing but food porn.

So I’m here to tell you that it never gets easier. Temptations will always exist. It will always be easier to lie on the couch, than to get up and go exercise.  

I’ve been living a clean and healthy lifestyle for as long as I remember, but it’s still a battle. How do I keep going? Mental toughness. To be successful, you need to make a conscious decision that you are going to hold yourself accountable and that you are worth it.

Those who succeed through the long haul only have one characteristic in common. They are not all runners, bodybuilders, Crossfitters, or HASfitters. They are not all vegan, paleo, or gluten-free. They ARE mentally tough.

Without it, you will fail. 

The good news is it is free. It doesn’t require a monthly membership or a degree. Mental toughness comes standard within each of us, but somewhere along the way we stopped using it and it atrophied just like any other muscle.

If you haven’t used it in a while, then don’t expect it be strong right away. You must exercise and build up your mental strength just as you would your core or endurance. Aim for progress, not perfection. Take pride in small victories, e.g. saying no to sweets, exercising 3 days in a week, etc.

Don’t punish yourself if you stumble, but instead use it as a learning experience. Reevaluate what caused you to stumble and be better prepared the next time. And most importantly, do NOT allow yourself to give up. 

Anyone can get started, but the hard part is not giving up.