Rev Abs, week 1

The first week of any new exercise program is always a challenge. Rev Abs challenged me from the very first day.

The breathing techniques used by trainer Brett Hobel in Rev Abs are to help you “fire your abs” in every move. If I’m doing squats, I’m used to exhaling as I’m going into the squat. In Rev Abs, you’re doing the exact opposite. You’re inhaling as you go into the squat, and exhaling (or “firing your abs”) as you come out of it. Although this was difficult, I was able to master it during the first week and did this effectively. By the end of the week, my abs were firing – even when I wasn’t working out. An intense way to complete the first week!

pre-Rev Abs

This past Sunday, November 8th, I began a new 90day program - Rev Abs. The promo for it is below. Starting with this program, I'm going to do something a little different on this blog. I'm changing it up, make things a little more interesting, and let you SEE what I'm doing.

In addition to the text blogs, and the video of the workouts on youtube...
I'll post a video blog weekly as well. This way, it's another way of remaining accountable for my workouts, nutrition, and my health.

You have to stay on top of everything. This is the way to do it.

P90X & Bodyfat

I mentioned my measurements/statistics in my last blog post. Now, here's a little more info that I didn't provide.

When I began round four of P90X, my bodyfat was 26.0%
When I finished round four, my bodyfat was 17.0%

So in the course of 90 days, in addition to dropping 8.5pounds and losing 4.25" inches, I lost 9% bodyfat - and THAT is a lot!

I'm in the middle of week one for Rev Abs. Got another post to follow this one. Got something special in mind...

P90X Measurements

In P90X, you take your measurements every 30 days, or at the end of each "phase". The program is broken up into three phases. Phases one and two are three weeks of weights followed by a week of recover. The third phase has four weeks of weight work followed by a week of recovery. As you complete each phase, you take the fit test to see how you've progressed over time. These are my results:

DAY 0 / 30 / 60 / 90

Chest: 36" / 33.5" / 36.0" / 35.5"

L. Bicep: 11.375" / 11.5" / 11.125" / 11.0"

R. Bicep: 11.25" / 11.5" / 11.00" / 11.125"

Waist: 36.5" / 33.5" / 35.125 / 35.125"

Hips: 36" / 34" / 35.75" / 34.75"

L. Thigh: 20.75" / 20.5" / 20.625 / 20.375"

R. Thigh: 20.00" / 20.125" / 19.875 / 19.75"

TOTAL: 171.875" / 164.675" / 169.50" / 167.625"

Weight: 156 / 153 / 154.4 / 147.5

In 90 days of P90X, I've lost 8.5pounds and 4.25". If I've accomplished this in 90 days with P90X, I'm anxious to see what I will have in 90 days of Rev Abs!!!

P90X Fitness Test

The P90X workout program has a fitness test, which you take on day 0 before you begin the program and again on day 91 when you complete the program. I can tell you that I have made some accomplishments in the fit test.

RESTING HEART RATE
08/08/09 72bpm
11/08/09 58bpm

WIDE PULLUPS TO FAILURE
08/08/09 5
11/08/09 20

VERTICAL LEAP
08/08/09 5"
11/08/09 9"

PUSH UPS
08/08/09 35
11/08/09 39

TOE TOUCH
08/08/09 -5 1/2" (5 1/2 short of my toes)
11/08/09 -3/4" from my toes

WALL SQUAT
08/08/09 - 52seconds
11/08/09 - 1minute, 43 seonds

BICEP CURLS
08/08/09 7reps at 27.5 pounds
11/08/09 7reps at 35.0 pounds

IN & OUTS
08/08/09 33reps
11/08/09 49reps


HEART RATE MAXIMIZER
For this test, you do jumping jacks as hard and fast as you can for two minutes. Then you check your heart rate every minute. Here are the results:

Heartrate after completion
08/08/09 169bpm
11/08/09 142bpm

After one minute
08/08/09 111bpm
11/08/09 98bpm

After two minutes
08/08/09 92bpm
11/08/09 88bpm

After three minutes
08/08/09 85bpm
11/08/09 83bpm

After four minutes
08/08/09 81bpm
11/08/09 76bpm


Throughout the test, I wore a heart rate monitor. The heart rate monitor measures your heartbeat, but takes three measurements - average, minimum, and maximum heartbeat. These are the results:

Maximum Heartrate
08/08/09 179bpm
11/08/09 183bpm

Average Heartrate
08/08/09 90bpm
11/08/09 94bpm

Minimum Heartrate
08/08/09 65bpm
11/08/09 58bpm

Turning 40

Why is it when you go up in age, people tend to make a big deal about it? I can understand going from age 20 to 21, but as for the others after that - it's just a number!

I mean think about it!
- If you play the Mega Millions lottery. You get 5 of the winning numbers, but missed one for the big prize.
- Your pants are too tight, so you go to the store and buy the next size up.
- You're cooking dinner and run out of a particular item while cooking. Once it's cooked and you taste it, you know that it didn't come out the way you wanted to...

I hope you get the idea.

Age is a number. So are statistics, finances, weight, and inches. You could be at your goal, exactly where you want to be at this point in time. But as we get older, that changes - our bodies, health, strength, flexibility, recovery time - all will change, especially if we do not take care of ourseleves. If we want to maintain it, we have to take care of our bodies and health the way we manage our businesses. Consistently, diligently, and honestly.

I'm now forty years old. I'm proud to say that I have done and accomplished more over the past twenty years, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've done theatre for seventeen years, sang in choirs and chorues for thirty-four years, taught CCD for a year, ran a singles group at church for a year and a half, I've travelled both domestically and internationally, studied martial arts, graduated college with a bachelor's degree, worked in corporate for five and a half years, and have worked in finance for an electronics distribution company for eight years - a job at which I still hold today.

What am I getting at?
We all have a past, we all have experience. People believe that our past makes us who we are. This is not necessarily true. Our past does not dictate who we will BECOME! For instance, just because I was born with epilepsy does not mean that I shouldn't take care of myself or I will live a seizure-free life! I have been seizure-free since 1996, and will do whatever is necessary to remain that way.

Not a lot of people have a mindset. Yes, this IS a mindset. Someone once said, "if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything." Motivational speaker, Anthony Robbins, has said, "Anything that any human being can do, so can I".

The poet, Goethe, has said, "trust yourself, then you will know how to live". This quote changed my life. By having enough faith and determination in yourself, you will provide the necessary drive and motivation to help you accomplish not only your goals, but the goals others in your life.

Two years ago, my goal was to get fit, workout hard enough for six-pack abs, muscles in my arms... As I strove to achieve that, I obtained something else instead. I have achieved improved blood pressure, excellent cholesterol, and educating myself on proper nutrition. Proper nutrition helped my body and muscles effectively and efficiently.

I wanted to get into the best shape possible before turning 40 years old. For the most part, I have accomplished that. NOW, my goal is to surpass my current achievements and progress to the next level with my fitness. Stronger, healthier, faster, flexibile, leaner... a litle bit of everything.

Forty is a number. By tomorrow, it will change to forty years old and two days, and it will continue to change over time.

I choose to continue learning, developing, reaching, educating, and reaching for the next level, the next challenge, the next opportunity. Why? Because that's evolution. It shows change. These changes will be my history. Where I've started, how I have progressed, what I have achieved, and what I hope to become.

James Manganiello Update

Beachbody Coach James Manganiello suffers from epilepsy, but that hasn't stopped him from living a healthy, happy lifestyle. BNN featured James's story in May 2008, and he recently sent this video update to share how he's doing. Check it out!

BNN Follow-Up

A few months ago, I contacted BNN, and asked "would you like a follow-up story to my original interview last year?" I mentioned that because I have experienced some changes since then.

In 2008, Beachbody Network News came to my house and filmed my story as well as filming me working out.

In 2009, I contacted BNN and asked if they wanted a follow-up to my Beachbody story because there have been some changes in my life since the initial story. They emailed me a few questions to answer.

In addition, they asked if I could film it, edit it, and send it in.

I didn't do JUST that.

I filmed the questions. I edited the video. I added the youtube videos that I've created from my workouts. I also added the group videos from the NYC workouts at Chelsea Studios in New York City.

Once all of that was put onto tape, I mailed the tape to BNN, hoping that it will show on the web. In the meantime, I lived my life. I worked, worked out, and lived.

I turn 40 years old this Friday.
BNN called me yesterday, asking some questions about the footage. After answering them, I returned to work.

Tuesday night, I received a Twittwer from BeachbodyNews saying the following:
"James Manganiello suffers from epilepsy, but that hasn't stopped him from living a healthy, happy lifestyle."

My jaw, fell! I mean, I was about to go to bed. But when I saw this text message, I went to the website and watched the video, and I was in awe.

I'm seeing myself on BNN, MY footage, MY workouts, MY videos, all in this story! As I'm watching the story, my smile beams more and more.. The moment I saw the footage from my workouts, I shouted "YES!!!" as I heard me discussing filming the workouts. I knew I talked about the workouts in New York City. As I mentioned it, BNN used my footage from the workoouts and put it under what I was saying.

I was jumping up and down in my chair, I couldn't contain myself. I was loving this!

I went to bed with a huge smile on my face, feeling accomplished.

The following day, I knew people would see the video on BNN. But I had no idea the overwhelming response that I would receive!

It blew my mind. BLEW MY MIND! Other Beachbody coaches and friends have posted on my Facebook complimenting the video and saying "Congrads"... "Good for you"... "Excellent!" Now that made me smile, seeing my peers compliment me on a job that I did.

But what really touched my heart was when I went onto the message boards. I'm involved in a 90day fitness challenge. A coach and friend posted about the BNN video. The responses that followed were heartfelt, moving, touching, inspiring, and they literally drove ME!

People are inspired by internal and external things and events. I had NO IDEA that my video would touch people in such a positive way.

I'm proud of it. I emailed the CEO of Beachbody, Carl Daikeler, personally thanking him for the extraordinary job that the folks at BNN did for my story. The video was posted JUST days before my 40th birthday.

The next post will have the video.

Beachbody Network News

In 2008, Beachbody Network News (BNN) filmed my fitness story to date. A little about my history of epilepsy, what I have experienced with my workouts, and my achievements with fitness.

The name of the segment was "Staying Fit In The Face of Epilepsy" and it aired in May 2008.

This is the video:

Double Plyo

Don't do it twice in week. I found that out last week, the hard way.
P90X, week 12 - I chose to do the workouts of of sequence this week to change things up. The change worked, and it went very well. I usually do Plyo on day 2, but this week I did it on day 4 (Thursday). Even though it wasn't my usual day, I went with it, worked hard, and enjoyed it.

For the past several weeks, my body has been used to a whey protein supplement and I have "bonked" or lost energy because I was not utilizing it. Fortunately, this past week my body has adapted to not having the supplement and returned to normal. This week, I learned about utilizing foods with natural protein instead of supplemental protein. Fellow Beachbody coach, Judi Finneran, hosted a conference call with guest speaker, Melissa Costello. Melissa is a chef and vegetarian. She's also Tony Horton's personal chef. Melissa discussed meals in a vegetarian lifestyle, which helped her lose weight and get into fantastic shape.

Personally, I want to gradually adapt a vegeterian lifestyle. I rarely eat meat or beef, I love vegetables (raw or cooked), and I'm confident that I can do this. For some time, I have been cooking my own meals. If I'm able to cook healthy, vegetarian meals, I am anxious to make this part of my life!!

In the summer of 2009, I teamed up with several coaches and we have hosted a monthly free Beachbody workout in New York City. We've done workouts from different programs, and have attracted many people. A few months ago, I started filming the workouts, editing them, and posting videos on youtube for them. This past Saturday, we did Plyometrics. True, twice in one week, but I was anxious to do it. Working out at home is one thing, but working out with a group motivates you. Everyone worked hard throughout the workout. Someone took photos. I still have to edit the video and post it on youtube this week. Once that is completed, I will post it here.

Saturday night following the workout, I felt great.

Sunday morning, it was just the opposite. My hamstrings and the muscles in my quadraceps tightened up. It was difficult to walk, stand, even take stairs. But I took it slowly, and made it through the day. Sunday night, only one word crossed my mind - STRETCH. I put in the Beachbody's workout DVD "Total Body Solution". This helped stretch me out and loosen me up. In addition, I also did some stretches from other Beachbody workout programs as well as some track stretches that I've done when I was younger. All the stretching worked, and I do not have any pain in my muscles or hamstrings.

This is the final week of P90X, week 13 - recovery week. By the end of this week, I will post my results of P90X, round four. In addition, I'll post the second fit test, and compare it to the original P90X fit test that I had taken before starting this round. I'll also post my photos and measurements. Everything will be documented and posted.

Then, I will take the Rev Abs fitness test.

It's all about accountability!

November 7 is my completion date for P90X.
November 8 is my start date for REV ABS.

I'll be back later in the week. In the meantime, here's the photo from the Plyometrics workout on Saturday.

What Is A Seizure?

This is something very close to home for me.

I have lived with epilepsy my entire life. People are "familiar" with epilepsy or know a little about it while others have done extensive research on it.

Several years ago, when the Walk For Epilepsy was created, the purpose of the walk was to support and encourage people with seizures. The slogan was "not another moment lost to seizures", hoping that there will be a cure so people who live with epilepsy every day will be able to live a seizure-free life.

I have been seizure-free since 1996 and I have lived a seizure-free life.

Katie Couric of CBS did a story on 60 Minutes on Sunday, October 25. This video is approximately 90 seconds long, but it hit home for me because THIS is a brief description of what happens during a seizure. If you have 90 seconds to take a look at it, please do.

Education is important. We stress that upon our children. I believe we should also educate ourselves as well.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Repetition

Reading something silently is one thing, saying it outloud is something different. Reading it several times and speaking it out loud is completely different. The reason I say this is because it relates to something that Anthony Robbins spoke about in the program “Unlimited Power”. People learn differently. The order in which people learn things will affect the way they understand things, or react to them.

I attended boarding school at age 15. They principle they taught was – read, recite, review. This principle helped me do so many different things in high school ranging from memorization, learning names, learning directions, and familiarizing myself with them later on.

Now it’s time to return to the basics of what worked. If these three basic principles worked for me at age fifteen, I’m confident they will work for me at age thirty nine. I'm already utilizing these principles when working out (repeating the schedule of the exercises, getting good at it, changing it up. But when returning to the workout, I've already familiarized myself with it, so I have an easier time doing it).

Enough talking.
Time for doing.

P90X weeks 10 & 11

I have read various updates this week on Facebook from people who have both received and started the new Beachbody workout program, Rev Abs, by trainer Brett Hovel. Intriguing, distracting, but I had to stay on my current program, P90X.

Weeks 10 and 11 became easier with the red resistance band. I know, you’re probably thinking “go to the next level band”. I didn’t have it, yet. To compensate, I used both the red AND purple bands together. I thought the red band was tough at first, but combining the red and purple bands pushed me, and I liked that.

My eating has remained clean, I’m drinking 72+ounces of water daily, and I’m getting enough sleep, and feel great!!!

When I complete this round of P90X, I’ll take the fit test again, post new photos, and new measurements. Then I’ll create another post with the side-by-side photos for this round of P90X. Underneath, I will post the measurements (day 1, 30, 60, and 90).

For motivation, I’ve posted the words “I refuse to quit” on my alarm clock, mirror, car visor, computer at work, computer at home – whenever I am the most so that those words are constant and consistent reminder of my goal.

My TeamBeachbody Coaching Page

Hey folks! Beachbody revised all the coaching pages the past few days, and I've made a few modifications of my own (photo, phone number).

This is my NEW TeamBeachbody Coaching Page:
www.beachbodycoach.com/irefusetoquit

Please check it out when you can, let me know what you think.

Thanks,
James

The Game Plan

Anyone interested in becoming an Independent TeamBeachbody coach, you may want to take a look at this video from Beachbody CEO, Carl Daikeler.

This will explain a little more about Beachbody, his history, and about the Beachbody Coaching Opportunity.


If you are intersted in it, send me a message, and I'll be happy to answer any of your questions.
--James

Procrastination vs. Motivation

This has been a topic that has been on my mind for the longest time, and I wanted to post about it.

When it came to business, I did whatever was necessary to get the job accomplished. I was goal-oriented, focused, and determined. I did not like loose ends nor did I like unresolved situations. I was a perfectionist in making sure things were done, but they did not have to be done “perfectly”.

In my personal life, I was not that focused. There were certain aspects of my life where I was focused and determined on accomplishing different tasks. Paying bills, doing laundry, going food shopping – the basic necessities. But when it came to organizing my desk, getting clutter off of my dresser and night tables, that’s a different story. I’ve had stuff sitting on there months.

What is the definition of “procrastination” or “procrastinate”:
1. to put off intentionally and habitually
2. to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done

I’m human. We all have our moments. There are times when we’re so into something that we’re running 120 miles an hour and nothing can stop us. Also, there are times when we’re just exhausted, low on energy, and we want to give up because “I don’t feel like doing it today”, or any variation of an excuse that we will provide.

During the weekend at the Tony Horton Fitness Camp, I said that when it came to my health and taking care of myself that “I refuse to quit.” As I was listening to the Anthony Robbins audio cd, I realized that my strongest point to sum up who I am as a person was that “I refuse to quit”.

If I refused to quit, why was my room so disorganized? Why weren’t things put away properly.

Because I procrastinated.
“Yeah, I’m too tired…” “I’ll do it tomorrow….” Or I’ll look at it and think “maybe later…”

I have experienced too many of those over the past few years.

It’s the equivalent of when you ask someone to join you for an event and they give responses such as: “I’ll get back to you”; “I’ll let you know”; or the popular “I don’t know”.

Non-committal.

I wasn’t truly committing to myself and what I believed in. That’s extremely counter-productive when you have goals to achieve.

What is the definition of “motivate”: to provide with a motive.
1. something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act
2. a recurrant phase or figure that is developed through the course of a musical composition

Synonyms for motive include: impulse, incentive.....

When people think of the term "motive" it's usually used when watching a mystery movie or determinining the reasoning behind someone's thoughts. "Impulse" is always related to shopping for some reason "he's an impulse buyer". "Incentive" gives the implication that people are doing something because they want something out of it.

A motive, or a goal. What happens when you don’t have a goal? You don’t have something you want to pursue or achieve. If you don’t have a goal or a motive, how do you live your life? Without motive, you lose desire; without desire, you lose purpose; and so on. One comment or statement relates to another, and to another. It’s a continuous chain reaction of events. You lose one thing, you can be losing a lot of things. But if you CHANGE one thing, imagine what you can change.

The moment I said out loud, “I refuse to quit”, everything changed. I spent the rest of that night clearing off my dresser, putting stuff away in an organized manner so that it was easier to find. Papers and bills were filed, music CDs were put away, clean clothes were put away and dirty ones were off the floor. When I was finished, I looked around, I was impressed. Yet I KNEW that this was just the beginning of more that needs to be accomplished. If I could accomplish THIS task, I was confident that I could accomplish and complete other goals as well. It’s the same as working out, eating nutritionally, and taking care of yourself daily. I became so good at that, I neglected my room! That night, I went to sleep knowing that I made a huge accomplishment with my room.

The following morning, I woke up, put my workout clothes on, turned on my laptop, filled up my water, grabbed my P90X workout DVDs and off I went! Ninety minutes later, I returned to my room sweating from the workout, but feeling great because I knew THAT workout brought me another step closer to my goal. I made breakfast that morning, and that motivated me for the morning. Plus I ate nutritionally throughout the day, and I drank about 96ounces of water. All healthy things, but it all started from one simple thought. One phrase, one idea. That’s all it took for me.

I’m not a procrastinator anymore. I’m an organizer. I know the way I used to behave and how I used to live my life. I don’t believe in that anymore. My life is different. I like getting stuff done to accomplish the next task, because there’s always going to be something.


I know how it feels to be a procrastinator. I also know how it feels to accomplish your tasks and continue moving forward towards new goals. Just do it and get it over with because if you don’t then the tasks are going to pile up and you’re going to feel overwhelmed. I’ve been through that too.

The first step is always the most difficult. The moment you take the first step, everything will get easier after that because you’ll be doing it and making it happen. Once it’s completed, it will be one accomplishment towards achieving other goals that you have been pursuing! Completing that one goal can be the motivation you’ve been looking for to accomplish your other goals.

Try it out and see how it works. Let me know what happened.

P90X week 9

I got a little off of the P90X classic schedule this week, however I did not divert TOO far from it. I diligently stuck with the weight workouts of P90X, but I mixed up the cardio with a little more yoga, stretching, and One On One’s “Recovery 4 Results”.

The Tony Horton fitness camp refocused my approach towards fitness and nutrition. Instead of viewing my workouts as a “chore”, I now see each workout as another step on the road towards my goal.

I have been eating clean meals and I am seeing the physical changes to my body every single day.

I did not get a chance to ask Tony Horton one question at the fitness camp. In the P90X guide, it mentions that you can take whey protein as a supplement from weeks 1-8. It also says not to take any whey protein or supplemental protein for weeks 9-13.

The first three times that I did P90X, I took whey protein all the way through. I also didn’t eat well, nor did I stick with the program guide well enough.

Now, I am doing that. I admit, I was used to having the whey protein daily. My body became accustomed to it during this round of P90X (my fourth round). I started to “bonk” or lose energy.

So I changed my focus.

Instead of focusing on supplemental whey protein, I researched foods (not supplements) which naturally have protein in them. Now I’m a finicky eater and always have been. I know, you may be asking “how can you get in good shape if you’re finicky about the foods that you eat and you’re neglecting healthy foods?”

Well, I love vegetables both raw and cooked. Throughout my life, I’ve had a lactose intolerance making it difficult to digest any milk products (though I have tried). About a year ago, my body changed. I could eat ANY milk products that I wanted. Cheese, milk, ice cream – no problem. But I could no longer eat beef. Beef, steak, or any variation of it – ribs, pork. However I CAN eat chicken. If I have pasta, it has to be whole wheat pasta. I have pasta once a week and meat once a week.

I’m eating five smaller meals a day. Five meals a day for seven days, that’s thirty-five meals a week. I have meat/chicken/fish at a maximum of two meals a week, that 6% of my meals. I refuse to have a “cheat” meal because I know from experience that cheating once with meals turns into a bad habit, so I am avoiding that completely.

Now that I had my meals under control, I needed to find healthier snacks, and I received an excellent suggestion online – raw unsalted almonds. When I looked into it, this has 6ozof natural protein and NO sugar. In addition to this, a friend recommended adding a piece of string cheese to make “the perfect protein” (thank you Yami). I snack on the almonds daily and add a piece of string cheese every other day just to mix things up.

This morning, I worked out to P90X’s Chest/Shoulders/Triceps. My breakfast was ¾ cup of whole oats; ½ cup of unsweetened almond milk; two strawberries, two raspberries, two black berries (washed and cut finely); ½ a pack of Splenda for sweetness, and a dash of cinnamon on top.

When my girlfriend came downstairs, I made the same thing for her, but I changed it around. ¾ cup whole oats, 1 scoop of chocolate whey protein, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, four strawberries cut up, splenda, and a dash of cinnamon. She loved it!!

In addition, I am drinking 72oz of water daily, sometimes more. I am remaining as hydrated as possible.

I also changed up my resistance workouts. For weeks 1-8, I used the Bowflex Selecttech dumbbells, which worked great. But I hit a plateau at 30 pounds because I felt a twinge in my lower back whenever I lifted. So I started using fitness bands. I started with purple (20-25pounds), now I’m using red (30-40pounds). I’m sure I’ll use heavier bands soon, but I am enjoying using the bands because of the variation.

The weights are downstairs and the bands are in my room. I have a yoga mat and blocks both upstairs and downstairs. Now, there is no excuse for missing a workout. I do a resistance workout in the morning and vary between cardio, stretching, and yoga at night. It makes for a nice combination. I am seeing results quicker with the bands.

Week 9 is completed.

Today begins week 10.

Four Words

Earlier this year, after the TeamBeachbody Coach Dream Extreme Summit in California, I purchased several motivational books. Some of which were suggested, some weren’t, but I found them in the self-help section of the bookstore. Some of these titles include: Eat That Frog; Think and Grow Rich; Make It Stick; The One Minute Manager; The One Minute Sales Manager; 150 Ways to Get Your Point Across In 30 Seconds or Less; Failing Forward; and How To Win Friends and Alienate People. True, these are a lot of books, but some of them are thin books while others are thick. But my reason for getting them was to help broaden my knowledge in learning more about myself and how I can use what I learned to expand my coaching business.

In addition to the books, I picked up an audio CD by Anthony Robbins titled “Unlimited Power”. I’ve listened to this CD in my car every single day since the summit. I’ve listened to it so many times that I know pretty much what he’s going to discuss from one section to the next. So I had to change it up. I bought three of Anthony Robbins’ books: Awaken The Giant Within; Giant Steps; and Unlimited Power. The reason I bought them is to use them in conjunction with the audio cd. In addition, I bought a multi-cd set from him titled “Lessons In Mastery”.

Last night, I was at my desk paying some bills, and I put on the first CD for Lessons In Mastery. As I’m paying bills, I’m hearing Anthony Robbins talk and I completely understand exactly what he’s discussing and how he’s motivating you to take that first step. Then he said something profound and I stopped everything that I was doing. He said (and I have to get the exact quote), “What is it that you can say to yourself today that will motivate you for the rest of the day and the rest of your life?”

I thought of the Coach Summit when Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler asked, “What is your WHY? What is your reason for working out, for getting in shape and taking care of yourself? Why are you doing this?” At the time, my reason simply was – my future. I’m working out for my future because I want to be in good shape for the future. I am in ok shape now but I know that I can do better. I used that to motivate me throughout the first half of P90X, and that was extremely helpful. But then I reached a point where it wasn’t enough, and I started to slack off a little bit. I lost my motivation.

So I posted my day one photo on my mirror with the caption “do you want to go back to THIS again?” That motivated me for a week or two, but it stopped. I took the photo down and revised the text with motivation words. The words were: inspiration; dedication; persistence; consistency; diligence; supplementation; and hydration. These words will help me to continue working out. But they aren’t the WHY.

I stopped the CD and I started brainstorming about it. I thought about what I wanted to achieve, where I wanted to go and what I wanted to look like… my goals, my dreams, and my aspirations. Then I thought about how I was consistent with eating nutritionally and healthy, continuing to eat healthy foods as well as drinking 72 ounces (or more) water daily to keep myself hydrated from the hard workouts that I’m doing. I also reflected on the years that I did theatre, on how I was usually the first person in the theatre making sure that everything was set-up for the night when I was stage managing a show, and how I was always the last one to leave at the end of the night. I thought of how with the family business how I’m persistent with the finances and diligent making sure that the numbers match and everything flows smoothly, and I’m the same way with my personal finances as well.

On the CD, Anthony Robbins said, “Just say it out loud to yourself.”

I said, “I refuse to quit”.

BAM!
Everything came full circle. In an instant, I saw everything that I have been working towards for the past two years - the workouts, constant hydration, eating properly, taking vitamins daily to supplement foods that I am not eating, sleeping enough, working hard during the day, managing the house, managing the business, managing my LIFE… I’m talking EVERYTHING!

I found my why. I found my reason for persisting why I do exactly what it is that I do.

People have asked me questions such as “why do you workout so hard”, “why are you so persistent with your workouts”, “why do you keep doing the things that you do”?

Because I refuse to quit.

I sat there basking in awe, in this profound moment of clarity. I had to call someone and tell them about it. Mind you, this was 9:45pm at night. I called my girlfriend. I told her exactly what happened and precisely what I saw in that instant and how that moment changed my life. She said, “That is amazing!”

Four words put together to form a sentence that truly defines who you are as a person. THAT is intense!!!

Think of the opposite. When you DO quit, what happens? Bad habits slowly start creeping back into your life little by little. If I gave up and quit right now, I already know the consequences – eating bad food, gaining weight, destroying my health results, lack of energy, no motivation… Everything that I would have achieved in the past two years would be destroyed in an instant!

But I will not let that happen, because I refuse to quit.

I logged onto TeamBeachbody and changed that to my WOWY name. In addition, I am making necessary contacts to change my website, youtube page, this blog, coaching business cards, and everything else associated with “scorpionj”.

This one thought, this mantra, is the one single thing that has changed my way of thinking, my lifestyle, and the way I choose to live my life because I’m telling you – so many things are going to change for the better because of this. I am extremely confident about it, and I am anxious to see the positive changes that this will have upon my life.

I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me. I expect it, and I embrace it because I know that once the hard work of making this change has been completed, then all I need to do is continue living my life and be persistent about my goals.

As you may have noticed, I have changed the name of the blog from “scorpionjfitness.blogspot.com” to reflect this change. My new URL for the blog is http://irefuse2quit.blogspot.com and the title of the blog is “I Refuse 2 Quit’s Fitness Blog”.

I refuse to quit.

What is your why?

Name Change

As of today, I am changing the blog name. Anyone who has visited "scorpionjfitness.blogspot.com" will now have to change the blog address to the following:
http://irefuse2quit.blogspot.com

The previous blog posts will be there. Please update your bookmarks accordingly.

In addition, anyone wanting to email or contact me, please do so through this email address: irefuse2quit@gmail.com

Thank you,
James P. Manganiello
Independent TeamBeachbody Fitness Coach

New Youtube Video - October Workout Promo

I just uploaded a new video to youtube. The video is a new promo for our FREE monthly Beachbody workout in New York City. Check out the video for details on the workout: