Sergeant Tony's Blog

I received several emails about something I wrote a month ago.

“Tony, why you gotta be so mean?” was the gist of some of those responses!

So …

By popular demand, here’s the Reader’s Digest version of that little ditty ’bout Jack and Dianne, no, no, no not THAT lame ditty … but the one entitled: Are You in Trouble?

Some of you reading this are in trouble.

BIG TROUBLE.

It’s been weeks … months … or even worse, since your last workout.

How long’s it been since you broke a sweat on purpose?

Remember how great you felt back “in the day?”

Remember how fit you looked?

Remember how your friends and family complimented you?

Remember fitting into your skinny jeans?

Remember when your belly didn’t giggle like jello?

It was great, wasn’t it?

You felt great, you looked great, you had more energy and the QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE was at it’s best!

But then … gradually…

almost imperceptibly,

you missed a workout here and a run there,

you didn’t make it up,

it rained,

it got cold,

it got hot …

a week went by …

and no exercise.

Then two weeks went by …

With everyday that you didn’t workout, it was easier to miss the next workout … until you’d gradually started back sliding into Turdeville.

What’s happened to your body since then?

Well … it ain’t pretty … and it ain’t good:

–> fat accumulation

–> loss of stamina

–> energy levels drop

–> muscle atrophy

–> sluggish metabolism

–> feelings of mental sluggishness and negativity

–> less “hot” and more frumpy.

So … now what?

What are you going to do?

Sometimes, without meaning to, we fall off the wagon.

Get back on!

And sometimes, without meaning to, we get out of balance in our exercise.

We either quit doing any cardio (or we never started) or we’re ONLY doing cardio or we’re ONLY doing weight work.

Out of balance.

Don’t forget that the three components of fitness are:
1) muscle strength
2) cardio respiratory fitness/stamina
3) flexibility

Strike a balance!!

The Marine Corps’ approach to physical fitness is designed to address all three components. The Marine Corps’ approach is also the approach of USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP.

Ours is a practical fitness, a fitness that makes sense, a fitness that has real life applications. The Marine Corps doesn’t care if Marines look hot in their swim suits. They want Marine’s who are fit to fight and be victorious!

I can give you the very same exercises used in the Marine Corps; I can bark at you if you slack. And you’ll get fit if you work hard!!

But if you overeat, if you eat foolishly, if you drink immoderately, if you act like a kid in a candy store, then you won’t be a lean mean fighting machine. You might be chunky, hefty, portly. You might be fit but fat, or even obese.

Want a quick check to see if you’re obese?

Here’s Sergeant Tony’s easy obesity formula: take your waist in inches and double it, then compare that with your height in inches. If your doubled waist in inches is more than your height in inches, you’re in trouble! So if your waist size is 36 inches — 36 x 2=72 inches — but you’re 5′6″ — 66 inches tall — you’re in TROUBLE!

Before the season demands that you wear shorts, swimsuits, and tank tops, and before your doctor demands that you do something about your weight and wellness, get yourself to BOOT CAMP pronto!

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WHITEWATER RAFTING!
It’s that time! On August 11th, you could be a part of the mighty BOOT CAMP FLOAT going down the famous Ocoee River, near Chattanooga! This is part of our BOOT CAMP ANNIVERSARY MONTH CELEBRATION! Make plans to attend! Boot Camper’s friends and family are also welcome. Minimum age is 12 years old by August 11. The cost is less than $100 per person for the all day rafting. The price includes all gear, equipment, lunch, and the river guide. Learn more by going to www.ocoee-outdoors.com

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NO TRIATHLON TRAINING THIS SATURDAY
My apologies. I forgot to pass this word last Saturday. I’ll be doing the Dragonfly Triathlon this Saturday. Our training will resume on Saturday morning, June 23 at 0800 at the U of M. Use Saturday to train on your own.

Bring your bike and helmet, along with your running shoes, next Saturday!

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APPETITE SUPPRESSED!
Wanna eat less? Wanna be full on less? Recent studies indicate that a handful of nuts (almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts — but NOT peanuts or cashews) 30 minutes before your meal will have an appetite suppressing effect.

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CONGRATULATIONS BOOT CAMPERS
Congratulations to several hardcore boot campers who ran the Gibson Guitar 5K last Friday night: Wendy Greenlaw, Margaret Caffey, David Caffey, Dion Moffett, Kay Ryan, Mike Ryan, Pam Jones, Anne Emmerth, Holly Yarborough, and Hank Brown. (Did I miss anyone?) A special “OOORAAH!!!” goes to Pam Jones who finished FIRST in her age group! Way to go, Pam!

Clear Mountain Ultimate 10K and 5K are on Saturday, June 23rd at 8 AM. Learn more at www.ultimate10k.racesonline.com

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TONY, DO I OWE YOU MONEY?
Check the blog on the website to find out. www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/

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RUNNING IN SHELBY FOREST (not Shelby Farms)
Sergeant Pam Jones has asked if anyone(s) in BOOT CAMP WORLD would be interested in getting together to run for an hour together at Shelby Forest. Shelby Forest is located in North West Shelby County, slightly south west of Millington. Let me know!

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If you’ve been doing Boot Camp for a while you might not know that new Boot Campers get an email from me after they send me their info. The email has a variety of FYI items, including this little gem that everyone will benefit from knowing about.

“USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP is a Marine Corps style fitness program. We do not apologize for that! It’s who we are! We use the term “BOOT CAMP” because of our strong and personal connection to REAL boot camp, Marine Corps Boot Camp! We’re very proud of the fact that our roots go back to 1775 and the founding of The Corps. It sets us apart from other “boot camp” programs that aren’t connected to any branch of our military.

We also have customs and traditions that are taken directly from life in The Corps. For example, when we do pushups, you’ll hear everyone sound off with a loud patriotic “MARINE CORPS!” Sound off with them!

When we bring the workouts to an end, members will stand respectfully, if not at the position of attention, when the group is called to “ATTTEN-HUUHH!” (Attention!) And then ALL Boot Campers will respond with a LOUD and ENTHUSIASTIC “AYE, AYE SIR!” when the group is dismissed.

These are some of the little reminders of our history, traditions, and customs that you’ll enjoy adopting as your own!”

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HATS & VISORS
If you’d be interested in a BOOT CAMP hat or visor for workouts and running, let me know ASAP! The white hats would cost about $25 and the white visors would be about $20. Email me right NOW and let me know what you’d be interested in! Do it! Do it NOW!

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THE 0645 CLASS HAS RETURNED!!!
The 0645, 0830, and 5:45 PM classes follow a Monday/Wednesday/Friday “WEIGHT DAY,” and Tu/Thu “CARDIO DAY” workout schedule.

The 0830 class is being offered for June. It may continue for July. Vote for it by attending the 0830 class!

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BLOG!
You can find this newsletter, as well as other miscellaneous thoughts and ramblings, on the blog. www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/
You can find a link to several boot campers’ company websites too. You can have your company’s website added to the list of links too at no charge. And you can even subscribe to the blog at no charge and get an email update whenever I post a new entry.

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“Each of us makes his own weather, determines the color of the skies in the emotional universe which he inhabits.”
~ Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

To your continued good health and fitness!!

Sergeant Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
4888 Southern Cove
Memphis, TN 38117
901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com
http://shaklee.net/tonyludlow/main