Sergeant Tony's Blog

Sometimes you’ll get hurt.

I’m not talking about heartache, grief, disappointment, or rejection.

We all feel those things sometimes, don’t we? I told my youngest son, Nathan, that he ought to watch REM’s music video, “Everybody Hurts,” about once every 6 months. The boys of REM remind us in that video that the person or persons in the car next to you might be going through a pretty hard time. That jerk talking on his cell phone, oblivious to the light that just turned green, might be talking to his doctor about the results of the cancer test he took the day before. That woman poking along, slowing your arrival at Huey’s, might just be a single mom, laid off from her job, wondering what she’s going to do now.

You get the idea. We need to give one another the benefit of the doubt. Everybody hurts … sometimes.

No, the hurt I’m talking about is physical.

Last week, while doing some sprints on the track, I hurt myself. The same knee that I “tweaked” a couple of months ago, the same one I thought was about 90% good to go, decided not to act right. It started to misbehave. It got grumpy. IT HURT BAD!!!

When that happened, I exclaimed, “Holy mackerel Oh my goodness, gosh, oh gee whiz … I seem to have reinjured my knee … shucky darns.”

Oh no. That’s not what I said AT ALL!

I said, and I quote:

#&^*^^#^$ *#@%$%@*^( @#&*^(^Q@%%$*^&))^^!#&&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That’s right. For all of my attempts to use good grammar and select appropriate vocabulary (”A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold, in settings of silver.” … or something like that.) I just couldn’t keep my raw feelings from boiling over in the above internal tirade.

Now, almost a week later, my knee is getting better and I might be able to run again in a week or so.

I don’t “take time off” very well. I don’t want to rest. I know you understand. It sucks, doesn’t it? I can’t think of a better, more appropriate, more dignified phrase that conveys my frustration and disappointment. It just sucks.

When we get injured we simply have to emphasize what we CAN do and not beat ourselves up over what we CAN’T do. Accentuate the positive!

When you get hurt — not IF — you’ll have to work around the injury. When you make the decision to live an active lifestyle, you’ll also have to live with the fact that occasionally things will pull, pop, and ping.

So do what you CAN do. If you can’t run, ride a bike and swim. If you can’t do a certain exercise because you’ve got an XYZ injury, then work around that and do exercises ABC. I can help you with that! I know LOTS of alternative exercises.

When you have a soft tissue injury (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) ice the area as often as you can for the first 48 hours after the injury.

Rest and elevate that part of your body, if you can.

Take whatever pain management meds that work for you if you need them: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin. If the swelling in the injured area is gone after 48 hours, apply heat and use compression to support that area.

If your injury is in the leg, below the knee, or foot, use cold and heat together after the initial 48 hours. This will increase circulation. (That area of the lower leg and foot gets less circulation than other parts of your body and will respond to ice and heat alternately.) Use cold therapy for 15 minutes and then heat therapy for 15 minutes. Do this for an hour or so, alternating from cold to heat to cold to heat. Keep this up until you’re good to go again!

It’ll be OK! You’ll be alright! It may require an adjustment to your schedule and an alteration in your activities for a couple of weeks or so, but you’ll be good in no time!

Don’t worry.

Be patient.

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$5,000 COMBAT THE FAT WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE — Second Challenge

The success of the First Challenge has inspired me to launch the second challenge beginning in September. This first challenge has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been a part of. Lives are being changed!!

To date, the 10 members of the First Challenge have lost over 420 pounds!!!

That’s right, FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY POUNDS!!!

In September this first six month challenge will end and the winner will receive a check for $5,000!!!

That’s right, FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!

In July I’ll begin taking applications for the Second Challenge! I’ll conduct interviews during July and the Second Challengers will be selected in early August.

Do you know someone who should be in this Second Challenge?

Briefly, here are the details:

- The Second Challenge will be limited to 10 people.
- Men must be 100 pounds or more over their ideal weight. Women must be 65 pounds or more over their ideal weight.
- Each Challenger chosen will be required to get their doctor’s okay to participate in the program.
- Entry fee is $1,000. Each Challenger must get at least $500 of that entry fee from sponsors: family, friends, co-workers.
- Entry is open to ALL, Boot Campers and non-Boot Campers alike.
- The Second Challenge begins on September 6 and ends on February 28.

Pass the word!! Forward this email to someone who might be interested in this highly successful, life altering, awesome program!!

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USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP — COLLIERVILLE!

Sergeant Les Bonnett will start USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP Collierville on July 1, 2008 at 0530!

Faith Lutheran Church, at the corner of Byhalia Road and White, is the location; this is just down the street from The Home Depot. The excitement and interest in the program from the staff at Faith Lutheran has been awesome!

Tell your friends who live in Germantown or Collierville that USMC FITNESS BOOT CAMP IS COMING!

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AND DON’T FORGET USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP — MIDTOWN at Evergreen Presbyterian Church, 0530 to 0630, Monday through Friday, under the direction of Battalion Commanders Theresa Andreuccetti and Holly Guthrie!!

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PAYING THE PIED PIPER

You know how much I enjoy getting your money!

If you ask, “Tony, do I owe you money?” The answer is always “YES, YOU DO!”

A small favor:

When you pay with a check, may I ask you to please, please, please write the boot camper’s name on the memo line and the month(s) that are being paid for.

Some of you have a Sugar Daddy or a Sugar Momma, paying your fees — I’m cool with that — but if your name doesn’t appear on the check or on the memo line, then I don’t know who to credit.

Look in your check registry. If it’s been a while since you paid … well … you know what to do … I have plenty of ink pens!

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WARNING

After talking about sudoku last week, I discovered that some of you out there have a real addition to the little game/puzzle.

One of you even admitted that sudoku led to a prolonged trip to Turdeville. Oh my!!

If your sudoku is getting in the way of your Boot Camp, then DO NOT LOOK AT SUDOKU UNTIL AFTER BOOT CAMP!

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BLOGGED

You’ll find a couple of articles on these two subjects on the blog: http://usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/

1. Heart rate monitor training and tips.

2. Alcohol and weight loss.

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“A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and the real one.”
- JP Morgan

“A person generally has two reasons for not coming to Boot Camp. The one they tell Sergeant Tony, and the real one.”

To your continued good health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
5358 Denwood
Memphis, TN 38120
901-644-0145

www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com

www.shaklee.net/tonyludlow/main