Sergeant Tony's Blog

If I were thinking about someone’s opinion or deep thoughts I might value, his name wouldn’t have come to mind 15 years ago.

Now it does.

He became famous as Alex Keaton on “Family Ties” and then parlayed that fame into a successful film career. But “Teen Wolf” and Marty McFly don’t make you think of philosophy or life coach, do they?

But since the early 90’s Michael J. Fox has been battling a personal and public battle with Parkinson’s disease. A battle that has changed his perspective and outlook on life.

Lately I’ve been giving a lot of thought to happiness and contentment, being positive and having a sense of calm. Partly for personal reasons and reflections, and partly for professional reasons.

Over the past two years I’ve screened over a dozen prospective USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP franchise owners and haven’t been able to find very many who qualify. Usually people with a military and/or fitness background contact me, so their commitment to exercise and fitness aren’t the issue. The issues have more to do with personality.

In January 2007 I brought 25 of you together over the course of a couple of months to study USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP. I called this think tank my “Tank Commanders.” I wanted to know things about BOOT CAMP that I could only speculate about. These 25, representing a cross section of The Battalion, considered the reasons for the success of the program and what it would require to duplicate it in another city.

I learned a lot about the program and why others thought it was successful.

In a word, the Tank Commanders told me that Sergeant Tony was the reason for the success of the program. That was pretty embarrassing, even for me! For all of my perceived cockiness and conceit (acting, I tell you!), I was a little humbled by the assessment.

In the franchise owner screening process, I ask prospective franchise owners to take a 10 minute shortened version of the Meyers Briggs personality survey (http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp) I use this survey to see how closely that person’s personality matches my own. Egotistical, isn’t it? But the Tank Commanders convinced me that franchise owners needed to have a similar personality.

That’s one of the reasons I’ve been thinking about happiness and contentment, being positive and having a sense of calm. Those things, I think, are essential for people who do what I do. For people who coach or lead.

Recently I reread an interview that Michael J. Fox gave to Esquire magazine last year. In it he touched on two things that I’ve been thinking about too. The two keys to happiness: acceptance and expectation. Fox said, “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance and in inverse proportion to my expectations.”

Acceptance isn’t the same as resignation or fatalism. It just means that there are some things I canNOT change. It is what it is. There are some people who will never like me. There are some things I will never be able to do. There are realities in life that just have to be accepted, otherwise you’ll be slamming your head against a brick wall, thinking you’re going to change the wall.

It is what it is. And you can’t change anyone but yourself. Others will change in response to the change in you.

Athletically, I know I’ll never win an Olympic medal in the marathon, but I’m not resigned to sit on the couch. I CAN run a marathon though! I know I’m never going to win Wimbledon, but I CAN play tennis. I know I’m never going to win the Tour de France, but I CAN race my bicycle!

Expectations will keep you in a constant state of misery and disappointment. People who have unrealistic expectations and a sense of entitlement are trapped in a prison of anxiety, vengeance, and unhappiness. As are people who woke up this morning expecting the world to screw them, misinterpreting every event that happens in their life in the worst possible light.

When I think about the things in my life that make me unhappy or disappointed, I can usually trace it back to my expectations being unrealized. I expect ABC and I get FPQ, making me angry, hurt, or upset. If I do ABC for someone expecting XYZ in reciprocation, I’m doomed to disappointment and anger. Doomed!

One of my favorite teachers in high school used to say, “Lower your expectations, but not your standards.”

Accept it … it is what it is.
Expect nothing and everything you get becomes a gift.

Moral of the story: If you don’t exercise and eat right, go ahead and accept the fact that you’re going to gain weight and feel like crap. Expect to slow down, become weak, and enjoy the benefits of diminished capabilities and seat belt extensions.

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UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!! Please see the change in the weight requirement.

$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 awesome 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!!!

I’m taking applications for the Second Challenge! I’ll conduct interviews during the month and the Second Challengers will be selected in early August with the Challenge officially beginning on September 6.

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

Briefly, here are the UPDATED details:

- The Second Challenge will be limited to 10 people.
- Men must be 65 pounds or more over their ideal weight; women must be 50 pounds or more over their ideal weight, each knowing that those who are heavier have more to lose and a slight advantage.
- 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 at least 5 sponsors: family, friends, co-workers.
- Entry is open to ALL, Boot Campers and non-Boot Campers alike.
- The Second Challenge is a six month program beginning 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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COMBAT CHALLENGE — PROGRESS REPORT FOR July 4, 2008!

1. Lady Bug (Sarah Bowen) - down 50.4 pounds, 21.44%

2. Heavy G - down 72.8, 21.2%

3. Dumplin - down 51.6 pounds, 20.1%

4. Drake - down 45.4 pounds, 14.81%

5. Lunchbox - down 56.9 pounds, 14.49%

6. Puddin Head - down 37.6 pounds, 13.84%

7. Houdini - down 43.7 pounds, 13%

8. Gurkha Woman - out of town

9. Bubbalicious - no report

10. Rising Sun - no report

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USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP — COLLIERVILLE!

Sergeant Les Bonnett launched USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP — Collierville last week! Attendance has been super!

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 has landed!!

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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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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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“My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance and in inverse proportion to my expectations.”
— Michael J. Fox

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