Sep. 16th 2009
You might have heard this already.
After a recent conversation with a new Boot Camper, I realized that we all need to talk.
So let’s talk.
I’m not training you for combat and I’m not running a weight loss program. I’m running a health and fitness program based on the philosophy, exercises, and approaches we do in the Marine Corps. (Lots of Boot Campers lose weight, but that’s only because they are managing the amount of calories consumed against the amount of calories burned – usually with me.)
So on one side of our Boot Camp Fitness Coin is “health & fitness.” On the other side of the coin is how you look … we could even call it “vanity.” Nothing wrong with wanting to look good. We all want to look our best without becoming obsessive or neurotic or narcissistic. I’m talking about a healthy emotional desire to look good. The same reasons why we groom ourselves, buy fashionable clothes, and check to see if we have spinach in our teeth.
Anti-aging products are a gazillion dollar a year business! We don’t want to look old, or haggard, or saggy. As we age there are things that happen that can be countered by our behavior. And that brings me back to your face.
As people age their life style, unfortunately, gets old right along with them … most of the time. Men and women do less and less as they age. They sit and observe. They watch others do stuff. They do less and less as time goes by. This of course leads to looking old. Their facial expressions hardly ever change during the course of their day. Combine that with smoking or drinking to excess and that will make someone look MUCH older than they actually are.
If you look at the muscles of the face, the first thing that you should notice is that the face is made up of … wait for it … muscles! Muscles. That’s right … muscles. And the same process that makes the biceps muscle stronger, firmer, and tight is the same process that will do the same thing for the muscles of your face.
How do we exercise the muscles of the face? Well, first of all, be happy! Smiling and laughing make the muscles of the face work. I don’t think it’s true that you use more facial muscles to frown than to smile. If that were true dead people would have a smile on their faces — creepy! Sleeping people would be grinning.
Facial expressions cause the muscles of the face to work. And a grimace is a facial expression!
I like to make you laugh! I like to clown and have a good time. Mrs. Goldine Gooch, my sixth grade teacher, gave me 15 min every Friday afternoon to get up in front of the class and tell jokes and stories. Mrs. Gooch told my mom that I was the “funniest most adorable student she’d ever had!” OK, funniest anyway!
Laughter is good for the soul and it’s good for your face too!
And the grimace is important too. The grimace rocks! Your dumbbells should be heavy enough so that you are “making a face” during the last few reps of each set we do. When I see you throwing around the same set of dumbbells week in and week out, with no sign of stress or strain on your face … I know you’re just marking time. After we do push ups, you should get up off the deck RED FACED and breathing hard!
If you can fix your hair with your dumbbell in your hand … if you can pick your nose with your dumbbell in your hand … if you can point in the direction of your car with your dumbbell in your hand … if you are NOT grimacing toward the end of each set … your dumbbells are TOO LIGHT!!!
That means you’re getting USMC Fitness Boot Camp, Light. ewwwww … the very thought of it makes my stomach churn.
After six months in the program, most women will top out at about 15 pound dumbbells … most guys at 25 or 30. Girls will start with 5′s and be ready for 8′s or 10′s by the end of their third week. Guys will start with 10′s and be up to 15′s at month’s end.
If you aren’t there. You’re slacking. Or you’re missing too many workouts. You’re not trying hard enough.
You want a youthful looking face? … forget a face lift, forget botox … buy heavier dumbbells and make your shoulders work harder … do more push ups from your toes … do as many reps as you possibly can! Start the exercise as soon as “I” start the exercise, not 3 reps into the exercise. End the exercise when “I” end the exercise!
You’ll work the facial muscles when you work the other muscles! Quit being so easy on yourself! The easier you treat yourself, the older you’ll look. Older as in haggard, worn out … saggy … not vibrant. Just old. Just … yucky old … not “awesomely experienced!”
I recently heard some middle aged women who were actually playing tennis at the time, whine about getting old. They’d missed a few shots cuz they couldn’t or wouldn’t move quick enough to run down a ball. (Very gettable balls, I might add!) A young boot camper of 22 sitting next to me said “Tony, I don’t want to get old.”
The only exercise that the women playing tennis were getting was recreational doubles tennis a couple of times a week. That’s it for their exercise. Better than nothing. But …
“Age,” I said, “is relative.”
Or said another way, “Age ain’t nuthin but a number.” It’s how you treat that number … it’s how you choose to conduct your life … it’s how you choose to approach your time here on this planet that will determine what that number says about you. It’s your attitude and your actions.
The aging process isn’t the same for everyone. Don’t settle. Don’t sit back. It’s never too late! Choose to be different!
Now, go to http://www.realage.com/ and see just how old you really are!
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MOUNT FUJI TOMORROW AT 0530
Tomorrow morning at 0530 we’ll be climbing the mountain! See you at the parking garage on Zach Curlin, on the campus of the U of M. If it’s raining, go to the ground level of the parking garage. Bring your dumbbells, mat, water bottle and towel!
We do the Mt. Fuji workout on the third and fourth Thursdays of the month.
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HALF MARATHON TRAINING THIS SATURDAY!!
Our St. Jude Half Marathon Training continues on Saturday, September 19 at 8 AM! This will be our 11th half marathon training platoon!
We will meet in front of the Visitor’s Center at Shelby Farms!
If you can run/jog/walk 3 miles in 36 minutes or less, you are a candidate! It’s easier than you think! Every year half of the members of this training group are new and have never run a half marathon!
Cost of the three month training is $75 for Boot Campers and $125 for “friends of Boot Camp” (non-boot campers).
IMPORTANT NEWS … if you are a new half marathoner, or you’re not sure if this training will work for you, this Saturday’s training run is FREE, NO STRINGS ATTACHED! You can try it out with no obligation!
Also … all Boot Campers are welcome to come and get their one hour of continuous cardio with us on Saturdays. Free!
I have posted the training schedule on the website. The password is “Jude” (case sensitive): http://usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/2009/09/16/2009-st-jude-half-marathon-training-schedule/
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0645 and 0830 CLASSES ARE ACTIVATED!!
The 0645 and 0830, both MWF classes, are back in session!
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TUESDAY & THURSDAY EVENING CLASS
The Tuesday and Thursday evening classes meet at St. Mary’s track. Those classes begin at 5:45 PM. St. Mary’s is at the corner of Walnut Grove and Perkins.
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Charity Tooth Whitening Event:
Germantown Dental Group (Boot Camper John Whittemore’s practice) is holding it’s third annual Zoom Whitening fundraiser for the Give Back a Smile Foundation, which restores the smiles of survivors of domestic abuse.
Through the Foundation, survivors of domestic abuse are connected with volunteer cosmetic dentists like Dr. Whittemore, who restore their damaged smiles at no charge. The practice donated around $7000 in each of the previous years and hopes to do the same this year.
The event is Saturday, October 3rd and it works like this – you donate $395 to the Foundation and Germantown Dental Group laser whitens your teeth.
That’s right, ALL the money goes to charity! You get to whiten your teeth at a greatly reduced price and feel great about it. You will even get custom whitening trays and a few nights worth of gel for future touch ups. Normally the fee is $595. Presumably due to “the economy,” this year has not filled up as fast, so there are still quite a few spots left. Call 754-0540 to participate!
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Today’s Big Three
1. Daniel Shaffer (Boot Camper) is looking for a new career opportunity. He has a professional background in sales and marketing with a degree in business management. He also has experience in event management. He’s looking for “an opportunity to work hard, make enough money to start a family (someday), meet and work with some great people, and advance my career.” danieljshaffer@gmail.com
2. Kelly Stone (“Friend” of Boot Camp) Advanced Therapy Solutions. Sports related muscle therapy using the Bowen Technique. 901-754-6008.
3. Sole to Soul 5K, September 26 at 8 AM at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, 1750 Union.
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“Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,–
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
~ from Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson
To your continued good health and fitness!
Tony
Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
Memphis, TN
901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com
