July 2012
December 2012
Time to get in shape! Are you finally ready? I will guide you through the workouts and nutrition maze that is fitness. There are so many questions about diet and exercise, no wonder people are confused. Let someone who knows and practices what they preach, help you find your way to a better body. Why do you want to get in shape? You know why! Find out how by 
calling or texting me at 917 657 5489. Or you can email me at jim@fantonefitness.com. See you soon!
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
Often attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, upon further investigation, it seems it was actually written by, William Hutchinson Murray. I don’t care who wrote it, I LIKE IT!
I work out very frequently. Sometimes I go for days on end working out every day. So when I get that feeling that I just need to sit, I do. Today is Thundering Thursday. I sat and experienced a beautiful thunderstorm from my window. Just sitting and breathing. Sometimes you the best workout is one that you don’t do. Take a day off. Enjoy!
What is the foam roller for?
Well, it’s funny you asked. I was just using mine and I thought “How do people do without some sort of massage treatment on a regular basis?”
My own personal exercise routine and active lifestyle, require a good amount of stretching and massage in order to keep me flexible. It’s not only for feeling good, but for functioning effectively on a daily basis.
A few years ago, I was diving for a Frisbee when I pulled something in my neck. I slammed the ground really hard, but that didn’t seem so unusual to me until the next day. I woke up to some tingling in my fingers and a real pain in the neck.
As soon as I could, I got to the doctor who sent me for an MRI. Upon reading the MRI, I discovered that I had some bulging discs in my neck. A few muscle relaxers and some anti-inflammatory medicine quickly took care of the pain and tingling. Another visit to the doctor and I was reassured that the bulging discs had been there for a long time and it was actually good luck to have had the minor injury resulting from the Frisbee dive, because now I knew what was going on in my neck.
The end result was that I had to take some time off working out. Each time I returned to my workouts, I was OK for a while, but as I got stronger and began lifting more and more weight, I began having back spasms and constant pain. I was feeling sad and wondering if I was going to have to find another profession.
As a last resort, I went to a sports chiropractor and learned a very valuable lesson. The treatment I received was based on massage and stretching. I had a revelation! I needed to stretch!
And so began a new chapter in my life. Stretching and massage with the foam roller became a part of my daily routine. Relief was immediate. I purchased a foam roller and instruction book on Amazon. It was life changing. Now, as part of my daily routine, I stretch and roll. It’s a nice way to relax after a workout or just wind down at the end of the day. I’ve even incorporated rolling into my daily meditation, but that’s another story for another time.
Do yourself a favor and click on the roller on this page and begin a new chapter in your own personal self- care. Enjoy.
Spartan Sprint
6/2/12
Ok, so I just did the Spartan Sprint, in Tuxedo, New York this past weekend. That was fun! I can say that now, but there were a few times I questioned my decision, although you’d never know it if you saw the video (and you will), as usual, I was very upbeat and can be heard shouting encouragement to other racers. If you know me, you know that I am also using that encouragement to keep myself going too.
My good friend, Susie Q went with me and we had two more team members there that I ran into coincidentally as I was running the course. It was mostly running up hills and none of us trained for that. We were all walking some of the time and just taking one step at a time to get through some of the obstacles. The two toughest challenges by far for me were carrying the Spartan sandbag up a giant hill that seemed to go on forever. I don’t know the weight of the sandbag, but it felt like 20 pounds. The hill took a full 6 minutes to climb, but it felt like a half an hour. Going back down was relatively easy compared to the climb up. The other killer obstacle, and I do mean killer, was the barbed wire mud crawl. On hands and knees in the rock filled mud, under barbed wire uphill for what seemed like an hour, but was actually about 20 minutes. The rocks hidden in the mud were of all shapes and sizes and we were just grinding into them with our knees and elbows the whole time. Well, not the whole time. Someone figured out that one could roll up the hill and that gave our boney knees and elbows a much appreciated break. That crawl was tough!
There were some really fun challenges too. I loved the rope climb, the wall climbs and the cargo-net obstacles. There were many chances to get dirty and I love crawling in the mud! We dragged concrete and old tires around. We clambered over and under wire and wood, and trekked through a beautiful landscape that I made sure everyone within earshot took note of. Oh man, I loved it!
All in all, it was a great challenge and looking back on it, I’m glad it wasn’t easier. It always makes you feel good to reach deep down inside and find the strength to accomplish something that at times seems impossible. The Spartan Sprint did that for me this weekend and I for one, am better for having done it. I’m already looking forward to the next one. Anyone want to join me?
That’s a good question. Everyone I know wants to look good. Looking good is a part of being fit because generally if you look good, you feel good. I think that most people are trying to accomplish the “looking good thing” by the easiest method they can find. That’s why there are so many ridiculous products and gimmicks out there that promise to make us look good.
News flash…It’s and inside job!
You don’t need supplements. You don’t need the newest piece of worthless equipment sold for $19.95. And you don’t need plastic surgery!
You must take responsibility for everything in your life. That’s right, grow up. Fitness is an attitude. It’s a belief in yourself and a desire to get better. It takes an open mind and a willingness to learn. If you think you already know everything and don’t want to listen to new ideas, you are doomed to the same results you’ve been getting all of your life. Yes, it’s about change. Change is good. If you’re thinking, “I don’t like change”, I’m talking to you.
One of the problems I encounter when training people is their old ideas about fitness. If I stop working out, will my muscle turn into fat? What kind of abdominal exercises will get rid of this fat around my middle? It’s not good to work out every day is it? All fat is bad for you, right?
Willingness is the key. It opens the lock of our old habits and patterns. If we are willing to put some old ideas aside and try to begin working from the inside out, we will be surprised at the way our minds and bodies evolve. That’s what fitness means to me. It is a willingness to try something new that might just change the way I see things. My attitude about fitness has changed over the 25 years I have been in the business. First, it was all about getting “big”. Then about being lean and getting a six-pack. Then because of some over-use injuries, I became aware of a more functional approach to exercise. I experimented with vegetarianism, fasting, and eating like a “hunter/gatherer”. The bring-it-home message? Change is good. Evolution happens when we are pushed out of our comfort zone. Willingness to be uncomfortable.
If you want fitness, you must be willing to change. Change is good.
Fantone Fitness 