Fantone Fitness

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Hindsight is 2020. Back onna Plan!

Six pics! First two are from the beginning of January 2020. Gotta admit I have a sweet tooth and December of 2019 was a sweet tooth binge. Okay, I got that out of my system. Here we go starting off at 152 pounds and 15.2 % body fat. Then I got the flu. January was a really tough month. Travel to Ohio to see mom and while I’m there she passed away. Here’s to my sweet family for how wonderfully they cared for her in her last few months. I feel blessed to have been there to see her go and to see the love she got from everyone. So, we start again in February. The second two pics, from February 2nd, 148 pounds and 13.3 % body fat.  Finally starting to feel a bit better. And now for the last two most recent pics. March 2nd. 2020. 144 pounds and 12.4 % body fat. Moving a bit slower than normal this year. Stiil, I’m committed to staying the course and finishing strong. This year is the year of rebuilding. Oh yeah, I had my left shoulder replaced last May. Here we go! 61 is so much fun!

How’s it going so far? 2019?

Okay, people what’s happening? Are you in any way more fit than New Year’s day? Well, as you know it is my job to be in shape. So I’ve been working on it very diligently. I’m now down to 146 pounds, and 10.5% body fat. That’s 1.5% down in body fat and 6 pounds lighter. I feel so much better!!!I must admit, it hasn’t been easy or perfect, but I made a decision to stick to it, no matter what happened. I think I’ve eaten a bit too many nuts, though. I think I am turning into a nut. I have eaten a tree-full of apples and more than my share of blueberries. Anyway, I’m human and I need a treat now and then. These are my staples. I’m not a vegetarian, I eat more of a Paleo diet, with proteins vegetables, nuts and fruits. I’ve basically just cut out sugar and starchy carbs. Oh what a difference. I also have upped my workouts to almost every day. Sometimes I do 30 minutes of easy cardio, some days I’ll spin for 20 minutes using a high intensity interval style and other days, I push it hard with push ups, pull ups, jumping lunges, lunges, jumping squats, squats, kettlebell swings, Vipr, Bulgarian bag, RMT Club, and calisthenics combined all together in a massive Tabata style workout. It’s very challenging and fun!

So, how’s it going so far for you? 2019? Leave me a message describing your New Year.

 

Back Onna Plan 2019!

So, it’s that time of year again. You might think I mean New Year’s resolutions, but I don’t. It’s the time of year for me when I am reminded of why I do what I do. I am a fitness professional. That means my life is about fitness. Mine and the people I am fortunate enough to work with. I eat clean and exercise every day for myself and for them. It makes me feel good and I am a power of example to those I encounter every day, whether I am training them or just talking in the elevator. I have been at it for almost 30 years. That means, I’m no spring chicken, if you know what I mean. Hmmm, chicken. I’m hungry. Anyway, at 60 years old, I am feeling as if I’ve been around for a while, I have. I know how to stay in shape. I know how to get out of shape. Listen closely, here it comes.

I eat clean and exercise every day. Unless I don’t. Around the end of the year, every year I allow myself to eat food that I enjoy eating, but that makes me feel less than stellar. In other words, around the holidays, I eat junk!! I usually start in November and from then until the end of the year, I go on and off of my regularly healthy diet and I eat pumpkin pie, ice cream, cookies, pastries and an assortment of sugary, sweet “just about anythings”. By the time January first rolls around, by the way, can you believe it’s 2019? I can, it was 2018 all year, I am ready for it! By the end of the year, I am sick of it! I wonder how people eat like this all of the time. I feel sick! Literally, ill. No wonder people are overweight and unhealthy.  Everyone knows that eating right and exercising is good for you, but it’s challenging stick with it. Well, in our media driven society where the hot body is always dangled in front of us, and presented as the optimal version of the “us”, we should strive for, accompanied with a constant barrage of ads for food, snacks, and instant gratification, of course it’s hard! We are fed a huge pile of dung and expected to create a beautiful, sweet smelling work of art! How can we cut through the muck we live in and learn to create a version of “us” that feels good and is sustainable? IT’S NOT AS HARD AS YOU THINK! As a matter of fact, it’s not hard at all. It just takes a willingness to take things “one at a time”, and an ability to be honest with yourself.

If you can be honest with yourself about yourself, you will be a lot better off. I can’t tell you how many times someone has said to me “I just don’t have time to exercise.” That is like saying, “I don’t have time to stop for gas!” You don’t have time not to. Everyone wants to look and feel good, right? Well, just like fueling your car, you have to fuel your body. Go ahead and put sugar in your car’s gas tank and see what happens. DON’T DO IT! I don’t want to be responsible for anyone ruining their car. Google it and see what happens. You must treat your body like it was an expensive vehicle, because that’s exactly what it is.

So, the answers are simple ones. Eat clean. Exercise regularly. That’s it. If you really don’t know how to do this on your own, then reach out to someone who does. I am a fitness professional. It’s what I do. I know the answers. I have included some pictures of me taken at the end of the year when I am at my “less than stellar” self. Remember, I am 60. No excuses. My intention is to start here and see just how much better I can get in the first three months of this year. I know how to do it, now I want to show you how. Just call, text or email me if you want to join the challenge. It’s going to be fun!

Exercise is No Joke!

I understand that most people are very busy. I think they’re probably too busy. If you’re too busy to exercise, then you are too busy. Exercise isn’t high on the priority of those who are too busy. Unfortunately, they are correct, their time is short.

Read this and decide if you have time to exercise or not. I know I do!

Atlanta, Georgia (CNN)We’ve all heard exercise helps you live longer. But a new study goes one step further, finding that a sedentary lifestyle is worse for your health than smoking, diabetes and heart disease.

Conclusions and Relevance  Cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with long-term mortality with no observed upper limit of benefit. Extremely high aerobic fitness was associated with the greatest survival and was associated with benefit in older patients and those with hypertension. Cardiorespiratory fitness is a modifiable indicator of long-term mortality, and health care professionals should encourage patients to achieve and maintain high levels of fitness.

 

Check out my most recent article in the Neighborhood Trainer August newsletter!

Urban FitnessJim

by Jim Fantone, personal trainer

It’s just another day in the city. Not just any city though. We, here in New York City are fortunate to have opportunities on every corner and in every neighborhood for exercise.

First of all, we walk. A lot. I do anyway. It’s a choice to walk 20 blocks each way to my next client rather than take the bus or subway. If I do ride the subway, at the end of each ride is yet another opportunity. Subway stairs are notorious for taking your breath away. I see a set of stairs and I see quads and glutes in action! Take two steps at a time and I see extreme walking lunges. Man, that feels good. A little bit of cardio too. Just don’t stop right at the top please. Don’t get me started!
I find exercise everywhere. As I’m walking up Broadway toward home, I encounter people walking haphazardly across the sidewalk. My friend calls them Diagonerds. You know those people who seem to be angling to the left until you try to go around to the right, and just then they change tactics and begin to go to the right, right in front of you! Back and forth they go. Almost like they’re blocking for you. My take on this is they are my offensive line and I am a running back following my blocking until we get clear of the oncoming traffic (the tacklers) and then I don’t need them anymore and I shoot the gap and fly past them. Thank you!
With so many obstacles and challenges in a city like this, there is no excuse for not exercising. None! Use a backpack so your shoulders are even and the weight of your stuff is not hanging off to one side and get out there and move! Raining? Snowing? It just adds resistance to the exercise. Use the energy to navigate rather than complain. Let’s use our bodies the way they were meant to be used. Moving! You will feel better, guaranteed.

 

Leaning Into 60. Finally it is here!

60 Is The New Sexy! Well, that’s what I’ve been telling myself all year. It’s a good example of my approach to life. I want to lean into it, rather than fear it.

Today is the 60th anniversary of my birth. That’s right, I have now been alive for 60 years. Man, I am amazing! Wooohoooo!

I spent a good part of my life fearing things. Basically everything! That makes for a rough road! As a result of getting sober in 1979 I have a new lease on life. Aside from a four year relapse in the early 2000’s I have spent most of my adult life working on a change of attitude.

Now, I like to live in the present moment. It makes life so much easier but not only that, it’s more fun! So, one day at a time, I have managed to stay alive for all of these 60 years and for that I am grateful.

All of that being said, I think staying physically fit is so important to enjoying life. I don’t fear aging, rather I look forward to it. There is always something new to learn. I am wise because of my age. I am experienced because of my age. I am leaning into 60 because I know I will continue to get better with time.

How’s that for sexy!

 

Breathing 101-Breathing is Fundamental

60 is The New Sexy!

It is in the books!! Another successful intensive kickoff to a new year. This year is dedicated to getting older. That’s right, I’m lean-ing into 60! These photos are the culmination of three months of focused exercise and nutrition. This year was a little more challenging than years past, but even more satisfying.

I started the year at 149 pounds and 11.4% body fat. But who’s counting, right? Now I am at 140 pounds and down to 8.5% body fat.

It’s just a beginning, but if you really want to get into better shape as you get older, then you’ve got to be honest with yourself. Is your current plan working? If it is, then more power to you. Keep on being the inspiration that you are to those around you. If not, then let’s talk about training. If you’re in Manhattan near the upper west side, I would be happy to work with you one-on-one.

If you live in another area, I would love to work with you online. Just reach out to me by email at jim@fantonefitness.com and we can start creating your own 12 week fitness intensive that will transform your body, your health and your life.

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Lean-ing into 60

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140 lbs. 8.5% body fat

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60 is the New Sexy!

60 Is The New Sexy! 6 Months away and One month into 2018

Soooo, here I am again with “60 is the New Sexy” Why? Because I am a positive thinking person who knows how important attitude is to health and fitness. I hear many people moaning about getting older and I like to take the opposite approach. I look forward to getting older!! Wooohooo!!! I am just choosing to look at life as a beautiful experience that includes all of its ups and downs, ins and outs along with its beautiful potential to learn and grow.

 

I am an evolving human being. All that means is I am willing to learn and grow. My mind is not made up. I am open to change. I like change. Change is good. TMI?

So I believe that 60 is the new sexy! Older than me? How about, “70 is Heavenly?”

Or, “80 is great-y” You get the point, right.

60 is the New Sexy. And 59 is Fine!

It’s time to get “Back on the Plan” If you know me at all, you’ve heard me say that over and over. That’s because 90 percent of the time I eat clean. There are a couple of times during the year when I go off the plan and eat what I call junk food. For me this means cookies and ice cream, pumpkin pie and cake. If I ate like this all the time I think I would be very unhappy. I don’t eat like this because I want to feel good and look good. I believe that as one gets older one can still look good. That’s why I intend to continue to exercise and eat well. I plan on looking good when I hit 60! It’s just 7 months away.

This first photo is from just before Christmas. I was eating clean and felt good!

Pre Christmas Weigh in

Pre Christmas weigh in. 140 lbs-9.5% body fat

The second photo was taken on January 2nd after I had my yearly holiday binge. I wanted to document my weight and body fat to help me stay on track and to motivate me to stay fit and healthy.

January 2nd Back on the Plan

January 2nd. Back on the Plan 149 lbs.-11.4% body fat

So here we go! Back on the plan! If you would like to learn more about how to change your habits and change your health and appearance, I encourage you to reach out to me or any personal trainer and invest in yourself. You will feel better and look better too. Fitness is a lifestyle.

Sexy September Sale!

Ok, did another summer go by with you in “less than perfect shape?” Well the problem with getting in shape for summer is that it starts “NOW”

So let’s get together and work out. I am offering a complimentary workout session to let you feel the burn before you have to pay the price!

Contact me for more information at jim@fantonefitness.com or call or text me. 917 657 5489

There are so many reasons to do it! Are you ready ?

One Day at a Time!

One day at a time is a life saver. I don’t have to know how everything is going to turn out. I just have to breathe. I don’t really have to do that! It just happens. Wow, that is all I do, just breathe. If I do nothing else then I am still OK.

The great thing is, I don’t have to do anything. Nothing has the “have to” prefix, for me. Absolutely nothing! If I think I have to do something, I just change the wording for a more positive result. For example, if I think “I have to do something”, being mindful, I am aware I’m thinking that and I stop and make an adjustment to “I want to do it”. It works! I know what you’re thinking. What if I really, REALLY don’t want to do it? Guess what? I just don’t do it. Problem solved. I know there are people reading this who are thinking that it is unreasonable to just “not do” something that might be very important to me so I say again. The other option is to change the wording to, “I want to do it”. It works. It’s really not that complicated.

I want to face the obstacles in my life!

Either I am able to change the wording to create a more positive feeling, or I don’t do it. The key is to be mindful and vigilant so I can catch myself in the moment. One Day at a Time!

I Live!

One thing “Time” always does,

Whatever “is” becomes what “was”

Remember the Thundering of last Thursday?

Today as my day begins I look back on the week.

So much has happened that I am reeling from the changes.

That’s why I try to enjoy life in each moment, remember to breathe, and live now!

I start today with a full heart and an empty mind. Anything is possible and everything is new.

JKF

7/2/12

Try harder Tuesdays!

Slipping up the hill, dragging the rock. Trying no matter how hard it is to pull yourself up the mountain of life, is what it’s all about. Find the joy in hard work! That’s the secret.

You’re welcome.

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