Whatever You Do

After I got finished working out tonight, I had the opportunity to go see two amazing performances. The first was my friend's, Jeremiah Hines, piano recital. If you've read all of my posts, you've seen a video of Jeremiah performing "A River Flows In You". On the piano. At his recital, Jeremiah performed eight pieces - all from memory. As I watched him, I could see his passion and devotion to his art. The whole time he was playing, I was thinking of how much fun it is to watch someone who loves what they're doing and pours all of themselves into it. That's how Jeremiah was. His final piece was one he composed and I actually teared up. It was beautiful. (Yes, even though I'm becoming an evil super villain, I still get emotional and appreciate the arts). But Jeremiah did an amazing job. Everyone said so.

After Jeremiah's recital, I zoomed over to see one of my students, Eliza, perform as Ursula in "The Little Mermaid Jr." She was absolutely the best one. As I watched, I don't think I could have been more proud. She wowed everyone. She was fully in character the entire time and her voice boomed throughout the entire audience. It was so impressive and again I thought about how great it is to see someone who really enjoys what they're doing and pours all of themselves into it.

 

(This is a picture of me with Eliza after the show.)

In the gym, that's what I try to do. When I walk out, I don't want to feel like I could have done more or lifted heavier. I enjoy it so much and I want to leave all of me at the gym. When people see me lifting, they should know I enjoy it so much and believe that I'm pouring all of myself into it. I think what Jeremiah, Eliza, and myself all understand is that God has given us these gifts. At any moment, He can take them away. But when we work on them and make them the best and use them for His purposes, amazing things can happen.

What if all of us were that way all the time? When people see us, they should know we love Jesus. They should see that we are giving all of ourselves to Him. No matter what we are doing, people should look at us and know we are doing it for God's glory. We should pour all of ourselves into everything because God has been so good to give us so many gifts and we should honor Him by developing them to the best of our abilities.

Give it all to Him. Wow the world.

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT)

Myofusion Product Review - Another Great Product From Gaspari Nutrition!
Myofusion is Gaspari Nutrition's amazing protein supplement. For the past several days, I have used this protein and I can say without a doubt it is the best I've ever tried. The taste is amazing. It tastes like someone melted a Hershey bar and turned it into a drink. I was even able to let a few of my friends try it and they also agreed that it was the best protein they've ever had.

Not only is the taste amazing, but the protein quality is great as well. With 48g of protein per two scoops of Myofusion, your body will be replenished immediately after your workout. You can also take Myofusion as a pre-workout drink or between meals to up your protein intake throughout the day.

Overall, Myofusion gets two thumbs up from me. If you are looking for a protein supplement, give Myofusion a try and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. As with the other products I've mentioned, if you have tried this product in the past or try it as a result of this blog, please post in the comments and let me know what you think!

Workout:
All exercises 4x12
Clean pulls - 160 pounds
SLDL - 160 pounds superset with close grip pull down - 105 pounds
Power shrugs - 140 pounds
Dumbbell shrugs - 100 pound dumbbells
One arm seated rows(overhand) - 50 pounds superset with reverse flys - 15 pound dumbbells
One arm seated rows (underhand) - 50

Best Songs of the Workout:
1.Listen to the Sound by Building 429
2. Down to Earth by Justin Bieber
3.  The Greatest Gift by Amber Sky Records

Till next time homies,
Peace and much love.

Maybe I Should Just Get Fat Again

Today I went swimming for the first time in a long time. Now, I have never been a fantastic swimmer. Many of my friends have been on swim teams and they have done their best to coach me through the process of getting better, but I just can't seem to get the hang of it. It's not that I nearly drown every time I get in the pool, I'm just nothing spectacular to watch and that's difficult for me. I like being the best at things, and I just don't think swimming is going to ever be that thing for me. But even with all the times I've swam before, there were some moments today that actually had me scared. The first was when I initially jumped in the pool.

Usually I jump in and have a moment before I take my entire body under the water. That was not the case today. Even though I jumped in feet first, it seemed as though my entire body was underwater all at the same time. I just sank so quickly. There were other times when it felt like the water was literally pulling me down instead of supporting me to float. One of my friends comments finally hit me, "Muscle is much more dense than fat, so it sinks a whole lot quicker."

How dumb is that? To me, the more muscle I gain should make me better at every physical task, but swimming is not one of those things. You have to keep your body riding on the surface of the water, and that is extremely difficult to do with large muscle mass. The entire time, it was like I was fighting gravity sucking me to the bottom. Swimmers are incredibly lean for that very reason. If they carried a lot of dense muscle mass, not only would they be anti-hydrodynamic, but they would also sink too quickly. This is the first time I noticed my size being a true disability. It seems as though because I have gotten better physically, I am brought down more in the pool. It's a bit of an oxymoron. Maybe it would just be easier to put back on all my fat and then I'd be able to float better. But would it be worth it? It would be more comfortable in the water, but in the grand scheme of things, which is better?

In our spiritual lives, the same thing will sometimes happen. As we get closer to God, our friends will see changes that make them uncomfortable. As we give up things from our past and attempt to be everything God wants, we may feel that people are trying to bring us down and cause us to revert back to our old ways. We can't give in! Though they may fight against our change, it is only because there is something in them that makes them know the way they are living isn't right and it makes them uncomfortable. They're not fighting us because we are wrong, they're fighting us because they know they're wrong and that feeling is a terrible one. They would rather see you revert back to your old ways than change themselves because they're extremely comfortable where they are. Don't let anyone bring you down!

You're getting better and that might mean life gets tougher in some areas, but it's worth it. Keep fighting the good fight.

"We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:12, 13 NLT)

"Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." (1 Peter 2:11, 12 NLT)

Aminolast Product Review - This is something you will definitely want to try out!:
There is a product by Gaspari Nutrition called Aminolast, and it is absolutely amazing. I have been using it for the past few days and have noticed a significant difference in my stamina during my workout. The product is designed as a pre, post, or during workout supplement. I use it during my workout and have noticed that I do not tire even when I'm lifting heavier weight.

The product is likened to Gatorade, but Aminolast does not contain any carbohydrates or sugar like Gatorade does. Though I do believe Gatorade serves a purpose, if you are looking for a product to take during your workout, I would highly encourage you to try out Aminolast. Currently, I'm using the Watermelon Blast flavor and it is delicious!

Try it out and see if it makes a difference for you. I'm sure the charge of amino acids during your workout will give you more endurance and make you feel re-energized with every taste. If you try it out, let me know what you think!

Workout:
All exercises 4x12

Squats - 300 pounds superset with lateral raises - 25 pound dumbbells
Barbell shoulder press - 120 pounds superset with dumbbell alternating chest press - 65 pound dumbbells
Barbell step ups - 100 pounds
Alternating front raises - 25 pound dumbbells superset with chest flys - 65 pound dumbbells

Till next time homies,
Peace and much love

Feel It

Tonight I led a night of worship at my church. I think it went amazing. People responded and it was just a really cool event. I don't want to get too much into everything, but a lot of people lately have shared with me they are hurting deeply about all sorts of things.

What I want you to know, no matter what you're going through, is this:
God promises to be right there with you. Always.

I don't have some long blog post or anything for you today, I just wanted to share a song with you, so if you'd like, check out the video below of Elevation Worship's "Give Me Faith". While you're watching, really ask God to have you trust Him and know He's right there with you.

"Give Me Faith" Lyrics

Verse:

I need you to soften my heart

To break me apart

I need you to open my eyes

To see that You're shaping my life

Pre-Chorus:

All I am,

I surrender

Chorus:

Give me faith to trust what you say

That you're good and your love is great

I'm broken inside, I give you my life

Verse 2:

I need you to soften my heart

To break me apart

I need you pierce through the dark

And cleanse every part of me

Bridge:

I may be weak

Your spirit strong in me

My flesh may fail

My God you never will 

Till next time homies, 

Peace and much love. 

Upside Down

Today was one of the coolest days at the gym that I can remember. I had an incredible workout and then was going to do my ab workout when I saw some of my friends who also wanted to work their abs. After some debate, we decided to try out an exercise that my friend, John Wells, showed me. (For more on John, check out and "Like" his imdb page by clicking here)

As we were doing the exercise, John actually walked into the gym and told me he had a new move for us to try out. Basically, while holding yourself from a TRX band, you do a slow motion back flip and hold yourself when you get face down. Then, you slowly raise yourself back up and then to the seated position as in the other exercise. John showed me and my friends Colt and Griffin how to do it and I think we'd all be lying if we said we weren't intimidated. But John looked at me and he said, "Stu, I believe in you."

As I began the exercise, I was very afraid that I was going to flip all the way around, drop from the TRX, and bust my face open. But as soon as I flipped all the way around, John walked up next to me and said, "Don't worry, I won't let you fall." This gave me the courage to keep going. It took me a few tries, but I was eventually able to make the full flip, hold, and lower motion.

It was such a cool move. Everyone in the gym was staring and many even started clapping after I finished the full rotation. There's no way I would have been able to do it without John telling me he knew I could and also him stepping in to let me know I wasn't going to fall.

(This is a picture of me (left), Colt (middle), and Griffin (right) 

hanging upside down during the new move John taught us today.)

In our lives, we will face many difficult times. Many of you have told me recently about things that are going on in your lives that are just tough. Lost jobs, dealing with sin, money issues, family issues, health issues, friendship issues, school issues, or any combination of the above. But the amazing thing is that God is standing right next to us, cheering us on.

He doesn't promise He won't let us fall, but He does promise to pick us back up if we do. And He doesn't look at us and say, "I believe in you", He looks at us and says, "Believe in Me and I promise it's all going to be alright." That doesn't mean we won't face hard times and it doesn't mean everything is going to be "peachy" after we become a Christian. What it does mean is that God is right there with us no matter what. Sure, it might take us a few tries to get it right, but He's standing right there, cheering us on, and letting us know that with Him at our side, there's not ever a time where we'll face anything alone.

Just remember that in the tough times, God is your "spotter". He's right there with you cheering you on.

"But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong." (Job 2:10 NLT)

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b NLT)

PRODUCT REVIEW
My friends at Gaspari Nutrition (the company that makes Super Pump Max) have sent me some products to try out and write about in the blog. Today was my first day using all of the products. I used Super Pump Max as a preworkout, Aminolast during my workout, and Myofusion protein after my workout. While I can't yet comment on the usefulness of the Myofusion since it has only been one day, I can say definitively that all the products tasted fantastic and the Super Pump Max and Aminolast helped me keep my composure during my workout. The fatigue levels I usually experience were greatly diminished and I feel as though I was energized for my entire workout rather than the normal plateau and downhill feeling of most of my workouts. Today was just day one, so I will continue to keep you updated on how these products are working, but it looks to me that they will be a great addition to my routine. 

Workout:
Leg Press - 630 pounds 4x12
Calf Raises - 360 pounds 4x12
Seated leg curl - 145 pounds 4x8
Seated leg extension - 175 pounds 4x8
Shoulder plate alphabet - 35 pound plate
Alternating dumbbell shoulder press. - 45 pound dumbbells 4x12
Preacher bar shoulder raises - 90 pound preacher bar 5x10
Plate overhead lunges - 45 pound plate x 20 lunges

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. We Found Love cover by Forever the Sickest Kids
2. The Proof Of Your Love (monologue mix) by For King & Country
3. We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke

Till next time homies,
Peace and much love!

A Loss For Words

There's not much I can write today except to say that I am blessed. This project has become so much more than I ever expected and you have no idea what it means to me that all of you continue to read and support me through this process. What began as a simple little blog turned into a blog being read in 10 different countries and with over 8,000 views in two months. Not only that, but I have now been asked to share some of my research and training methods with groups of personal trainers and other fitness organizations and have also been recognized by Gaspari Nutrition (the company that makes my pre-workout formula, "Super Pump Max") and asked by them to write some reviews for their products.

But should I be surprised? This turned into so much more than I ever expected, but so many of you have been praying for me through this process. You and I together have been asking God to bless this whole thing, so why am I still surprised that it has turned into more than I had planned?

Don't we do that so many times? We pray and ask God to do something, He does it, and then we're surprised that He showed up. We can't be like this! We've got to ask God to bless us and know for a fact that He loves to bless us. Why would He ever say no to that prayer? 

It may not be in the way we expect - but it will be better than our plans. Ask God today to bless you in big ways. Ask Him to show up in your life in ways that are inexplainable except to say that He's the one who is doing it all. God loves to bless His children. Ask Him to bless you and He will be so excited to share with you all the amazing things He has in store.

God has blessed a silly little fitness project thus far, and I know for a fact there is so much more to come. If He'll bless something like this, of course He will bless you too!!!

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You fathers—if your children ask^[e] for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:9-13 NLT)

Workout:
Bench press 205 pounds 4x5 normal 1x5 of negatives
Incline bench press 185 pounds 4x5
Decline bench press 190 pounds 4x5
Chest fly machine 170 pounds 3x10
Underhand kneeling cable flys 40 pounds each side of the cable 3x10
Bent over row 115 pounds 4x8
Deadlift 225 pounds 4x8
Lawnmowers 65 pound dumbbell 4x8
Back extensions x 20
Wide grip pull ups 4x6

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. Always by Kristian Stanfill
2. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun cover by The Maine
3. Maneater by Nelly Furtado (go ahead and make fun of me again!)

Thank you so much - all of you - for reading and supporting me. You have no idea what it means.
Till next time,
Peace and much love.

Poppin' Pills

My students and friends all think I'm crazy. A few days ago you may have read about my diet. I explained that I eat around 5,000 calories in a day - every day. The problem is I can't just eat a cake to get my calories. I have to eat good calories for all 5,000. Eating 5,000 normal calories is difficult, but eating 5,000 good calories is something nearly impossible. It just takes so much chewing. I don't even like eating food anymore. Eating brings me nearly no pleasure at all now because I'm constantly doing it. That's when I got a fantastic idea.

What if I had a pill that would just give me all the calories I needed in a day? It would be amazing for me! I could save so much time and energy from eating to just take a simple pill. However, not everyone agrees it's a good idea. For the people I've talked to, most say, "Are you crazy? I love food!" But to me, it's something different. I only eat to get nutrients and energy. I don't eat for pleasure at all. I simply eat to get useful calories in my body so I can achieve my goals. The quick fix of a pill would be incredible. Unfortunately, there's no pill that can do that for me. Or if there is, I don't know about it because it's far too expensive for me. But wouldn't it be great if there was a pill for everything?

I think a lot of times we wish the same for our spiritual lives. We feel like there should just be a pill or a single verse we can memorize and then we'll be everything we need to be. We wish that there would be an overnight transformation and we wouldn't face anything difficult ever again. We also think we won't face any more temptation and we will be perfect from that moment on. But that's just not the case

Becoming more like Christ is a process. And it's a process that takes a lifetime. Every single moment, we need to be learning and growing closer to God so we can become more and more the people He wants us to be. It won't happen overnight and there's no pill we can take to make it happen. If there's ever a time we feel we've grown as much as we can grow and we're "good", that's usually the time we are least full of God and most full of ourselves.

Never stop growing and don't expect a quick fix to become holy. Constantly let God work on you and continue to develop you for a lifetime.

"I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:12b-14 NLT)



Workout:
4x6 Superset
Chinup - 30 pounds
Close grip bench press - 160 pounds

Forearm rope climb - 25 pounds

3x8 Superset
Dumbbell triceps extension - 100 pound dumbbell
Preacher curl - 70 pound bar

Dumbbell forearm twists - 20 pound dumbbells x 25 reps

Superset
5x5 - Dumbbells curls - 60 pound dumbbells
5x8 - Tricep dips - 75 pounds

Dumbbell wrist curls
15 pound dumbbells x 10 overhand
15 pound dumbbells x 10 underhand

2x12 Superset
Skull crusher - 90 pound bar
Single arm cable curl - 50 pounds

Barbell wrist curls - Bar x 25 reps

Superset
5x5 - Hammer curls - 50 pound dumbbells
15x5 - Military push-ups

Superset
21's - 50 pound bar x 1 set of 21's
Tricep cable push down - 155 pounds x 20 reps

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. Ships in the Night by Mat Kearney
2. Always by Kristian Stanfill
3. 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman (This is another song you'd think I'm crazy for getting psyched up with.)

Till next time friends,
Peace and much love.

Comatose

I got to go to boot camp this morning and even took along a friend of mine, Daniel, who was home from college. It was (as always) a great workout. Afterwards, Daniel and I went to Qdoba because it is, of course, the best post-workout food anyone could ever hope for. Up to that point it was a pretty typical Saturday. But when I got home, something strange happened.

As soon as I walked through the door of my house, a sense of overwhelming tiredness came over me. It all just hit me at once, but I had no choice but to surrender to my body and lay down and sleep. As soon as my body hit the bed, I feel into a coma-like state. It didn't make much sense to me because I slept really well last night and I haven't been missing much sleep this week. It was completely unexpected, but I couldn't fight it. I slept for two hours and woke up still pretty tired, but decided that if I slept any more, I wouldn't be able to get to sleep tonight.

There aren't many times that has happened to me. Usually I can feel that sense of the fatigue coming on slowly and I have time to shake it off, but not today. There aren't many things like that in my life, but I do know one thing that will be like that in the future.

Jesus is going to come back and He promises that when He does, it will be like a "thief in the night". It will be completely unexpected. The Bible also says that one day "every knee will bow" and "every tongue will confess" that Jesus is Lord. When He's back and the whole world sees Him, there's nothing we will be able to do about it. It will hit us and we will have no choice but to fall to our knees and worship Him.

Now here's the thing though, some of us will worship Him by choice. Those of us who are believers will gladly fall to our knees and worship with everything we have. But even those who are not believers won't be able to resist. They will fall down with everyone else and worship - knowing they have been wrong their entire lives. And at that point, for those who aren't believers, it will be too late. For believers, it will be a fantastic day. For those who don't believe, it will be a day of great revelation and judgement. Either way, we won't be able to fight it.

I hope that you won't want to fight the feeling. I hope you'll gladly fall down and worship with everything you have.

"Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11 NLT)

"For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:2 NLT)

Workout:

Boot Camp

Till next time homies, 

Peace and much love!

Get Rich Quick!

I went to eat at a Chinese buffet today with an old buddy of mine, Michael. We were actually going to go to Qdoba, but a strange series of events led us to the Chinese restaurant. We ate our fill and sat with regret hanging over our heads as we evaluated how much we actually consumed. The bill came and sitting on top of it were two small wrapped cookies.

I told Michael to choose which cookie he wanted. He contemplated the choice for a minute and grabbed one of the two fortunes. I took the remaining cookie and opened it. We both read our fortunes silently and then looked at each-other. I told my favorite fortune cookie joke (taught to me by my friends, the Crowe family) and said, "Mine's a handwritten fortune. It says, 'Help! I've been kidnapped and they locked me in a fortune cookie making factory!'" We both had a good chuckle and then I told Michael what my fortune said. His was something about people enjoying his company, but mine was actually kind of cool.

My fortune read, "You will enjoy good health; that is your form of wealth.".

That got me thinking. Mitch has been reminding me a lot to be thankful for what I do have and not to focus on the things I wish I had. It really made me understand that being healthy really is a great gift to be thankful for. I may not have the most money or fame or power, but I have a lot to be thankful for. How great a reminder it is to just be thankful that I'm healthy now. I used to be unbelievably unhealthy, but now I can be truly thankful because that has turned around in my life.

(A picture of my fortune.)

What is the gift God has given you? What are you rich with? For me, it's my health and my ability to lead and teach. Without God, I would not have any of those things - or so many other things! God has so richly blessed me with those things, and I need to make sure that I appreciate the richness He has given me.

Just remember that everyone is rich with something. God has given everyone some thing to be great at. What is it for you? Remember that it's from him and understand that God's gifts are great forms of wealth - more than any money could buy.

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." (1 Peter 4:10 NLT)

Workout:
Clean pulls - 160 pounds
SLDL - 160 pounds superset with close grip pull down - 105 pounds
Power shrugs - 140 pounds
Dumbbell shrugs - 100 pound dumbbells
One arm seated rows(overhand) - 50 pounds superset with reverse flys - 15 pound dumbbells
One arm seated rows (underhand) - 50 pounds

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. Ships in the Night by Mat Kearney
2. The Proof of Your Love by For King & Country
3. We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke

Till next time,
Peace and much love!

Happy Thanksgiving

Today was maybe the best Thanksgiving of my entire life. I have so much to be thankful for today. I got in a great workout, I got to spend time with some great friends, and I was reminded throughout the day of people who care for me. Thanks to everyone who made this day really special for me. 

I was reminded today of some good things that are most important to me. 

1. My relationship with God. It has gotten me through so much and continues to blow me away in so many ways. 

2. My friends. I don't have a ton of friends. Now, I realize that I have plenty of people who care and I know that there are many people who would call me their friend, but as far as people who I actually talk to on a regular basis, I don't have many. Two friends I am extremely thankful for are my friends Mitch and RJ. Without those guys, there is no way I would be "okay". There is no way for me to say how thankful I am for them and how much they really do mean to me. 

I also want to give a huge "Thank You" to the Vance family - Catherine and Angela in particular - who invited me over to their Thanksgiving dinner tonight. It was delicious and I had a blast. It was just a lot of fun to be around good people and eat great food!

3. My students. These middle and high school students at my church are amazing. They are just the coolest students I've ever had the opportunity to work with. There are some middle/high schoolers who are fun to be around, but those kids aren't usually well-behaved. Then there are others who are well-behaved but not much fun to be around. My students are the perfect blend of both. They're just amazing and I'm so proud of and thankful for them. 

I hope that you were also able to find things to be thankful for today. Of course my list is longer than three things, but those things kept reoccurring to me throughout the entire day. 

Remember that every good and perfect thing comes down to us from God. He loves us, cares for us, and wants to make sure we know we are blessed. No matter what your situation, remember you are blessed. If you're able to read this blog, that means you are alive and that in itself is a blessing.

Be thankful. Not just today, but every day. 

"Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens." (James 1:17 NLT)

Workout:
All exercises 5x10
Squats - 300 pounds superset with lateral raises - 25 pound dumbbells
Barbell shoulder press - 120 pounds superset with Db alternating chest press - 60 pound dumbbells
Barbell walking lunges - 100
Alternating front raises - 25 pound dumbbells superset with chest flys - 65 pound dumbbells

Best Songs of the Workout:

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUGGESTED SOME NEW SONGS FOR ME!!! KEEP LETTING ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS!!!

1. We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke (Recommended by Nick Burczyk. GREAT song and band.)

2. Be Your Everything by Boys Like Girls (Recommended by Heidi Molinari. Thanks so much for this recommendation!!! It got me psyched!)

3. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor (Recommended by an anonymous blog commenter. I had listened to it before and wasn't a big fan, but it worked for me today!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Peace and much love. 

Nocturnal Boot Camp

Usually Wednesday is my off day, but today was a special circumstance. Due to the fact that I didn't have work at all today, I decided to go to the gym so I wasn't just sitting around being a bum. Tonight there was a class taught by Kathy, my boot camp instructor, because the normal instructor couldn't make it. I was excited to be with some of my friends from boot camp and ready to go for it. That is, until class actually started.

We began by jump roping, and all was going well. I felt great because I hadn't completely wasted my day. But as class got into about the fifteen minute mark, all of my and my classmates' energy began to dwindle. We began talking about how it was so different to exercise at night than it was on Saturday mornings. Our bodies were used to resting at this time, so it was really weird for us to be exerting ourselves. I was sweating harder than I have sweat in a long time. Several of my friends in the class were also talking about how they just felt completely exhausted because of the night time. We had a great workout, but it was really tough for us to push through all the exhaustion. One thing Kathy said stuck out to me though.

She said, "It's tough, but it's great for your body to change it up like this."

See, what I had to learn is that you do need to switch up your routine every once in a while. If you continue doing the exact same things for too long, your body acclimates to it all and won't change or grow the way you want it to. Forcing your body to do different things at different times will really make a difference.

When it comes to worshipping God and getting close to Him, the same thing happens. A lot of times, we allow ourselves to slip into a routine that makes us desensitized to the amazing things He is trying to teach us. If you're in a great routine and learning and growing, maybe it's not time for you to change just yet. But if there are times where you're feeling stale and bored, switch it up! Your soul will change and grow in new and exciting ways. Maybe it's time to increase your prayer life or study a little more. Maybe a change in your time of day or the way you drive to work could really do you some good in your relationship with God. Whatever it is, don't hesitate! You don't want to quit growing.

God is a God who never changes amidst a world that never stays the same. If you need to change your methods, do it; but remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What you learn and how you learn it may be different, but it's amazing that God has not changed a bit.

He's waiting to teach you. Just show up ready to learn.

"Sing a new song to the Lord!
    Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!" (Psalm 96:1 NLT Emphasis added)

Workout:

Boot camp at night time

Till next time homies,

Peace and much love!

Good Lord! That's As Big As A Pizza!

If you've kept up with the blog, you know that in two months, I've gained 14 pounds of muscle. In order to do that, I have to eat a LOT of food. Each day, I eat around 5,000 calories. The difficult part though is that those calories can't just be cake or pizza. They have to be good calories. Eating 5,000 calories in a day is a feat, but eating 5,000 good calories in a day is nearly impossible. To give you an idea, let me tell you what a "Bane Breakfast" consists of.

"Bane Breakfast"
- 5 eggs
- 3 pieces of turkey sausage
- 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup red, orange, yellow peppers, mushrooms, and onions
- 3 pieces of whole wheat toast or 2 whole wheat tortillas
- Banana
- 10oz. fruit smoothie with blueberries, banana, oranges, and strawberries
- 2 tablespoons of peanut butter
- 12oz. of 1% chocolate milk

For those of you who don't wanna do the math, that's around 1,000-1,500 calories just for breakfast. There are adults who only eat around 1,500 calories in a day. The average human should eat around 2,000 calories a day. Just including breakfast, I eat almost the same amount a "normal" person should eat in an entire day. Eating that much is really tough for me.See, it's not that I ever really feel "full", it's the fact that I get this mental block of thinking about how much food it is and how disgusting it is that I have to eat this much food in a day.

Tonight for part of my dinner, I had a 16oz. (1 pound) deer burger. After I put it all together and cooked it, my mom looked at it and said, "Good Lord! That's as big as a pizza!"Eating that much meat is disgusting. Again, I didn't feel "full", I just couldn't get over the mental aspect of eating an entire pound of meat. As I was getting to the end, the mental block kept growing and growing. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to finish it, but I did in the end. It was tough, and I had to just keep pushing, but I ate all of it.

(This is a picture of the deer burger from tonight.)

What's amazing is that we face so many things in our lives. There are so many times where we think we're going up against too much and there's no way we'll ever make it through. Sins we struggle with may seem unbelievably difficult but luckily for us, God has a promise for these times and situations. He promises us that no matter what we face, it will never be too much for us.

He doesn't promise He won't push us to our limits. He doesn't promise it won't be difficult. What He does promise is that there will never be a time when we face so much there's no way for us to get through it. When God makes a promise, He keeps it. So no matter what you're facing, no matter how big the mental block is, just keep pushing through. Rely on God and let Him show you the way through whatever it is you're going through.

He'll come through for you. Every. Single. Time. 

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT)

Workout:
Leg Press - 630 pounds 4x12
Calf Raises - 270 pounds 4x12
Seated leg curl - 145 pounds 4x8
Seated leg extension - 150 pounds 4x8
Shoulder plate alphabet - 35 pound plate
Alternating dumbbell shoulder press. - 35 pound dumbbells 4x10
Preacher bar shoulder raises - 90 pound preacher bar 5x10

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. Anything Could Happen by Ellie Goulding (Recommended to me by the one and only Maxwell Wilder. It is an absolutely fantastic song to get psyched to. Check it out!)
2. Over My Head cover by A Day to Remember
3. Middle of Your Heart by For King & Country

Till next time homies,
Peace and much love.

Gettin Weird

RJ dared me to wear a wrestling singlet at the gym today. Needless to say, I did it. I was very apprehensive, but I went for it. I was unable to leave it on the entire workout because some of the exercises were inhibited by the tightness of the singlet, but I did wear it while bench pressing. It was hard for me to even look in the mirror at myself because of how ridiculous I looked. When I walked down to the weight room, people were staring and definitely judging me. I didn't really care though. It was funny to me. I was just trying to have a funny moment at the gym and it definitely worked.

(Here's a picture of me wearing the singlet in the locker room.)

In the Bible, King David got a little crazy one time as well. He ripped all his clothes off and danced in his underwear. He even said that he would get even crazier than that. He didn't care if it was hard for him to even look at himself because He knew He was doing it all for a worthy purpose. Sometimes, God will overwhelm us so much with His greatness that we can't help but get a little crazy. People might think we look weird, but when we really feel God's presence, there's no other reaction than to get crazy and everyone will see it. 

Feel God all around you. Go crazy.

"Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might...[David said,]'I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.'" (2 Samuel 6:14;22a NIV)

Workout:
Bench press (205 pounds) 4 sets of 5 reps regular; one set of 5 negatives
Incline bench press (175 pounds) 4 sets of 5 reps
Decline bench press (185 pounds) 4 sets of 6 reps
Weighted chest dips (80 pound dumbbell) superset with pull ups 3 sets of 8 reps
Wide grip bent over rows (115 pounds) superset with seated rows (125 pounds) 3 sets of 10 reps
Back extensions 1 set of 30 reps

I NEED NEW WORKOUT MUSIC!!! POST IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS!!! 
YOU WILL GET MENTIONED IN THE BLOG IF ONE OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS MAKES THE LIST OF "BEST SONGS OF THE WORKOUT"

Till next time,
Get crazy party people.
Peace and much love.

Pay It Forward

Today at the gym I saw some middle school students working out. They were trying their hardest to make sure everything was going well, and they were doing a decent job keeping each-other safe, but some of it just didn't look good. There were times when I wanted to jump in and stop what they were doing because it just looked sloppy. I'm not trying to insult them or make fun of them whatsoever. I was just very concerned for them. 

I would pause my lifting while they were doing theirs. Then, while they were resting, I would do my lifts. That way, if anything were to happen, I would be available and could step in if necessary. Now, I'm not saying I'm some expert or anything like that, but I don't like feeling that I could have helped someone and didn't. And while I may not be an expert, I would say I know more about working out than a middle school student does. I wanna be available to step in if at all possible because I don't want anyone to get hurt. If you've read many of the posts, you know I've had a few close calls myself, and if not for the kindness and swiftness of some of my fellow "gym rats", I would not be okay today. So, my way of paying it forward is to pause for a little bit and make sure these kids are okay.

Our Christian lives are the same way. We should be available to help those who aren't as developed as we are spiritually and make sure they don't get hurt. Sometimes, that might mean we have to put aside some of our own plans in order to be available to step in and make sure everything goes alright. It may mean that we don't get to do every single thing we want, but it's worth it. 

What are you willing to give up so others can grow?

"My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them." (Romans 9:2-3 NLT)

I know I've used this passage before, but it's an important one. Believers need to support each-other!
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT)

Workout: ARMS
Superset 4x6
Chin-up with 25 pounds chained on/Close grip bench press 155 pounds

Forearm rope lift - 25 pounds

Superset
Spider curls 70 pounds (5x5)/military push-ups 15x5

Barbell wrist curls - Bar x 25

Superset 3x8
Dumbbell triceps extension 100 pound dumbbell/preacher curl 60 pounds

Dumbbell forearm twists - 20 pound dumbbells x 25

Superset
Dumbbells curls 55 pound dumbbells (5x5)/tricep dips with 75 pounds chained on (5x8)

Dumbbell wrist curls
15 pound dumbbells x 10 overhand
15 pound dumbbells x 10 underhand

Superset 2x12
Cable incline bench triceps extension 75 pounds/single arm cable curl 45 pounds

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. Over My Head cover by A Day To Remember
2. Mighty Wave by Sarah Reeves
3. Middle of Your Heart by For King & Country

Till next time part people,
Peace and much love.

Explanation: The Tattoo On My Wrist

Today at the gym, a guy walked up to me and said, "I saw you teaching someone else a workout on Sunday. It looked insane!" We talked for a few more minutes and he said, "So you're one of the trainers here, right?" I started to laugh and informed him that I was just another gym-goer like himself, but it made me feel awesome. Just a few years ago, I would have died doing the workout I was teaching on Sunday. There's no way anyone would have thought I was a trainer. As a matter of fact, there's no way anyone would have thought I had ever seen a gym, but the change is there now - and I never wanna go back.

Our Christian lives should be the same way. When a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, that butterfly does not want to turn back into a caterpillar. As Christians, we should change into who God wants us to be and not turn back. We should never want to be our "old selves" again.

I have a tattoo on my wrist which reminds me of that very concept. It's a reminder to never give up on anyone and never give up on myself. It's a reminder that wherever I go and whatever I do, I need to live how God wants me to. It's a reminder to be a butterfly and to never go back to being a caterpillar.

(Here's a picture of the tattoo on my wrist. The verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17. That verse is below.)

Live the life and don't turn back. Be a butterfly and never crawl around as a caterpillar ever again.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Workout:
Boot Camp

Till next time my beautiful butterflies,
Peace and much love. 

I Was Here

Today's post is going to be short and sweet, 

but I think it's really important for me to share what's on my mind. 

I worked this morning with some kids who really just need someone to tell them they're worth something. Think about the kids you know who are the "bad kids". The kids you know probably don't even come close to some of the issues of the kids I work with. The sad part to me though is that so many people write them off and think of them only as "bad kids". 

Think about this: When you die, you're not a rich person, a poor person, a person who had a lot of stuff, a homeless person, a huge executive, or a pauper. You're just a dead person. On this earth, it won't matter about any of that. The only thing that will matter is who still remembers you and how they remember you. Now, I realize that eternity is more important than this earth, but let's not forget that God cares about this earth as well. The reason God cares about it is because there are people here and He loves people - and we should love them too.

Not only should we love them, but we should let them know that we love them. And not only should we tell them we love them, we need to show them we love them. 

Have you ever looked into someone's eyes and seen that they understand that you really do care about them? It's the most amazing feeling in the world. Maybe the only feeling more amazing is when that person is someone who doesn't have anyone else who makes them feel that way. This morning, I was fortunate enough to see that in the eyes of some "bad kids". 

Every day, you're leaving impressions. Every day, you're shaping what people think of themselves and leaving a major footprint on the lives of everyone you come in contact with. Will the world be better because you were here? Will people be happy you were a part of their lives? When they think of you, will they remember that feeling that someone cares? 

What will people remember about you being here?

"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them." (Romans 12:9a NLT)

(I'm an emotional man. Watch this video by Beyonce and you'll understand the reason for this post.)

Workout:
All exercises 5x10 unless otherwise noted.

Clean pulls - 140 pounds
SLDL - 140 pounds superset with close grip pull down - 95 pounds
Power shrugs - 135 pounds
Dumbbell shrugs - 100 pound dumbbells
Curls - 35 pound dumbbells superset with tri cable push down - 155 pounds
Crunches superset with reverse flys - 15 pound dumbbells

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. White Flag by Chris Tomlin
2. Somebody That I Used to Know cover by Mayday Parade
3. Middle of Your Heart by For King & Country

Till next time,
Spread the love.
Peace and much love.

I Got Yo Back

Today at the gym was weird. It always throws off my "mojo" to not have the same routine going and today none of my normal workout people were there. I had to go early in the day, so I was unable to meet up with the people I usually see. And it was just weird. I guess that's the only way to put it.

I kept thinking through all these terrible scenarios of things that could happen where I would need someone to have my back and no one would come to the rescue. What if I dropped a weight on myself? What if someone wanted to fight me and I knew I would lose? If I fell down, would anybody pick me up? All those thoughts kept spinning through my mind.

All I know is that it's way better in life to have people around who have your back. Going around alone is dangerous and sad. Don't isolate yourself. Reach out to people and be their friend! It's good for you and it's good for them.

The devil's main tactics are to make us feel afraid and alone. Being scared is a great tool he uses to keep us from God's purposes. And being alone kills our souls. A very wise man named Richard once told me this great thought: "When God was walking around in the garden with Adam, God looked around and said, 'It is not good for man to be alone.' See, Adam wasn't alone. Adam was with God, but God knew (because He designed us) that we needed other people as well as Him."

That's an amazing thought, isn't it? Adam was literally walking around the garden of Eden with God, but God said that Adam was alone. Why? Because we need other people.

Don't let Satan make you feel afraid. And definitely don't let him make you feel alone. Surround yourself with good people. That way, when you fall down, make sure there's someone who's got yo back.

I hope you know there's someone out there who cares about you. 


"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT)

"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” (Genesis 2:18 NLT)

Workout:
All exercises 5x10 unless otherwise noted
Box squats - 185 pounds superset with lateral raises - 20 pound dumbbells
Barbell shoulder press - 100 pounds
Barbell step ups - 95 pounds
Bench press - 155 pounds
Alternating front raises - 20 pound dumbbells Super set with dumbbell alternating chest press - 60 pound dumbbells
Chest flys - 60 pound dumbbells

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. Grenade cover by Memphis May Fire
2. Boyfriend cover by Issues
3. If It Means A Lot To You by A Day To Remember

Look around you. See the people who care. Feel the peace. Feel the love.
Till next time, peace and much love.

Science and Religion: The Great Debate

Tonight I shared with my youth group all about how the mind works and how sounds cause our brains to react in certain ways. I think probably the coolest thing is that God designed us in a very specific way. We are not accidents. There are so many people who say that religion and science can't mix. I completely disagree. I believe they have to mix because God made us a certain way. Understanding the science of ourselves is absolutely fascinating, and then when I pair that with the idea that God made us that way (scientifically) for a specific reason, my mind is blown.

Every day at the gym, I think about that same thing. It is amazing to me that God designed our bodies to tear apart, maintain composure under stress, and rebuild. Every time I lift a weight or pull a cable or run or jump or bike, it is all because God has designed me to do so. The Bible tells us three things that I think are related to all these thoughts:
1. The Bible tells us we are made in God's own image.
2. The Bible tells us that whatever we say or do that we should do it all for the glory of God.
3. The Bible also says that since the beginning of time, God's qualities have been revealed to us in everything we see.

When we look at ourselves and all of the amazing things the human body is capable of, how could we ever doubt that God put us together? I think it's hard to say there's not at least some power higher than us that did it all. I do believe that the Christian God is responsible for it all. He made us in such a way that we cannot deny Him when we truly examine ourselves.

Take time today and reflect on how amazing God is for putting us together the way He did.

If you have the time, listen to the song below while you read the following Bible passages. The song is Yiruma's "A River Flows In You" performed by my friend, Jeremiah Hines. It's one of the songs I used tonight to talk with my youth group about the way God uses music in our lives. Listen, read, and reflect on how awesome our God really is. 

"So God created human beings in his own image.
    In the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27 NLT)

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (Colossians 3:17 NLT)

"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." (Romans 1:20 NLT)

Till next time, 

Peace and much love. 

Drumming in the Gym is a Bad Idea

RJ made fun of me at the gym today, and I probably deserved it. I sustained what most would consider a minor injury, but to me it was a really big deal.

If you've read the blog before, you know that my music means a lot to me. As a matter of fact, in one of the posts there is a video of me dancing to my music at the gym (Check that post out here: Dancing Video Post) Without my music, I am convinced I would lift about half the weight I'm currently lifting. And I get really into it. I dance, play air guitar, and my latest trend has been to play air drums to the music. Usually it's a harmless task which makes people stare and giggle, but nothing comes of it. Today, that was not the case.

I use my lifting straps as "drum sticks" to bang on the air or certain pieces of equipment. Today, as I was drumming on a certain machine, my strap missed my target and I banged my left index finger on a metal bar. I have no idea why, but the pain shot immediately up my arm and made me want to scream. It was a terrible pain. For such a small thing, it really was a big deal to me. Later in my workout, I pinched the same spot on the same finger between two weights and I again almost let out a yelp.

After that happened, I went and showed RJ who quickly made fun of me and told me (sarcastically) it looked so bad that I should probably go get a splint, bandage, and some ice for it. In all honesty, it really did hurt, but I did kinda lose my man card by telling him about it. He was right to make fun of me. I definitely deserved it.

(This is my finger. See how red it is! It's definitely a big deal!!!)

But isn't that how a lot of things are? Aren't the smallest negative comments the ones that leave the most lasting impact? Or what about the smallest kind gesture? Don't people notice those things a lot too? What I'm saying is that something small to you can mean a lot to someone else - either in a good way or a negative way. We need to watch the details. The small things are what leave the biggest impact and what might seem like no big deal to you could build someone up or crush them in a way you never intended.

Build people up. Reach out and do a simple act of kindness. It may be simple to you, but unbelievably meaningful to its recipient.

"...the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire." (James 3:5 NLT)

Workout: 
All exercises 5x10 unless otherwise noted
Clean pulls - 155 pounds
SLDL - 155 pounds superset with close grip pull down - 105 pounds
Power shrugs - 135 pounds
Barbell shrugs - 200 pounds
One arm seated rows(overhand) - 50 pounds superset with reverse flys - 15 pound dumbbells
Negative pull ups - 3x3

Best Songs of the Workout:
1. Grenade cover by Memphis May Fire (I forgot to mention yesterday that my friend John Michael is the one who suggested the "Punk Goes Pop Volume 5" CD to me. This song is off that album and the whole CD is fantastic. Check it out if you've got some music money to spend.)
2. Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship
3. Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals Version) by Glee Cast (Go ahead and judge me.)

That's all for now people.
Till next time, peace and much love.

Two Month's Time

THE RESULTS ARE IN!!!

Statistics from the beginning:

Weight: 183.8 pounds

Fat content: 11.3%

Waist: 36 inches

Biceps: 14 inches

Neck: 16 inches

Chest: 42 inches

Shoulders: 21 inches

Forearms: 11 inches

Statistics at the one month mark:

Weight: 191 pounds

Fat content: 11.3%

Waist: 36 inches (stayed the same)

Biceps: 15 inches (+1 inch)

Neck: 16.25 inches (+0.25 inches)

Chest: 43 inches (+1 inch)

Shoulders: 22 inches (+1 inch)

Forearms: 11.5 inches (+0.5 inches)

Max Bench Press: 240 pounds

Statistics as of today (2 month mark):

Weight: 197.5 pounds

Fat content: 12%

Waist: 36 inches (stayed the same)

Biceps: 15 inches (stayed the same)

Neck: 17 inches (+0.75 inches)

Chest: 44 inches (+1 inch)

Shoulders: 24 inches (+2 inches)

Forearms: 12.25 inches (+0.75 inches)

Max Bench Press: 245 pounds (+5 pounds)

That means there are combined totals of...

8.25 inches of growth since the beginning.

14 pounds gained (which has been confirmed by Derek, my medical expert, of being pure muscle growth)

These results are amazing and far beyond anything I could have hoped for. There are still around two months left to finish the journey. Stay posted as we grow together!!!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME THUS FAR. THESE RESULTS ARE ALL BECAUSE OF US ALL WORKING TOGETHER. THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN ENCOURAGEMENT, ADVICE, AND READ THE BLOG FAITHFULLY.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13 NLT)

Workout:

All exercises are 5 sets of 10 reps unless otherwise noted.

Box squats - 205 pounds super set with lateral raises - 25 pound dumbbells
Barbell shoulder press - 115 pounds
Barbell step ups - 100 pounds
Alternating front raises - 25 pound dumbbells super set with Chest flys - 65 pound dumbbells
50 pushups
3 sets of 10 Plyo Pushups

Best Songs of the Workout:
I got a new workout CD and the whole thing is fantastic. It's "Punk Goes Pop Volume 5".
Check it out on Spotify and iTunes.

Thanks again for everything party people.
Peace and much love.

No Holding Back

Climbing wall in a swimming pool. Best idea ever? I think so.

Today, I went to the gym with my friend, Austin. We did "The Spartacus" workout, a TRX band workout, and then went to the pool with the intention of swimming. That is, until we saw the climbing wall. The wall stands about 10 feet above the surface of the pool and has three different panels you can choose from to climb. We were able to conquer two of the panels, but one just seemed to be too much for us. The most embarrassing thing was that the lifeguards informed us that a seven year old is able to climb the "impossipanel" every single time he goes to the pool. We kept trying and trying, but were still unable to make it to the top of that third panel. No amount of yelling at each-other (positively or making fun of one-another) was able to push us to the top. We were extremely determined, but weren't willing to commit to the task fully. In all honesty, had we stayed a little longer and pushed a little harder, we probably could have gotten it. But we didn't do that. We held back - even though it was just a slight hold back - and because of that, we were unable to make it to the top.

Today is a day where we honor those who don't hold anything back for our country. Our veterans are people willing to give up everything - including their own lives - for our freedom and to protect all of our rights. There are so few people who are willing to make this sacrifice, and it is important that we let them know how much they mean to us. Thank you for holding nothing back. Thank you for giving up what so few are willing to give up. Thank you for sacrificing time with your friends, family, and other loved ones. Thank you for being willing to give up your life for all of those of us back home and thank you to all the ones who have made this ultimate sacrifice.

Thank you for not holding back. You are an inspiration and a blessing.

***This post is dedicated to all of our military personnel: past, present, and future.***

"There is no greater gift than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13 NLT)

Workout:

The Spartacus Workout (a Men's Health workout)

TRX full-body workout

Swimming pool climbing wall :)

Till next time homies, peace and much love. 

Taking the Easy Way Out

Boot camp this morning was great. Kathy was back, the workout was intense, and it felt good to sweat as bad as I did. None of those things were the best part though. The best part was just getting to see everybody. When you're around people - especially the kinds of people who are in boot camp - you get pushed to new limits. You do things you never thought you could do all because they're watching you. That's exactly how this morning was.

We were running a trail and had to take another lap. There are two routes you can take while running. There's a long route that goes all the way around the gym and there's a back way that makes a shortcut behind the gym. We were running and I was in the lead, so I got to choose which way to go. Some of my classmates yelled, "Stu, take the short route". We were all exhausted and ready to be finished running, so that idea sounded great to me. Just when I was about to make the turn and go the short way, a classmate yelled out, "Don't you dare take the short route, Stu!" I was conflicted. Majority had said to take the short route, but I didn't want to be the reason our workout wasn't as good as it could have been. I didn't want everyone to say, "We only went on the short route because Stu led us that way". I did what I knew I had to do and took the long route all the way around the building.

Because of my choice, I was criticized a little bit. There were some of my fellow boot campers who groaned and made fun of me for taking the long route, but in the end I, along with everyone else, know that taking the long route was the better choice. Had we all been alone, we probably would have taken the easier, shorter route. Not together. Together, we pushed each-other, and because of the people I was surrounded by, I was pushed in a positive way.

There are many times in your life where you will be the leader. You will have the opportunity to push people to their potential or let them take the easy way out. There will also be times where you have to choose who you will follow. Will you follow someone who is leading you in a direction you know you shouldn't go? Are you leading people in a positive direction?

(Here's a picture we took today during boot camp. Some people had already left by this point, and I'm very sad we didn't get everyone because they all mean a lot to me, but this shows some of the characters I'm with every Saturday morning.)

In my life, there are people who push me physically and guide me in that way. I also have some great friends who push and guide me with just regular life. I just wanted to give a thanks to Mitch, RJ, Jacob, Tyler, Austin and Derek for being there for me in all my physical journeys as well as my regular life. I wouldn't be who I am without you all.

There's lots of leaders, but very few worth following. Be one of the few. Follow the few.

"Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble." (Proverbs 13:20 NLT)

Thanks to all of you for the amazing support you show by reading this blog. You push me and help me to become more than I ever thought I could be. 

Till next time, 
peace and much love.