Boot Camp Saves the day

This came from a recent boot camp member:

Your willingness to walk through the fire of your fears will actually douse its flames.

So I took a trip to fire island over the weekend (left Saturday)
I was hanging out on my friends boat...
it was about 630 AM Sunday morning and i was ready to start my workout...
just the way you trained us at boot camp.

i couldn't think of a nicer location to be at for this workout...
the ocean. the boats. the beach. the seagulls, the sunrise...
so i started to think about all the various exercises you had trained me in...
I started warming up with my stretches...
then my 3 repetitions of jumping jacks, squats, push-ups, sit-ups and then end the workout with a nice run on the beach...
when all of a sudden thunder, lightening and rain started to fall...
it blew in out of nowhere...

I decided to go down below in the cabin and wait for the storm to blow over...
As I descended the 5 steps...the steps were wet from the few drops of rain which had already fallen... the steps had carpeting which was covered with plastic...
not being able to process all this information at 630 in the morning...
I was thinking about seagulls and enjoying the beautiful 80 degree weather
and the warm breezes...
no way for me to realize that the steps were as slippery as a sheet of ice.

so my right foot went from the top step to the bottom step at the speed of lightning...
while my left foot remained on the top step...

that's when the squats and leap training came in real handy...
this enormous squat/leap and drop of about 4 feet had an incredible pressure on my body..
however my toes somehow bent underneath my left foot on the top step and gravity took over...

my entire body started to lean forward twisting to the right side as my right foot had already slammed the cabin floor...
but because of all those jumping jacks you made me do it was no problem that my right foot slammed on to the cabin floor.
it all seemed to flow in a smooth, slow motion, pattern, as i danced in mid air while the boat was rocking from the wind and waves...

thanks to you Tony I had this unpredictable circumstance under control with great confidence.

www.StatenIslandBootCamp.com
when all of a sudden in the corner of my eye i noticed the kitchen table corner from the cabin below approaching my head... while my left foot remained on the top step above...
i didnt know that all your training would prepare me this type of contortions and
that's when my push-up training came into play...

I was able to prevent the table corner from piercing my forehead...
I managed to cling onto the table edge with one arm, only because of my push-up training you had us do when we stayed in position for 2 minutes.
except this time it was a little bit more difficult as the boat rocked from left to right.
but i remembered when you would make us do the push-ups alternating arms.
plus staying in position for as long as we could really strenghtened my arms.
i had this puppy in the bag knowing i could hold position for for 2 minutes...
I started to untangle my body in a more comfortable position...
that's when all those twists you made us do came in handy...

www.StatenIslandBootCamp.com
now i slowly lowered and gently placed my body on my back while my left foot was still up above on the top step...that's when my sit-up training went into play...
i lifted myself up with no problem and back to the top step where it all started...

now i slowly started to descend once more thinking all was well...
and that's when I noticed that my left foot would not hold me up and gravity once again did its magic and promptly brought me down to the cabin floor once more...

I instantly realized that all of my 5 left toes that were bent underneath my foot,
through the entire dance, acted as a shock absorber for my 210 lb frame.

My toes started to turn blue, the same tone as the water color reflecting the dark skies above.
My toes started to swell like the waves around the boat...
My toes started to throb like the thunder above...
Finally the pain like lightning rods shooting in my brain...

But i am thankful to you Tony that it was only 210 lbs because 5 weeks ago i was 225 lbs...

by noon i was back on a ferry going to my car for my long, painful, throbbing journey home.

it saddens me to think that i unfortunately may not be able to recover in time to start your new boot camp training in August....

However please share my experience with your new group...

Rich Marini
www.StatenIslandBootCamp.com

Is it genes or habits

I am often mystified by the phenomenon of the human mind. We all have the ability to rationalize things to ourselves. I know that I have done so on occasion. Maybe it's part of being human. One of the most powerful things you can do is tell yourself the truth. If a situation is messed up, it is ok to say that it is messed up. You have to see situations as they are. However, you also have to see them as you want them to be. The cartoon in this post is a perfect example. The guy is complaining about the "fat gene" as he wolfs down a table full of burgers. He is not being truthful. Whether it is weight loss, finances, relationships career, it doesn't matter. Do yourself a favor by telling yourself the truth. Then claim your power by envisioning how you want it to be. Next, go out and doing something to change it.

Chance are...

If you leave it to chance. Chances are you'll leave.
Don't leave your day, your dreams, your life to chance.

Take the time out to make plan. You and your future deserve it.
Do it today. Monday is always a good day to start.

True Commitment

I remember hearing about this man and his commitment to his son years ago.
His name is Dick Hoyt. He performs The Ironman Triathlon with is
physically challenged son in tow. That is that daunting, almost superhuman,
combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4

I often think of them when I get fatigued and don't want to train.
Someone shared this video with me so I wanted to do the same.

Think about them when the seeds of doubt tell you that you can't do something.

Tony

Mondays

I can remember when I was working as a vice president
at a major bank. I made great money. I was very popular.
And I was miserable. Why? Because I was not doing
what I love. Mondays became so horrible to face because
I was waking up to go somewhere I hated.

I took a leap of faith and decided that I would dedicate
my life to helping other people become their best.

I have been unbelievably blessed in my decision.
Is there something that is calling you?
Have you not aswered the call because you are afraid.
Eventually bridging the gap from where you are to where
you want to be will require a leap.

Sometimes you have to jump and grow your wings on the way down.

I leaped and Mondays aren't so bad anymore.

1st Boot Camp ending

The first Staten Island boot camp Has only one week left.

Here are some of the comments:

"Camp is great...i enjoy it so much, the people are great, and i cant think of a better way to start my day. True getting up at 5:30am is for the birds...but after working out with you, i feel like i can soar like an Eagle thru my entire day. "

"I am really enjoying boot camp, although getting up in the morning is rough. My fitness level is not so great but I hope in time it will improve. If you decide to offer another session I would definitely be interested."

"The camp is great and it is everything that I thought it would be."

I also had one camper say she lost 6 pounds in the 1st week and a half.
One person says her aggravating knee pain is now gone.

What type of people enjoy boot camp? Well, this camp has a school teacher, nurses, a retire police officer, a mortgage expert, some high level corporate execs, bankers, a hair dresser and a guidance counselor and business owners.

As you can see, there are people from all walks of life getting together to get fit and live better. If this sounds good to you, give fitness boot camp a try.

The next camp on Staten will start on Monday August 18th. I highly recommend to sign up early because this last one sold out quickly.

For information visit www.StatenIslandBootCamp.com


If you are not on Staten Island I recommend finding a boot camp near you.

All the best,
Tony Books Avilez

Been thinking

I have been thinking that despite what the news tries to drill into your head about how bad things are life is pretty good. At least mine is despite all the challenges. It reminds of one of my favorite quotes:

"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."
by W. Somerset Maugham

I have the privilege of coaching people who are committed to being their best.

Find out how
www.StatenIslandBootCamp.com

Tony