Blog

*The title of this post was taken from The Offspring song of the same name*

I remember it somewhat vividly.

I was fresh out of high school, dating a girl who would later be coined the “girlfriend from hell” by my family. The relationship didn’t last long. That was probably obvious to everyone but me.

I spent every dime of my graduation money on her. Pawned away good music instruments and equipment too. When I got wind that she was cheating on me with a friend of mine, it stung a bit.

Granted, she was in Ohio (so was he) and I was in Tennessee. A girl would get lonely, right?
That wasn’t the worst of it though. I was having a conversation with her mom shortly after I found out about the affair and she said “Don’t worry, Jason. She really cares about you. She’s only with him for his looks.”

Ouch.

You see, I’ve never been under any illusions that I could make it as a runway model. Too short, too this, too that. But for a short amount of time, I thought my “looks” were enough to keep my girlfriend faithful.

I wish I could say that was the only time when it seemed apparent that maybe I wasn’t the best looking guy on the block. It wasn’t. But that was definitely one time where my nose got rubbed in it.

Fast forward over two decades later and I really look nothing like that guy. I weigh a bit more, have more muscle and as of 10 years ago, have completely shaved my head. I also have married a woman who, in my humble opinion, is stunning. When this post is published, it will be our two year anniversary.

I’m still no runway model but I have learned to grow a bit more comfortable in my own skin.

What I often find with my clients, is a similar dissatisfaction with themselves. Maybe their parents impressed it on them at an early age. Maybe, like with me, it was a relationship that went awry.

Unfortunately, the lack of self esteem is what I find can hold many of my clients back. They’re too concerned about the size of their butt, the loose skin under their arms, the excess fat around the midsection that never seems to get tight enough. Or maybe it was never tight at all.

That concern for the perfect body tends to override all of the amazing feats of progress that someone can achieve. When being skinny trumps being healthy. When starving oneself is a greater badge of honor than eating appropriately and responsibly for a goal. Or the opposite effect of overeating because one has lost sight of a goal.

Recently, a client (who has been seeing tremendous weight loss results) was criticized for how they look by their spouse. Maybe it wasn’t meant in a derogatory way but this individual already struggles with self worth and feeling as if they deserve the body they’re working so hard to have.

It’s akin to criticizing someone for their looks on things they have little control in changing. How demoralizing.

It takes a special kind of strength to keep fighting for your goal. It takes a great amount of determination to decide that you’re not going to let any negative part of your past define who you are today, much less who you will be tomorrow.

It would be easy for me to write each week about calories or exercises or motivation. But if you want to be successful on your journey, it’s about a lot more than any of those things.

Many of our clients are fighting a battle that won’t ever be seen. It might be emotional, physical, or social. Sometimes, the best that can happen is they come into the gym and let all of that stress out on the weights. I think that’s a great thing.

And I don’t want to pretend that I have this whole self esteem thing worked out for myself either. I have my own battles. But you’re welcome at RevFit to help me straighten some of my issues out as long as I can return the favor.

 

Over the last couple of years, Dan Broadbent AKA “A Science Enthusiast” has been taking the social media world by storm in efforts to bring rational thought and scientific understanding back to the conversation on some very hot button topics. We bring many of them up in this conversation. From vaccines to GMO’s, religion to autism, we tackle a lot! This was quite a chat and I truly hope that listeners take some nuggets of wisdom from what we discussed. No matter where you stand on these topics, Dan shines a passionate light on the issues he gets vocal about on his own website. To learn more about Dan, you can connect with him and check out his podcast via http://www.ascienceenthusiast.com To learn more about your host, please visit http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends, and leave us an iTunes review to let us know how we’re doing!

iTunes OR Stitcher OR iHeartRadio

 

* The title of this post was taken from The Dirty Nil song of the same name*

Ah, to be young and fearless again…

Or is that young and invincible?

While I don’t have the lifting background of someone who played sports through high school/college, my body has felt it’s fair share of aches, pains, strains, and other miscellaneous hiccups. You can read about some of the more serious ones here.

In fact, most of my clients are in something of the same boat. A bad knee here, a rough shoulder there, unusual pains in the lower back, hip, elbow, etc. I’m not sure that I have any clients at all (young or old) who aren’t fighting through or around some nagging problem.

To treat each of my clients as if they had no weaknesses would be foolish to say the least. Some people have an innate strength or aptitude that I try to flesh out and improve on. Others have to fight and claw for every ounce of progress they can make. I tend to post a lot of pictures of people lifting respectable weights with a traplift or a back squat. However, I have at least 30% of my clientele who cannot, and likely will not, ever be able to safely perform those lifts.

That’s ok.

Not only do we all have different goals set for ourselves, we have different bodies, with different histories behind them. All of which have a path to forge and it’s my job (and the job of my trainers) to help shine that light.

If you want to get stronger, get leaner, eat more responsibly, balance your training with the rest of your life, we want to see you succeed. No two paths will look identical to one another. No two outcomes will be perfectly aligned.

I’d also like to offer a call to those of you reading this to stay aware of your weaknesses. Sometimes they can be made stronger and sometimes they need to remain subtle reminders of where the body cannot be pushed.

Perhaps the largest offenders of any of this are the weekend warriors and those just trying too damn hard to relive their former glories (When I was in college I could lift “XXX” or run a mile in “YYY”.)

Focus on who you are today.

The person who’s lived a few decades or so under their belt, raised a family, climbed the corporate ladder and maybe suffered some legitimate losses in their life.

We want that person with a few battle scars who’s ready to conquer the next stage of their life. And while you may have weaknesses (we all do), we want to share some of these new victories with you.

You in?

 

 

I go solo this week and bring you a shorter episode this go-round. Dive in to this week’s show to check out the snacks I recommend to clients and what my go-to options are, the supplements I’ve been using and how they might benefit you, plus some strategies to help you on your fitness journey. Per the recommendation on the show, please check out http://www.examine.com to get great information on your supplements. To find out more about your host, check out http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and leave a review on iTunes to let me know how you like the show.

iTunes OR Stitcher OR iHeartRadio

Dr. Karl Nadolsky joins me again after his excellent episode earlier this year discussing hormones and this time we dive into the world of adrenal fatigue. Dr. Karl explains some of the myths behind what the media tells us and what further testing may show. We also discuss the reality of adrenal insufficiency and the myriad of other issues which could be occurring underneath the surface. As always Dr. Karl shares a wealth of information so you don’t want to miss this. To learn more about the website he references in the episode, please check out http://www.hormone.org/hormones-and-health/myth-vs-fact/adrenal-fatigue To learn more about Dr. Karl, please visit http://www.docswholift.com There you’ll find his contributions with his brother Dr. Spencer (also a resident guest on our show) and you can connect with each of them on their respective social media channels. To learn more about your host, please visit http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and let us know how we’re doing!

iTunes OR Stitcher OR iHeartRadio

*The title of this post was taken from the Iggy Pop song of the same name*

Owning this business has always been fun. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its fair share of stress but interacting with people all day long who are committed to self-improvement is a blast.

As we are now somewhere between 7 and 8 years of operation, I’m having more fun at RevFit now more than ever.

And why is that?

If I’m being honest with myself, I know that these things tend to work in cycles. If clients are seeing good things happen with others here, they want to see the same happen with themselves. It’s easy to feed off of that energy.

But I’d like to think it goes deeper than that. Sure, there is a certain sense of accomplishment when you hit a new personal record or you get your body weight to somewhere you haven’t been in a while.

However, if I can project a bit, it feels like the current roster of clients cares more about themselves. I don’t mean it from a selfish standpoint (although I think to a degree that would be okay.) I think of it from a place of self-preservation.

When we can determine there is a place that seems better than where we are today, we want to be there.

So, if the thought of being 20lbs lighter is really motivating, that’s the goal an individual will fight to get to. Or if the allure of getting stronger in a particular exercise is inspiring, a client will make sure they get adequate recovery in between sessions to be fresh when they come in for their workouts.

I’ve been particularly aggressive with posting pictures of clients on social media lately too. That, in turn, gets people talking. And it gets my clients feeling good about their respective accomplishments. I like this support system. It reminds my clients that they are not in this alone and can motivate them to stay the course when life has that funny way of distracting us from progress.

What I see when I look at my clients lately, is what reminds me of the Iggy Pop song referenced in the title. It’s a “lust for life.”

It’s the drive that says:

I want better for myself, I’m willing to work for it, and dammit I’m proud of what I’m doing (Stuart Smalley would probably say that differently.)

Great things have been happening here and I don’t see any indication they’re going to slow down anytime soon. To those of you who are part of the gang, I thank you for your continued efforts towards self-improvement and legendary status. To those of you who are not yet in the swing over here, I hope that you are dialing in your own Lust For Life.

In the meantime, we’re going to keep kicking ass at the Rev.

She’s baaaaaacck! Once upon a time, Evelyn Carbsane was my very first podcast guest. We never made it official because at the time it was something of an experiment. So, we’re making our first official episode together and it is a damn good one. Evelyn has done boatloads of nutrition research and has successfully managed to debunk a lot of the nutritional dogma that floats in our industry. We try to bring the sanity back into the carbohydrate conversation. You can find out more about Evelyn by visiting her at http://www.carbsanity.blogspot.com To find out more about your host, check out http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share and tell your friends.

iTunes OR Stitcher OR iHeartRadio

*The title of this post was taken from the Everclear song of the same name*

Frequently, clients of mine will assume that my diet is 100% perfect all of the time. Perfectly timed, all healthy options, never eating desserts, chips or large portions of junk.

At times, some have assumed that I am gluten-free, sugar-free, meat-free, etc.

WRONG.

I will eat pretty much anything. I have a notorious hatred for onions (if I can smell them) and I’m not much on raw tomatoes unless they’re part of a spicy salsa.

Aside from that, I’m not terribly picky. However, people assume that due to my build and my profession that I eat like a saint, 24/7.

I will say, that I generally do eat in a health-conscious manner most every day. On the weekends, things can be scattershot. A couple of weeks ago, I got off to a decent start with an almond butter sandwich on sprouted grain bread. After that, my wife had her open house at our newest endeavor, a performing arts studio. There were cupcakes, cookies, cheese, fruit and meatballs. I had a little of everything.

Cookies are my weakness and I try to steer clear of them when I can. If they’re nearby, I’ll continue to nibble and pick at them to no end. Because I don’t indulge in desserts frequently, my “open house” diet made me feel like crap. From a calorie standpoint, I’m fairly certain I was in line with any other day. However, my food choices definitely made me feel less than optimal that day.

What I don’t do is spend a lot of time worrying about it. I know that after the weekend, I will get my diet back to my relative normal and any weight fluctuations will work themselves out within the first couple of days of the week.

It would be foolish of me to compare my normal to yours. If you are embarking on your weight loss journey, you may not be able to get as loose on the weekends as I do. Maybe you have a harder time moderating portions or you let one counterproductive meal lead to six.

For some people, I’ve even suggested getting regimented with the diet with no luxuries for a predetermined amount of time. For instance, if you really like milkshakes, maybe you treat yourself to a milkshake (just one, small/medium size) after you drop your first 10lbs. I don’t think it’s healthy to remove things indefinitely but I have seen that work really well for certain personalities.

I think everything has it’s right place. Know yourself, know your limits, and plan accordingly. If I had 30lbs to lose, knowing my adoration of cookies, I might find it easier to stay away from cookies until the weight came off. OR, I would find a way to keep cookies in the diet but in the smallest quantity possible so I could tell myself I’m not totally deprived.

True to the title of the post, When It All Goes Wrong Again (and it will), you have to know how you’re going to swim in the deep end.

 

Marta Williger joins me this week to discuss her background and expertise with Medicaid and Elder Law. We cover some of the hot topics and misunderstood notions behind what kind of care one can expect with this program. Marta gives some state specifics when it comes to how assets are involved when qualifying for long-term health care and some things to consider with nursing homes versus staying at-home for personalized care. To find out more about Marta, please visit her website at www.willigerlegalgroup.com If you do not live in Ohio and would like more information from another Elder Law professional, please visit www.nelf.org To learn more about your host, check out www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and leave us a review to let us know how we’re doing!

iTunes OR Stitcher OR iHeartRadio

“The title of this post is taken from the Epic Ditch song of the same name”

Before Jacquelyn started training with me, she sent me a message outlining several health issues that I needed to be aware of first. There were injuries to be aware of and some internal challenges that she was working diligently with doctors to resolve. One of the obstacles was how easily she became light-headed during exercise. Sometimes, simply moving up and down from a bench could make her want to pass out.

I never assume I can fix everyone. Exercise, while immensely beneficial and generally (should be) mandatory for most, means different things to different people. It could be walking instead of sitting. Or it could mean lifting heavy things as opposed to picking up the cute pink dumbbells and curling them until you feel something that seems like it’s productive.

I told Jacquelyn we would give it a go and see how a month of training together works. Since we don’t make our clients sign 6-month or year long contracts to train here, all she had to lose was a month of her time to see if we would work well together.

There was the goal of weight loss to focus on but Jacquelyn wanted confidence in lifting weights too. Her husband is active with strength training and she has two boys who have already been bitten with the fitness/sports bug too. Jacquelyn wanted a place to train that wasn’t going to have an intimidating culture.

These days, fitness/health magazines and online articles tend to tout the benefits of high intensity interval training and more intense bouts of cardio for weight loss. Jacquelyn felt the need to gravitate in those directions but would be discouraged every time the feeling of passing out would start after little effort had been expended.

We started moderately, lifting weights with a rep range of 12-15 and kept experiencing the same problem. Her heart rate would jump up and she would need a few moments (sometimes a few minutes) just to get things to calm down. This problem was not as prevalent on machines, where she has the option of sitting as opposed to a free standing squat or deadlift type of motion.

So, I started considering other options. As far as weight loss went, tackling the appropriate amount of food would be the first course of action. In addition to having her doctor assess her preexisting conditions, there were some hormonal situations that could have been affecting her ability to lose weight as well.

When it came to her strength training, we started looking at things from more of a powerlifter’s perspective. Heavy weights at very low reps (3-5 reps tops.) This stimulated a favorable strength response without making Jacquelyn feel like crap after lifting weights for a session.

Whenever possible, I believe it’s a trainer’s responsibility to meet a client where they are. A textbook might say “Solve this problem with “X” solution.” I’ve found many people don’t fit a pretty little textbook mold. That’s when it helps to get a little bit creative. Over the short time Jacquelyn and I have worked together, it has been an immense help that we keep an open line of communication about what works and what doesn’t, what feels beneficial and what allows the best rate of recovery.

Thankfully, Jacquelyn is REALLY strong. So, we can have a bit of fun with heavier weights and her body doesn’t feel totally beat up afterwards. However, Jacquelyn’s case does highlight a consistent philosophy and that is:

Get Stronger.

Ladies: that does not equate with bulk. It means, use it or lose it. Muscle is a precious commodity and it needs to be stimulated to work for you the way you want. Guys: you already know it but there is a chance you’re not taking advantage of it the way you should.

Allow Jacquelyn’s scenario to be an inspiration for you. Get creative, be flexible with an approach, and do what you can to progress your relative picture of strength.

Resistance is victory.

*Special thanks to Jacquelyn for letting me share her story*