April 2016 -

Week 4: The Leap of Faith

A “leap of faith” is how Sue described the Amazing 12 to me this week. To some degree it really is. You are entrusting the coach to transform you. You don’t know precisely what lies ahead. You have no control over the programming. You are given a diet to follow. And you are told what movements to perform. And then you expect the results you are after to take place.

But if you didn’t believe in the coach or the program or Paul McIlroy or the now-hundreds of men and women who have had outstanding results on the Amazing 12, you would never have even considered doing it to begin with.

So, once the leap is made, there is no turning back. And in order to get the best results, you do have to submit to the coach’s guidance and if you are used to always being in control, that can possibly be a scary place.

Doing anything else or deviating from the plan is potentially self-sabotaging, which makes no sense.

As with anything in life where you want to see change and don’t have the expertise to make it happen by yourself, you call upon help. You need to have faith in the person doing the work for you or telling you how to do it.

“Lucky I trust you, Claudius,” said Sue. “Not many people get me to close my eyes and jump.”

How Sue’s ‘leap of faith’ statement came about followed a conversation before training one morning. Sue had weighed herself the day before and the scales revealed she had gained four pounds, which she was concerned about, but in reality could be the difference between a single bowel movement. Ross, meanwhile, had told me he was capable of lifting more than the weights I was asking him to lift, so he felt like he had a lot in reserve and, effectively, asked why I wasn’t pushing him harder.

I gave them my familiar look, the one that says, “just trust me, guys. This program works. Let it happen. Follow my direction.”

I’m not asking them to follow me blindly. I do offer explanations for why, for example, I ask them to eat certain foods or why I instruct them to lift a weight in a certain fashion. And Sue’s the type of person who goes off whenever I tell her what to do and she does her research. That’s Sue. She likes to know what she’s getting into – she wants/needs to know ‘why?’. If it prompts further questions, she comes to training the next day and asks me. That’s fair enough.

So many things will happen along the Amazing 12 path and perhaps stir up emotions, maybe raise some doubts and fears or take you out of your comfort zone. But that’s all fine, too. It’s a part of the journey and learning and self-discovery and self-improvement etc.

The participant doesn’t know what’s coming and the unknown can unnerve us. But I’ve seen this program at work. I know what it can do. Take a look at the Amazing 12 Chichester graduates page on this site.

Another part of the Amazing 12 experience is learning there is a different way to train and this way may well challenge many beliefs you have (from previous experiences and coaches) about what is true and most effective.

A quote came up on my phone later that day from Perry Nickelston, a brilliant chiropractic physician and movement specialist. It said, ‘Much of what you have to do [to improve] is unlearn what you have been taught.’ I shared it with Ross and Sue.

“I totally agree,” said Ross. “I am really trying and 46 years is a long time to undo. But I am on the A12 for a reason and I’m feeling like I’m doing good work instead of just smashing it like I used to in CrossFit.”

That’s not meant as a dig at CrossFit, but the Amazing 12 is different. Very different.

I’ve had Ross make some dietary changes this week. He’s been feeling more chipper. “Had a really good session today,” he said on Tuesday. “Feel like I’m pumped up more than a tractor tyre. I am actually starting to see and feel real changes. That’s encouraging.”

Ross told me at the end of week 3 that he was going to try to focus (his mind) differently this week. “I’m getting my head in the zone. I know I have to follow the plan as it’s part of the overall strategy. It’s hard [to change thinking and habits], don’t get me wrong, but I want to do great at this.”

For Sue it was an up-and-down week, not helped by a few nights of disrupted sleeping.

Kari had a frustrating week also, because she was called away by her work for a few days on an overseas trip and missed two days training. It’s not ideal, but in some cases unavoidable. So you have to deal with it in the best way possible. I set her some homework.

“I’m gutted,” she said. “It [the A12] has become such a daily part of my routine that I’ll most probably be climbing the walls by Monday [when we start week 5].”

Truth is that trust on the Amazing 12 is a two-way street: I, the coach, must trust that every student has the integrity to adhere to the diet plan I prescribe, that he or she follows the guidelines of the training principles and that he or she completes any additional training I decide is necessary and in the fashion required (like Kari this week).

A leap of faith? Yes. But when I accept someone on to the program, I am also taking that leap of faith.

The beautiful part is that we, the coach and student, want the same thing – results, success, progress – and the program demands that we invest in time, energy, focus, money, practice, discipline, TRUST, FAITH, patience, effort, mindfulness, restraint to make it happen.

It’s much more than a body transformation program. Trust me.

I am already recruiting for the September wave of the Amazing 12 Chichester. It starts on Monday, September 5. Time slots will be 10.30am and 7.30pm. Drop me a line if you are interested in a life and body-changing experience.

Jon (April 2016)

I HAD to debate whether to even include Jon Waites’ second round of the Amazing 12. It’s not because of the results (you can be the judge of that). It’s because he effectively only completed nine weeks. So, if I am honest, it was more like the Amazing 9 than the Amazing 12.

Jon’s a busy man. A father of two who runs his own business, Jon quite often at short notice had to shoot off to London from West Sussex, meaning he skipped quite a few sessions – 14 to be precise! Ouch!

That’s all a bit frustrating. My intention is always to get the best results possible. Luckily for me, Jon always responds well to the program (well, who doesn’t?) He trains hard, too – within the parameters of my instructions.

This second Amazing 12 transformation was definitely different to and more challenging than the first. Jon was training with his girlfriend, Jo (below), rather than by himself and out of his garage as opposed to a gym. We made it work. I brought over dumbbells and kettlebells. Jon had some of his own equipment. It was dusty. Often it was cold, especially at the start of the year and when we rearranged our training sessions for 6am! But you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

So you should look at his photos through the lens that says with three weeks extra training his results would have been more spectacular. Continuity in this program is so important. You miss sessions and you lose momentum and the opportunity to maximise the effects of the training. Jon also skipped quite a few days at a crucial time – week 11 – and I wasn’t sure he was even going to finish because he had so much going on away from the gym.

But he had come so far it would have been deeply disappointing had he not made it across the finish line.

Thankfully, he did.

As you can see, Jon was in fairly good shape to begin with. It shows that this program works on the experienced as well as complete beginners (check out Jo Smith’s transformation for evidence of that). Jon got strong. He was banging out reps on the incline bench with 37kgs dumbbells in each hand and made gains in other areas. But, for obvious reasons, I wouldn’t say I got him as strong as when we first trained. Had we not missed so many days it would have been another story. But he was still strong enough, for example, to hammer out around 50 chin-ups in short time with 7kgs strapped to his waist.

Jon’s Amazing 12 transformations were almost exactly a year apart. He is already hinting at doing a third. Some people can’t get enough of it. And there’s a reason for that. It works: it gets you strong; it gets you fit; it gets you in shape.

Thanks, as ever, to my trusty photographer, Sue Saunders, who is currently going through the program herself.

I should make a point here of mentioning the photos and that we had to use a black backdrop for the finishing pictures as we switched venues. Sue and I work hard to ensure the comparable images are as authentic as possible.

I got a text from Jon the next day expressing his thanks and saying he was very pleased with the results. If my customers are happy then I am happy.

Week 3: Princes, Slugs & Prowlers

WEEK 3 is complete. The death of popstar Prince left us a little shell-shocked. That led to a conversation about how, as you get older, you become more aware of your mortality and think more about the importance of making the most of life.

The actions needed to change your course of or direction in life are not difficult. But changing the thoughts that govern or restrict those actions often are.

I see three people in Kari, Ross and Sue who, by signing up to the Amazing 12, have taken life by the scruff of the neck and said ‘I’m going to do it no matter what’. These are three people who value their fitness and health and understand how much of a foundation it is towards enjoying the pleasures and overcoming the challenges life can offer.

However, Ross and Kari came in on the first day this week at Core Results both feeling sluggish, for no obvious reason. But they left upbeat. The following morning Kari sent me a text, saying it (the workout) was just what she needed. Ross reiterated the same sentiment when he arrived the next day.

My trio have continued making progress. Ross had concerns his belly won’t shift, but I sent him a short texted reply: “patience and faith”.

It’s still early days and Ross is getting used to a different way of eating and training. He’s from a military and CrossFit background. The approach to training in the Amazing 12 is very different. It requires a mental shift and in some cases unlearning what you’ve previously thought to be true and effective. Not everyone responds to the program in exactly the same fashion. And not everyone sees themselves as they actually are either.

However, I can see clearly Ross improving physically (in his performance and strength). His shape is altering without him even realising it. He looks younger and healthier. The shifts may not be happening how or as quickly as he was expecting them to. But I’ve been through the process before and Ross hasn’t, hence the reason I told him to be patient and have faith. It’s going to happen.

“I really enjoyed every day,” he said of week 3. “I know I can lift heavier and do more. But I’m still unfit and have such a long way to go. I’ve been religious with my eating, but feel as if I am the slow one in class with little gains. I look at what Kari and Sue have achieved and feel I have so much to do to get near them.”

The Amazing 12, of course, is not a competition. But it’s interesting how one person’s perception of the same thing is so different to another’s. Some people are harder on themselves than others, too.

By the middle of the week Ross was really firing. His technique has become more refined. In fact, all three were in top form. I spent a little more time on prep work for the squat and deadlift with Ross and Kari and it paid off. If you could compare them now to when they started you would not believe the difference. Best of all is that they are improving in spite of everything getting tougher. The same goes for Sue.

I stepped up the weights Sue was using for one exercise this week and you should have seen the look on her face – “I can’t do that,” it screamed. I knew she could. And she did – fairly comfortably (although Sue would probably argue it was hard). She walked away with a look of satisfaction that said: “I didn’t just pick them up, I actually did reps!”

It was satisfying to hear Kari say that she’s no longer “intimidated” by lifting weights. She’s never been a fan of barbell work, being more of a cardio junkie. However, she added: “I don’t want this program to end. No matter how bad my day is, I can’t wait to get here [the gym].”

Tall and slender, Kari doesn’t have a typical lifter’s build. But that won’t stop her becoming stronger. I’m fascinated to see how far she goes.

“Thank you for making me believe in myself more and allowing me to push myself that little extra,” she told me. “I’m feeling stronger every day. My core feels much more engaged, which is great as I felt myself slumping in the last year or so, completely unaware of how it could impact on my training.

“Never in a million years did I think I would enjoy lifting weights this much.”

We finished the week with a slight rotation in shift pattern: Ross did his first morning class, joining Sue. Kari went solo in the evening. Generally, I prefer that everyone trains at the same time each week, but with this wave I have more room to manoeuvre and sometimes changing the group dynamic a little freshens things up and keeps everyone on their toes.

Ross and Sue, though, finished on their backs, breathing hard after a bout with the unforgiving prowler, crowning another great week.

Jo (April 2016)

HOW do you take a 32-year-old mother of two with a full-time job who has never trained before and in 12 weeks turn her into an athlete?

That’s pretty much what happened with Jo Smith. She had never lifted weights or been a member of any gym or played sports. I took her through two private sessions before we started training – to show her the movements and give her some basic tuition. The rest we had to learn and improve while on the job.

Fortunately, Jo is a good learner. Sometimes it can be easier with raw beginners because they don’t have bad habits that are difficult to break. To some extent that was the case with Jo. But when I think back to the start and how she didn’t know how to engage the right muscles at the right time, it makes her progress all the more staggering.

In the beginning I had her bench-pressing with only 9.5k on a bar. By the end she was doing reps, albeit tough ones, with 42k! That’s a massive increase in strength. Her back squat and deadlift more than doubled during the same period. With more training, it will only continue to improve.

Already she’s talking about doing another round!

Jo started with what could be termed a slender ‘mum’s body’ and finished looking like she’s been working out her entire life!

Every day after I’d finish my Amazing 12 coaching session in the garage gym we used, I would reverse my car on the gravel drive to turn around. As I did so, Jo would walk back to the house.

I can’t remember when precisely, but there came a point when I suddenly noticed how her physique had taken on an entirely new appearance.

She committed herself to the program so well and, to the best of my knowledge, followed all the instructions I gave her.

I got her into the best shape and condition possible within three months. But, because Jo’s never really tested herself physically, there is a lot of untapped potential. This, believe it or not, is just the start.

Jo’s since taken up kite-surfing and cycling.

North London girl Jo was a good student. As the weeks went by, I could see her fitness soaring. Where she had previously faltered, Jo just kept on going, like an energiser bunny.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were some sticky patches, like when she felt sore (common if you’re working muscles that haven’t been taxed in a long time) and one time when she pulled something in her chest. But we found ways to continue without making the situation worse. Jo always brought a good attitude to our sessions, though. I couldn’t have asked for more.

She had to skip a few workouts – six to be precise – through either illness or work-related issues beyond her control, but approached the program with the right mentality, doing everything I asked and never wanting to cut corners. Jo always felt disappointed whenever she missed training.

We got there in the end and the photos tell the story. I am proud of her achievement.

“I always had a flat tummy,” she said. “But never abs. Now I don’t need to suck in my stomach anymore.”

“I loved it [the training]. I’m very happy with the results.”

Much more than just the way you look

THE question of why I chose to be a coach for the Amazing 12 transformation program was posed to me recently. The thinking behind the question was that it’s all superficial and rather shallow, isn’t it?

Aren’t there more important things in life? Isn’t it just another training quick-fix in the fitness world and unsustainable anyway?

I’ve seen all the criticisms of the Amazing 12 and they usually originate from the doubters – those who cannot believe these types of results are possible. But the negative comments don’t come close in volume to the positive ones. And, having completed the program myself and taken individuals through it, I know all the results are absolutely authentic and that these transformations are achieved through effort, discipline, motivation and the application of masterful program design.

I’m not interested in pulling the wool over someone’s eyes or conning them out of money by providing false claims or promises I cannot deliver. How does that enhance my reputation or build trust or help spread the value of what the Amazing 12 offers?

What is superficial anyway? Here are two definitions: “existing or occurring at or on the surface” and “appearing to be true or real until examined more closely“. By those definitions the Amazing 12 is anything but superficial. In fact, the beauty of the Amazing 12 is much more than skin deep. What happens is a ripple effect: strength and fitness achieved through movement, progressive training and better eating habits leads to greater health, boosted confidence, enhanced brain activity, happiness, stronger immunity, a rise in self-esteem and self-worth, a sense of accomplishment, pride…

And there is more. There are the educational benefits, because I’m teaching not only about the importance of good nutrition and providing evidence of it when it is applied, but I also focus on skills – in lifting and movement – and striving for high standards. The Amazing 12 is not just the execution of a program designed, tested and perfected by one of the world’s foremost strength and conditioning coaches. For me, it’s the opportunity to repeatedly enforce how we can move weights safely and effectively so that in our daily activities we become more efficient in our actions and, effectively, less prone to injury and/or decay.

To complete the Amazing 12 one requires motivation – to drive yourself on to achieve your goal – and discipline – to show up on the days when your motivation is low. We all have good and bad days. That’s inevitable. But the Amazing 12 holds you accountable. It’s not a turn-up-when-you-feel-like-it program. It’s not to be tackled half-heartedly. But it will teach you what can be achieved if you keep showing up, no matter how you feel. You just have to trust it.

Adriano, one of my graduates, commuted each day by train several hours from Chichester to London. In fact, I wouldn’t let him on the program initially because I didn’t think he’d be able to stick to it and his success was more important to me than his money. I’d trained him previously and never seen him turn up more than two days in succession. So I set him a small challenge: come to training every day the following week and I would consider it. He did.

“I’m not going to lie. It wasn’t easy [doing the A12] initially,” he admitted. “I had to get up at 5.30am to get to London and I’d be back in Chichester for 7.30pm, then be at the gym from 8.30pm-10pm, go to sleep and repeat. Nevertheless, sooner than I thought, I adapted to the new routine. My body adapted and this became normality for the 12 weeks.”

To see Adriano’s face at the end was a gift. When I asked him about the experience, he quoted me a Kipling poem that best described how he felt.

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them ‘Hold on!’

“The Amazing 12 gave me self-belief, body awareness and a mental toughness I didn’t realise I could have,” he told me.

So let’s not get hung up on the superficial notion, because superficial is worrying about how our hair looks or the style of our shoes (and Adriano loves shoes more than anyone I know) or the clothing we wear or make-up we put on or how fashion dictates our actions. What is real is who we are and that we have only one body to take us through this journey of life. What is important is our health and, because the Amazing 12 program insists on clean, wholesome eating, this program actively boosts our level of well-being which then spills over into every other quarter of our lives and those with whom we come into daily contact.

Is it sustainable? Of course not and that is why it runs for 12 weeks only. But, as I have already stated, those three months will teach you plenty and, because new habits are formed along the way, leave lasting impressions and build a formidable platform from which to develop further.

I chose the Amazing 12 (and, thankfully, it chose me) because it is empowering. There are few things more satisfying or rewarding in life than empowering others. I see it in the smiles on the faces of my graduates when they have finished the final session and reached the mountain top. I see it in the eyes of some of them before they have even started – that glint of excitement at the prospect of what lies ahead. And, of course, I hear it in the words of people like Adriano.

Each person has their own story and, as such, their motives for wanting to do the A12 differ. There are now hundreds of graduates around the globe who have successfully taken the journey and transformed their lives. I get individuals who come back a second time, because it works for them in a way that nothing else does. That’s a massive compliment for the Amazing 12.

And when someone who had been diagnosed with a rare form of Non Hodgkin Lymphoma and thought his body would never recover completes the program and says he feels fitter and stronger than ever before or a lady of over 60 returns to her fighting weight of 30 years previously and she’s beaming with delight, I know my job is worthwhile and way beyond superficial.

*Interested in the Amazing 12 in Chichester? Want to find out more? Please contact me and arrange for a free consultation where I’d be happy to talk you through what’s expected and answer your questions. My next phase starts on January 9, 2017 at Core Results.

Las Vegas And The Ragamuffin

LLOYD HONEYGHAN was the first British boxer I went to the US to write about during my time as a journalist, when I was sent to Las Vegas in February 1989 for his world title fight with Marlon Starling.

Honeyghan, who called himself the “Ragamuffin”, got well beaten. I had a front row seat. Mike Tyson, then world champ, was commentating ringside.

That week it actually snowed in Vegas. I also recall walking through a sandstorm to get to Johnny Tocco’s gym near downtown in order to watch Tyson prepare for his first fight with Frank Bruno.

Honeyghan and I would talk a lot in later years, right up to when I finished with boxing and journalism. But he probably doesn’t recall the first time we chatted.

As a teenager, I used to travel each week to south London to train and spar at the famous Thomas A’ Becket pub above which was a gym steeped in history.

I used to watch Honeyghan box Michael Watson and Kirkland Laing amongst others. The gym at that time was buzzing with talent and characters – Errol Christie, Glenn McCrory, Clinton McKenzie and Gary Stretch, now a Hollywood actor, to name a few.

One morning, close to what must have been exactly 30 years ago, I had finished training at the Becket and was getting changed. Lying face down on the massage table was Honeyghan, but I didn’t realise it at the time.

We were the only ones there and got chatting casually about Honeyghan’s impending fight with Sylvester Mittee.

“Who’s going to win?” he asked.

“Mittee,” I told him after some thought.

Then, as he got up, not saying a thing, I recognised who he was.

I never did tell Lloyd this story and he never did hold it against me when he next saw me.

Of course, Honeyghan took care of business against Mittee and, less than a year later (1986), went on to become world champion, famously defeating American Donald Curry (above).

Week 2: Progress Overload

THE second week of the Amazing 12 at Core Results in Chichester whizzed by. That’s always a promising sign. Nothing felt laboured.

Sue hit me with a staggering statement midweek: “Not kidding, Claudius, but two weeks on the Amazing 12 has got me into the same shape I was in after a year doing CrossFit,” she said. Sue showed me the photographic evidence. It doesn’t lie.

Despite knowing what the Amazing 12 can do, I was still a bit taken aback by that statement. But I could see it before my very eyes. However, with the Amazing 12 being more than just about physique development, I know there is still some way to go before Sue regains the strength she had before her shoulder injury. She’s definitely on track and squats and performs the deadlift as well as I have ever seen her. In fact, given she’s coming back from surgery and the shoulder was what she was most concerned with, Sue said that part of her body feels really strong. All being well, it will stay that way.

Having also worked previously with Ross, I can see him returning to his former self. As I keep track of his performance, I’m continually reminding him of how much stronger and fitter he is becoming in such a short time. He is feeling it, too. Ross is now able to perform more comfortably and with better form tasks he clearly struggled with in the first week. There’s a bounce in his step. I can see his body changing which, when you work with people every day, isn’t always so easy to notice.

“Isn’t it amazing how in just 10 days you can feel so different,” Ross told me. “I’m so much stronger in a short period of time.”

“It’s been a really good week,” he added. “Thoroughly enjoyed it. Small gains across all areas, so I’m happy with my progress. There is more to come from me. I’m releasing a lot of internal energy. My form is improving. I’m going in the right direction.”

As for Kari, I’m really impressed by how well she is learning the movements in the program and how her technique has become more refined. She openly admitted when we started that her core was a weak link. But now, in a short time, I can notice how much stronger she holds herself from head to toe. We work on skills and techniques EVERY session. And when I test out her endurance levels, it’s so noticeable how her rate of recovery and level of effort has improved.

Looking forward to week 3, but I’m enjoying it so much that it’s going too quickly for me.

The next wave of the Amazing 12 Chichester is planned for September-November 2016. Don’t miss out. Want to know more details or book a free consultation? Contact me at Claude@Intelligentstrength.co.uk

A Picture Has A Thousand Meanings

THERE is a time and a place to push hard. Finishing on your back at the end of a session doesn’t indicate over-training. Ending in that position after EVERY session will likely, however, be to the detriment of progress.

This was Sue Saunders on the second week of the Amazing 12 in Chichester (at the Core Results gym), giving it her all, but working hard without allowing sloppiness into her movement. That is how I prefer it.

An image like this can provoke varied reactions: ‘that looks too tough’; ‘that’s just what I’m looking for’; ‘can I do that?’; ‘is it too hard for me?’; ‘she must be fit’; ‘she can’t be very fit’…

What does the picture say for you?

Rest assured, the Amazing 12 is designed to work on anyone who moves without pain. I don’t slaughter the people I work with. I train them to become stronger and fitter. And a workout like this has its place in the process.

My 10 Truths – Part 2

MY previous post, inspired by the podcast of Lewis Howes, a former successful American footballer, listed my first five truths – truths I have discovered in my lifetime.

Here are my next five, in no particular order of importance.

happiness

6. Happiness is between the ears. This is a close relation to No. 4 and No. 5. In western culture we’ve been taught, conditioned and raised to seek happiness externally. I used to think that if I lived in constant sunshine (I’m a summer person) and in stunning surroundings and by the ocean and without the pressures of a stressful job and no mortgage and in a comfortable home with space, I’d be blissfully happy. I tried that. It didn’t work. If my thoughts are scrambled and unsettled that is what I will feel irrespective of what I’m doing, where I am and how much money I may have in the bank. Make it a priority to manage and train your thoughts. Hard as it may be, routinely weed the garden in your mind. If you don’t, the weeds take over. When your mind is at peace – really at peace – then your relationships, location, wealth and vocation can enhance your happiness, not the other way around.

stress

7. Too much stress is our greatest enemy. It’s interesting that we focus our attention on all other areas of life, but spend so little time combating stress or forming effective strategies to deal with it. We can be perfectly healthy and strong and fit in our bodies and eat the optimum diet, but it won’t protect you if you are exposed to frequent doses of high stress. Nothing, in my opinion, is more damaging to the human body and psyche than continual stress and worry.

8. Good quality sleep is crucial. There used to be a time, when I was younger, when getting by on little sleep earned you bragging rights. Now I think back and see it as nonsensical, like a lot of things I/we do/did in our youth – until we know better. Sleep is so vital on so many levels. It’s what allows us to grow, recover, repair and function optimally. My sleep suffered after I became a father. I used to be able to sleep anytime, anywhere. But not anymore and that’s frustrating. Losing sleep can strip years off your life and reduce dramatically the quality of your days and ability to function at your best. Thankfully, there are many ways to improve it. If you’re also working out a lot or hard, you need at least eight hours per night.

multi-task

9. Multi-tasking is overrated. I know there’s a bit of a gender joke here about how women can and men can’t and some will argue that I, as a man, have included this to fight the corner of my male brothers. I can multi-task, but let’s just say I prefer not to. As soon as you split yourself between multiple tasks the quality of the effort and focus diminishes and, more often than not, so will the end product. I much prefer to concentrate on one thing at a time and give it my best shot. Quality over quantity every time for me, though it doesn’t stop me from admiring those who can spin plates on their head, hands and legs while riding a unicycle, playing a flute and meditating!

Ali

10. Our actions are determined by our beliefs. This is what makes it so hard for us to allow change to happen: we are so entrenched in our beliefs. And we so often believe what people tell us is true without questioning. I’ve tried to keep a more open and flexible mind as I have grown older, which means that some or all of these 10 truths could change in time. But I know I’m stubbornly holding on to other beliefs that probably don’t serve me well. There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind. However, the longer we believe something the harder it can be to shift our mindset. I’ll leave you with this quote from Muhammad Ali: “A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”

End of week 1

WEEK 1 for Sue, Ross and Kari on the Amazing 12 flew by.

I’m enjoying working with three people who are so different not only in build, but also the way they move and approach their training.

Sue turns up every day equipped for her mobility drills before we get started. She picks up her roller, balls and blocks and knows exactly what she is doing and why. I have to give credit to the guys at Core Results for handing her a restorative program that got her body, which felt broken, working again. I wish everyone I trained prepared for their sessions like her. By the time we start, she is ready to roll.

Sue learned the painful way – through injury – the value and necessity of good quality movement. She may lack mobility, but has lots of stability. I don’t think I’ve worked with anyone on the Amazing 12 who has taken on the program with such focus on movement integrity.

With Ross and Kari, who haven’t had the same experience with injuries, my challenge is different. Everyone feels invincible until they get broken. The Amazing 12 is nothing like what Ross or Kari has done before. It can take a while to adapt to what’s really needed and how. But they will get considerable practice of the techniques, breathing and best way to tackle the workouts in the weeks ahead.

Having worked mostly with individuals previously on the A12, I like the vibe of a small group. People feed off, motivate and encourage each other. This week everyone was on the evening shift.

Kari sent me a nice message: I absolutely loved this week,” she said. “Can’t wait for more sessions.”

They all complained a little about muscle soreness (the type that reminds you that you’ve been working your body) and I had warned them that was typical during the first week, where a lot of movements are new and the style of training not what they are used to.

“I felt it most across my chest and upper arms,” admitted Ross. “It’s been agony at times, especially trying to lift weights the next night.” Interestingly, Kari felt it most in her quads, whereas Sue said she could feel it all over, but that it was a “nice” feeling.

I know they will all get stronger with each week and their technique improve also. Sue’s always asking me questions (she’s the curious type), but I don’t give much away (nothing, actually) where the programming is concerned.

Turn up, do the work, eat as advised, trust I know what I am doing and let the Amazing 12 do its thing.