Welcome to the Underground Functional Fitness Newsletter
Dare to Be Different
The average person in the U.S. is overweight, stressed, bored with their job, and spends their life waiting for the weekend. Furthermore, the average gym-goer gets absolutely nowhere with their health and fitness.
While in the process of opening Underground Functional Fitness, I was a premier trainer at a large commercial gym, or what I like to call “big box gym”. My superiors there told me that 80% of gym users don’t get the results they desire. Which isn’t surprising, especially after they also stated “a monkey could learn kinesiology, you have to develop them into salesmen”. At this particular gym, members were paying about $550 a year for sub-par service and training. What’s even more ridiculous is that these same people who didn’t reach their goals last year were quite happy to pay out again come January 1st!
Now if you want to avoid being one of those “average” people feeling constant dissatisfaction and underachievement then you must do things differently than everybody else. You must be willing to step out of your comfort zone to force change.
Trainers at big box gyms aren’t any less of a person than those of us at Underground Functional Fitness; we’ve just taken the time and made a commitment to pursue higher education to learn what is necessary to make constant progress. If something doesn’t work, don’t keep doing it!
“Keep doing what you are doing, and you’ll keep getting what you are getting” –unk
One of the keys to success is to not be afraid to make mistakes. This is often the best way to learn! It doesn’t matter how much you read or absorb, not everything works for everybody. What you are going to learn from us at Underground Functional Fitness is an accumulation of everything we have learned from our own experiences and education. We have proven results from our clients – so we know what works and it works very well!
Certain tweaks in your training may be necessary to suit your own personal needs. There is more than one way to skin a cat so always remain open to new ideas. This may contradict what you have learned and what everyone else around you is doing.
Listen to the people who have already achieved fantastic results and you won’t go far wrong! Enjoy doing things differently than the “Average Joe” and you will soon be reveling in the awesome results to follow. You could become the person that people turn to after they’ve had enough of their bog-standard, crappy lives because they have chosen to follow magazine clippings and listen to what “certified” (not educated trainers) tell them.
Remember new inventions can result in incredible rewards for the inventor because no one else has done it yet. Many people will laugh at their ideas until they perfect it. Then suddenly everyone wants a piece of the action!
“If you dare to be original, be prepared to be copied” -Mike’s hard lemonade
“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds” -Einstein
So don’t be afraid to go out on a limb and stand out. Eventually you will be rewarded!
- Coach Brown
Members of the Month
Who Needs a Cane?
Take one look at 61-year-old Karen Freund and you’d never know that just six months ago she was walking with a cane. Severe pain in her back and right leg kept her from enjoying a happy and healthy lifestyle. She tried cortisone shots and physical therapy but both failed. The therapy she received wasn’t effective because she was given exercises to do at home and was left to fend for herself. Her doctor said her last resort was surgery. Determined to avoid surgery and get exercise in her life, Karen did her research and found Underground Functional Fitness’s own Aaron Chaltry. “He was so professional, he looked at my MRI and took me where I was at and made a plan,” says Karen. “He is so kind and patient. I think the world of him.”
Just two months after training with Aaron, Karen was able to put the cane in retirement. Unable to walk a block when she started, Karen can now walk for almost an hour and a half. She works out three times a week with Aaron and hasn’t missed a session. She is diligent in following her homework and nutrition plan. Her work has paid off because not only is she cane-free, she has lost more than 20 pounds.
Karen is a retired elementary teacher from Kaukauna. She enjoys traveling, reading, decorating her condo, and getting together with family and friends. “I am so thankful that Dave got his dream going. There is a definite need for this in the community, especially for people like me who are retired and looking to improve their quality of life. I was so afraid of being disabled,” says Karen.
To see Karen in action, check out her testimonial video at:
“The Buzz”…that’s what brought Lori Kumbalek to Underground
Functional Fitness and she’s keeping the buzz alive.This month we are recognizing Lori not only
for her fantastic results but for bringing in the peeps!Lori is spreading the word, but she doesn’t
have to say much to get people’s attention.She’s lost 15 pounds in 60 days and is two sizes smaller…that’s speaking
for itself.As a body waxer at Salon
Aura, Lori is with different clients everyday and they all are asking about her
amazing transformation.Lori says she
feels like a whole new person.“I feel
ten years younger, working out at Underground has been the best experience.”
Referral Program
Lori is just one person away from earning some fitness
bucks.With our new referral program,
for every 4 people that you refer and they sign up, you get $100 in Fitness
Bucks.And for every 12 people you refer
and sign up, you get dinner for 2 at Johnathan’s Bistro and free babysitting
provided by Coach Brown.So get with the
program, refer and be rewarded!
You don't want to miss this! We'll be applying the science of strength training for speed. See how explosive strength training will improve your endurance and quickness.
These programs and more coming soon to Players Choice of the Fox Cities. www.pcappleton.com
Inspiration from a Client
In the Palm of His Hand
This morning I was working out
with my youngest daughter, she on the elliptical, I on the treadmill.
She, being only five, has lots of energy and figured that she would
keep me company. Her little legs were going one hundred miles an hour,
while I dogged the run. "Working out like this makes us strong, Mom.
Strong and courageous!"
I
laughed, appreciating that she had pulled that scripture verse from her
heart. Strong, hopefully. Courageous, I wasn't so sure about, although
it did cross my mind that depending on the day and my frame of mind,
there probably was a certain amount of courage that I had to muster up
to either go to the gym or work-out at home.
As
I was jogging (and she was sprinting) I watched the news (with the
volume down low so my daughter could not hear, although I suspect it
was difficult for her to hear anything between my loud running steps
and my heavy breathing). I thought TV may distract me from the physical
discomfort that was growing inside my tired body.
Recession. Terrorist attacks. Joblessness. Murders. Drugs. Homicide bombings. Kidnappings. So much for distraction.
I
began to think, "so much to be fearful of." The world seems upside
down, with the latest culprit having its grip on the people of the
world -- the Swine Flu. Apparently, it is now at a level 5, whatever
that exactly means. Level 6 is the highest, so I guess not good. Clips
of people all over the world wandering around with respiratory masks
on, fear emanating from their eyes, projecting that which is in their
hearts. Schools closing. People staying home. Uncertainty. Real
concerns.
If
it isn't enough to be hounded on the outside by such terrors, whether
close to home or not, we have our own personal issues. Illnesses.
Broken relationships. Financial strains. Loss of dreams. Abuse.
Homelessness. The truth is, people hurting everywhere.
And
with their pain, comes fear. Fears come from the reality that we may
lose something precious to us like our family, our loved ones, our
health, our homes. Things that we hold dear, lost to us, and then what
will we do?
How
do we watch the news and not fear? How do we look at our own life
situations and not fear when we are dismayed, disillusioned,
disheartened, and discouraged? We can combat fear by remembering Who
God is.
Psalm
91:4b-6 is appropriate to even the fears of this day. "... His
faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the
terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence
that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys by midday."
Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, "So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be
dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand."
Dear
reader, if you find yourself fearful today, I pray that this gives you
comfort. The God of the universe who created everything (including you)
is with you, holding you in His righteous, strong and powerful right
hand. Imagine that. What an incredible thought. God holding out His
hand, and you sitting right there, resting, in the very middle of it.
Working
out may bring us physical strength (and maybe a little bit of courage)
but it is God who gives us the strength that we need to overcome the
fears and discouragement that we face. He says that He will be the one
who strengthens us. He is OUR God, and we are His.
The
truth is, life is hard and hurtful, but we need to stand back and look
at our fears in light of eternity. I need to be reminded of this,
often. It is can be hard to grasp and hard to continue to hold on to.
Life may not go as we had hoped. There will be disappointments. God
will help us with our fear, but that does not mean that everything is
going to work out perfectly, at least from our human perspective. We
will lose things that are special to us, and it will be painful. But
God is here to give us the grace and strength that we need, when we
need it, and He will hold us, and carry us to our heavenly home in the
palm of His hand.
PS
-- I do want to add one caveat. Fear can be a "good" thing, sometimes.
It can tell us that something is wrong, and that we need to act or
react. If you find yourself in a situation that is abusive or
dangerous, pay attention to your fear. God may be giving it to you for
a reason. Flee from the situation that you are in, seek safety and
pursue wise and godly counsel.
If you missed my April 22nd blog, no worries because I'm giving it to you again. You’re smart enough to know that there is no miracle pill. But a good Essential Fatty Acid supplement can
come darn close. More and more studies show the benefits of taking fish oil capsules.
- They stabilize blood sugar levels, which helps promote fat loss
- They reduce inflammation to improve the health of your heart
- They can also help decrease joint pain significantly
And a whole lot more!
Sounds great, right? However, the problem with Fish Oil has always been the same:
They make you burp like crazy!
The good news is I’ve found an Essential Fatty Acid supplement made from Krill Oil. And you know what? NO fish burps! Even better, Krill Oil has 47 times the
antioxidant power of fish oil.
The brand I use and recommend to all my clients is Prograde
Nutrition’s EFA Icon.
I know the owners of Prograde and it's a brand I really believe
in. There aren’t many supplement companies you can trust at all but Prograde is a company you can put your faith in.
I do.
It’s not too late to sign up for Jiu Jitsu classes. The benefits are countless. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most effective, reality-based fighting systems in the world. Apart from learning how to defend yourself effectively against any aggressor no matter the size, Jiu Jitsu provides an invigorating way of keeping fit and teaches self-discipline and self-confidence. When you train in Jiu Jitsu you are exercising every muscle of your body including your brain. Get in the shape of a professional fighter by learning various forms of martial arts from none other than Coach Brown, who is a Defensive Tactical expert, a Professional Fighter, and a Midwest NAGA Champion. Who better to learn from than the man who taught police officers how to defend themselves.
Sign Up Now!
Maximize Your Training With YOGA
Combining the grace and flexibility of yoga with the power of functional training gives your workout that extra punch. Underground Functional Fitness is proud to offer you these benefits.
Benefits of Yoga
Increases functional strength and conditioning
Increases muscular endurance
Improves balance, coordination, agility and overall body symmetry
Sharpens mental focus and concentration skills
Enhances proper breathing techniques
Improves lean muscle mass to increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss
1 red pepper julienne matchstick style (Calories: 23.095 Total Fat: 0.224gTotal Carbohydrate: 4.493 g)
1 cucumber julienne matchstick style (Calories: 8.32 Total Fat: 0.057g Total Carbohydrate: 1.888 g)
4 sea scallops, muscle tab removed (Calories: 127.006 Total Carbohydrate: 0 g Total Fat: 1.588 g)
1 tbsp pesto
Crushed black peppercorns to taste
1. Cut 1 heart shape out of parchment paper, large enough to enclose the scallops, and vegetables. Lightly oil both sides of the parchment.
2. Combined the stock and vermouth in a large sauce pan and bring to a simmer separately blanch the potatoes, carrots, and red pepper until tender. Drain the vegetable and toss with cucumbers.
3. Layer the potatoes on one half of the paper hearts. Place the red peppers, carrots, and cucumbers on top of the potatoes. Place the scallops on top of the vegetables. Top each scallop with about a tsp of pesto and sprinkle with the peppercorns.
4. Fold the top of the heart over the fish and vegetables. Crimp the edge of the paper to seal tightly.
5. Pre heat oven and sheet pan to 425 degrees. Bake for 7 to 10 min. the package should be puffy and brown. Serve immediately. Cut the paper open in front of your guest for a round of applause.
