A giving of Thanks - 60 Day Challenge Results are in!!!

The 60 day challenge is over and the results are in.  We have had another successful 60 day challenge and the results are as impressive as ever.  This is my pay it forward,  helping people change gaining confidence, having more energy and getting in touch with their passion and their body.
We had some amazing results including a 27lb weight loss, 9lb muscle gain, over 100 inches lost, and the strength increases were astonishing even to the experienced.  Honorable mention to Shannon, she had a goal of one full pull up and she hit a home run knocking it out of the park with 4 clean full pull ups.  Keep in mind she walked in not being able to do 1.  That is how we do it!!!  
The other honorable mention goes to Jason who at the start could not do a back dome and take a look at what he is doing now.

Not only did he add a great deal of flexibility but also strength  to his posterior chain, shoulders, wrists.  That is loaded with two 12K (26lbs ea) Kettlebells.  He held this for over a minute and is continuing to clean up his positioning.  BTW, Jason has laid down a challenge.  "I am coming for you Jon" says Jason to MBG founder Jon Hinds (aka The Silverback).  Gotta love it.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the 60 Day Challengers for being willing to commit themselves, trust the process and work their butts off.  I am so proud of each of you, even though I only mentioned a couple of you here.  Each of you is a CHAMPION in your own right, the results are secondary to the willingness to challenge yourself, put your butt on the line and LIVE, this is the essence of what life is about.

Be safe Brothers and Sisters,
P.S. Next Challenge starts January 8th, 2011 enroll at www.monkeybargymla.com.

Kevin

The training sticks with you.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to pull out a skill set I have not used since the 80's (yes, I know some of you were not born yet).  You may not know that in my former life I volunteered for Navy SEAL training.  The training BUD/S is one of the toughest trainings the military has to offer.  Since the time I was fifteen all I wanted in the world was to be a Navy SEAL.  Back then you could not find any information on what a SEAL did or was unlike today where many SEALs have written books and the training has been featured on a Discovery channel show.  To say I was obsessed by it was an understatement everything I did had the eventual goal of preparing myself for my career as a SEAL.  I was raised in Alaska and spent the summers "in training" at Ft. Wainwright Army base at the gym and tried to turn every chore as a opportunity to prepare myself .  I studied tracking, shooting, rafting played every sport available to me (lettering in swimming, rifle team, hockey, football, basketball, and getting a black belt in Karate)  all in preparation for the day I could go to training.
I had to keep all the training and my desire in secret due to my parents wish for me to attend medical school.  Talk about the NAVY was a no go.  My Step-Father Msgt. David L. Lewis was 20 year veteran of the Air Force and did his best to "help" me avoid a career in the military.  But as you know I am a bit of a hard head and when I make up my mind well "come hell or high water" I am going to see it through.
Fast forward to this past weekend, I had a bit of apprehension when asked by KMW Force training division to assist with the H2H n H2O training for a number of reasons the least of which it has been a "LARGE"  number of years since I have done small boat operations in a surf zone.  And adding the fact that I can not longer regulate my own body temperature (which I so painfully learned in BUD/S) on my own due to the Thyroid cancer and removal of my Thyroid gland. As well as wondering how I would preform on my plant based diet.
All in all it was a GREAT day!!  My small boat operations training came back quickly (amazingly so) and with some basic shadow boxing, calistetics and a few layers of clothes was able to manage my body temperature well.  I the most amazing realization I had was in my energy level and stamina through out the day. I made at least 8 trips out and back through the surf zone with hastily thrown together boat crews.  I even got a bit of praise from Amir Perets (Krav Maga instructor and former Israeli Special Forces member) on my boat handling and training.  The thing I felt the best about was how pain free I was (not normal) and how well my energy level stayed up through out the day with limited meals.  Limited meals: 2 bananas, 1 coffee and some cashews all day.    Not a great day for eating but was able to prove to myself that I can still be mission ready and maintain my Plant Based diet.  Note to self: Remember your Dry Suit next time.  LOL!

GET WET!!! MAKE A SUGAR COOKIE!!!


WHATEVER YOU DO....... KEEP PADDLING!!!


I have maintained my Plant Based Diet for over 55 days now and have not experienced any let down or loss of muscle and have not suffered in anyway.Well except at the hands of my meat eating friends (Jeremy Stafford who think I have turned into "an elitist @*$hole" who has changed his sexual orientation.   This represents a MAJOR win for me (not the ahole part), and a MAJOR paradigm shift in my eating mentality.  So if this 47 yr old former Bodybuilder can change his animal based eating so can you.  Coming soon the results from the 60 day challengers.

Be Safe Brothers and Sisters,

Kevin

Great day of eating and training and now blogging/watching a Gene Lebell DVD on finishing holds.  Currently, he is demonstrating a bear hug where you crush the floating ribs.  Just a little light viewing to relax.
Had a great workout the the MLC -G & D, we did Twofer Tuesday!  We got a great sweat and were totally burned out after the second workout.
Have you got your copy of "The bodies many cries for water yet?"  I am still struggling with getting all my water in so I have been carrying my "Monkey Bar Gym" water bottle everywhere with me and drinking throughout the day.  And let's stay aways from those plastic bottles can you say phyto-estrogen's in parts per trillion?  Sun + Plastic bottles = phytoestrogen's in our body. Oh and guess what your body only recognizes parts per million.
Drink more water and use a stainless bottle preferably a MBG water bottle.

MBG 3:
MBG 1: Restoration
ES yoga with my morning clients and after training.  Sleep was a little lacking last night as the dog was not quite settled in and kept waking me up.  To bed early tonight.

MBG 2: Training
Twofer Tuesday!  15/15 for 32 minutes first set of exercises burpees and jump rope for 16 minutes followed by Hindu squats and mountain climbers for 16 minutes this workout is a great sweat.  We followed that up with Fight Club workout 20 medicine ball slams, 40 sit outs, 60 double jumps, 80 fast hands w rope, 100 resisted punches, we did this 3x AFAP.
Nice workout and I needed it.  As always my MLC crew brought it.

MBG3:  Plant Based Nutrition
Meal 1: Green Drink, nuts and Amazing Grass bar
Snack1: Apple,2 bananas
Meal 2:  Veggie burrito
Snack 2: Amazing Grass bar, water and apple
Meal 3: Good Karma Burger (veggie) from Natural Cafe
Snack 3: Date, grapes

OK, that's it for me for today I am off to my restorative sleep.

Be safe brothers and sisters,

Kevin