Taking it to the next level!

Have you ever wanted to take your fitness to the next level? Well here it is, April, 2011! Since reestablishing a fitness and nutrition commitment since March 2009, I have made some significant progress in my all around fitness. I am stronger, leaner, faster, more durable, and more muscular. Along with the physical strength that I have gained, I've also made considerable gains in mental strength. I often have friends ask me, how I discipline myself to train 6 days a week and be as consistent as I have been. My answer to them is always the same, I envision myself the way I used to look and I don't want to look the way I used to. Most importantly, I don't want to feel the way I used to feel. I was miserable and very unhappy with myself. Needless to say, I am not that man anymore.

It all started with P90X and after 4 rounds, I knew it was time to try something else. My next venture was Shaun T's/ Insanity. I was a little bit hesitant about it because I was afraid of losing too much weight. If it wasn't for one of my BEST friends, Mike French and his great knowledge of fitness, I probably would have never attempted it.

Doing Insanity has propelled my fitness further than I could have ever imagined. I didn't lose any weight doing it, but I did notice muscle gains from this program. It's great to have people in your life that you can turn to when you have questions about fitness. Mike is a great friend and has been a contributor to my fitness accomplishments.

In March of this year, I turned 43 years old. At this moment, I feel better than I did when I was 33. I know 43 is not that old, but as time moves forward, I must continue to adapt and make continuous progress in my quest to be in the best physical shape possible. As I have gotten older, I notice certain changes in my body that accompany celebrating more and more birthdays. More aches and longer recovery time from intense workouts. I feel with a regimented and consistent workout schedule, and wise training methods, those cannot be avoided, but they can definitely be lessened. Over time and continuous exercise, comes wisdom. Wisdom, I believe is a key factor in fitness. The more you know your body, how it works, and how it reacts to certain exercises, the smarter to can train while avoiding injury. That's why changing your workouts often can also lead to you making progress in your fitness as opposed to getting to a plateau phase. Once your workouts start to become redundant, they become less effective and you just start going through the motions. Your excuse at that point is, "Well I'm going to the gym and I'm not seeing any changes".That's because you keep doing the same thing over and over again. Most people don't like change and most are not willing to put their bodies through any amount of discomfort to get the desired results.

Now, I have evolved and I am in a place in my life to go to the next level of fitness. I am willing and committed to make the sacrifices, physically and nutritionally, to get to the pinnacle of elite physical shape. I know now what I must do in order to achieve this. I have introduced more running to my fitness, swimming, more core work, TRX suspension training, Tabata training techniques, and kettlebell work. These next 3 months are going to be very significant, very trying, and very fulfilling. This season in my life, I don't look to it as a challenge. I look at it as an OPPORTUNIY! An opportunity, not to be the strongest, or the fastest,or the leanest, but to be in the BEST shape...........ALL THE TIME, ALL YEAR LONG! " Taking it to the next level!" Until next time everyone, your Dedicated Coach, Rich
www.richsanchezfitness.com
(702)234-7422