SS Times 36th edition
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Page 4 of 10
We are What We Repeatedly Do…….
Transforming Acts into Habits of Excellence
Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit…New research gives these qualities a different name… “Grit”. It’s worth looking up when you have more free time from being so efficient. And it’s the most critical indicator of success we have found.
Embracing Grit and Excellence at Smart Strength
So you know, only flash & pop can not create a successful life. Instead, it is through the ability to get knocked down and back up again. Every Damn time!
We are what we repeatedly do…
Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit…
So many of us have seen this quote on walls in the classroom, in the boardroom, and sometimes even in the bathroom… but do we ever actually take it to heart? Do we ever commit to an excellent act and rep it out so often that it becomes a habit?
If you have mastered this concept, more power to you; stop reading and enjoy your wonderful life; you have made it. If you have not been able to turn your acts and attempts at fitness into a habit of excellence, then personal training classes in Albion at Smart Strength can help.
At Smart Strength, we make 3 commitments to you!
- Consistency
- Crush your goals, and have fun doing it
- Competency & Independence
When you begin your journey with us, you directly invest in your health and future. We will do everything possible to turn your one-off acts of fitness into a sustained habit of excellence through our 3 commitments to you. If you could benefit from these 3 commitments or know someone who could, click the link below and schedule your free assessment today.
Work Smarter, not harder.
Your Trainer,
Alex
So, a successful life is not created through flash & pop but rather through the ability to get knocked down and back up again. Every Damn time!
-Smart Strength
SS Times- 35th edition. Welcome 2024!
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Commitment and Attitude Are a Way of Life!
Commitment and Attitude are More Than a Choice
While reading my latest book, “Sell or Be Sold,” two chapters of the book hit me. They addressed why commitment was so important and how a positive attitude is one of the most powerful traits in the world. Commitment is a difficult concept to master. It is as hard for me as anyone else. It has never been easy for me, from writing blog posts to keeping my nose to the grindstone daily. The harder the task at hand, the harder it is to stay committed for the long term.
Unveiling the Power of Commitment
But I know that nothing great can be done without commitment. Committing is the first and essential ingredient to creating value. It is how we stick our foot in the ground and change our direction for the better. It is the thing behind the scenes of every fantastic accomplishment. But it is the never-ending early mornings that make a dream come true. It is how a business is built and grown for a lifetime.
Excellence and Unmatched Service
Commitment takes work, day in and day out. It takes a rock-solid mindset. It takes effort, and I will not stop working until you have the best results from Smart Strength! Commit to clients, commit to excellence, commit to the best service and products in the fitness world. This is my pledge, day in and day out.
We all choose attitude daily, affecting how we see the world and how it sees us. More than any other virtue, attitude touches every aspect of life. Everyone appreciates a positive attitude. The world opens up for those who exude positivity. Likewise, the world is very gloomy for those with a negative attitude.
Unveiling the Influence of Attitude
Just think of your favourite people you encounter each day… I bet the one commonality they all have is a positive attitude. And the people you avoid probably all share a negative attitude…. It’s important to recognize the influence of your attitude.
Attitude Shapes Health and Happiness
Attitude is so important it even affects our health. Research shows that smiling, even if forced, releases dopamine (the happy neurotransmitter). Likewise, negative attitudes cause stress, releasing cortisol (one of our stress hormones), which stores fat and releases glucose into the bloodstream, causing insulin spikes and making you feel less than optimal overall.
Sometimes, I forget how important attitude is, and sometimes it goes negative. But I am so blessed to be surrounded by the best people in the world who constantly beam smiles and positivity my way. Embracing a positive attitude is crucial for personal growth and well-being.
As I navigate life’s challenges, I am grateful to have the support of those around me, especially with the guidance of the best trainer in Albion. It is a never-ending process, but commit to a positive attitude, and your life will improve.
Work Smarter, not Harder.
Your Trainer,
Alex
Getting “Real” with yourself
Let Us be Honest, Getting Real With Yourself is Hard
Shoot, it’s downright miserable sometimes, and that is exactly why we avoid it. But if we can’t be honest with ourselves, how can we expect to ever change? There are a million areas in which you can choose to be honest or dishonest with yourself, but for the sake of this blog, we are focusing on fitness and diet.
Fitness
Most clients have no problem pushing themselves hard during a training session. Once they walk through the door and hit the warmup routine, they know it’s game time. But what are you doing the other 23 hours of your day? What are you doing the other 5 days of the week?
Are you constantly moving for work? And you are chasing kids from point A to point B? Are you taking a walk around the neighborhood or downtown? Or are you sedentary?
Are you stretching and foam rolling on your days off? Are you icing!? Proper recovery is essential for growth and gains. Strength takes years to build and requires constant maintenance. Atrophy begins in as little as 48 hours of inactivity.
Not fair but that is the reality.
Diet
What you put into your body matters. All of it. Snacks, liquids, meals, etc. Only you can decide what your ideal body image is, and only you can make that happen through how you choose to fuel your body. Only you can decide how much of your diet are you willing to change. How much you are going to alter your food and drink lifestyle to achieve your goals? Realize it is damn hard to earn and maintain a “fit” body image, and the diet component needs to be on point, day in and day out.
Be honest with yourself, are you doing that?
Action Item
Get yourself a journal and start writing your innermost thoughts in it. This is a difficult habit to create, realize that, and do not beat yourself up if you happen to miss a day or two. The point is to get used to being “real” with yourself, in a safe environment. Practice writing out what happened that day or weekend. Do it often, daily would be best! There is no right or wrong, just flow.
They are your thoughts, your opinions, do not write what you think others would like to hear… Be ruthlessly honest! After you have taken the courageous step of committing your thoughts to paper, read it over. This combination of journaling and reflection creates associations and memories in your brain.
Stick with it, it will get easier as time goes by. Also, it will start to manifest itself in your daily life. You will realize some of your weaknesses in real time and catch yourself.
You will start to think about the future, and what it will feel like to have to account for your actions in your journal later. Getting real with yourself on paper will soon lead to getting real with yourself in real life!
If you’re committed to mastering the powerful skill of honesty with yourself, small group training becomes a dynamic platform for self-discovery. And if you know exactly who you are, you can walk through life with the ultimate confidence. If you know exactly how hard you have worked… when you truly earn something, no one can take that away from you!
P.S. If you enjoyed this article, forward it to anyone you know who could benefit from the message.
P.P.S. If you are interested in starting a journal, but do not yet have one, I have just the one for you! Mention this to me next session to receive your free “Wealth Management Journal.”
Your trainer,
Alex
Embracing Exercise as Medicine Through the Run Albion 5K series
Exercise as Medicinal Embrace
We all know exercise is good for us, but how much we need and what kind of exercise is best is not always clear.
Does it have to be vomit-inducing, sweating puddles, almost to the point of hyperventilation, to work?
Does Walking And Gardening Do the Trick?
Some exercise scientists have been researching to find the answers to those questions around dose-response relationships to exercise.
The good news is that any exercise is better than no exercise!
Even better news is that the amount and intensity of exercise (Physical Activity/ P.A.) is achievable.
The American College of Sports Medicine and Center for Disease Control have set guidelines recommending 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity.
That is a brisk walk for 30 min/ day, 5 days per week.
Do you know what else that sounds like? A perfect training program to build up to your first 5k!
Next….
Now that you know the proper dose of exercise you should be consuming, let us talk about what it will do for you… after all, we expect a “medicine” to work, right?!
As a Preventative Medicine, Exercise is Second to None
Exercise has been proven to help reverse or prevent disease in the following areas: Diabetes, hypertension, cancer (particularly breast and colon), depression, osteoporosis, dementia, weight control, and all-cause mortality. It has strong positive associations with managing several other diseases.
Exercise is Medicine, and physicians need to prescribe it!
You can use exercise as a medicine after diagnosing a disease, injury, or mental disorder.
This All Sounds Good… What Is Next?
Run Albion 5K Series: Your Prescription for Health
This all leads us to our 5k series here in downtown Albion.
This is your opportunity to start your own “exercise prescription” and start seeing the positive effects it will have not only on your body but your mind.
Preventative medicine is the best medicine.
You can impact yourself and your community through this excellent 5k series, with all profits being donated to local charities.
It is a win-win.
So click the link below to register today!
Coaches Corner:
Walking is one of the best ways to get your “dose” of exercise. It allows you to enjoy the surroundings, go at your own pace, and not beat up your body.
With just a few Gym training sessions and a good pair of shoes, almost anyone can work their way up to a 5k quickly. Just dedicate a few days per week to walking; start with 5 minutes, increase to 10 the next time, and so on until you can walk the full distance.
Make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day, even before you begin your walk. Hydration, especially in these summer months, is essential. Sports drinks are tasty, but nothing beats water and lots of it!
If you need some help getting started, or you are having issues with your strength, click the link below to talk with a trainer at Smart Strength- located in downtown Albion.
Wishing you the best of luck in your fitness journey,
Your trainer,
Alex Harris
SS Times 33rd edition
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We Are What We Repeatedly Do…
Excellence, Therefore, is Not an Act, But a Habit… – Aristotle.
So many of us have seen this quote on walls in the classroom, in the boardroom, and sometimes even in the bathroom… but do we ever actually take it to heart?
Do we ever commit to an excellent act and rep it out so often it becomes a habit?
If you have mastered this concept, more power to you. Stop reading and enjoy your wonderful life; you have made it.
If you have not been able to turn your acts and attempts at fitness into a habit of excellence, then read on… Smart Strength can help.
At Smart Strength, We Make 3 Commitments to You!
- Consistency
- Crush your goals, and have fun doing it
- Competency & Independence
Consistency
We understand that building a strong, healthy foundation requires ongoing effort. So, our fitness instructors ensure consistency in your fitness journey. We’re not just about quick fixes but about making lasting changes that enhance your life.
Crush Your Goals and Have Fun Doing It
Achieving your fitness objectives should be exciting, not a chore. At Smart Strength, we make fitness engaging and enjoyable. We’re not only here to help you meet your goals but to ensure you have a blast while doing it. Say goodbye to mundane workouts; say hello to a fitness experience like no other.
Competency & Independence
We empower you with the knowledge and skills to take charge of your fitness journey. Our professional gym trainers in Albion guide you and equip you with the competency and independence to make informed choices and thrive independently. It’s about lifelong fitness education, not just temporary results.
When you begin your journey with Smart Strength, you directly invest in your health and future.
We will do everything possible to turn your one-off acts of fitness into a sustained habit of excellence through our 3 commitments to you.
If you or someone near and dear to your heart needs help with these areas, please click on the link below and schedule your free assessment today.
Let me help you make a habit of fitness stick… It’s too important, not too!
Work Smarter, not harder
Your Trainer,
Alex
“A successful life is not created through flash & pop, but rather through the ability to get knocked down and back up again. Every Damn time! “
SS Times 32nd Edition
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SS Times 31st edition
SS Times
August was a beautiful month in our great state. We hope that you all got to get away and experience happiness and health outdoor.
We were fortunate enough to be invited sailing by one of our awesome clients! What a great/ physical sport. The pros make it look so easy, take it from me, its not!
We always appreciate referrals. Our business runs on them. If you know someone who is looking to make a positive change in their habits and improve their mental and physical health, please mention us. If you have had a positive experience with us, please let them know that too!
We applaud you for making fitness and health a priority. We look forward to seeing you and hearing all about the camping, boating, golfing and vacationing stories that make living in Michigan Pure…
Thank you all for trusting Smart Strength with your health and wellness. We appreciate each one of our customers.
We have added 2 new members to the Smart Strength family in the month of August (Myler, Alex). Welcome!
We now have 57 active keycard memberships and 25 small group training members.
**For new members- Treadmill Code is 1277. iPad passcode is 302302**
If you ever have questions about equipment or Pelotons, please let us know so we can give you an orientation.
Please be sure the door latches closed behind you when leaving the facility.
The expectation is that if a client and trainer are working together, they will control the music selection. Otherwise, if you would like to change the music, just ask or pick up the iPad from the office.
Please return it to the charger when you leave the facility.
Overall, I have been very pleased with everyone’s cleanliness and respect for the facility. Cheers! Keep up the good work.
REMINDER*** We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you cancel within 24 hours of your session, you will be charged.
**If you are no longer a member but have a keycard, can you please consider returning it to us. You can drop it off at the front door mailbox or bring it inside and leave on the desk. No hard feelings, we appreciate your business and hope you will consider us in the future if things change. **
August Recap
-We completed 204 total sessions for the month of August. PR!! (105 total for August ’22)
-We averaged 51 sessions per week.
-We are averaging 160 sessions per month YTD.
-4,788 total training sessions have been completed at SS since opening in November 2020.
-1,345 sessions 2023 YTD. 1,725 Sessions were completed 2022 YTD. *Compared 1,718 sessions in 2021 YTD.
–Erin sessions: 79 for the month of August *** 524 sessions YTD.
Thanks to Freyja for inviting us to the beautiful Crystal Sailing Club for a sailing lesson. We enjoyed our time learning and taking in the beauty that Michigan has to offer.
We are committed to excellence. That is why for the next 3 months, Alex and Erin will be attending Dale Carnege leadership training. We ask our clients to push their comfort zone every day, and we are doing the same.
We will never stop learning and growing, all in an effort to be the best trainers possible for YOU!
Curious, ask us about the course and we will be happy to share what we are working on and what we are learning with you!
We are putting the Smarter in Smart Strength!
Are you someone that needs direction in the weight room?
Do you need a plan?
Do you need the accountability of an appointment?
Do you want to develop a lasting routine?
Our 21 day trial is right for you.
If you or someone you know needs to get healthier, we are the place for you.
$200 for an assessment, 6 training sessions and your personalized workout plan. It might just change your life…