Thursday, January 24, 2013

Progress NOT Perfection!


Progress NOT Perfection!

With the coming of the New Year and so many people beginning their resolutions it is very important to talk about the idea of “perfection” that many of us hold or rather, society holds. You see, we live in an imperfect world so to expect and even aim for perfection does nothing but set us up for failure in the long run. The true skill is recognizing that life truly is a journey with many twists and turns and if through it all we strive for Progress and NOT Perfection we are able to make continual long-term improvements. The beauty is finding that it is our imperfections that make us unique, if we all were perfect, we all would be the same and what a boring place that would be!

As we set out to begin the New Year it is far more effective to realize that things will come up and not go as planned, but if we are able to acknowledge them, learn from them, and move on… We are making progress rather than beating ourselves up over and over because we or someone else has an idea of perfect! It is quite fascinating that we humans are the only species in existence that will make ourselves and others pay over and over for our mistakes, when we do this we are constantly revisiting the past and creating this destructive cycle again! Acknowledge, Learn, and Move On!

Often times we forget that we truly cannot know what someone else is going through or what may drive them, but we can be receptive and supportive to them. Even our own ideals and drivers will change from time to time and thus the exact reason why progress is key, with progress we can make continual dynamic improvements; but, with perfect we are chasing a very static ideal that often times isn’t even our own, which in all reality is unattainable! In training this is where learning to manipulate what works for each of us is so key, granted a large majority of things will work for a lot of people, but knowing how to go about and accomplish these things is what makes us unique. Never underestimate the power of our minds and a simple concept change in what we are striving for allows for us to stay in it for the long-term! I still remember listening to “The Tortoise and The Hare” on tape as my Mom would take me to school when I was a child and how very true that lesson is! It doesn’t matter how hard we go, if we burnout, we will never achieve as much as the tactful individual who is making continual progress!

I urge you all to take some time and think about this, I know many will still say that each day, each lift, each meal should be PERFECT… But the sooner we realize that they won’t be, the sooner we can set ourselves up to make real, long-term lasting changes. We can make progress from our faults, never be afraid to fail! Acknowledge, Learn, and Move On!

"Never get so caught up in chasing perfection that you neglect progress."
-Derek M. Trombetta-

            Thank You to ALL who take the time to read My Words, if they are able to help just one person, then I am that much closer to My Goal!

By Derek M. Trombetta



-Stay Strong; It’s more than Physical-
Derek is a Professional Firefighter, Fitness Coach, and Physique Athlete with a Lifetime of REAL WORLD Experience in the Fitness Industry! For further information you can contact Derek at:
970Muscle Website

970Muscle Facebook Page

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Northern “Exposure” - Do you know Nick Stanko?


Northern “Exposure” - Do you know Nick Stanko?

     Hey everyone!  First off, I am both honored and humbled that Derek has the faith and respect in me to represent such a powerful entity as 970Muscle!!  I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to allow my voice to be heard, and potentially use this blog as a wonderful tool to make a lasting difference in even one person.
     My name is Nick Stanko, and I’m 28 years old from Grand Junction, Colorado.  Growing up, I always wanted to simply grow up, go to work every day, and raise a family.  I still to this day, don’t understand why I wanted to rush through life. It always seemed like I was in a race to some socially driven, imaginary finish line.  I carried two jobs all the way through high school and was never interested in any type of athletics.  I enjoyed some outdoor activities and more of the “extreme sports”, but was never in a situation that would cause me to understand or take an interest in fitness.  I graduated college with an Associates of Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance at age 20 and began my career the week after graduation.  As I began to accept that I was on my way to “living the dream”, I decided to do something about my dissatisfaction with my body.  I made my first attempt at a bench press in the Colorado University at Boulder’s weight room at 20 years old.  I’ll never forget it.  I was 5’10” tall, and 126 pounds.  My buddy racked up a staggering 90 pounds on the bench.  I nervously laid underneath the weight, with a cheesy grin, and immediately dropped it to my chest…and I literally mean DROPPED it!!  We ended up stripping the weight until I could achieve my first successful set of 8 reps.  I was bench pressing THE BAR.  That’s right, no weights loaded on it, but simply a 45 pound bar. 

 …and so sparked my determination. 
     Another friend of mine took me under his wing, not long after that, and showed me around a weight room.  At 22 years old, I knew how to get through a workout without hurting myself, and grew to 132 pounds!!!  Ohh YEAH!!  I stuck with it and “lifted weights” consistently.  Change was inevitable, and nothing fueled my fire like seeing an old friend and getting complimented on putting on muscle!  I got to a point where my body was no longer responding to what I was doing.  Obviously frustrated, I began looking to resources and I couldn’t have been more fortunate to have found Derek Trombetta and 970Muscle in the very gym that I made my home.  With a combination of Derek’s knowledge, motivation, and burning desire to help others, along with the constant motivation from my team and several incredible workout partners, I continued to transform my body.  I leaned the difference between “working out” and “training” when I set a goal to compete in a NPC Men’s Physique competition in mid-2011.  I accomplished that goal in August of 2011 at the NPC Warrior Classic in Loveland, CO.  I had an absolutely amazing time competing with a newfound family in 970 Muscle and walked away with countless unforgettable and cherished memories!!  I quickly learned what “stage presence” was at this event!  J  I placed at the bottom of the pack, all due to nerves and an unclear mind.  This will be a topic I will discuss in future blogs!  However, I can’t even count the number of genuine, kind, loving, like-minded people in the NPC community and have developed several TRUE friendships as a result!  That, as well as accomplishing my goal of simply undergoing a 16+ week commitment, meant I won.  I went on to compete in April of 2012 at the NPC Axis Labs Northern CO and placed 6th in both of my classes as a result of great learning from the experiences during my last show, and continued improvements on my physique.
     
    Just a couple of weeks after the Northern, I was in a four-wheeler accident that left me with a 6” plate in my left forearm and 6 screws.  Needless to say, with a passion that requires all mobility and function of your body, I was absolutely crushed.  However, with uplifting words from several friends, and nothing but support, I progressed with my goals.  One week after surgery I was back in the gym.  No one was going to keep me out.  For over 3 months I trained nothing but legs.  Legs, legs, and more legs.  Every two days I would be attacking the weights with a great vengeance motivated by a healing left arm tied up in a sling.  I (somewhat) followed doctors’ orders and began training upper body as soon as I could.  Late 2012 also brought me a major sinus surgery that put me out for another 3 weeks.  Grrr…
Ok, enough of the cry-baby crap…
     Even with all the circumstances stated, I’ve made great gains in this “off season”.  Remember friends, setbacks are merely set-ups for great comebacks!!   I am now just under 12 weeks away from the 2013 AXIS LABS Northern Colorado BB/FIT/FIG/BIK/PHYS Championships, and my very first Bodybuilding competition.  I hope you are all just as excited to follow me, as I am to have this opportunity to reach out and hopefully help everyone (in one way or another) who takes the time to read my words.  Please follow me and 970Muscle along my journey and transformation to what will undoubtedly be the best package I can bring to a stage!!

There.  Now you “kind of” know Nick Stanko.   ;-)


Follow Nick and his journey to step on stage in his first Bodybuilding Contest and turn his Dreams into Realities! With Nick's Discipline, Drive, and Determination you too will be inspired! For further information you can contact Nick at:
Facebook Page
970Muscle Website

970Muscle Facebook Page
 



Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Why did you start?


Why did you start?

No matter what we accomplish or what we are going through, we all at times will go through moments where we question what we are doing or just want to give up all together. These are the times that truly define someone who has the Warrior Spirit, you see, it is easy for anyone to give thanks, be excited, and have endless energy when things are going great and everything seems to just be happening in our favor. The times when the chips are down are the times we really have three choices to make; just stay where we are at, give in to the urge to quit, or realize why we started in the first place and snap out of it and make it happen! You see, to say that we all do not experience trying times would simply be naive, but in the grand scheme of this life and there being literally millions of things that go into what is happening at our present moments, we are also very naive to not realize that things are just as they should be! This is a concept that is very easy to say, but also very difficult to master; it takes the realization that our reactions and attitudes ultimately dictate our outcomes. It takes the realization that with millions of things coming into play to make a single moment, that there are far many factors other than just what we are currently doing. Above all, it takes the realization that people, things, and events do not in themselves cause emotions or dictate whether something is “good” or “bad,” but rather how we perceive them and if we treat life as a learning experience, rather than just something to mindlessly discount as if it isn’t our fault. Let me tell you, with the utmost conviction, that everything that we feel and experience is ultimately by our own doing, our greatest secret lies deep within ourselves, where we already have the answers!

With Fitness and Life in general the times that can be the most difficult are when we have feelings of being lost, or just not sure what we are doing is working. At these times it is so important to take some time for reflection and ask yourself, “why did I start?” Often times the reason we started is very far from our present situation and that in itself is a large reason why we may be having feelings of doubt. Doing things that matter to us and ultimately have a strong emotional tie, will always have a large impact on our being and when we stray too far from the core values we have, we will always be reminded. Sometimes we do just not want to pay attention or acknowledge that we have strayed and going down this path too long will ultimately lead to our perceived failures. This also goes to show the power of having a strong foundation, when shaken, we always fall back to our foundation and if our foundation is strong, we will outlast and if not, we will crumble!

Think back to the very first time you decided to enter the gym; this first experience is very intimidating, but also very exciting at the same time! The nerves rush as you see the rows of machines and weights; you have visions of all the wonderfully fit people and the ones beginning their journeys too! The thrill of making progress, seeing, and feeling gains is priceless and so much more than just the outward. Think of how you grew in the gym, but also as a person as you were taught that no matter what, 100lbs will always be 100lbs, it is consistent, it is unbiased, and just because you conquered it one day, does not mean that you will the next, but there are many more days! Think of the first time you really set a goal that seemed impossible and then you achieved it, remember how amazing that felt? Think of the first time a friend or family member who hadn’t been supporting your decisions gave you a compliment on your drive and determination, WOW, no matter how slight, it felt amazing! Think back… Remember the first time someone else came up to you and told you that you inspired them, remember that? Think of how you are creating something larger than yourself; think of all the relationships built around your lifestyle! Remember the first supplement you got, how excited you were to see the results… tomorrow, yeah, I remember that too :) Remember the first time people started correlating you and fitness and asking questions and paying attention to things you do and trying them for themselves? Think way back; remember the thought when you realized “if I had only known what I know now when I started?” Think of all the crazy things, the funny things, the times you laughed, the times you cried, the times you outright puked from a workout… Ahhh! Remember the first time you felt like not going to the gym or missing your workout and you went ANYWAYS and it felt absolutely amazing, funny how that works! I could go on and on about all of the amazing memories that we all have from living the fitness lifestyle; some of you may have experienced all of these, for some, they are yet to come… But, they will be there! The bottom line is that no matter where you are or what you are going through, you started for a reason and to reminisce and remember those special moments is truly powerful! Our lives and those we encounter are forever shaped because of these moments…

Remember the time you threw it all in, the time you were knocked down and didn’t get back up, remember the time you gave up? If this memory escapes you, then you have already won! It isn’t about where you’re at, but rather what it took for you to get there. REMEMBER THAT!

"People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don't know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to."
-George Allen-

            Thank You to ALL who take the time to read My Words, if they are able to help just one person, then I am that much closer to My Goal!

By Derek M. Trombetta



-Stay Strong; It’s more than Physical-
Derek is a Professional Firefighter, Fitness Coach, and Physique Athlete with a Lifetime of REAL WORLD Experience in the Fitness Industry! For further information you can contact Derek at:
970Muscle Website

970Muscle Facebook Page