9 Years

A lot can happen in 9 years.

In the last 9 years Nancy and I have had three kids.

We’ve started a business.

We’ve laughed, and cried, we’ve had some sweet times and some struggles.

And time has marched on.

9 years ago I had hair.

I recently let my beard grow out a bit, told the 5:00am class it was the “CJ” look.

I was gently reminded that I am not as young as CJ, and the color mixed in is not blonde.

For the last 9 years I have had a picture in what in our house is ironically called the living room.

It’s above the television, which is about as far away from living as you can get.

It’s the same picture that you see in this letter.

It is my son Derek when he was about 6 months old.

He never saw his first birthday.

He died October 14th, 2002

9 Years Ago.

It seems like yesterday.

Time waits for no one.

Time is merciless.

Time doesn’t care.

It just keeps marching on.

So why do we live like we know how much we have?

Why do we spend it like we will never run out of it?

9 years ago I thought I had all the time in the world.

Now I know that you never know.

I’d like to think that I have changed over the last 9 years.

That I am less selfish.

That I am less about what I can take and more about what I can give.

That the little things that used to bug me so much don’t anymore.

That I use the time I have been given by God to the fullest.

That I am a better husband and father.

A better friend and confidant.

That I play a little harder.

And love a little deeper.

It’s about time.

I love you Derek.

Daddy

I’d Rather Pay You!

Advertising is one of the necessary evils of doing business. It’s all too easy to sit back and assume “everyone” knows about you and your amazing product or service; oh that it were so easy!

There’s an incredible number of ways to advertise, and the thing I despise most about print, or radio, or even some online advertising is you never know if your message is getting to the right people – the ones who want or need what you have.

At Get Fit NH, we have invested thousands of dollars in the most incredible advertising possible – the advertising that you our clients do.

That’s what our Referral Rewards program is all about. We think the best possible advertising that can be done is by our amazing clients who have experienced first hand what Get Fit NH can do for body, mind and spirit.

So I am asking you to keep doing what you have been doing, and tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family what Get Fit NH has done for you and what we can do for them.

We will make it worth your while, I promise. Make sure you pick up some referral cards in the gym and give them to people you know can benefit from it. As always they will get a no obligation 2-week tryout at no cost, and if they sign a package with us they also receive $50 off their first 4-week session.

And the $50 you earn is just our way of saying “Thanks” – for training with us and for Making It Happen!

Take a look at all these happy clients who have earned Referral Rewards

Do The Math

Dinner/drinks for 2=$100 (4 times per month=$400); Bootcamp- (16 times per month= $159! You do the math…its a no brainer for this Einstein.

Healthy living, better body, more energy, never boring or mundane, plus an added boost for the mind, body & soul= PRICELESS! When you are done whining about how nothing you do and all the gyms you’ve tried don’t work… Make it Happen with Get Fit NH Bootcamp!!

LOVE IT!

New Contest – Fifty for Fifty

Alright guys, you did such a great job with our Facebook review contest we are going to up the ante for this one!

Here’s the deal:

We have 33(39) reviews for Concord and 29(32) reviews for Epsom on our Google Places pages.

When we hit 50 reviews for both locations, we will randomly select the author of one of our new reviews at each location and award each of them $50 in cold hard cash – How Cool Is That?

It’s a win-win. We get help spreading all that  Get Fit NH goodness, and you get some cash for that new foam roller, band or UMP. (Ok maybe not, but those are good choices)

Here’s the rules:

To review Epsom, click here

To review Concord, click here

Write your review, give us a rating, and hit “publish”.  Don’t forget to leave your name!

Email a copy of your review to us at getfitnh@gmail.com

Plan how you are going to spend the money!

Make It Happen!

Renegades Rule!

Great job to everyone who participated in the Renegade Playground Challenge today!

New Rule: No Spectators – Get in there and do it! (You know who you are)

Dawn, Donna, Karl, Jill, Sara, Mary, Gretchen, Paula, Kristin, Nancy, Jayne, Carolyn, Dave, Kim  (did I forget anyone?) and all the new friends and family we met – You Rock!

New Download – Here’s Your Food Evaluation Checklist

Keeping a nutrition log has been shown over and over again to be a crucial step in losing bodyfat.

A nutrition log functions as:

• A Reality Check
• An Objective Measurement
• An Angel On Your Shoulder (should I really be eating that 3rd piece of cake?)

However as we coach our clients (and keep one ourselves) we have found that at times they can still be vague.

What I mean is that you can take a look at your daily log and it looks “pretty good”. Too bad you can’t really measure “pretty good”.

So we have developed a Daily Eating Evaluation Checklist to help us, and you, quantify if pretty good really is.

Watch the video below to find out the principles we based it on and how to use it, download your copy, and then most importantly…

Put it into action!

An Ode to Nancy (and Dean) by Jennifer Schwab

I hate the gym.  The gym was always a vicious cycle for me.  First, I would commit to going everyday and working out.  I would do really well for week one.  I’d skip a day on week two.  I’d go one day on week three.  I needed to see other people by week four.  I’d sit at home alone with Ben and Jerry.  They would console me at first, but eventually they’d tell me to get my tubby butt off the couch.  And then my bank statement would guilt trip me into making something of that $60 a month I’d already spent in my 12-month contract.  So back to the gym I went…and the cycle continued.

It’s not that I don’t want to be healthy.  I want to be active and fit into pants that don’t stretch.  But it was all those machines.  There were the endless rows of treadmills, begging me to be a part of the machine.  “Be a good little hamster and run on our wheel.”  And the outfits.  The gym membership machine dictates that you look good while you work out.  Perfect hair.  Expensive, color-coordinated outfit of awesomeness.  And the latest iPod.  Oh, and I can tan at the same time too?  Because we all know that is real health right there.

It’s all too much for me.  I don’t need more guilt and expectations in my life, I’ve got plenty on my own.  I don’t want a machine, or to be a part of one.  What I need is a community.  I need Gretchen and Claudia and Lisa… I need people who will cheer me on.  What I need is something new to challenge me everyday.  What I need is Nancy (and Dean by proxy).

Thanks guys.  You’re stuck with me now.

Jen

Is There A GAP In Your Training?

Reality Check – If you were driving across the country you would not just point the car in a westerly direction and step on the gas. You would look at a map, program your GPS, calculate how many days you were going to spend, driving out, make reservations where you were going to stop for night, and calculate how much the trip would cost.

Your outcome was making it to California in one piece. Your action steps were the planning, preparation and packing. You follow the map, you are going to get where you want to go.

Have you taken 5 minutes and enrolled in our Goal Achievement Program (GAP)?

There is something far more important than a trip to Hollywood at stake.

Saying “I want to lose weight” is far different than writing down a measurable outcome goal and than the steps you are going to achieve that goal. It’s like hopping in the car and having no idea where you are going and how to get there.

There’s a better way!

Here’s an example of  what good planning might look like:

Outcome:

I will lose 5 pounds in the next 4 weeks

Action Steps:

I will attend bootcamp 4 days for the next 4 weeks

I will limit starchy carbs to after training sessions only

I will eat breakfast with protein and veggies every day

There is a destination and a roadmap to follow. And while there might be unexpected construction along the way, we can deal with that when we get there.

At the end of 4 weeks you will then measure the outcome and evaluate if you were committed and completed the action steps. The process then starts over again for the next 4 weeks, using what you learned over the previous month to adjust as necessary.

We have made that super easy for you to accomplish. By enrolling in GAP all you have to do is take 5-10 minutes a month to chart your next 4 weeks out. Then 30 days down the road you will receive a follow up evaluation. Submit that to your coaches, ask for help as needed, and then chart your course for the next 4 weeks.

What are you waiting for?

Enroll In The Goal Achievement Program Now

Make It Happen!

Coach Dean

Apples and Pumpkins – Yum!

I enjoy the Fall. I love the change in temperatures and the change in the leaves. My kids and I love to pick apples and to grow pumpkins. Our counters are loaded with the apples we picked at a farm last week. This morning we harvested 11 pumpkins the kids grew from seeds. They of course wanted to carve all of them up right after picking. Instead I sent them off to find piles of leaves to rake and jump into.

While the Fall theme is on my mind, I thought you might like to try out two of my favorite Fall shake recipes.

Apple and Cinnamon Shake

• 1 cup water
• 1 scoop vanilla Ultimate Muscle Protein Powder
• 4 Tablespoons dry oatmeal
• 1 Tablespoon ground flax seed
• 2 Tablespoons walnuts (use almonds if you don’t have walnuts)
• 1 cored apple
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend on high for one minute. For a delightful touch sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top. This shake is perfect to enjoy right after a training session.

Pumpkin Pecan Shake

• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 scoop vanilla Ultimate Muscle Protein
• 1/8 cup pecans
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup of ice
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 Tablespoons ground flax seed

Put the ingredients in a blender and blend for one minute. If you like a thinner consistency, feel free to add water a tablespoon at a time. Sprinkle with a dash of pumpkin pie spice for an added garnish. This shake is great anytime during the day for a super quick meal on the go or a great mid day snack.

These two shakes are liquid nutrition at its finest. They are high in protein, high in fiber, and contain healthy and essential fats.

While Fall might not be your favorite time of the year, I bet these shakes will make the top ten list for you.

To your best health,

Coach Nancy

Get Fit NH is Now Hiring

Get Fit NH’s Fitness Revolution is seeking an Assistant Coach at their Concord, NH location to work a MINIMUM of 12 hours per week.  Fitness Revolution is a company dedicated to changing the lives of its clients by delivering a great fitness experience, providing excellent service, and building a community.

Interested individuals must be dependable, punctual, and passionate about learning, as well as hold a nationally recognized personal training certification or relevant degree.

To learn more about the position, fax your resume to 603-617-3405 and then call Dean Carlson at 603-344-2652 between the hours of 1:00pm and 3:00pm weekdays.