We have crossed the six month mark in our journey as Koko owners and things are great. We have so many positives going on with new members joining, existing members breaking strength gain barriers, another club getting set to open...we are truly very fortunate to do what we do.
Yesterday was one of those days that was one that I don't think I will forget. Nothing unusual really; it just seemed that every person that came in had nice things to say and each was overly positive. I didn't hear anything new from anyone either. Just more Kokonuts in the making I guess!
One member told me to have anyone call her if a skeptical prospect wanted a testimonial. Another told me that I am good as the "front man" of the club. A new member told me how he wanted to make sure to budget for Koko going forward for his family of four. Yet another told me she was contacted out of the blue from the corporate office to "tell her Koko story." This was unbeknownst to me and I was taken back at the recounting of her discussion with the Home Office. Now obviously it is the Koko experience that is what is making all of these people happy and coming back for more. It is just a great feeling knowing that we are providing the atmosphere for mental and physical health.
It is amazing what changes can happen in one year. This time last year was one of the darkest points in my adult life. But now, those days are a distant memory and I cannot see them coming back. Thank you members.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Working ont the nutrition piece
Here I am, Mid-July, lots going on. We signed our lease for the second location on Friday and are just waiting to get it back. Should start construction very soon and get going. We are very excited to bring a second club to Scottsdale so we can share the successes we are seeing with even more people!
I am also working on some of my own "construction" if you will. Suzanne and the kids are over in California for a couple of weeks with extended family and that leaves me a bachelor until Friday. Although I am very ready to see them all come back and get our routine back to normal, it does provide me with some time to try some things and one of those is improved nutrition. I have not had In and Out for over two weeks since they left!
I was inspired a few months back to try some supplements by Brian Hoffer. Brian is the former Mens Swim Coach at the University of Missouri. He told me some of the results his team got after he found them on some of the products and we talked more. I have been very skeptical of supplements over the years as I know they do not have to go through the scrutiny of pharmaceuticals and can pretty much make claims as to their results and effectiveness. Besides, I had toured a manufacturing facility of a local vendor about 10 years ago and was not impressed with their quality control.
But with Brian's very soft sell and just hearing him talk about the results he and others had seen, I thought I should try. So in early April, I bought a few products to try for myself. Since I own a healthclub and get asked all the time "what should I take", I had nothing to lose. I took Brian's recommendation of some amino acids and some workout aid and protein powder. When I took the products, I felt better lifting higher loads and recovered quicker between sets. I gave it some time and really liked the way things were going. My strength was continuing to increase and I could sustain more in each workout.
A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to do more and try additional products. So, I went all in. I bought a menu of products from creatine to arginine to oxygen transport products. Now mind you, when doing Ironman and long runs, I had faithfully used similar products for endurance and absolutely depended on them to get through tough and extended efforts. So, I had a baseline for expectation in stamina improvement, "after workout feel" and gastrointestinal passage. I had tried several energy products and there is a lot of difference. But for muscle and workout improvement, I was in a bit of a new area.
My shipment arrived on Saturday and I felt like a kid at Christmas. I was motivated to go workout and put some of these things to use. I consulted my brother-in-law Jeff who is a current competitive weight lifter and ran by some of my purchases. He gave me pros and cons in his experience but he had no direct experience with the Advocare brand I was associating myself with.
Sunday morning came and I had everything planned. And it does take some forethought. You cannot just pop a pill and go lift weight or go run or bike or swim. A couple things needed to be taken 60 minutes prior to workout, some 30 and some during. It took planning and patience but I was able to work the plan. Let me tell you, wow!
Two of the products I took were to "open up metabolic pathways and increase circulation" and it was my first time. I stacked those on top of the creatine and amino acids and when it came time to drive to the club, I felt like I could lift a car. I definitely needed to get started!
Bottom line, I had two great workouts and a very intense cardio session immediately following. Test one: during workout performance....A+. Felt great, strong, quick recovery between sets.
Got home and took the protein shake. Felt no jitters but my energy level was being sustained and I was ready to tackle tree trimming and other yard work. I can say with no reservation, I was extremely impressed with the post workout feel that never had a steep drop during the day. "Post workout feel"...A+ as well.
I ate normally throughout the day and drank a lot of water as I was in the sun and working hard. I never had any GI distress either. You don't realize this is a consideration until it hits unexpectedly. Thankfully that was not an issue either. I was thrilled to have had great guided workouts at Koko and had the nutrition piece help my body do the things my mind wanted me to do.
Feels great to have that energy and overall positive feeling at 41. Can't wait for my next workout!
I am also working on some of my own "construction" if you will. Suzanne and the kids are over in California for a couple of weeks with extended family and that leaves me a bachelor until Friday. Although I am very ready to see them all come back and get our routine back to normal, it does provide me with some time to try some things and one of those is improved nutrition. I have not had In and Out for over two weeks since they left!
I was inspired a few months back to try some supplements by Brian Hoffer. Brian is the former Mens Swim Coach at the University of Missouri. He told me some of the results his team got after he found them on some of the products and we talked more. I have been very skeptical of supplements over the years as I know they do not have to go through the scrutiny of pharmaceuticals and can pretty much make claims as to their results and effectiveness. Besides, I had toured a manufacturing facility of a local vendor about 10 years ago and was not impressed with their quality control.
But with Brian's very soft sell and just hearing him talk about the results he and others had seen, I thought I should try. So in early April, I bought a few products to try for myself. Since I own a healthclub and get asked all the time "what should I take", I had nothing to lose. I took Brian's recommendation of some amino acids and some workout aid and protein powder. When I took the products, I felt better lifting higher loads and recovered quicker between sets. I gave it some time and really liked the way things were going. My strength was continuing to increase and I could sustain more in each workout.
A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to do more and try additional products. So, I went all in. I bought a menu of products from creatine to arginine to oxygen transport products. Now mind you, when doing Ironman and long runs, I had faithfully used similar products for endurance and absolutely depended on them to get through tough and extended efforts. So, I had a baseline for expectation in stamina improvement, "after workout feel" and gastrointestinal passage. I had tried several energy products and there is a lot of difference. But for muscle and workout improvement, I was in a bit of a new area.
My shipment arrived on Saturday and I felt like a kid at Christmas. I was motivated to go workout and put some of these things to use. I consulted my brother-in-law Jeff who is a current competitive weight lifter and ran by some of my purchases. He gave me pros and cons in his experience but he had no direct experience with the Advocare brand I was associating myself with.
Sunday morning came and I had everything planned. And it does take some forethought. You cannot just pop a pill and go lift weight or go run or bike or swim. A couple things needed to be taken 60 minutes prior to workout, some 30 and some during. It took planning and patience but I was able to work the plan. Let me tell you, wow!
Two of the products I took were to "open up metabolic pathways and increase circulation" and it was my first time. I stacked those on top of the creatine and amino acids and when it came time to drive to the club, I felt like I could lift a car. I definitely needed to get started!
Bottom line, I had two great workouts and a very intense cardio session immediately following. Test one: during workout performance....A+. Felt great, strong, quick recovery between sets.
Got home and took the protein shake. Felt no jitters but my energy level was being sustained and I was ready to tackle tree trimming and other yard work. I can say with no reservation, I was extremely impressed with the post workout feel that never had a steep drop during the day. "Post workout feel"...A+ as well.
I ate normally throughout the day and drank a lot of water as I was in the sun and working hard. I never had any GI distress either. You don't realize this is a consideration until it hits unexpectedly. Thankfully that was not an issue either. I was thrilled to have had great guided workouts at Koko and had the nutrition piece help my body do the things my mind wanted me to do.
Feels great to have that energy and overall positive feeling at 41. Can't wait for my next workout!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)