Good Morning Team!

While sitting in Mike’s luxury box watching “Your” Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Phoenix Suns (111-99) on Friday night (Tacos!), I looked up at the Jumbo Tron during the fourth quarter and saw that Suns’ Point Guard, Steve Nash, had 17 assists. Now that in of itself isn’t all that surprising given that “facilitating” the Suns’ offense is his job. But what was interesting was that, not only did he have more assists than anyone else who played that night, he also totaled more assists than all the Lakers who were on the floor at that time combined (12) and the Suns still lost!

I began to think, how is it that one could do so much “assisting” and still have his team “fail”? The answer is obvious…the other members of the Suns didn’t do their job. Now granted, Basketball is a team sport and just because one member is pulling their weight, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the team as a whole will be successful. But it does mean that the ability for them to succeed is just at their “finger tips”.

Now, I would like to all of you to think about your individual relationship with your trainer. Whether you train with me or someone else, think of the bond like the one NBA point guards have with their team’s scorers. When you, the client, get “fed”, training advice, nutritional information and even encouragement, envision ’em being “passed” to you in order for you to “take it to the house”. I know this is a lot of Basketball analogy but, the fact is, they’re true. “We” can’t be a successful “team” if you don’t “finish” when given the “ball”.

Scheduling and making your appointments is a great first step. Working hard on the floor goes without question. You all do! Doing your cardio intensely and efficiently, at least three to four times a week, is an absolute must! And changing what and the way you eat is of utmost importance.

Remember, one, you are on the gym floor to build muscle (not bulk) in order for your metabolism to increase which, in turn, will make your body burn more calories daily. Two, you are bustin’ butt on the Stairmaster, treadmill or elliptical to increase your cardiovascular efficiency which means more blood is being circulated around your body, providing necessary oxygen to your cells and tissues. And three, changing your eating habits by including high quality proteins, carbohydrates and necessary fats, while limiting, or even excluding, refined sugars, sodium and trans or saturated fats will provide your body the nutrients needed to produce the muscle required in order for your body function properly and reduce your overall body fat.

Think of it as the Body Designs’ Triangle (sorry Phil).