Sixth Inning: Find a Coach Who Knows the Game

Coaches matter.

A so-so team can be taken to unimaginable levels based solely on the Coach. Coaches serve many roles for a baseball club.

1. They see the big picture. A catcher or first baseman may see the game only from their limited perspective; the coach sees everything on the field and how all the pieces fit together.
2. They have the wisdom of experience. The average coach has lived through more games than the average player, and they have seen things that some players have never seen.
3. They are invested in the outcome, but they are in it for the long haul. Just as kids can’t see past the end of the school year, players sometimes can’t see beyond the end of the season. The coach can put things into perspective.
4. They inspire. Because they care deeply about the players and the game, they are able to connect with the team in a way outsiders cannot. (If you have any doubt of this, just check out some of the famous ‘locker room’ speeches from great sports movies such as "A League of Their Own.”)
5. They get you in shape. No one WANTS to do stadium steps or run wind sprints, but the coach knows that these unsavory exercises are what are needed to whip the team into shape.

Just as you’ve never seen a winning ball club without a coach, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who is fit, trim and healthy without a Coach or mentor as well.

A Health and Fitness Coach can perform many of the same roles as a baseball coach does. They can help keep things inperspective, guide you from their experience and wisdom, help you think past the next week of workouts and motivate and inspire you to continue to move forward. They know what needs to be done, and in what order, to keep you from wasting time and energy on activities that don’t produce results.

The best coaches get personal satisfaction in helping you succeed, so choose wisely. Find a mentor with a history of successes not just in the health and fitness arena but in leadership and encouragement as well. You wouldn’t want a baseball coach who was still reliving his glory days as a Major League fielder and felt competitiveness with the players on his team; you also don’t want a fitness coach who feels threatened by your success.

As an Independent Team Beachbody Coach, I would love to help you achieve success in improving your overall health and fitness level. With Beachbody behind me, I have access to some of the best, state of the art, fitness programs and products on the market today. Leave a comment or click on the email me tab if you would like help or have questions.

No matter who you choose, the best candidates will come from people you know and trust for referrals.

Next up, The Seventh Inning Stretch!

May your bases be loaded,

Fifth Inning: Ignore the Hecklers

Have you ever watched seen a ball player go off on a fan because the fan went a little too far in his taunting? It’s not pretty. No matter how abusive the heckler was, the player is the one who ends up looking bad. Right or wrong, the assumption is that athletes are expected to rise above the crowd, not letting the taunts, jeers, and comments get to him. The athlete’s job is to play ball, the fan is there to have fun and root for their team. The ball player has to take the high road and focus on his game.

Surprisingly, similar situations can occur when a person makes a big change in life. People around us, sometimes closest to us, will make fun of us, scoff at our efforts, tell us we can’t do it or even resort to sabotage. Humans don’t like change and we also like people to be like us. So when a person decides to make a change for their health, the people around them may feel threatened and lash out. Don’t give in! Here are 5 reasons to take the high road:

1. You gain good will (or Karma). Putting positive energy into your life will bring positive experiences back to you.
2. You never know what could be happening behind the scenes. The person trying to force the jelly donut down your throat could be insecure in your relationship. Perhaps the person telling you that you won’t succeed has tried to do the same thing and failed. If you are successful, it makes their failure even worse. Or maybe they are just having a bad day.  Biting your tongue and showing others grace might help them when they need it most.
3. You can’t really ‘win.’ With family and friends you never win, even if you ‘win.’ Don’t get into a spitting contest when squashing them like a bug will just make you look and feel bad.
4. You won’t waste time or energy on someone who isn’t worthy. Some people are just grumpy, negative and adversarial. Fighting back only fuels the fire. Direct your energy where it can be put to the best use.
5. Your mom was right. Remember when she told you that people talking behind your back were just jealous? A lot of the time, that’s true. The fact that people are aiming their guns your way is a sign that you’re succeeding, and the more you succeed, the more often people will attack your progress.

Yes, it is hard to ignore hecklers. But here are a few suggestions to block out the jeers and taunts:

• Imagine them as little children. If a two-year-old was throwing a tantrum, you’d treat them with more compassion and less anger. Imagine them that way.
• Breathe. When you think you’re being attacked, it’s easy to fall into that ‘fight or flight’ response. Breathing deeply helps clear the adrenaline from your body.
• Thank them. I know it sounds crazy but try it at least once. For example, your mother-in-law tells you that your diet plan won’t work. Tell her, ‘Thank you. It is so comforting that you are concerned.” Then smile and say nothing more. Most people don't know what to say after that.  I have found that ‘thank you’ often works miracles.

Your time and energy is precious; invest it where you will get the best things in return.

Keep Swinging!

Fourth Inning: Have Fun!

A lot of people say that professional athletes have the best job in the world. The get paid to play a game that millions of people only dream about doing! They spend the day in the sun, with thousands of fans screaming their names and wearing their jersey number. How cool is that?

I’d say it’s pretty cool – as long as you’re winning. If you’re in a hitting slump or your team is in the middle of a losing streak, suddenly, the sport you love isn’t all that much fun. And of course, the converse is true. The better you are doing, the more fun it is!

Translate that into your health and fitness journey. When you’re in that golden space where every workout gets better, you’re mileage on your run is improving, your cholesterol is down 10%, everything is grand and it’s all great fun. But if you’re dreading every workout, or you have shin splints or you gained 3 pounds, everything seems like a chore, including the things you once enjoyed.

It is possible to make a mental shift – in fact, it’s imperative that you do. You can’t afford the luxury of a negative attitude, so here are some ideas to make things more fun when it all seems to be going wrong.

Focus on small successes. Did you do an extra 5 minutes on the treadmill? Did you order the meatless tacos at your favorite restaurant? Did you take the stairs instead of the elevator? Recognize and celebrate what you did right, even when it’s a small thing.

Downplay the bad parts. Remind yourself that everything seems worse when you have a bad attitude. Give yourself a reality check. How can I turn this around? Can’t run? Walk the dog, play Frisbee with the kids, ride your bike, go golfing. Dreading your workout? Do something completely different than usual. Use lighter weights and do more reps. Play a Wii Fit marathon with your spouse. Go hiking or take a walk after dinner. Have a calisthenics contest with the family.

Choose to believe you are a positive person. Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote, “Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” You have the right and the obligation to choose your attitude, so why not choose to be positive?

Do what you love! In health and fitness, that’s sometimes a tall order, especially if you love cookies. However, you can try different activities until you find one that you love. There are hundreds of workouts out there. Try a few before you settle on one. There are many ways to accomplish most tasks. Including healthy tasks.

Professional Baseball players won’t last long unless they have the mental toughness that allows them to keep playing, even when times get bad. We have a better Game-On-Fitness if we cultivate that toughness ourselves.

May your bases be loaded and your peanut bag full!

Third Inning: SWING!

It was 10 year old Devon’s, first season of Little League Majors. Being the youngest, he was facing pitchers and players two years older and 20 pounds heavier. Being a smart, if not big, kid, he decided to play it safe. He knew that even with more experience than he had, many of the pitchers couldn’t throw consistent strikes. If he didn’t swing at any pitch, maybe he would get lucky and get walked.

His first time at bat, it worked. After three balls and two strikes, the pitcher threw a fourth ball for a walk. He was on base! Devon even managed to score a run when the batter after him his a home run.

His strategy was such a success the first at bat, he decided to try it again the next time he was up. This time, he made it to a full count again, but the sixth pitch was called a strike. He was out. Still, he was one for two for getting on base.

The next inning went the same – he stood there as three straight strikes flew right by him. He was out again. Still, scoring a run in his first Little League Majors game wasn’t too bad, was it?

After the game, the coach went over each player’s batting average. Devon was a little surprised when the Coach read his name out loud and said, “Zero.” Zero? How could it be zero? Hadn’t he scored a run? The Coach noticed his confusion and the hurt in his eyes so he pulled the boy aside. “Coach,” said Devon, “I don’t understand. How do I have zero?’

“Son,” the Coach said softly, “you have to swing to get a hit.”

You have to SWING to get a hit. You have to take risks to get to where you want to be. To really make things happen, you have to get a hit. To get a hit, you have to swing
.
What does this say to those of us trying to get in shape, lower our cholesterol, eat healthier or lose weight? It tells us that it isn’t going to be easy. We can’t skate through without some effort.

Get up 30 minutes earlier so there is time to go for a walk. Eat a good breakfast. Take time to learn new ways of cooking and eating. Go to bed at a reasonable hour. Research ways to improve your health online and in books. Get regular check-ups. These are just a few of the things we can swing in order to meet our goals.

Not a single Major League Ball Player got there without pushing themselves to be a better player. It’s important that you keep putting in the effort to keep your edge. Try a new workout, take a cooking class, start a healthy reading book club in order to challenge yourself. Just continue to SWING!

Swing it out of the park!

Second Inning: Play all Nine

In the first inning we learned the importance of not letting one bad pitch, inning, or game ruin our season. This inning is an extension of that – not giving up too soon and not getting comfortable in what appears to be an easy win.

Nine innings includes 54 outs, hundreds of pitches, and dozens of plays. Thinking at the bottom of the first inning that you don’t have a chance to come from behind is a mistake. One Little League team overcame a 13 pint deficit at the bottom of the sixth inning (Little League plays 6 innings) to come back and win the game. In the Major’s, just a few years ago the Colorado Rockies scored nine runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 12-9 over the St. Louis Cardinals. You can read about it HERE.

Stories of comebacks in other sports are no less rare of impressive. Greg LeMond was the first American cyclist to win the Tour de France in 1986. In 1987, he was accidentally shot in the back while Turkey hunting. He had buckshot in his heart, lungs and other organs. In 1989, he returned to win the Tour de France even though he had a 50 second deficit on the last day. He won again in 1990.

Mohammad Ali was floored in the 15th round the first time he battled Joe Frazier. He came back to beat Frazier in 1974 by a unanimous vote and again in Manilla when Frazier could not continue when the 15th round bell sounded. Comebacks can happen, even in the 9th inning.

Of course, the reverse is also true. The St. Louis Cardinals lost, even with a 6 point lead at the bottom of the 9th inning. Certainly, the cyclists that were ahead of Greg LeMond, felt pretty good with a 50 second lead. And Joe Frazier, one of the greatest boxers of all time, certainly felt he could beat Ali again in the ring.

The lesson in this inning is obvious. It ain’t over till it’s over. Whether you are struggling to complete your workout of choice, keep your eating plan on track or simply keep your life on schedule, take head. Anything can happen, and that’s why the game has nine innings. If the outcome was certain, we could all pack it up and go home after the first inning.

Don’t become too discouraged by an apparent loss, and don’t get too comfortable with a certain win. A change of pitcher – work – family or stress can work in your favor or it can work against you. Life can change the whole game. You never know what the other team has up its sleeve.

Playing all nine is synonymous with doing your best, even when defeat – or victory – seems certain. It is the mindset of a winner, who knows that losing an inning, a game, or even a season doesn’t mean much when looking ahead to the next year.

Make a commitment to yourself to finish your game, whether it's a workout program, healthy eating plan or both. Stay with it the whole nine innings and see the result!

First Inning: Get Started!

The Major League Baseball season stretches from April to October. It includes over 160 regular league games and that doesn’t include pre-season games or the play-offs. With a game averaging 2 ½ hours, that’s a lot of time on the baseball diamond.

What happens in the first inning of the first game has very little bearing on who will go to the World Series. A season lasts a long time and the average batter will be in the batter’s box over 500 times in a season. Sometimes the at bat leads to a hit, but more often than not, they strike out. But that first time up to bat doesn’t set the tone for the season unless they let it.

A Season of Health works the same way. While any one ‘pitch,’ an injury, a sick toddler, missed workouts or a Big Mac may seem like a strike out, and it is, in that moment – in the overall scheme of things, it is only one day in a 365 day season. Yes, great players play hard every at bat but they also know how to shake off a strike out and move ahead to the next inning.

To get healthy and fit, you need that kind of perspective. Sure, you want to hit a home run each and every time you are at bat. You want to make a play every time the ball comes your way, but chances are you are going to flub a few easy catches and miss a few good pitches. That is the nature of the game.

Sometimes your perfectly scheduled work-out day gets derailed by an extra shift at your job. Sometimes, an unhappy toddler stymies your workout by clinging to your ankles as you attempt to do lunges. Sometimes you get stuck at Costco during lunch and have to eat a hot dog. Sometimes you can figure out a solution and sometimes you just have to let it go and move forward. Realize you will have many more opportunities to make your season a winning one.

To put this in a baseball perspective, the best hitters in baseball typically have a batting average of around .300. That means for every 10 times they are up to bat, they fail to get on base seven times! These are the best of the best! Even Babe Ruth had a lifetime batting average of only .342.

Most baseball clubs are striving for a winning season – meaning they win more than they lose. That should be your goal too! Win more days than you lose. And when you do lose some – workout time, healthy meal or a good night’s sleep, dust yourself off and start again.

Getting healthy and fit is a LIFETIME Season that cannot be accomplished in a day. It will take many days and the goal is to keep going even when you have a bad day. You are playing for your life!

Play Ball!

9 Innings to Health: Introduction

Welcome to the Game-On-Fitness Fitspiration blog. I am pretty excited about this new adventure of health and fitness. I hope you will join me in the journey to getting out of the bleachers and into the game!

I love Baseball. I have always loved Baseball. When I was in Elementary School, I was the only girl who always voted for the All Stars. In case you are wondering, I am a Dodger's Fan. Since birth.

There are plenty of lessons that can be learned from sports. After reading an article on Business Lessons from Baseball (which mentioned scrimmages which don't even happen in baseball), I began to think about how to convert baseball strategies into a plan to get fit and healthy.

This is what gave became my 9 Innings to Healthy & Fit. In the next couple of weeks, we will play 9 Innings together. At the end, I hope you can use the information and inspiration to transform a health wish into a health goal. Ultimately, we'll get our Game-On-Fitness!

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

Batter Up!