Take a Boot Camp Cue From the Stone Cutter
I heard about the work of ancient stone cutters. When it was time to cut a piece from a large piece of stone, a stone cutter would take a hammer and a chisel to the stone and pound and pound and pound. With very few visible signs of progress, a stone cutter would continue hitting the stone, not knowing when the stone would split. It could be hit #74, #693, or #1425. The job of stone cutting became one of perseverance.
As we hammer away at progress during VBC, I encourage you to focus more on the task at hand than on the visible signs of progress. The scale may or may not change quickly for you (again, it is not about what we weigh, it’s about what our weight is…you are in the process of losing fat and gaining muscle….which may be an even trade today…it will be a formula for continued weight loss as we progress). Keep persevering and hammering away at the task at hand. When we are finished with VBC, you will be quite proud of what we have cut away!
From the Boot Camp Barracks: Day Trading!
I have heard from many of you over the last few days. Some are on cloud nine (losing weight, feeling great) and some of you are near rock bottom (tired of cleanse menu, not feeling great, mad at me for even coming up with this idea…j/k….haven’t HEARD anyone say that…aloud!). More than a couple people lost some pounds then gained one pound back. THAT is what I want to address now.
The body fluctuates. When we step on a scale to check out weight, the number we see is what we weigh for THAT SECOND. It may go up in five minutes, then down in twenty minutes. Because of this constant fluctuation, I encourage you NOT to step on the scale daily. Don’t be like a Wall Street Day Trader, whose very livelihood depends on the ebb and flow of numbers minute by minute. Our weight will fluctuate. Expect that. Step on the scale once a week if you want…but daily might not make too much sense.
If we are doing the right things (which is what Virtual Boot Camp is!!!), the right outcomes will be the end result. Know that. Trust that. Live that out! Be a stone cutter, not a day trader!
From the Boot Camp Personal Trainer: Thankful for Patience
I struggle with patience sometimes….I believe I get it from my dad…at least my mom says so. 
One snowy night a few years back I was stuck in Kansas City because of a flight cancellation. Upon hearing the news of my flight to Minneapolis being canceled, I ran to the check-in counter with all the other passengers and waited in line to see if I could squeeze onto the last scheduled flight for the night.
There were six seats available for the flight, and I was number 34 in line. Things looked grim. And the poor desk clerk was getting yelled at by several passengers who HAD to be on the last flight out. You could tell it was not her night. I began to empathize with her situation.
When I arrived to the clerk, I laid my frustrations aside and said, “Heck of a night for you, huh?” She smiled. “Unbelievable,” she said.
“Well, I know you have a tough job tonight and you are doing such a great job with these difficult people. I want to be your best passenger tonight. So whatever flight you get me on is just fine with me…tonight….tomorrow…the next day. I’m easy.” She stopped, looked at me, and smiled again. “I need everyone else to be like you tonight!”
A half-hour later I boarded the last flight out of Kansas City that night, and enjoyed a first-class seat. Oh how patience pays!
I share that story because I feel as though all of you have been so patient with me as I worked hard to get new menus to you, respond to emails and text messages, and return phone calls. Follow up is a full time job with Virtual Boot Camp! Thanks for hanging with me. And by the way, you’d better get on board. Your body is taking off!
Wellness Tip of the Day: Never Miss a Meal!
Ever heard the phrase, “He’s never missed a meal!”? Most people use that to describe someone who looks overweight. I use it to describe someone who is incredibly fit. Every single time we miss a meal, the message our body gets is, “Hey metabolism, take a break!” The reason we have so many meals and snacks in VBC is that we constantly want to prime our metabolism during Virtual Boot Camp. I find it very ironic that those who never miss a meal (and who eat frequently) are the ones that look like they hardly eat!
Go maximize Day 6!!!!!
Adam Erwin is a Minneapolis-based personal trainer who is leading an online boot camp called “Virtual Boot Camp!” If you arrived on this page and are not yet a boot camp participant, go to www.rapidresultsfitnessmn.com/virtualbootcamp.html and register for our next launch date!
