My Fitness Philosophy
I view fitness as a long-term strategy for building and maintaining endurance, strength and agility. It's a continuous cycle of training and recovery, which is especially true for me because there is basically no off season anymore. Year-round competing has increased the emphasis on fitness -- and it's not just about striking the lifting harder or longer. It's also about staying in top condition so you can avoid injuries and extend your lifespan.Everyone's getting bigger, stronger and fitter. I don't want to concede anything to the competition, so I train hard all the time. I work out as many as six days a week, even when I'm not competing or doing photo or video shoots.
It's important not to burn out mentally or physically when you're putting in that much time. I alternate my routines and focus on maintaining my fitness level instead of making big, drastic changes all at once. I go for muscle tone instead of bulk, and I incorporate flexibility training into every session. The older we get, the more our muscles lose elasticity, so we've got to work even harder to keep it.
There is a mental element to my fitness regimen that is just as fundamental as sweat time in the gym or on the fire engine. I have a few basic principles I follow, and it helps me stay on track: have patience, be committed and have fun.
When I try to change something, whether it's my attitude or my physique, I know it's going to take a lot of patience. Sometimes, you don't see immediate results, and frustration can get you off your game if you let it. A great example of that is my strength-training routine. I've been lifting weights for a long time, but I didn't see real changes until my mid-20s when I was finally able to lay down muscle and keep it. It felt good to see all that work paying off, but it took time because of my body type. Patience kept me focused, and I eventually got the results I wanted.
One thing that I have learned is this: you have to commit to your fitness regimen.
I'm always trying to improve, whether it's on the camera or in the gym. So I ask myself: What do I need to do today to be better than I was yesterday? What am I going to work on tomorrow to be better than I was today? The key to improvement is to commit to your goal and never quit.
When I'm working out, I also want to have fun. Mix up your routine to keep your muscles guessing and to keep yourself from getting bored. If you're working with a trainer or exercising with a friend, challenge each other to make things interesting. Or take a break from the gym altogether and do something that you really enjoy. Besides lifting, I like to take spin classes and learn mixed martial arts. It's nice to get a change of scenery once in awhile and challenge different muscles. And for extra motivation, a good soundtrack can help. Anything from the late '80s and early '90s works for me.
The bottom line is fitness is a personal choice. There isn't a one-size-fits-all way of doing it. Find something that works for you and your body type and stick with it. You'll build good fitness habits for life and have some fun while you're at it.
I'll be blogging about my fitness routine, provide tips and give you advice. Feel free to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about my day to day routines. I hope that you'll stick with me and that I can continue to keep you motivated!