I wrote this blog on a plane leaving Orlando.  This was long overdue to be published.

Here it is:

As I sit in this airplane I am contemplating some things I have picked up from the recent  seminar here in Orlando.  It’s always these fitness seminars that hit me pretty good.  I guess if you’re learning something then it’s worthwhile.  But I’m not here to discuss seminar topics, okay maybe a couple later down the road.  I want to talk to you about some events that happened before I left.  Plus, it’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog.  I haven’t even titled the blog yet.  It will come.  When it hits me, I’ll emphasize that at “that moment”, and it will be named!  What I do want to talk about is : why events, or life changing situations occur the way they do.  Why me? Why you? Why has this happened to me? Is this fair? Why am I this way? Will I ever get to change?  I want to also emphasize that I am a naturally caring person but there are even limits in caring in that at one point you are just a vampire sucking away at my energy and life source.  Wait Belton, I don’t get it.  Neither do I! Yet you ask me, challenge me, and seek an answer.  I don’t pretend to know everything, but I do know what answer I will give you based off of my experiences.  And you know what’s cool? My experiences are right and true to me and only me.  I only have them to rely on.  So I believe it, and it is up to you to take learning moments from it just as I do from these seminars.  Otherwise, don’t waste my time.

Quote :”What’s the point, I should have been dead.  Probably better that way…”

Ah!  There’s my title!  “I’d rather be dead!”  Nice dark ring to it eh? No not really. And you know why? Because there is a story to it.  Listen up kids.

I was training a friend and client named Mary.  Mary and I have accomplished alot together, and so sessions are fun as I kick her ass, get her results, and we get to catch up on life AFTER we smack talk each other.  It was a beautiful day and so I took her outside to the grassy area underneath the power lines.  LOL! Of course that was a safe idea being underneath all that electricity.  (I know right?…btw I hate it when people say that stupid line).  When I think about it, I was probably trying to create a Marvel Superhero in Mary to represent Element 5 Fitness.  Kinda like an Electro girl!  Anyways, as we were busy training and growing a third arm due to exposing ourselves to gamma radiation and what not, this creepy guy hobbled over to where we were and literally stood there and stared.  He stood there for like 30 minutes just stared! I mean Mary is a looker and all (of course it was from her wonderful training at Element 5 Fitness) and so I didn’t blame him for staring, or maybe it was my devilish good looks glinting from the sun that decided to peek out in it’s normal once a month grandiose presentation.  It was actually very hard to ignore him.  Mary and I decided that something wasn’t right with him and we decided not to write him off as a creep but rather a mentally/physically challenged person.  Upon close observation as our walking lunges closed in on the distance between us and him, we did notice that he was “not all there”.  He finally decided to approach us.  He started a slow process from peeling himself off the pole that he was leaning against, which really was his support system from his disabilities and literally hobbled over to us like a zombie.

Mind you I am trained in Zombie tactical combat so I was ready to retaliate but I was a little freaked out.  But as he got closer something was familiar about his gait.  It looked all too familiar from my years of experience as a trainer, rehab work, and most of all my father who suffered from a stroke and is paralyzed on one side of his body.  This man had suffered some sort of paralysis on the right side of his body.  Seeing that walk brought some hurtful anger as I remembered watching my Dad go through therapy, me taking him through some of those exercises, and me holding him as we walked together towards the altar during my wedding day since he was my best man.  I say hurtful anger and brought those two words together for a reason. Anyways, the guy comes up to me and asks me how I would train someone like him in self defense considering he had limited movement on the one side of his body.  I kindly told him that I was training someone who is paying for my time and that I promised to answer his question if he stopped by the gym.  I was slightly perplexed because I felt his question was really a smokescreen to some other topic or question.  Truth be told, I watched him hobble off across the street towards Jack in the Box and secretly hoped that he was just a head case and that he wouldn’t bother me so that I can leave the gym in time.   Yes I know…..very selfish.  But I wasn’t vibing him and I felt that something was off about it all.

Mary and I finished up and I did not see the guy around.  I was elated thinking I didn’t have to deal with him.  We returned to the gym and put away the equipment and I say good-bye to Mary.  I thought to myself “Yes! Almost out of here!”  But no sooner as my internal celebration began I turned around towards the gym entrance and the guy was hobbling in.

Let me get to the point of this story.  Go back to the QUOTE “What’s the point, I should have been dead.  Probably better that way…”

So the gentleman and I sit down and I’m having this conversation with this guy.  I sit there listening to this 26 year old (I was shocked he was that young!!) talk about how he ended up paralyzed on his right side of his body.  He told me about how he was a young guy riding his bike leisurely when another person who was driving towards him was texting on their phone did not see him.  The person ALMOST hit him but he took evasive action and swerved off to only end up in a deep ditch.  Something must have happened in the process of falling into the ditch when he hit his head that caused a stroke.  As he was telling me this story, I knew he didn’t want exercises, or talk about self-defense tactics.  I also thought of my Father.  Here I am thinking I had hurtful angry feelings (as I had said earlier); but that was nothing compared to what this guy was going through.  He threw some very very tough questions at me and put me in a very uncomfortable position.  He asked me this:

-       “Why did this have to happen to me?”

-       “This isn’t fair!  I’m only 26.  What’s the point in living anyways?”

-       “I can’t find a job, a girlfriend, or live a fulfilling life with my situation”

So, place yourself in my shoes.  You are listening to this and you are caught in a rock and a hard place.  I mean c’mon, what do you say at this point?  I took a chance.  I told him this:

Listen buddy, Life isn’t fair.  Yes you are right that it sucks and it is what it is.  But Nothing in life in MY OPINION is an accident.  Everything happens for a reason.  I’m not trying to sound mean but what happened to you is for a reason…including the very fact that you are sitting in front of me right now.  That person decided to drive their car that day.  That person decided to text and not keep their eyes on the road.  You decided to ride your bike that day.  It is what it is.  We cannot dwell on the what-ifs and what could have been avoided, etc, etc.  It is what it is.  Que sera sera, deal with it, it’s the past.  You talk about not living and ask if it is worth it.  You my friend are being selfish to those who care about you by thinking about those things.  Get that out of your head.  I also FIRMLY believe that we are given only what we can handle and nothing more than that.  You are strong for having to deal with what you are dealing with.  But the question now is what are you going to do about it?  Many people are maximizing their opportunities, having jobs, pursuing relationships, being involved with hobbies and activities.  But to do nothing and accept defeat is unacceptable.  Your negative mindset is a poison to yourself.  Get over it.  You want to learn self defense to protect yourself?  You want to learn exercises to improve your mobility?  You wonder if there is something that can improve your current physical state?  Don’t worry about defending yourself from others.  Defend yourself from YOURSELF.  Block that negativity.  Is there a miracle exercise or exercises you can do to improve your state?  How about just move, stay active keep that brain stimulated.  The body is a magnificent thing.  We think we know everything about the body and yet science is confounded as to what the mind and body can do.  The human spirit is strong and so you must use that to your advantage.  Let go of the past and stop wasting time.  Because of all the variables in life that you CAN control….You cannot control time.

He left pondering.  He didn’t live here.  He was visiting family.  When he left, I gave him my card and said that I am available to him for anything and to keep in touch.  HE said “I’ll try”.  I said NO you don’t try.  YOU DO!.

I truly hope somewhere in Eastern Washington this man has found an answer.  I spoke from the heart and there was much much more I had wanted to say.  I think I made an impact and I think he got it?  I hope he did.  As I walked out of the gym and recapped what I had said to this man I thought one last thing before putting all this to a blog….

I was talking to you…I was talking to my Dad…I was looking at the man in the mirror.  I’m talking to the people who come to Element 5 Fitness, bootcamps, Underground Strength Training, MMA, etc…who give us a goal and excuses along with it.  I’m still talking about YOU!

What’s your excuse?  I heard his…

Your Fitness Coach,

Belton

What is success when is comes to working out and being healthy?

A lot of people think everything in their day to day life has to be perfect. It doesn’t always have to be perfect, but it is important to know what you’re comfortable with and what you can get away with. Personally, I know that I need to stay away from pizza, because I can’t just have a slice or two. I feel I need to eat the whole thing in one sitting.

When working out I know I need to have my work out written down before I start. If I have it written down I won’t stray away from it and I will fulfill on my goal for that workout.

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. At the end of each day think about your workout, and how you did with your nutrition. By doing this you learn from your mistakes and can adjust for the next meal or next workout. I believe to be successful you must ask yourself one question, “Did you give everything you have to be successful that day?” This means, if you are tired and it’s been a long day at work and you go to the gym and you only have 70% in the tank, give all 70% you have instead of slacking. A hard 70% workout is better than just giving in that day. If you have one bad meal don’t be discouraged by it. Learn and adjust for the next day, but don’t let one meal become another meal the next day. By letting one meal or one workout affect you for more than just one day, it makes being successful really tough. Find a balance; you will reach your goals before you know it and you will enjoy living a healthy life.

It’s a simple question, but do you have the courage to answer it?

- Coach Drew

Diabetes, Needles, and Heart Attacks

First off, apologies for the lateness of this blog.  I write this currently with a dislocated Rib, put back in place, and I sit in pain.  But, I WILL OVERCOME!!  Anyways, as many of you have read on the first blog, my “why” has been stated and gives a deep reason for me to refer to if I even THINK of trying to quit.  But on the last blog I left off speaking about my life growing up and going back as far as 30 years.  If you understood this part of my life, maybe it will paint the bigger picture.  Read on fellow Fitness Warrior!

I WAS A FAT KID

I grew up in a household that saw heart attacks, Diabetes, Insulin shots every morning, decaying health, and a lifestyle not conducive to longevity.  It was this Island culture of laid back-ness, island lifestyle and diet, and family environment that created the mindset that my inevitable path was to inherit bad health due to the genes and the cards that I was dealt with.  Because of this, it has pushed me towards seeking a health profession degree in college so that I can make a difference.   But, time catches up on people.  I didn’t make an impact to those I love and because of that I lost both my father’s parents, my father had his first heart attack at age 49, an Angioplasty, and then finally a stroke that left the right side of his body paralyzed.  You would think that studying Physical Therapy in College, seeing the medical financial burden placed on my family, and the deaths and decaying health of family members would be enough to prompt me to get my act together.  After all, I was a fat kid growing up, and Cardiovascular Heart Disease runs in my family.

PISSED OFF, COMMITMENT, EXECUTION, and my BIG “WHY”!

So we are back to Orlando.  During the last presentor mentioned, I decided to walk out and call my wife.  I was mad!  I was pissed off.  I thought of my Baby, my Wife, my family, my business, clients, those that look to me for fitness education, thought of those famous words by Zach Even-Esh “LEAD FROM THE FRONT!!!”.

Talking to my wife, I said “Babe when I come home, we are taking a garbage bag through our refridgerator, cupboards, and making some serious drastic changes.  Now mind you we weren’t “that bad”.  But with my family history, mediocre is deadly.  I was sobbing on the phone as I told Amanda “I’ll be damned if Abrielle has to go through what I went through and see family members suffer.  That is NOT the world she needs to see or be exposed to!”  The thought of Abrielle not having a chance to know her grandfather (my Dad), watch the insulin shots, maybe even possibly experience her OWN Father go through a Heart Attack.  Nope, the time is NOW!  Your turn to get pissed off!

The Solution

An awesome strength coach said this “Everything Works, Nothing Works Forever”.  Keep that in mind because this (my protocol) worked for me and so don’t go berserk and start following a plan without some thought into it and then when your results don’t happen start looking for something or someone to blame.  Because you can always starve yourself, not eat, lose water weight, try another fad diet, blah blah blah.  Hey get some advice, guidance, or at least consult with me.   So let me get to the point.  Here’s my exact plan that I started Oct. 24th and by Nov. 19th I was down 25 lbs.

-  Mag Pulse Fast

THe link above leads directly to the site and some great info.  BUt let me sum it up directly from their site.

The MAG-10 Pulse Fast

“It’s really exciting… we’re seeing potent thermogenic effects combined with enhanced anabolic activity in muscle — all from a single strategy.

Fasting over a 36-hour period, while pulsing with doses of MAG-10, enhances insulin sensitivity in both muscle and fat cells. Due to the fasting state, the loaded MAG-10 formula hits the bloodstream super fast and sends what amounts to an anabolic shockwave right into the muscle. At the same time, fat cells are signaled to release their contents for fuel.

As the body responds to this pulse-fast strategy, muscle cells become increasingly sensitive to the anabolic formula of MAG-10, fat cells shrink, and the systemic urge to eat is reduced.

In essence, we’re reprogramming the body to function as an easy gainer — the physique begins to automatically morph into that muscular-lean look of a bodybuilder.”

So I pulsed two times a week with a three day separation time between the pulse.  I ONLY pulsed for 2 weeks straight then dropped to my last pulse on the third week.

Besides the Day of the Pulse itself I then went to a……….

-  THE VELOCITY DIET

Straight from the link above:

“Those who haven’t read much about the Velocity Diet often assume it’s just a “crazy starvation diet.” It’s a commonly held misconception. The truth is, the V-Diet:

• Provides five feedings per day. You’re eating a few hundred calories every three hours or so. That’s hardly “starving.”
• Provides more calories than most popular and widely accepted clinical diet plans, not to mention the canned-drink plans advertised on TV.
• Provides more than a gram of protein per pound of lean-body weight.
• Provides more healthy fats, especially omega-3s, than the average non-dieter consumes.
• Provides substantially more fiber per day than the average non-dieter consumes.”

This diet followed on the days I DIDN”T PULSE FAST.  So, I had this on the off days.  I exercised, modified some things, but for the most part followed the theory/template.

Lastly, I read the book from Robb Wolf called “The Paleo Solution” and that was my transition diet OFF the Pulse and Velocity.  I also bought Loren Cogdain’s books regarding Paleo Diet Nutrition.  Granted I ate like CRAP on the main holidays (i.e. Thanksgiving and Xmas, New Years, sometimes a day or after).  But, as you will read there is a huge carry over effect from these Pulses.

WHERE AM I NOW?

Today, from my Original weight of 206 I am 176 lbs.  I held off the supposed “weight gain” that occurs from losing weight fast.  Bah!  Some people scoffed when I told them I gained 10lbs in three days during Thanksgiving and lost ALL 10 lbs that I gained that following Monday!  One day later!!  So what’s in the FUTURE?

Well, I am looking at Intermittent Fasting, reading up some more on some other protocols, fine tuning the process, and then focusing on dropping into the 160s and stepping in the ring to fight.  I have also helped some others get started in the the program I have combined.  I did not create this mind you.  I read, researched and combined some great combos.  I modified a little here and there.  I got help from my business partner Rommel Acda.  As for those I have helped?  So far, one of my ladies has lost 10 pounds in less than 3 weeks (She DID NOT DO THE FAST, OR VELOCITY..Paleo Nutrition only yes!).  Another has gotten rid of that stubborn post-baby pooch and is fitting into clothes she hasn’t been in (PALEO only)!  One other JUST started the Mag pulse and velocity and lost 6lbs in ONE WEEK!  Two others are starting in February.  There’s about 3 others I can think of with awesome results.  SO far…hmm…that’s 100% success rate on all that has followed what I have helped laid out for them.  They are also attending Element 5 Fitness Bootcamps and getting their exercises done.

Here’s the deal guys….You can read this, run with it, succeed or fail.  Either way, the key to it all is having a very deep rooted base reason for wanting to do this.  BEcause when you are faced with temptations, and rough times as you go through this journey….you NEED to refer back to that reason.  I had my baby girl and my wife to look at EVERYDAY.  I imagined dying and not being around for them.  It hurt that bad.  If you cannot find that reason, don’t even bother.  The deeper the reason, the greater the results, the better execution, the stronger accountability.  Your lame ass shallow reason will produce lame ass results. Or not.

If you want help, feel free to email me…BUT leave a comment stating your reason FIRST or if it is too private then state that you already have one and then we can chat after you email me.  You must leave a comment!  After you do that, I will have known you read my blog, then email me at belton@element5fitness.com.

Everything works, but Nothing works forever…

Peace

Belton

I ran across this article the other day and thought it shared some great ideas on how to keep your fitness mind-set strong. I know most of us can relate to having a difficult day but when you’re working on something as important as your health then it is crucial to your results to have the right mind-set. -Kelly

By: L R Goodman

Keeping with a fitness program can be very hard, especially if you don’t start seeing the results you want right away. Many people quite within a month of beginning their fitness programs and have to psych themselves back into a fitness mindset before they will begin again.
If you are one of those people, know that there is hope that even you will be able to break free from the start/stop syndrome of your routine.

don’t give up!

Tip #1: Determine to Press Ahead

Admit it. You want to quit because you feel like you are wasting your time and you would rather be doing…. (fill in the blank). Whether it is eating a big bowl of ice cream, sitting in front of the TV all day, or just a fitness failure feeling, something besides dieting and workout sessions has caught your attention.
So STOP. Think about what you REALLY want. Fitness is not easy, but you chose to start down that path for a reason. Was it to lose weight? Was it to regain your health? Was it to build your core so that you could be stronger? What was it?
Once you have remembered your goal, write it down. Go… do it NOW. This hub will still be here when you get back. Write it as many times as you need to so that you remember that goal. Stick it on your fridge, write it on your mirror, put a post it on your TV and do whatever it takes to get yourself back into the fitness mindset.
Pushing through the difficult moments when you don’t see what you want right away will put your body into gear and you will be grateful when you do start seeing results. Determination is a strong quality, and don’t you want to prove to the world that you have it?

Tip #2: Get a Second Job

No, no, don’t start looking through the employment ads. Put that newspaper down and pay attention.
View your fitness program as your second job. Make sure you show up to your shift on time, do your required work and the benefits will follow.
Do you enjoy your job all the time? You may like is most of the time, but ALL the time? When you are not enjoying your job, you can’t just decide to avoid it until you feel like working again. You have to work and stick it out and eventually things will be smoother again.
The same goes for fitness. You are not going to enjoy working out all the time, but you need to press on and you may even end up loving your second job!

bored yet?

take a breath

Tip #5 Slow Down

If you are experiencing pain or find yourself exhausted, slow down your workout sessions instead of quitting all together. A common problem with fitness programs is that people jump into them fully instead of slowly getting into it. Doing this could wear you out quickly and cause you to give up.
As you workout, your body will get stronger and you will be able to increase your workout sessions to allow you to build more endurance and stamina. Taking things slow in the beginning may just help prevent injury.

I recently finished reading The New Rules of Lifting for Women by Lou Schuler and was pleased to find that he addresses many of the preconceived notions about what heavy lifting will do to a woman’s body.

For example, he debunks the idea that lifting heavy weight will make you bulky and lifting 3 pound dumbbells will give you “longer” or “leaner” muscles.  Sure, there is absolute appeal for a woman to want to create longer and leaner muscles, but the fact of the matter according to Schuler, is “muscles…have a genetically predetermined shape.  If you train and feed a muscle so that it grows, you can’t choose whether the muscle becomes ‘bulky’ or ‘long and lean, like a dancer’s’ any more than you can choose your own height.”

Embracing this idea, in my opinion, is the first step toward picking up heavier weights.  If you have no control over “shaping” your body and how your muscles are going to grow, then what is the point in wasting your time lifting light weights for hundreds of reps?  It may give you better muscle endurance, but how does that serve you in real life?  Pushing, pulling, twisting, and squatting encompass the four major daily physical activities, and unless your goal is to do one of these activities over and over, then high reps and minimal weight may be a waste of time.

So what is my point?  The only way to get stronger is by lifting heavier weights.  If you lift 10 pounds 5 times and then increase your reps to 10 times, you haven’t increased your strength at all, only your endurance.  And why would anyone want to be stronger?  Think about functional movement.

Lifting your child out of a car seat, pushing the box of Christmas decorations back onto the shelf, chopping wood (okay, maybe not) but you get my point.  Being stronger will only make these movements easier and prevent injury, and who doesn’t want that?

Long story short, pick up heavier weights already!  It’s the New Year and time for an exciting challenge.

Strong = sexy

- Linden

THE BLOG

Ah the long awaited blog by Belton Lubas.  The Blog that answers many of your questions as to how my personal weight loss has occurred so rapidly and results happened so quickly.  Many of you have been bugging me to put out a blog, revealing the answers, the SECRET to fat loss.  I have to admit, this blog went through so many drafts.  It was long, it brought out personal emotions related my family and my life, and although I want to convey a message, my challenge was to convey a message to you without writing a book. (Hmmm….maybe a future project….Hehe)

You ready for the secret, the formula, the plan?  “SCREEEEECH!!”  Halt!  Put on the brakes first and let me explain a little bit as to why and how the results happened so quickly.  Yes, there were precise method(s) I followed, but more importantly there was a deeper reason behind all this.  There’s a bigger picture involved and it was this bigger picture that had the profound impact to my results.  It’s called The “Why”.  I have my “WHY”, do you?

During my results journey, I avoided giving away the “secrets” to success because peoples’ reasons for wanting to know them were shallow.  I did not want to share anything yet until I FULLY explain MY reasons, MY “WHY” for doing this program.  Once you understand why I did it…then hopefully it can help you find your “why” and create a deeper motivation to get through the program.   But first………

THE DISCLAIMER:

***Please read this section carefully!  Individual Results vary.  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone.  I am sharing my experiences in a process that involved supplementation, exercise, diet, and blood work.  This program was self evaluated and NOT monitored by a medical professional.  Choosing to follow this program whether in part or in whole is solely your personal decision and not recommended by myself.  Please consult a physician before following any exercise or nutritional program.***

THE REASON and MY WHY

I’ll start off with the base foundation of the reason and build from there.   That reason initially started with the birth of my daughter Abrielle Carlyn Lubas.  On August 31^st 2010 my beautiful wife Amanda Lubas gave birth to our daughter.  I admire my wife for delivering a beautiful and healthy baby with no drugs and all natural.  It was the most beautiful experience ever.  When a life-changing event happens, perspectives change, priorities change, and you look at the world with different lenses.  But like every great Ah-HA moment, invention, or surge of inspiration, there was that epiphany.

For many people rolling into 2011 and with New Year Resolutions popping out like an acne breakout, my New Years started in Orlando the weekend of Oct. 24, 2010.  I sat in a room and had a breakdown.  I’m not going to bore you with the details but let me sum it up.  On stage, different presentors talked about their gyms and their business.  I will list what they had talked about and the culmination of topics that surmounted in an eruption of emotions that led me to walk out of the conference and call my wife.

Presentor 1 = Talked about being congruent in his life.  Teach others about fitness, lead from the front by eating well and working out, what he says and does are parallel and CONGRUENT.

Presentor 2 = Talked about his baby girl (this hit me hard as he showed a picture on stage).  How he needed to get his business at a point to where he can be a father and still provide fitness services for his people.

Presentors 3 = Two brothers got on stage and talked about training for 20+ years with the same schedule.  Wake up at 3am train, run the gym, take care of everyone else except themselves, all the while burning themselves out.

Presentor 4 = Talked about his “thriving” business but shared about the fragility of his marriage and re-evaluating what was important to him.

Presentor 5 = Talked about getting your “#$@%” together and how November was around the corner.  November was Stop Diabetes Month.

This was the straw the broke the camel’s back, Diabetes.  Which brings us back full circle to my growing up.  I’ll get back to this conference and the weeks after I came back with the secret to my results.  But for now, you must go back close to 30-something years.  You will get a glimpse of who I am and how I grew up.  Remember, you must understand my WHY so you can find yours.  If not, then there is no point in even writing this blog.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog as we dig into the WHY and the process!!

Belton

Element 5 Fitness

Have a safe and wonderful New Year! Cheers!

It’s mid-week and your energy and enthusiasm to get a workout in is starting to fade. You’ve done well the past two days, but you might have gone too hard and your mind and body are simply telling you to back off a bit.

So what do you do?

Well, you just need that extra motivation and inspiring workout to get you excited again. And, have we got the perfect workout for you. Just follow the advice of our friend from “Beefy’s Gym”, especially when he explains, “That was the pre-warmup, to get you ready for the warm-up, to get you ready for the pre-workout, followed by the workout, which precedes the post-workout, then we’re going into a 60-minute warm-down…”

Ok, better yet, I’ll just let you watch the video and you can follow from there, enjoy

Remember the pixie dust from Peter Pan?

Couple of things before reading this blog:

-  Don’t be offended.  Wait…yes be offended.  I dare you

-  I included some video links, embedded them, or linked it to my other blog for a point

-  It may be a little long so bear with this

-  Lastly, the words and phrasing I give credit to where it is due…Pastor Ryan Meeks from EastLake Community Church

So………here goes:

My wife suggested to go to church Sunday evening.  I was sort of reluctant.  You know, tired, rainy, rough week last week, just kinda not in that mood.  It’s kinda funny that every time I resist something I know would benefit me, I do it anyways and I love it afterwards.  Ever feel that way?

So we went to church and the topic of the sermon was “Work Hard”.  Usually I write a blog from an inspiration of some sort and I found it tonight.  Some of you have been missing my emails.  Sorry, I haven’t found that inspiration till recently.

Now please bear with me and don’t worry I am not going to get “churchy” on you.  I may use some bible verses due to the relevancy of this blog and where it came from.  But, my goal is not to force anyone into thinking a certain way.  That is your choice and your views and I am ok with that.  What you do with this information in this blog is your choice ultimately.  In the end, I hope your offended enough to take action and get some work done.  So here is what I learned from going to a Sunday evening service at Eastlake Community Church.

LESSON 1

Work Hard

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk only leads to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23

This verse hit me pretty good.  It hit me from different angles.  Definitely from a business perspective and some other aspects as well.  Kinda like a “talk the talk well walk the walk” thing too!  The premise of this is not to just say your going to do something….DO IT!  Action speaks louder than words!  We have heard this line that too many times.

Speaking of talking the talk and walking it…Just recently, a bootcamper called me out early in the morning.  This person said…”why don’t you do the exercise with us?”  Well, my ego took over and so I did.  What this person didn’t know was that I blasted my legs the night before with a rigorous Muay Thai workout.  I didn’t have to justify myself but I did 30 Split jumps anyways WITH this person (even though it was only 30 step out lunges…I leveled it up a bit).

You know, I do ask the bootcampers to share their accomplishments, setbacks, and workouts as they go through their 21 day rapid fat loss journey.  So here is mine as I am being transparent.  I will give you a glimpse of the day before.  The day of my Muay Thai workout.

Thursday November 19th:

5am = wake up, 6am = bootcamp, 7am= egg whites and spinach breakfast, 8am = train, 9am = shake, 12pm = Unwich (turkey), 130pm = martial arts client, 2pm = corporate meeting representing Element 5, 3pm = chicken breast salad from subway, 4pm = corporate training Bellevue, 530pm = chicken breast salad, 6pm = bootcamp, 7pm = martial arts class (teach a portion but take as a student and get butt whooped!!), 830pm = cous cous with turkey meatballs and spaghetti sauce.  Then comes Friday…blasted legs and all and my little justification act/moment.

And just so you know what the high intensity of Muay Thai or boxing takes look at the videos posted and the link to my other blog (click—>) ”Boxing Mom” workout and check out the first video, read the blog later its cool though! Or to check out the actual video look below. (you can read that blog later about high intensity boxing workouts)

**FYI….this woman has three kids of her own**  Now that’s a MOM you don’t wanna mess with!!

Holding pads for these athletes IS A WORKOUT!!  Look below!

So yes hard work does pay off and talk is cheap.  I hope a look into my day shows you who I am and what I do.  Just to be clear, Rommel and myself, NEVER show an exercise we ourselves haven’t done.  More importantly, hard work gets you results.  I remember working hard to be a great defensive player for OSU’s Men’s volleyball team.  I didn’t have the luxury of being 6ft 5in++.  I had to work at being fast defensively, responsive, and tactful offensively as a server since the back row line is the most I would probably get to see.  Practice and tournaments and games was like a second job to school.  Work Hard…

Look, no one ever said achieving great things was going to be easy.  You set your goals, aim for it and work hard.

Pastor Ryan said something funny tonight.  He said we like to believe there is this thing called Pixie Dust.  Just sprinkle it and the problem (fat for us in the fitness world) goes away.  Pixie Dust.  Just sprinkle it and the magical opportunity comes your way.  Pixie Dust, your problems aren’t yours to own, just sprinkle it and it will go away.  Pixie Dust…bullcrap.  Work Hard.

LESSON 2

Work Hard at What You Do Best:

Colossians 3:23-24 starts out saying “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart…”

Ah this part is good.  You see the Michael Jordans of the world have it easy.  Tiger Woods?  Cmon!  what’s so hard about walking in the park and swinging at a ball to a goal?  I mean the goal isn’t even guarded!  You won’t be tackled either.  So, lucky them eh?  Just naturally gifted right?  WRONG!

You think those great athletes haven’t put in the work?  Greatness is easy to see, but we neglect the process behind that greatness.

“I have failed many times, and that’s why I am a success” – Michael Jordan

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career.  I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.  I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.  And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

It’s the very same reason why Rommel and myself are in this business.  We are good at what we do and we will work hard at what we are very best at doing.

LESSON 3

Work Hard at What Matters Most

One of my coaches Bedros Keuilian asked me a question.  He told me to name three things in the business that was successful to us achieving our goals.  He had told me to focus on what we are good at, and not to spread oneself too thin.  How true, how relevant.  Thanks Mr. Keuilian.

Life is temporary people.  If you give your life to something you are NOT good at, then you “betray yourself”.  You assassinate your character and destroy your integrity, as Mr. Meeks says.  Lasting greatness is due to hard work.  Your not entitled to it.  You want great results in fitness or in life?  Work Hard.  Simple yet hard to do.

After the sermon was over, (The Pastor said for anyone who he hasn’t met to feel free to come up and introduce themselves), I walked up to the front with Amanda and we thanked the pastor for his message.  We then went to Fred Meyer to return a Red box dvd. Amanda went off to look for an item and I was texting my business partner Rommel about the awesome church experience and you know how these grocery stores have banks in them?  Well as I was walking and texting with my head down I literally almost ran into one of the banks promo sign.  It was a promo sign for the bank and a Disney prize of some sort….it said:

PIXIE DUST………….and so my blog began.

P.S.  Please leave a comment with your thoughts

P.P.S.  Please subscribe to this blog and forward this to those you think may benefit from it.

Yours in Health,

Belton Lubas

Wait a minute…Did I just say that Tebow was at Fitness Info Summit 2009? In case you didn’t know Tim Tebow is:

Timothy Richard “Tim” Tebow (born August 14, 1987 in Manila, Philippines) is a Heisman Trophy-winning American football quarterback for the Florida Gators. He was the first college football player to both rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in a season and was the first sophomore to win the Heisman.

And c’mon really?! Tebow here at Fitness Info Summit 2009?! This blog isnt about Tim Tebow but it is about his champion like abilities. A guy who is on top of his game. A man who is TRANSPARENT. A stand up guy who 3 months before enrolling in Florida went to Phillipines to help with his Father’s mission work at an orphanage.

But here’s the deal…CHAMPIONS WERE on stage. The champions of the fitness marketing and information world. The likes of Bedros Keuilian, Craig Ballantyne, Chris McCombs, Zach Even-Esh, Vince Del Monte, Steve Hochman, and some others such as Mr. “Luc” Del Monte, seven figure Sam, Josh Carter, and Joel Marion (who wasn’t exactly on stage but mentioned numerous times…I apologize to those who I may have not mentioned).

Who are these guys? These so-called Transparent gentlemen. Sounds like a super hero team to me! The Transparencies! Could be a boy band actually. No, but seriously who are they?

Let me start with Steve Hochman! Because I like to start with humor to break the ice (Timmay!). Now this guy you have to corner while he is going to the bathroom. And when he is doing a Number 3! Ugh…And if you have a chance to corner him, you just might run into a strong Mindset. Steve came onstage and killed it as he talked about mindset and the parallels it has with success. Not just in business, but in life.

Zach Even-Esh. Ma man! My Broskie! The guy I said yes to and flew back to Dirty Joyzee to get certified and licensed as the first Underground Strength Gym in the NORTHWEST! His Vlogs are very indicative of who he is. Air guitar and all! (Pauly Reddick work on your slap base please) Charter member baby! This lovable goofball has alot of heart, powerful mind, and great work ethic. Love ya Bruddah!

Craig Ballantyne….(saying this in dry serious manner) “Well…..Yeah….He’s Good”. Just Kidding! You had to be there to understand this joke and this line! Craig is a NO B.S. type of guy. Git ‘er Done! Straight to the Point and Transparent. But the man is brilliant. Simply, Brilliant. Wait did I just do it (dry tone) again?! Kidding Craig, kidding.

Chris McCombs – Man, what a down to earth cat who just is himself. What-you-see-is-what-you-get type of guy. This Blogging maniac of a king, may seem so far away because of his imposing size and his stellar fame on the internet. But in reality, he is transparent and goes against the grain to carve his own path.  A pot-stirrer, authority figure, get -it-done-guy, family man, and downright got your back type of guy.

Do you see a pattern here people?

Vince Del Monte…down to earth and as transparent as he is as you can tell the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. You can see it when his father spoke and you can see where his Humanness comes from. Thank you Vince for being successful, so that we can pick up on the clues that success leaves.

Bedros – Where do I start with this Lion? You know that animal fits him perfectly. No not because his hair looks like he has a mane! Or that when he laughs it sounds like a roar?! By the way guys, he can’t throw a shirt across a room if his life depended on it.  We should do an info product on increasing shirt throwing distance.

I was still trying to figure Bedros out back in FBS 2008.  Obviously, I believed in him to purchase multiple products.  But with Orlando 2009…I see you now Bedros. Yeah man, I see you brah!

He said something to me at the end of the seminar this weekend as I went up to thank him that WILL change my life. It’s game over people. You will soon see. Let’s just leave it at that.

But Bedros’ transparency best showed when someone had asked a question about which products and which route he should go? Bedros shocked the room by giving advice that may have “seemed” stupid from a straight business gross perspective! Turned down thousands of dollars?! You nuts Lion man?!

Yeah he is…But you know what? He is crazy/nuts from the heart. And that my friends was one of the best displays of transparency for the fact that he did NOT TAKE the gentleman’s money; and instead suggested that he work on more simpler items. I applaud you Bedros. I thank you.

I thank everyone! For being (here i go as I butcher this word to death) T-R-A-N-S-P-A-R-E-N-T.

This feel good word doesn’t mean jack crap until you see it for yourself. Until you try it for yourself.

I already told you who these guys are.

Well, who the hell is Belton Lubas?

For one, I’m Not Mike Seril…..

I’m the guy that cried in front of 300+ people this past weekend.

I’m the guy who resisted being transparent and did not want to share his goals to a room full of fitness professionals.

I’m the guy that heard the stories of where people came from and where they are at now, and was moved as I related to them sleeping in cars, basements, drug filled houses.

It was too emotional for me to bring up! So, I’m writing this blog in thanks, and to CLEARLY say what I WAS going to say up at the microphone till i garbled it up in tears.

WHO AM I?

I left the Island of Guam with a plane ticket and $500 in my back pocket to pursue a college education. I thought I wanted to become a physical therapist. I even went as far as 2 years of grad school for an MPH only to quit on the last semester because the bills were piling up. (I’m 2 classes and a thesis away from a Masters degree)

I worked at a corporate fitness entity and made very close to 90K as a fitness manager of multiple locations. And 2 months before my wedding date, I asked the “big wigs” simple questions as they were dangling the corporate carrot to me. I asked them to be transparent for once, so that through their answers I can see my future.

Name one fitness manager who satisify these three criteria:

- Runs a facility that hits 110% of their monthly target i.e. a successful business
- has a FRUITFUL marriage life
- AND has kids

cricket, cricket, cricket…………..chirp, chirp, chirp……………..

Heres my 30 day notice. Fast forward….I’m in Orlando.

You see people, Success leaves clues. But most importantly, where you get those clues and the integrity and character of that person, is the proper concoction. Because as Bedros said those impactful words to me at the end of the seminar, and I walked towards the back of the room to leave, I also thanked his wife, and Chris McCombs personally shook my hand to thank me at the lobby?! wait… I came up to him to thank him!! Not for him to thank me?! Wow! Cool!

And as Steve Hochman and Dr. Sam both genuinely looked me in the eye and said Thank you (again they deserve all the thanks!! I mean they had the awesome information and add value to our businesses), I was hit so hard emotionally AGAIN, that I went to the pool, called my wife and told her about my experiences.

Success as I saw it in these people was defined in their families, their financial freedom they provided, and their willingness and ability to help others succeed.

That…..my friends was as transparent as can be. Not only did I see THROUGH these Tim Tebows of Fitness; I also saw myself.

I will become great, and I won’t let the fitness industry define me, I will define the fitness industry as I carve my path.

I was ashamed and embarassed shortly after my transparent moment. But I hope that some of you never have to experience these “hardships”. But as Hochman calls these hardships perspectives, he reminds us that bad isn’t that bad and you have to remember that “your worst day can be someone else’s BETTER day”.  POWERFUL  I welcome more challenges and opportunities. I pray you do too.

I wish you all success who was at the seminar because I had a great time. Cool people, great energy.

This seminar wasn’t all about info marketing. In my eyes it was a “Go-Giver” mentality, transparency, and giving thanks!

The laws of reciprocity was thick in the air!!

Thank you everyone.
Belton Lubas
Element 5 Fitness
Underground Strength Coach NW
Strong And Sexy Bootcamps