Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Breaking Yourself to Build Yourself*

CM SEAL Team blogger: Tom Rancich

SO---Many of you may have noticed that my blogs are more cerebral (easy for you to say) than they are about fitness and routines and how to do calisthenics. Well unfortunately, some readers don’t get the hint that I don’t WANT to talk about that stuff but they still persist in asking me about how many this and what about the perfect this or that. So here it is—GET OFF MY BACK—fact is, I think it is a bunch of bunk.
Alden came into the military 6 years after me—he was part of the “new” military---I was part of the old---he was part of the “we have to do this because” and I was part of “shut the f*ck about or I will take you behind the conex box and beat the cr@p out of you” ---his generation of officer sought to understand the emotions and motivations of his people---my generation jacked people up if they didn’t perform to my liking. So—with regard to all the perfect stuff---I don’t know. Maybe it makes sense if you think about it—but why think about it?

I am just fine after doing it the old way—I mean—if you aren’t hurting then my question is why? The answer, of course, is you aren’t trying---and frankly who cares if you are arthritic when you are fifty---I mean—you are fifty—so all the research that Alden has done and all the performance enhancing and ground breaking fitness ideas and equipment to get better results with less stress on the body and focus on lifestyle and lifelong fitness is all well and good---if you really need those sorts of crutches. Otherwise I say suck it up butter cup and get out there and run with a tire dragging from your waist until you can’t take another step then drop and give me fifty and then run some hills with your buddy on your back---it ain’t brain science or rocket surgery---it is breaking yourself to build yourself—on April Fool’s Day* of course! And only a fool would listen to advice like I just gave!!

News Flash: Tom's on board at our new community of Fitness Fanatics -- take a look. Bravo Zulu to everyone who's joined our newest team!
_________________________________________________
Lt. Commander Thomas Rancich, US Navy SEAL (Ret.) is the co-founder of VRHabilis, a disabled veteran-owned small business that seeks to employ the highly trained and motivated veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for work in construction and related fields. Rancich and co-founder Elliott Adler are pioneering the concept of using adaptive technology to bridge the gap between industrial and medical technology. Their company contributes proceeds to two worthy causes: a fund for the development of adaptive technology that will allow disabled veterans to pursue their desired career path and the EOD Wounded Warrior Fund.





Through his consulting firm, Off-Shore Consulting, Tom provides professional advice on leadership and team building, often as a motivational speaker, in addition to being an expert consultant to the entertainment industry.

Alden Mills and Charlie Mike blogger Tom Rancich served together in the Teams.

10 comments:

20 Meterville said...

Tom, I trust you are taking questions. I have two, and I wish they were April Fools jokes but they're not.

My husband finished cancer treatment 9 weeks ago. His post-cancer CT scan was clear, and he's ready to start building himself back up. He still has a stomach tube but eats normally now and has regained 15 of the 20+ pounds he lost. He of course has lost a lot of muscle and conditioning. Before treatment began, he was running 2 miles on a treadmill and would do 2-3 sets of situps, Perfect Pushups and free weights (usually while I used the BodyRev) -- so about an hour workout for us both. He's been doing some gardening and tractor work on our farm, and his doctors have told him to do what he wants as far as exercise is concerned. He's working part time (office job). We have good weather for outside exercise, and a home gym with a treadmill, Perfect Pushups and Perfect Pullup and the BodyRev. The question: What advice do you have for someone who is coming back from a serious illness? He's probably more likely to do too much than too little.

The second question ... I'm a rider but don't have a rideable horse now. I need some ideas on amping up my workouts to make up for that lost riding time (each ride would burn about 350 calories, and my goal was eight rides/week). During my husband's treatment, I wasn't working out as much as in the past, but I'm back up to 3 hourlong Rev and 2 treadmill/abs workouts a week. Last night, I added a mile on the treadmill after doing the Legs and Cardio Rev segments, then did Abs and Arms.

Thanks for your time, and thanks to all the bloggers for their great advice.

Carole in Texas

Joe G. said...

Tom, I hate to brag, but I pushed my car to work this morning -- and the parking brake was still on. Ruined the tires, of course. I needed new ones anyway.

These Perfect Pushup workouts are too easy! Especially that 8-count Body Builder. What kind of a wimp came up with THAT one?

Have a lovely day.

Trudy said...

Well, as someone hitting the big 50 this year (are you looking in my window, Tom?).....I am pretty concerned with numbers other than my weight (although I really should be concerned about it!!) namely my blood pressure, cholestrol and sugar. I do exercise 3 times a week, but am not seeing the results I did when I was 20....so could we talk about some age appropriate exercises...namely MY age...and things I can do to help my health?

I have a rev and I'm not afraid to use it...I just have to dust it off and go!!!!

20 Meterville said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
20 Meterville said...

An addendum to my earlier post ... I actually DO use the Perfect Pushup and Pullup. I do a set of Pushups (usually 10; 1-2 regular, the rest from knees) and/or Ab Strap or Standing Rows between Rev segments. Love that pause button. I'm still working on a correct Pullup.

Thanks again,
Carole

Unknown said...

Sir, we're only trying to help you since you know too much. The more you tell us, the less of a burden it will be on you to carry it all.

Thank you for your always motivating articles.

Lisa A said...

Carole,
Glad to hear your Dh's last scan CT scan was clear. Thinking of you!

Alden Mills said...

Hey Pops, what's this "I am just fine with doing it the old way"? Teammates, Commander Rancich forgot to add, "If you're not cheating, you're not trying" - and his "old way" of doing things has accelerated his age - poor ole SEAL has turned into a walrus! Drop down and push 'em out! HOOYAH Buttercup!

Alden Mills said...

Comment from Tom Rancich:

Ladies, gents, I will be out of the loop for a while -- off tilting at windmills -- but hold tight -- my next blog will answer all and indeed, any of your questions.

Commander Mills, there ain't no walruses off the shores of MV, just Perfect Marine Specimens!

Unknown said...

You can get tension out of your muscles by rolling them around on a pinky ball!
From this http://www.amazon.com/Conditioning-Dance-Eric-Franklin/dp/0736041567/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238779338&sr=8-1 awesome book! YEAH!!