Sunday, April 27, 2008

Transformation Contest Rules...

Rules of the 2nd
Turbulence Training
Transformation Contest

1) The 2nd Turbulence Training Transformation Contest starts May 1st to August 23rd, 2008. All transformations must start and finish during this time period.


The final day to enter is Saturday, May 31st, 2008. Each entrant has 12 weeks (84 days) to complete their TT Transformation.


2) To be entered in the Turbulence Training Transformation Contest, you must use Turbulence Training workouts for all 12 weeks to achieve your results.


3) You must take before and after photos on Day 1 and Day 84, respectively. The photos must include your face and a newspaper from the current date in order for your transformation to be entered into the contest. There are NO exceptions.


4) By entering this Contest, each winner of a contest prize consents to the use of his/her name, and/or photograph in any publicity carried out by the Contest Sponsor and its advertising and promotional agencies without further notice or compensation.


5) Photos can be posted in the TTMembers.com Transformation Forum or can be entered by email (see details below).


It is highly recommended – for your own results – to keep a training journal in the Turbulence Training Membership forum (don't forget, you get 3-6 months free access to the Turbulence Training Membership site when you order Turbulence Training).


Recording your photos, workouts, and nutrition will dramatically increase your chances of losing fat and reaching your goals because of the power of social support found on the TTMembers.com forums.


6) In addition to providing Before & After photos, each contestant must write a 300 word essay on their before and after success story.


7) The Transformation Contest will be judged by a panel of experts, including but not restricted to: Craig Ballantyne, Brad Pilon, and Holly Rigsby.


8) The Contest Sponsor's rulings are final and without appeal in all matters related to this Contest and the awarding of the Prizes. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations.


9) Entering by Email


To enter photos by email, send to:
Support (AT) TurbulenceTraining.helpserve.com



All entries become the property of the Contest Sponsor and will not be returned.


Contest Sponsor, its advertising and promotion agencies assume no responsibility for lost, stolen, delayed, damaged, illegible, incomplete, postage-due, garbled or misdirected entries or entries that have been submitted through illicit means, or do not conform to or satisfy the Contest Rules or for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any entry to be received or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website, or any combination thereof including any injury or damage to an entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material in the contest.


10) The Contest Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, cancel or suspend this Contest should an external circumstances arise which are beyond the reasonable control of the Contest Sponsor.


The Contest Sponsor is not responsible for any errors or omissions in printing or advertising this Contest.


The Contest Sponsor collects your personal information for the purposes of registration, program evaluation and to keep you informed about The Challenge. The Contest Sponsor may, if consent was given during registration, also contact you from time to time with information about other ways you can lose weight.


The Contest Sponsor will not share any personal data about entrants with any other party. The personal data collected for this Contest will not be used for any other purposes unless entrants provide explicit permission as indicated on the entry form. For more information about our privacy practices or to obtain a copy of our Privacy Policy, visit www.TurbulenceTraining.com.


By entering this Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Contest Sponsor and their respective employees, officers, directors, agents, representatives, successors, assigns, advertising and promotional agencies from any liability for any loss or damage of any kind to the entrant or any other person in connection with this Contest or participation in any Contest related activities, including but not limited the taking of a urine test or, if declared a winner, the use or misuse of a prize or any portion of a prize including personal injury, death or property damage.


This Contest will run in accordance with these Contest Rules, subject to amendment by the Contest Sponsor. Contest Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, amend, modify or terminate this Contest or the Rules at any time in its sole discretion and without notice.


Entrants must comply with these rules, and will be deemed to have received and understood the rules if they participate in the Contest.





__________________
Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence Training for Fat Loss

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Thursday, April 24, 2008

GOAL WEIGHT ACHIEVED!!

Posted on the TT members forum...

While most of you were doing Craig's TT Transformation contest here on the TT website, I was over on the Men's Health Web Site doing Craig's Belly Off program for 8 weeks. A modified TT BW500 program I believe.

Starting Weight: 197

I never took before pictures, and I never took measurements simply because I never thought I would stick with the program. Well, 12 weeks later, here I am, dedicated to this system more than ever, and I achieved my goal weight of 175!!

During these 12 weeks, I've actually accomplished a lot more than just weight loss. Numbers that were actually more important to me than anything when starting this program. Blood pressure readings that were border line high at 140/80. Cholesterol readings in the mid 200's. I can now say my BP is consistently 120/70 or lower, and my cholesterol has dropped below 200 to 180. My doctor said these results were "drastic changes" from diet and exercise alone in such a short period. I am now a fit and healthy man!!

Craig's Turbulence Training program's are so much more than just fat loss. It's a life changing experience, physically and mentally. I can't THANK YOU enough for providing this program, the tools to achieve my goal, but most of all the support you provide. My wife and kids would also like to Thank You for giving them back a healthy husband and DAD.

Thank You!!

JimN - Sussex, Wisconsin

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Monday, April 21, 2008

Spring Has Arrived...


Ahhh yeah!! Finally some great weather, and it looks like it will be nice for most of this week. Great weekend. Actually was able to get outside and do some yard work, hit some golf balls, play some baseball with the kids. It feels great!!

I started my new workout yesterday. I had to do a test run of all the exercises to see where I max out at. It was pretty tough, and the workout will be crazy tough tomorrow morning. I'm actully a bit nervous about it. The TT workouts almost always make me nervous. Everyone now is noticing how different I look and how fit I look. I am happy with my weight right now, but still have my goal set at 12% body fat. Still have this small layer around my belly that needs to be gone by summer. I'm figuring another 6-8 pounds should get me to the 12% goal I'm looking for. Maybe then that 6 pack will be popping!!

The next Transformation Contest starts in a couple of weeks. Erin will be doing it, and I am too. I wish I would have gotten in the first one, because I think I would have had a chance to win it, but oh well. Erin, I think has an excellent shot. She only wants to lose 10-15 pounds, but she could really tone herself and look phenomenal, and win some cash. It would be great for our basement renovation!! GO ERIN!!

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

My Inspiration and Motivation...


So, I recently added some pictures to this blog, and to my forum posts on TTMembers.com. Generally people see a picture of Brett Favre and they just think, "Oh, Ok, Jim's a Packer fan and a Brett Favre Fan". But I really posted those pictures for a reason. I didn't just post a picture of Brett Favre just because of being a Packer Fan, or because of being a Brett Favre fan. The picture on this site and in my forum posts of Brett Favre are a bit of a symbol. A symbol of everything that this lifestyle change stands for, and for everything Brett Favre stood for. His toughness, his abilities, his gift, his pure love of football. No matter what life threw in his direction, he bounced back and just kept on...and never quit.

As a Packer Fan, Brett Favre was a part of my life for 16 years. My wife and I just started dating when he started playing with the Packers. We married, built a house, had 2 kids. But yet every Sunday, we flip on the game and there was number 4. A man that just absolutely gave it his all every game, and just never quit. As our life changed, so did his, but one thing was constant. He was passionate, tough and never quit or let anyone or anything stand in his way. But most of all, he simply just loved to play the game.

So on his retirement day, grown men cried. Everyone in the state of Wisconsin and maybe even everyone in America will remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard Brett Favre was retiring from the Green Bay Packers. It was a sad dayto see someone go that brought so much joy to us for so long. So, Thanks for the great run, it was fun while it lasted!!

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Don't waste your time doing crunches...

Craig Ballantyne from TurbulenceTraining.com offers a great ab workout. Get that Six Pack popping in time for Summerfest!! And I don't mean that Miller Lite Six Pack!! Enjoy!



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Thursday, April 17, 2008

How Crazy Is this TT Stuff...

Alright, I have to admit I am a bit addicted to this Turbulence Training lifestyle. But it could be worse right? I mean, I could be hanging in bars, drinking, smoking, binge eating afterwards, only to go home and lay on the couch and watch TV. Well, I guess I do still lay on the couch and watch TV, and it's usually after a good TT workout and I'm so spent, I can't do much else for a while. That's why sometimes I'm amazed when people kind of look at me funny when I tell them what I am doing. I've lost 20 pounds in 11 weeks. I dropped 3-4 inches from my waist. I have a 2 pack right now, still working on the 6 pack. And I am in the best shape of my adult life.

Am I crazy?? Is this TT stuff for real? I mean does it work? Well, I guess I'm living proof that it works. The only hting that Craig Ballantyne can not guarantee me is that I commit. You must commit to the lifestyle or you will fail. I believe any workout system will work to a point as long as you commit. But how easy is it to commit when we have careers, busy lifestyles, kids, and just everyday living we need to do. And that's where Turbulence Training steps in. If you commit to 3x a week, 45 minutes, eat right, and get a good support group surrounding you, all of your fitness goals are achieveable. Just MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Whacking the little white ball...


Oh yeah, golf league officially started tonight and it was awesome. Considering I took a year off from league play, I actually played pretty well tonight. Shot a 48 at Ironwood in Sussex, and it's actually a pretty tough course. So, I was happy with the way I played.

I am still on my off week from TT and it's actually tough. I feel like I'm missing out on something. I did a light workout last night, and it actually felt kind of good to not be going at full intensity. Oddly enough, the workout felt great, and I even broke a sweat. I finished it up by walking briskly on the treadmill for almost 20 minutes.

I'm still throwing around the idea of doing the Transformation Contest. I suppose I have nothing to lose, but I am so close to my goal weight, I'm not sure i could win. Although, I do still have the last layer of fat I need to burn off to get the washboard I'm so close to. So, I'm sure I'll do it, and it will be good inspiration for Erin if she decides to do it.

Packer Schedule is Out!!!!! Click Here for a printable schedule.

Nothing like New Orleans on a Monday night, and I'll be there!!! I can't wait.

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TT Transformation Contest...VOTE NOW!!!

Click Here To Vote on Transformation Contest Finalists

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

Great Night Last Night...

We had some friends over last night, and we had a great time. This was a good friend I went to high school with that had a heart transplant 10 years ago. He is my age, 37, and really taken life to it's limits since the transplant. The sad part is that I have a tendency to forget about how it really does still affect his lifestyle.

He and I went to pick up the Pizza (yes it was my off night), and while we were waiting for the Pizza he proceeded to tell me he ended up in the hospital for 5 days with a sinus infection! What??!! Huh?!!! A sinus infection?? So, he told me the whole story of anytime he comes down with a fever, they instantly put him in the hospital for fear that he may be rejecting the new (10 year old) heart. He also said that when he gets sick like that, it's not like a "normal" person that may just lay around and maybe miss a day of work, he is completely wiped out...for days.

I guess I see this healthy, energetic, athletic guy. A guy who has since the transplant bowled a couple of 300 games, plays on several baseball teams (not softball, baseball), throws his kids around just like any "normal" 37 year old dad would, and it really made me think again that this guy lives with this every day of his life. He as well as all of us, are so thankful for the extra gift of life that God and his donor gave him. He is living life to the fullest, but yet he still has to deal with the thought that this is still a transplanted heart every day.

We do all tend to forget about the transplant. And that is what he wants. He doesn't want us to worry about him. That extra gift of life has affected him tremendously, but it has also affected those who are close to him tremendously as well.

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Best Shape of My Adult Life...

Craig Ballantyne and a bunch of fitness expets at Mens Health created this standard to test your level of fitness...

Where do you rank?

Vertical Jump (inches)
Out of shape = <16
Average = 16-18
Fit = 19-23
MH Fit = 24+

Chinups
Out of shape = 0
Average = 4
Fit = 8
MH Fit = 9+

1-leg squat
Out of shape = 0
Average = 1
Fit = 3
MH Fit = 6+

Pushups
Out of shape = <20
Average = 20-34
Fit = 35-49
MH Fit = >50

Mile
Out of shape = 10 minutes
Average = <8minutes
Fit = <7minutes
MH Fit = <6minutes

When I first looked at this back in about week 4 of the Belly Off program, I thought oh my God, this can't be right?! Looking at it now, in week 11 of my workouts, this appears to be completely in line. I have actually been using this as a gage for my progression.

Here is how I rank:

Vertical Jump: TBD
Chinups: 12
1 Leg squats: 4
Pushups: 50+
Mile Run: 8 minutes ( Not a fan of distance running at all)

I still need to test myself on the 1 leg squats, and the vertical jump. I think the vertical jump I will fall into the fit range for since I played a lot of basketball and actually worked on increasing my vertical growing up. I leg squats...probably not so good. But I'll get there.

I will be completing the 4th week of TT For Fat Loss Intermediate next week, but I'm actuall going to use next week as a bot of an off week. Reducing sets and intervals. Still keep the same weight, just reduce the intensity of my workouts.

Then I am going to the Original TT workout. Everything I have read on this so far it should be a real kick in the BUTT!!

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Monday, April 7, 2008

Bodyweight Workout & Crazy Weekend...

Tough crazy weekend. First I did the BW501 Challenge on Saturday. Of course, these Saturday challenges always kick my butt and this one was no different.

Threw a great party Saturday night for my mom's 70th B-Day. Had family in from New Orleans, Florida and various places in the state. Was a huge surprise for my mom, and a great time. Drank a bit too much beer, but actually ate pretty clean. Yesterday was a rough day for eating. First, a bit hungover so I am always craving carbs on hangover days. Then my wife bought bakery for the house for all the realtives that were staying with us. We cooked brats out on the grill, had some chips, and finished the day off with some leftover birthday cake. Ughhhh....this is why the scale was showing a 3 pound gain this morning. No worries though. I know this is only a minor set back. I wil have that 3 pounds gone by the end of this week, as well as another pound hopefully by next Monday. I am still about 10 pounds away from my goal weight.

So, I posted on the TT forums today how I have been getting some negatives vibes and comments from some family members regarding my new healthy lifestyle. Now, there have been several positive comments as well, but sometimes I feel like a bit of an outsider when they make a comment or give me a look of "why are you doing this". I suspect this will be short lived as this becomes more and more of a lifestyle change for me rather than just a FAD.

I really have all the support I need from my wife who has been absolutely awesome thru all of this. While she is doing the TT for Women, she compliments me all the time on how proud of me she is for what I have accomplished so far. She always thinks she needs to lose weight, but I think she is just fine, beautiful inside and out. And she understands the health concerns I have with my family history. A dad dead at 69, and me with my thyroid pushing my cholesterol and blood pressure to borderline high levels. But since starting the Turbulence Training programs, I now have very healthy levels for my BP, Cholesterol, tryglicerides, blood sugar, everything is great, and I hope they will get even better. These were really the numbers i was looking for. I achieved my goals in that area, now everything else will just be a bonus. I would certainly like to have the 6 pack by summer, and I'm not far off. I just really need to push thru this next level and work hard at it.

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Saturday, April 5, 2008

Bodyweight 501 Completed...

Today was the BW501 Challenge. I don't know why, but I always get really nervous before these Saturday challenges. I actually think I may make the workouts more difficult on my self by actually psyching myself out. Anyways, I finished in 27 minutes. It was extremely difficult, but not as hard as the 500. Maybe I'm just in that much better shape too.

My plateau has ended also. I'm down 2 pounds from last week and feeling great. I didn't hit my goal this week of getting below 180, but I'll get there. This weekend is tough too with dinners, parties to go to, and I'm sure the alcohol will be flowing. I've said it once, and I'll say it again, diet is by far the most difficult part of any transformation. Although, I will say that it has gotten easier to turn down junk food more and more. I did have a cheat meal last night of a Fish Fry, beer battered with french fries and potato pancakes. It actually didn't taste as good as I thought it would. I should be able to eat pretty clean the rest of the weekend.

Have a great weekend!!

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

A Bit of a Plateau...

I've been experiencing a bit of a plateau here the last couple of weeks. It is frustrating, and I want to get under 180 before the weekend. What I found with my body is I really need to keep moving on my light days, or I will plateau. My job basically calls for me to sit at a desk all day. I get home and find myself "Blogging" or posting on the Turbulence Training forums and only doing 20-30 minutes of interval training. I need to get up and move more, and I know the weather getting nicer will help with that.

The 501 Challenge is this weekend...these challenges make me nervous. They are tough!!

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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Jan.28th Belly Off Crew Losing Steam...

So all my boys from the Belly Off crew are losing a bit of steam and some motivation. Cravings are hitting hard as well, and frankly, it's just tough. I really don't know what to say to them because I am experiencing some of the same feelings. New workout, new challenges, and I've plateaued a bit the last 2 weeks also.

The best thing I could come up with was how far we have all come in our fitness goals. How we struggled with spiderman pushups back during Belly Off among other things. How many guys do you know that can rip off 50 pushups, or 10 chinups, or run a 6 minute mile. Keep focus on the goal at hand. Stay strong!!!

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