Posted June 29, 2007 
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“Let your personality type define what you get involved in; it’ll help you find an activity that you can be really passionate about.” - Brendan Brazier, former Ironman Triathlon Champion and premier vegan athlete
Posted June 28, 2007 Comments(0)
Check out my new article posted on bodybuilding.com!
30 Tips to Attract a Gym Bunny!
The gym has become a Mecca for ‘meeting and greeting’ new people. This ‘meat market’ has increased the popularity of single sex gyms and fashionable workout clothes. One of the biggest questions I get from men is how to pick a girl up from a gym environment. After all, it can be very intimidating since there is probably 10 other guys looking at the same girl you want to date.
Here are 10 things to look for and access before you meet your potential mate:
Whenever you have a target goal you must always access the situation. Assessing the situation means researching your target, analyzing their actions, and become instinctive about their personality. By doing so, you become more aware on how to market yourself when executing your mission plan to date her.
Here are 10 opportunities to talk to her:
Getting noticed will be fairly easy if you are confident, fit and extroverted. There are key moments when you are able to actually converse with someone at the gym. These moments are called “market windows” at the gym (I just made that up).
Here are 10 Gym Etiquettes to prove you’re a distinguished gentleman at the gym!
In order for her to gain interest in you, you have to consistently show that you are not annoying, obtrusive or rude. Bad impressions are REALLY hard to sever. So make sure you always wear deodorant, clean clothes and a healthy smile each and every day at the gym. You never know when that day just might be the day!
Nothing is worse than being the bad guy during gym happy hour. If 30 minutes is the time limit, and 45 minutes is your goal, either get off and go to another machine or train at a less busy time of day. What would be worse is if she was the one waiting for a machine to open up and everyone knew you were the culprit.
Staring makes people feel uncomfortable and annoyed. Sometimes guys stare so long just to make a woman eventually stare back. The bottom line is that if she wanted to look at you, she would. Staring objectifies her and will cause annoyance.
I can only imagine how a guy acts like home if he can’t even put away his own weights at the gym. It’s terrible! Show courtesy and be a good gym rat: put away your weights otherwise be prepared for what it reflects in your living habits.
If she is engaged in a set, don’t walk or stand in front of him/her. It interrupts her focus. While it seems that standing in front of her is the easiest way to get her attention, think again. It’s rude.
9. Do not wander aimlessly around the gym.
I apologize for being rude with this peeve - but Gym Wanderers are annoying. Men who wander not only look like they don’t know what they’re doing but, they also sometimes invade personal workout space. Please act like you are on a mission and do it!
10. Don’t give advice unless it’s absolutely called for.
Women don’t mind advice, but when it comes in a flirtatious manner, it can be uncomfortable. If you act like a professional, even say that you are a personal trainer (even if you are not) that will definitely help in her openness towards talking with you. However, the majority of men should not be giving advice and should wait until she observes that you are a fitness veteran before you approach her.
Good luck fellow gym trainers and enjoy the process of meeting your mate. It’s always fun to meet like-minded people who enjoy the same benefits of fitness as you do. Finding a mate that understands your commitment to your health/fitness is hard to find, unless that person is already a regular gym bunny. Happy hunting y’all!
Know what you’re doing before you disturb!
Posted June 28, 2007 Comments(0) 
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” - John Wooden, legendary UCLA basketball coach
Posted June 27, 2007 Comments(0) Diet Soda has come under some scrutiny lately in this newest article, sent to me by a FitnessCure reader, Thom!
Just to let y’all know, I GREW UP drinking diet soda. Living with a diabetic mother has made me very familiar with ‘fat free’ or ‘fake sweeteners’ treats. However, I was always taught that there were risks for cancer if I consumed too much.
Of course, that ‘myth’ was the same story my mother gave me about my lips turning black if I wore lipstick too early!
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New Cancer worries for Diet Soda Drinkers
A new study on the effects of low daily doses of the artificial sweetener aspartame shows a statistically significant increase in leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer in rats. Consumer advocates are calling for the FDA to take another look at the safety of aspartame in light of the study, but the FDA seems uninterested.
“Because aspartame is so widely consumed, it is urgent that the FDA evaluate whether aspartame still poses a ‘reasonable certainty of no harm,’ the standard used for gauging the safety of food additives,” said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. “But consumers, particularly parents, shouldn’t wait for the FDA to act. People shouldn’t panic, but they should stop buying beverages and foods containing aspartame.”
The study, which can be read here, followed a group of 4,000 rats who were given low daily doses of aspartame (comparable to what a dedicated human diet soda drinker might consume, were he/she a rat) beginning during “prenatal” life. The rats were dissected after natural death and the effects of the aspartame calculated.
Read entire article here.
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So what does this mean for us?
- Aspartame has been KNOWN to be bad for you so avoid it.
- Try to eat organic and unprocessed foods more often
- LISTEN to your body. You will notice your body hates digesting sweeteners! Mine Does!
- There are no shortcuts to ‘cheating’ on a diet – just don’t do it.
Posted June 27, 2007 Comments(0) Sandra Augustin’s HERO Challenge was a huge success considering she only had 2 months to plan and a ton of people she was coaching.
The HERO CHALLENGE is an obstacle course and skills test utilizing equipment and techniques from fire fighting, law enforcement and military agilities. Much like a Strongman competition, he competitors competed two at a time and reaced against the clock!
I really enjoyed watching a local fitness event unfold…what Sandra is doing is leading the charge for fitter families and more connected communities. I hope that we all at some level not only support those working for the health of our communities, but also take action in also promoting events, people, businesses’ such as the HERO CHALLENGE.
TIPS on how to pull off a successful Fitness Event:
1. Have a vision
2. Figure out who your market is
3. Plan out how you are going to get the word out: online, newsletters, newspapers, tv news
4. Get local influencers to talk about your event
5. Create Posters, Flyers and Cards advertising the event - place them in coffee shops, gyms and schools.
6. Get lots of people involved.
7. THINK about creating a huge BUZZ behind your event.
8. Prepare! Prepare! Prepare!
9. Figure out the event day plan and break it down hour by hour.
10. Have a passion for fitness.
It was crazy watching a little kid pull these 200lb dummy!
Now that’s a workout!
Posted June 27, 2007 Comments(0) 
“Choose to participate in the sport for yourself. Everyone has an image of what they consider is a beautiful physique, but always stay strong and work towards what makes you happy!” Heather Wojdyla
Posted June 27, 2007 Comments(0) Debbie at I LOVE TO CHEAT diet blog and Jeff gave awesome comments to this blog regarding lack of spiritual qualities in the fitness industry.
It’s a question all passionate educators, trainers, managers and owners deal with daily - How do we manage to maintain a balanced level of spiritual idealism with media realism?
Jeff:
As a personal trainer for the last 5 years I have battled the superficial “bug” that has infected so many people looking to fitness as a run around answer to their life’s troubles. (I have been very discouraged by it at times) But this shallow motivation can be quickly qiuckly pushed to the back burner as truer motivations are flushed to the surface by a heart rate reaching 160. I believe most good fitness professionals are not so shallow and like their clients learn that no true success really comes from the outside in but the inside out. I know the marketing is shallow but the reason why so many struggle to achieve results is the lack of handling the deeper issues we all face in our lives. Ninety percent of my clients don’t need a better exercise or supplement. They need better life skills and a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships with others. I can easily share with someone how to move and eat properly but it is the true fitness person who can help someone move out of the comfort zone and change. For the better! We have a huge responsibility and a lot to learn as guides of this transition from focusing outside to inside. My biggest wins have been from those who made personal and spiritual growth a part of their journey into physical health. It is hard for most to see it but we are the true fitness industry not the marketers.
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I’m right there with you Jeff. I write about life and fitness often.
10 THINGS Fitness teaches you about LIFE
by: Maria Kang
#1 Develop Good Habits
In order to achieve success, you must develop good habits. We are creatures of habit. Fitness isn’t just something you do in order to look great and lose weight. Fitness becomes part of your lifestyle: it becomes habitual for you to work out every week and challenge your body weekly. If we develop good habits, success becomes natural.
#2 Moderation
Everything in life is good in moderation. You can’t diet 365 days of the year, and its good for your body to get a week off from exercise once in a while. It is only when things become excessive: eating too many carbs, drinking too much alcohol, working too much: is when things go bad.
#3 Consistency Is Key
Consistency is key. Some weeks you work out five times a week, sometimes only one. The key is to remain consistent in your workouts in the long run. In life you should never let go of things that are important for you, remain consistent regardless of the situation or challenge.
#4 Prioritize Your Life
Prioritize your life. Take a step back and re-assess what’s important to you. Fitness is part of our life because we understand that our health and our body improve the quality of our life. Everyone gets busy. We are faced with deadlines, overtime and stress.
However, regardless of how demanding our professional and personal lives are, we should always prioritize what truly matters.
#5 Quality Not Quantity
It’s all about quality not quantity. It’s not how long you work out, it’s how hard, focused and intense you are when you do. Similar to Fitness, in life, having an abundance of material wealth won’t necessarily provide happiness, however; the quality of the people and experiences that make up your life will provide happiness.
#6 Care For Yourself First
Take care of yourself first. By focusing on your health and prioritizing your nutrition, you are taking care of yourself first. In doing so, you are now more capable to contribute to your friends and family because you did something small that was positive for yourself.
If you are physically, mentally and spiritually stable, you can give more to those you love.
#7 For Every Action, There Is A Consequence
For every action, there is a consequence. Training takes dedication, commitment and sacrifice. Constantly re-strategizing your fitness goals takes long term visualization. Every choice in our life has a consequence, by understanding long term results we can make better, rational choices today.
#8 If You Fail To Plan, Plan To Fail
If you fail to plan, plan to fail. If we want to achieve something great in fitness, we must understand nutrition and exercise. After understanding how each component is important, we can better execute. Like any life situation, you must first understand what it takes to get somewhere and then go!
#9 Be Open-Minded
Be open-minded. New studies in nutrition, exercises and health related diseases are always coming out. Understanding the body and the way it functions takes years and years of comprehension. Our knowledge in anything is always limited, once we feel that we know it all, we limit the opportunity to continue learning.
#10 Focus On the Travel, Not The Destination
Focus on the travel and not the destination. There is always a challenge ahead … there is always a weight we want to lift or a muscle we want to define or ten more pounds we want to lose. As we continue to grow with age, new challenges in our health will arise.
But in order to enjoy life, we must enjoy the process of it and not focus so much on the destination…because once we get to our destination, there is always somewhere farther we want to reach…this desire to resist complacency is what creates success.
Read 10 MORE THINGS fitness teaches you about Life!
Get REAL y’all - this is a life journey, not just a fitness one.
Posted June 26, 2007 Comments(0) I need your help y’all. Please email or leave a comment regarding my questions. PLEASE be honest, candid and offer constructive feedback. I want to hear from you!
Fitness Cure Survey
1) What do you like MOST about Fitness Cure?
2) What do you like LEAST about Fitness Cure?
3) What would you like to see MORE of?
4) Do you have any fitness questions? What are they?
5) How did you find the site?
Other additional helpful information:
- age/sex/background
- how often you visit the site
Please send me a quick email to: maria_m_kang@yahoo.com or go straight to my contact page here.
Thank you!!!!!
IT only takes 5 minutes!! 
Posted June 26, 2007 Comments(0) I am re-posting a really cool article I wrote a ways back about marketing your brand called “ME” on myspace!
I thought about this idea when I was reading e.How.com’s Tips on using myspace to ‘launch a career’. While the title interested me, I thought their tips were pretty scant in regards to being ‘different’ from other pieces of advice out there - especially since anyone can post a resume on yahoo jobs or hot jobs or anywhere else that accepts online resumes.
Personally, most of my jobs have come from networks of people who were in the industry I wanted to be in. It is also a place where you build your ‘referral’ base. DO NOT THINK for a second that HR and future bosses don’t check your space out. THEY DO.
If you are a myspace person and are wondering how to ‘get in’ with the ‘right’ people and the ‘right’ company - then read on!
1. First set up an account. It’s easy. Click here.
2. Build your profile symbolically by showing your passion, background and interest in fitness.
3. Post Pictures that positively represent which part of the industry you want to attract. For example -
- if you are a hot, sexy, fit model, then post pictures that will attract lesions of fans, photographers and business’ who will want to market you.
- if you are a serious competitor, post your competition pics and the supplements you use…DEFINITELY be a spokesperson for the supplement company you want to attract prior to actually being sponsored or working for them. That will give you tons of kudos!
4. Make Friends with those in the same industry and WRITE TO THEM. Find mentors and role models. Myspace is different from personal websites because this is still regarded as a ‘friendship’ network and not a ‘website’ where you don’t know if the person even reads your emails.
5. Be laser focused and have defined intentions when you are playing on myspace. It is very easy to become distracted. Make sure you are answering emails, writing emails, posting comments and updating your space as needed. Always think of the long term goal when undergoing any action.
6. Give before you receive - be a ‘value’ in someone’s life and not someone who just wants to ‘take’ information, industry secrets and network of friends. People of influence deal with those people all the time, so its absolutely necessary to set yourself apart by being honest, appreciative, and sincere.
Make it work FOR YOU. Do something productive people!!!
Posted June 26, 2007 Comments(0) Question: I want to be a fitness model. What is your advice?
First and foremost, figure out your niche and what makes you ’special’ - is it because you have a beautiful body and face? Are you a fit mother of 3? Are you Asian, African American, Latina? Do you have a beautiful smile or strong legs? What are you innately gifted with that will separate you from the crowd?
Once you figure out your product - figure out how you are going to market it. You can compete, write fit articles, hire an agent or get sponsored by a fitness business. There are tons of different avenues. Keep in mind that while competing has become more popular in these last years, having a ‘competition body’ is very different from having a ‘mainstream body.’ Make sure you never lose sight of what the market wants to see.
(I am now adding on to this answer, which I already had on my FAQ page) I get this question often - and the fact is, is that modeling in just like any other industry.
- There’s a lot of rejection
- You have to market your package often
- You might want to consider getting an agent or competing
- Submit your work and take current pictures every 6 months
- Know who’s who.
- Befriend photographers, other models and agents.
Be Careful - you can lose yourself in this superficial industry.