Today is my 35th Birthday and I thought this is appropriate for ALL of the excuses you can conjure.  This is straight out of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  Check it out…

“FIFTY-FIVE” FAMOUS ALIBIS

By Old Man IF

People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be air-tight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement.

Some of these alibis are clever, and a few of them are justifiable by the facts. But alibis cannot be used for money. The world wants to know only one thing-HAVE YOU ACHIEVED SUCCESS?

A character analyst compiled a list of the most commonly used alibis. As you read the list, examine yourself carefully, and determine how many of these alibis, if any, are your own property. Remember, too, the philosophy presented in this book makes every one of these alibis obsolete.

IF I didn’t have a wife and family . . .

IF I had enough “pull” . . .

IF I had money . . .

IF I had a good education . . .

IF I could get a job . . .

IF I had good health . . .

IF I only had time . . .

IF times were better . . .

IF other people understood me . . .

IF conditions around me were only different . . .

IF I could live my life over again . . .

IF I did not fear what “THEY” would say . . .

IF I had been given a chance . . .

IF I now had a chance . . .

IF other people didn’t “have it in for me” . . .

IF nothing happens to stop me . . .

IF I were only younger . . .

IF I could only do what I want . . .

IF I had been born rich . . .

IF I could meet “the right people” . . .

IF I had the talent that some people have . . .

IF I dared assert myself . . .

IF I only had embraced past opportunities . . .

IF people didn’t get on my nerves . . .

IF I didn’t have to keep house and look after the children. . .

IF I could save some money . . .

IF the boss only appreciated me . . .

IF I only had somebody to help me . . .

IF my family understood me . . .

IF I lived in a big city . . .

IF I could just get started . . .

IF I were only FREE . . .

IF I had the personality of some people . . .

IF I were not so fat . . .

IF my talents were known . . .

IF I could just get a “break” . . .

IF I could only get out of debt . . .

IF I hadn’t failed  . . .

IF I only knew how . . .

IF everybody didn’t oppose me . . .

IF I didn’t have so many worries . . .

IF I could marry the right person . . .

IF people weren’t so dumb . . .

IF my family were not so extravagant . . .

IF I were sure of myself . . .

IF luck were not against me . . .

IF I had not been born under the wrong star . . .

IF it were not true that “what is to be will be” . . .

IF I did not have to work so hard . . .

IF I hadn’t lost my money . . .

IF I lived in a different neighborhood . . .

IF I didn’t have a “past” . . .

IF I only had a business of my own . . .

IF other people would only listen to me . . .

IF  * * * and this is the greatest of them all * * * I had the courage to see myself as I really am, I would find out what is wrong with me, and correct it, then I might have a chance to profit by my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others, for I know that there is something WRONG with me, or I would now be where I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I had spent more time analyzing my weaknesses, and less time building alibis to cover them.

Building alibis with which to explain away failure is a national pastime. The habit is as old as the human race, and is fatal to success!  Why do people cling to their pet alibis? The answer is obvious. They defend their alibis because THEY CREATE them! A man’s alibi is the child of his own imagination. It is human nature to defend one’s own brain-child.

Building alibis is a deeply rooted habit. Habits are difficult to break, especially when they provide justification for something we do. Plato had this truth in mind when he said, “The first and best victory is to conquer self. To be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile.”

and One of my TOP FIVE favorite quotes…

“Life is a checkerboard, and the player opposite you is TIME. If you hesitate before moving, or neglect to move promptly, your men will be wiped off the board by TIME. You are playing against a partner who will not tolerate INDECISION!”

Crank it!
B-Rad

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I returned yesterday from a ski trip to Park City, Utah.  This was my second ski trip ever.  So I now have officially 6 days of skiing logged.  Learning new skills is humbling.  Yet at the same time it’s great to be a beginner.  Let’s review some highlights.

Friday – Deer Valley Ski Resort

We stayed ski in / ski out literally about 150 ft from the nearest chair lift.
Got on the skis early a.m and managed to not fall in line for the first 100 ft.  Bonus.

The first day actually overall was fair to good.  I was surprised how much I remembered from last year.  Actually felt a little more natural.

My mother-in-law coined a new phrase that will be used from now on to describe epic wipe-outs…

“Yard-Sale” = defying gravity while dislodging skis and poles and realizing why wearing a helmet is fantastic idea.  Crash and burn.  Laughing is mandatory.

Friday Highlight:  12-year old after watching me “yard sale”

Kid:  “Hey mister, are you OK?”  (stopping for a short 5 seconds before he continues to shred the run)
Me:  laughing… “yeah man”

You know it’s a great wipe-out when you’ve got kids asking if you’re ok

Saturday – The Canyons Ski Resort

Now it’s time to do some blacks.  Trees are an interesting obstacle when stopping ability is not yet a priority.

I kept doing the same run over and over to work on turning in moguls in between trees and falling in powder.  The landings weren’t hard, just frustrating after the 12th time.

New motto:  “If you’re not fallin’ then you’re not pushin’ hard enough.”

Well I must have been pushin’… A LOT.

Saturday Highlight:  late 40-something female getting drilled in the back by the chairlift and then ending up riding with my brother-in-law up the lift.
She and my brother in-law.
One Chair ahead = her friend
Two Chairs ahead = yours truly and my sister-in-law.

Small talk all the way to the top.

Dismounting the lift…she hesitantly says a couple of things to me (remember I am working on Black Diamonds)

Lady:  “You fell a lot on that last run…are you OK?”
Me:  “Yes I’m fine…did he tell you that it’s only my 5th day skiing in my life?”
Lady:  “Yes you’re doing very well for that.”
Me:  (maintaining my inside voice) at least I can get on a chairlift :/

Sunday – The Canyons Ski Resort

Final day.  Back to skiing over my head.
Managed to fall A LOT in the course of 3 days without getting hurt until…
yes, the LAST / FINAL run of the day.
Tired.  Snowing.  Going too fast (theme of the weekend).
Got my pole stuck under my ski while cruising down the run.
Yanked my pole so hard…

Sunday Highlight:  Punched myself in the face leaving the entire left side of my jaw swollen chipmunk-style.

6 Days of skiing down.  Numerous to go.

Weekend Summary:

Bite off more than you can chew and … CHEW IT!

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Today is July 4th 2009.  Independence Day.  The day the Founding Fathers of our country banded together to sign the Declaration of Independence which put our nation on the map.

Independence (as defined by Dictionary.com)

1.
The state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence;
exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or
maintenance; direction of one’s own affairs without interference.

What does “Independence” mean to you?

• Avoiding a job you dislike?
• Hiring yard work done for you?
• Making it to your kid’s events (games, dance, recitals)?
• Coaching your kids?
• Taking trips wherever and whenever you want?
• Spending every weekend on the lake, at the cabin, on the ocean, anything?
• Hiring a cleaning lady?
• Waking up to no alarm?
• and I am sure there are 11,763+ and more meanings.

Today, I am going to talk about “independence” of the body you face in the mirror every morning.

• Do you like what you see every morning?
• Do you wish you looked different?
• Do you currently fit in your favorite pair of jeans?
• Do you have unlimited energy?
• Are you lying to yourself that you can do it on your own?

When you wait, you lose.

Today July 4th 2009.  You have a choice.  You choose.  Will this be your “Declaration of Independence” from the all of the stupidity permeating the fitness and fat loss industry?

Here’s your answer…

Don’t take my word for it.  Click on the banner above and read what my clients are saying about RAD Boot Camp.

Crank it!
B-Rad

P.S. Monday July 13th  7:00pm I will be doing a Accelerated Fat Loss Seminar at Kinetic Edge in Woodbury, MN.  Be there.

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Yesterday was July 1 2009.  2009 is already half gone.  2010 will be here in a flash.  Are you where you want to be?

I am on track to hit most of my targets this year.  So far I have achieved…

• 3 consecutive Ring Muscle Ups
• Trampoline – back handspring, front flip, back flip
• started Bending steel
• Launched “Nitro” which has become a entourage favorite (he’ll be back soon!)
• Held the first ever Million Inch Challenge

and a few more.  Some of my training goals are on hold because I found something that may actually fix my back and allow me to hit huge PRs at the end of this year and into the beginning of next year.  So I hit a fork in the road that was semi-forced.  Over the long haul, this slight deviation in training will yield much greater development.  So I’m cool with that.

Now what about YOU?  How many of your Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) have you met?

Why
or why not?  I don’t deal well with excuses.  If you have forgotten the
mass excuse list go here:  What’s YOUR Excuse?

How many training sessions have you missed?
How many healthy meals have you missed?
How many times have you told someone that 2009 is going to be the year to hit your body transformation goals (and so far you’ve fell short)?

Are you serious about getting in the best shape of your life yet in 2009?  You have 6 months.  We can do a major overhaul in 6 months.  I’ve seen it and you’ve seen it in the before and after pictures on this blog.

When you decide it’s time to “Crank it” visit here:

Crank it!
B-Rad

P.S. I also have 1 slot open for online training.  Serious inquiries only.

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I have been working ring muscle ups since early February.  These vids are from 2 weeks ago.  I am now getting consecutive reps.  Here’s the vids.

2 consecutive ring muscle ups

5 minutes later … 3 consecutive ring muscle ups

By the way, I use AND endorse Elite Rings.

Click Here to Buy Elite Rings

Take away…

* I train alone all of the time.  When I go for PRs, it is best to have someone in the room who is pushing the envelope in their own training (in my case, Adam T. Glass) for 2 reasons.  1) that person challenges me to do my best.  2) fear of public embarrassment.  In a positive way.  It’s best to fall short trying, but it still sucks to screw up in front of your buddies.

*I’ve got some refinement to do on my muscle up technique.  I will be able to do 10 consecutive by the end of the year.  Fo Sho.

Click Here to Buy Elite Rings

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Excuses.  Excuses for NOT doing something–in this case, exercise–are actually REASONS FOR DOING SOMETHING.  Self-talk is powerful.  Carry around a notebook for 48 hours and write down EVERYTHING you say to yourself.  Let me know the heavier scale…positive vs. negative self-talk.  Here is SHORT List of excuses I hear on a weekly basis…

What’s YOUR Excuse?

I don’t have time.

I’m too busy.

I travel a lot for my job.

I have 2, 3, 4 kids.

My doctor says I’m “OK.” (aka: “I’m LAZY.”)

I just had a baby.

I’ve tried 7 other exercise programs and they’ve all failed.

The gym intimidates me.

Exercise is boring.

I’m too old.

I’m too young.

I’m too fat.

I’m too thin.

I don’t know where to begin

I have a thyroid condition.

I’m on too many medications.

I’m depressed.

I’ve tried 17 diets they’ve all failed.

Exercise is painful.

It’s too expensive.

I’m too out-of-shape.

I’m not ready for commitment.

I don’t have any equipment.

I’m too tired.

I have to get in shape BEFORE I start kettlebelling or personal training (huh?)
[if what you've been doing were working, we wouldn't be having this conversation.]

And my ALL-TIME FAVORITE…I have a hang nail.

Seriously?  Really?  I know you have a problem.  That’s why your circling the blue skies “thinking” about looking better naked instead of “DOING” something about it.

When I was 16, I developed a MAJOR low back problem at the time.  I am sure this was developing over time and then one day “BAM!” I bent over to tie my shoe and could not get out of the fetal position.  After some X-Rays here is what I discovered…

A spondylolisthesis.  I actually have 6 lumbar vertebrae instead of 5 (maybe that’s why I’m so screwed up   and the 6th one has a hairline fracture which is basically permanent.  Here’s what MY back looks like…

Yes this is an x-ray of MY LOW BACK.  Notice how the last lumbar is shifted forward 30+ % off my tailbone.  Remember, this was discovered when I was 16 years old playing hoops and running track & cross country.  Now I am 32 years old and feel better now than I did then.  In spite of this “condition”, which by the way is as common as 1 in 8000 people, I still am LOVING feats of strength and training my ass off because I love strength and conditioning.  And I am doing all of it PAIN FREE!
Here’s what I’ve accomplished since discovering my low back being not “normal” (what IS “normal?)

• All Conference Basketball
• Average 3 pt field goal % at 42% in HS senior season
• All-time leader most 3 pters attempted in a season
• All-time leader most 3 pters made in a season
• All Conference Track & Field
• 1600 m (1 mile) PR 4:47 / 3200m (2 mile) PR 9:41
• All Conference Cross Country (HS only had Cross Country my Senior Year)
• 5000m (5k / 3.1 miles) PR 17:57 (1995)
• Deadlift 495 lbs at 196 bodyweight

• Snatch 32kg (70lbs) kettlebell for 95 reps in 5 minutes @ 196 lbs bodyweight
• Double Snatch pair of 40kgs kettlebells (176 lbs) x 3 reps
• Double Pistol (1 Leg Squat) pair of 28kgs (124 lbs ) kettlebells for 1 rep each leg

…you get the idea.
This is NOT meant to brag on me.  It is to show you that despite circumstances out of my control, I chose to continue down a path I loved.  And because of it “what doesn’t kill you, MAKES YOU STRONGER.”

Here’s what I did about my back “condition”…

Mobility.  I specifically recommend Z Health Performance.

Kettlebells.  I specifically recommend Dragon Door Kettlebells.

• Turkish Get Ups
• Windmills
• RKC Arm Bars
• Military Presses

Mobility + Kettlebells completely fixed my low back condition.  I feel and perform better now at age 32 than at age 16.

Now what’s YOUR excuse…I mean YOUR REASON ??

Crank it!
B-Rad

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The Brad Nelson Gymnastics Chronicles…Installment #3

I have finally gotten all 3 on a trampoline.  Now working on technique.  Sometimes you just have to “DO” in order to “GET IT”.  True in my experience.

Here it is…

Get after your 2009 Goals…we are already 33% done with 2009!

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Today = slight deviation from the norm.

Where do you receive inspiration?

Stories like this trip me out.  This hits a little closer to home as I was a closet rock star as a kid and could play (probably still can) play the drumset with the best of them.  I guess that’s why I am huge fan of Zeppelin-John Bonham, Rush-Neil Pert, and Metallica-Lars Ulrich.

Some things happen in life on purpose.  This was one of them.  I rarely watch the news.  This particular night I was just about to turn off the TV when I saw the beginning of this story which first aired on Kare 11 a couple of weeks ago.

Move over rock gods…10-yr-old Collin Johnson is going to CRANK IT!

Collin “Thrashes” the guitar

AND “Dabbles” on bass

AND “Kills” it on the drum set

AND “Crushes” vocals.

Did I mention he’s only 10?

I thought I was hearing Eddie Van Halen the first time I saw this with Collin on the Gi-tar.

WATCH THIS!

Click Here to Watch Collin’s Story

(Upper Right Hand Corner)

Click Here to Listen Collin’s song “Creep”

Collin if you or your parents read this post…YOU are one talented hombre.  Maybe you can teach me some skills on the drum set

Crank it!
B-Rad

P.S.  What Cranks you Up?  Leave it the Comments below!

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7 brave souls showed at Kinetic Edge Fitness on Saturday April 4th 2009 to test their mettle in 3 events…
1 Max Deadlift / 3 attempts
2 Max Pullups
3 Max Snatches in 5 “glorious” minutes.

To see how everyone stacked up against international competition…

Click Here to go the “official” Tactical Strength Challenge website

Here are some vids …thanks to my wonderful wife putting these together!

Kathi Burger

Paul Anderson

Adam Glass

Brad Nelson

Lessons learned…

1 Andy Anderson is a 52 year old stud.  No training.  Came out and impressed the hell out of me.  Managed to Deadlift 275 / notched a 0 on Pullups / Snatch 24kg 84 reps in 5:00.  He did this with zero Deadlift or Pullup training and minimal kettlebell training.  And last he was coming to “WATCH” the competition and decided at the last minute to weigh-in and compete.  Brass Balls my friend.  That is what I’m talkin’ about.

2 Grateful that two of my super-dedicated class members Paul and Kathi came out and tested themselves.  They both did a fantastic job on minimal training and not ever doing this before.  I know they were both semi-frustrated with some of their lifts…but it’s a baseline to grow next time

3 Hopefully the other competitors caught the major lesson of the day.  I had a really crappy prior 2 months of Deadlift training so I wasn’t expecting big things.  Well I felt good on this particular morning so tapers WORK!  My second attempt 455 felt fantastic.  My PR is 495.  So I looked at Adam and said “should I play it safe and go for 475 cuz I know I’ll get it or should I go BIG at 500?”  Adam’s response “Go Big or Go Home”  You see me shut it down about 4 inches off the floor with 500.  Knowing that I left nothing on the table was gratifying as well.  Also Adam pulled 500 on his 2nd attempt and missed 530 on his 3rd “Going BIG” as well.  I definitely learned my lesson that morning… from a couple of us trying to best our own personal records and falling short…THIS time.

Props to the 7 of YOU who competed!

The next Tactical Strength Challenge will be held in September.  Be there and compete!

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Those of you following me know I have been working on Muscle Ups on the Rings.  I finally got one this past Saturday…and then I got 5 more singles.  Here are a couple on video.

Take-away => Being a student again & learning new skills are challenging at times, frustrating at times, but EXACTLY what my nervous system needs…novelty in training.

Pursue your goals.  Give me status updates in the “Comments” section on your 2009 goals thus far.

Crank it!
B-Rad

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