CrossFit New Year Resolutions For 2018

                     

Looking at the 'goals' board recently made me think about the targets we set ourselves sometimes in CrossFit. 

I saw everything from the common muscle up holy grail, to pull ups and the hair-pulling movement for many... 'double unders'. 

Now a lot of the listed items have been on there for a while. How many of us can say... yep got those handled..in the bag!??? Not many of us! Have we got better at them???.. maybe. 

If we have we've probably used that 'individual weaknesses' time to our benefit or have plenty of open gym time to play with. Or, are those goals maybe unrealistic in the short to medium term?

Right now... I am always going to suck at Handstand Press Ups and lifting overhead, I'm OK with that, but that's down to a shoulder mechanics issue. 

Long term I'm hoping my biomechanics therapist can get me to a point where my lower back isn't forced into a ridiculously compromised position to make up for my shoulder range but I don't think they will ever be a strong point of mine. 

So should they be a goal high up the list of priorities or a work in progress? Anyone who's done a fitness or development course will have come across SMARTT goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Targeted or Timed).

 Now I'm not suggesting writing a list using SMARTT but you get where I'm going I hope. High rep bodyweight Handstand Press Ups are unrealistic for me right now so I scale while I work on the mechanics. They may never be where I want them to be..but again, that's OK. It's not the end of the world as there's plenty of other things to work on in CrossFit.

"How do I get more kipping pull ups? Just do more kipping pull ups!" This is a pretty common CrossFit coaching quote... who from originally... I've no idea but you can sub the movement to anything pretty much where that line gets used.

 Things aren't always as simple as that though. Especially if you are missing components of the end goal. If you have poor core control, no gymnastic hollow awareness, or a lack of pulling strength are you going to get more kipping pull ups? 

Are you going to nail muscle ups if you have no dip or dead hang pulling strength (10-15 pull ups and dips seem to be the common strength requirement in most CrossFit literature) or cannot stay in the false grip? Are cleans ever going to feel efficient if you don't release your grip in the rack? Will the overhead squat always be your nemesis if you've never opened up your pectoral and shoulder restrictions? 

Breaking down the elements of why you may not be getting something handled can be a helpful exercise.

One thing you don't see on many goal boards across CrossFit is good positions. E.g. the air/front/overhead squat position. Yet you may see a certain PB weight goal for any of those movements plus the clean and snatch may be in there too. 

Positions seem to get dismissed quite easily though and we sometimes accept poor positions as unchangeable. This could be inefficient patterned movements that have developed over time. 

Perhaps in the power clean, where some may hitch the bar at the thighs, breaking up the momentum of the lift. Or possibly arching your back to receive the bar in a muscle clean instead of using a quarter squat. Poor movement positions can also be biomechanics based as we know. 

What if your knee caves dramatically under load during a squat or your chest lowers to your knees during squatting? Is correcting that not a worthy goal, and what have you potentially done to fix it... and is it correctable? Won't good positions lead to progress, improved function and PB's anyway over the long haul?

It again comes back to what value you attach to it and just maybe that little devil on your shoulder again plays a part... the ego. 

Sometimes the functional aspect of the type of fitness we choose to do gets put into the back of the drawer along with those nasty Christmas jumpers you may be getting this year (though bad jumpers seem to be trendy this season)! 

Taking one or two steps back to make one forward is hard for us to do but it could be the difference to reaching a realistic goal or not. Getting the pieces better could be easier than just hammering that goat movement as a whole. 

From another perspective, if suggestions to improve technique and positions fall on deaf ears, spare a thought for how it reflects on your gym and maybe your coaches. Our goals for you as members may not be getting met.. along with yours. New Year resolutions are close... just saying like!

With that to reflect on this week have a very Merry Christmas all! Eat well, drink well and party with loved ones! Then come back brighter to work off all that seasonal excess with maybe some new focus for 2018.

For more information go to http://spartanstrength.co.uk/

Sean Murray is a Manchester CrossFit Trainer & BWL Level 1 Olympic Weightlifting Asst. Club Coach in Castlefield. He also runs his own boot camp in Moston, North Manchester. Hw trains clients to help meet their weight and fitness goals. He also works with performance athletes such as Triathletes and Rugby League players to improve their work capacity and weaknesses.

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New Years Advice on Weight Loss From Arnold

                      

It is the beginning of another year and your New Years resolution to lose weight and attain your ideal figure is waiting for you to act. If you are like 90% of People, you may fail unless you take the right steps.

You can begin a New Years resolution at any time. A perfect time to honestly reevaluate the last 12 months-right along with hundreds of thousands of people around you - is the first month or two of a new year.

At the beginning of every year, people all over the planet make a very firm New Year resolution that they will lose weight, eat healthier, and start exercising.

Experts who study human behavior run the numbers on who really sticks with their resolutions. By the end of January, only about 10% of people succeed at keeping their resolutions. That means 90% of the people who made resolutions have already failed at them by the end of 30 days.

Who really wants to wait another eleven long months until to start losing weight again with one less year in their lives?

Now, you can succeed, if you follow what the successful 10% of the people do. Here are five steps that work to begin keeping your New Years resolution.

Step 1. WRITE down your resolution

When you make a resolution, put it into writing. Take a pen or pencil and put your resolution words down onto a real piece of paper. Experts find that if you don't write it down, it won't happen. A goal of any type takes shape when you write it out. Otherwise, it's just a thought that will vanish in a moment.

Step 2. Conquer Procrastination

One of the main reasons people fail at New Year's resolutions is procrastination. There is always tomorrow, they reason. Or they wait until the weather is better or "when I feel like it." The problem is tomorrow is always a day away. To lose weight, you have to take action today, even if it is a small step.

Step 3. Get Support

The right environment is very important to succeeding. Most people aren't even aware how much support affects achievement. Positive, like-minded people who want to lose weight are good companions to keep you on track when things get tough.

Step 4. Create a Detailed Plan

It is one thing to write down a goal of losing 10 or 20 pounds, another thing to actually do it. You need to make a concrete, detailed plan that outlines which foods you are going to eat; how much of them you will eat; when and how much you will exercise and so on. Anyone who makes a New Year's resolution to lose fifty pounds without writing down a detailed and specific plan for doing so is bound to fail.

Step 5. Make your Resolution SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE

Get specific about your weight loss goals. You need to define the little steps that add up to real success. Unless you can measure the results, you'll never know when you've completed a step and are ready for the next one.

Most of us have made vague types of New Year's resolutions, such as "I'm really going to get into shape." Vague resolutions never work. What kind of shape do you want to be in? How many pounds do you want to weigh? What body measurements do you want to have? How much body fat or muscle mass?

Get your free report with the detailed information on all 10 steps for keeping your New Years weight loss resolution [http://www.online-diet-review.com/nyy] and have the figure that you want and others admire.

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New Year's Resolution To Start A New Lifestyle

                      

It is that time of the year when a lot of us reminisce about what we have accomplished over the past 12 months, and, start thinking about new goals and objectives for 2018.

We've been making New Year Resolutions since as far back as the year 153 B.C. and yet, we still have trouble with them!

Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals!

Here are some of the most popular resolutions you may identify with:

Losing weight

Getting fit

Eating healthily

Quitting smoking

Reducing stress

Getting organised

Getting out of debt

All around the world, people will be making one or more of the resolutions on this list over the next few weeks.

But are Resolutions just a shopping list for the first week of January? With only a tiny percentage of people actually achieving their Resolutions, where are we going wrong?

If you want to be part of that 12% and make some big positive changes in 2018... get ready to uncover some big mistakes you might have been making...

Mistake #1 Waiting Until January 1st To Get Started

Why, if something is so important to you, would you ever want to wait to get it?

If you want it as badly as you say you do, then surely tomorrow would be too late to get started!

The 1st of January is probably the worst day ever to get started on your Resolutions.

Why?

Well, for one, a lot of people will be too hungover to even remember their own name, let alone their Resolutions!

See, when you decide what it is that you want to start to do more off, or less off, you have to be clever, and avoid postponing it until the first week of January. Why wait? Start right now. Not next week, not tomorrow, right now!

You don't wait until you're all sweaty and smelly to take a shower, do you? You take a shower because it is time to take a shower.

Well, it is time for a change!

Mistake #2 Starting Working On Your Resolutions When You Are Feeling Less Than Great

Not a good idea! We are all motivated to move either towards pleasure, or away from pain. Everything we do is so that we get to be happier, or so that we are not unhappy any more.

Think about your resolutions individually, and identify what drives you. For example: when it comes to exercise, some people do it because they think about how great they are going to look and feel, whilst other people do it because they can't stand the thought of being fat or feeling unhealthy.

We often resolve to change things in our lives when we are sad, or angry... and have hit a threshold; the point of no return.

Once you've reached your point of no return, that point where you are just so fed up that this is it...!

Now, you want to make it so that you look forward to doing the things you need to do.

The better you feel, the easier it will be to do the things you need to do. When we are tired, sad, in a bad mood, whatever... we don't feel like doing anything but maybe feel sorry for ourselves. You need to be able to change your state of mind so that no matter how you feel at any given moment, you get to feel good as soon as possible! Why? Because there are things you need to get on with!

This is where NLP comes real handy. It provides the resources to allow you how to switch your state of mind in a matter of minutes, seconds even! You get to feel great, now, you are going to want to do more: exercising, eating healthily, getting organised, putting a few quid aside... everything seems easier and more enjoyable when we are feeling great!

Mistake #3 Resolve To Do Things You Don't Really Want To Do

Most of us spend our days doing things we don't really want to do, but we have to do. We spend most of our time doing things for other people. We have responsibilities, commitments, appointments... When it comes to Resolutions, if you want to maximize your chances for success, it needs to be about You, it needs to be about what you want to do, because, you want to do it.

This is your time to think about what matters to you.

A well-formed Resolution must reflect your values. Your values are your beliefs about what is most important to you in your life. Values provide inspiration, govern your levels of motivation, and guide every decision you make. They are the standards you live by.

For example, health is my top value in life. I believe that without health nothing else can be in my life. This belief imprints everything I do. Most of the time I behave in a way as to ensure I look and feel healthy and fit, and if I ever steer away it just doesn't feel right, so I get back on track, quickly. I will simply not accept my life any other way.

When you set goals that reflect your values, you'll want to start taking action right now, never mind waiting until the new year!

Mistake #4 Making Wishy Washy Resolutions

It doesn't go down well with our brain. Our brain is a piece of engineering designed to work towards targets. Just like your computer needs you to follow certain rules, your brain operates following certain rules too.

I'd love to lose weight, I gotta be more organised, I better get saving... simply doesn't cut it. You must quit being vague, and get real specific! Your brain expects commands that are specific, and stated in an affirmative and direct manner. Anything else it doesn't understand. We have a minimum of 60 thousand thoughts a day, how is your brain to know what is a goal and what is just a thought? It is not your brain's job to sort out your thoughts for you, it is your job.

Mistake #5 Not Writing Down Your Resolutions Or Writing A "To Do" List

I should go to the gym more, I really need to get organised, I better start saving some money... these are just thoughts. And with over 60 thousand of them a day it's gonna be pretty damn hard to remember them in five minutes, let alone get them done!

If it's in your mind it's just a thought, not a Resolution.

If you write it down on a piece of paper, then it becomes a shopping list, or a To Do list. And I know very few people who write lists of things and actually get them done! This is where the next mistake comes into play...

Stay tuned for Part II of this post, where you will discover 5 more big mistakes that have been sabotaging your New Year Resolution Success!

Anna Aparicio is regarded as Ireland's top female NLP/Hypnosis Life Coach. A Self-confidence and Motivation Expert, she has helped hundreds of people all around the world feel empowered, super confident, and lead happier more successful lives. With a unique blend of Neuro-linguistic Programming, cutting edge personal development tools, and a contagious sense of humour and zest for life, Anna is renowned for getting results fast. Now you can get her free report WHY YOU'LL NEVER GET WHAT YOU WANT UNLESS YOU DO THIS at http://www.delite.ie

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Bulletproof Yourself Against Injury For The New Year

                     

Gyms are a fantastic way to get fit in a controlled environment, but even the most safety conscious gyms cannot prevent injuries from happening. It is easy to become complacent when you are a gym veteran, but even the most experienced of us can fall into bad habits over time. And if you are a newbie to the gym world then it is essential that you familiarise yourself with the correct way to work out from day one. Here we offer our top tips to avoid injuries in the gym.

1) Know your equipment

There is nothing more embarrassing than disregarding an introductory session when joining a gym, only to discover that you have no idea how any of the equipment works. To save yourself standing around like a lemon, make sure you sign up to an induction before getting started. Yes, it may be dull, but not only will it save your blushes, it might also prevent unnecessary injury. Qualified instructors will show you how to avoid hurting yourself on potentially dangerous equipment like the running machine- they can at least point you in the direction of the stop button!

2) Warm-up

Your warm up is one of the most important parts of your exercise routine. An efficient warm up routine will prevent unnecessary injuries, increase your flexibility and speed up recovery time from your workout. Begin with low intensity aerobic activity, like power walking or a gentle job, for 5 to 10 minutes to get your heart pumping and your lungs working. Then begin stretching your leg muscles, arm muscles, lower back and chest (remember, avoid bouncing when you stretch- you risk tearing the muscle). Don't rush your warm up- doing the exercises correctly is more important than speed! Even if you are short on time, make sure you put aside an extra 5 minutes to get your body moving- or you will regret it the next day when you can't walk up and down the stairs.

3) Pace yourself

Starting a fitness regime generally means that you are eager to see results - whether that means developing a slimmer, more toned physique or a healthier cardiovascular system. But the biggest mistake you can make is throwing yourself into a routine all guns blazing. Of course you could start out going to the gym for 2 hours a day, 7 days a week, but this may not be sustainable. Your body only has so much energy to work with, and you must pace yourself to avoid overtraining. Soreness is normal the morning after an intense workout, but needing a crane to get out of bed isn't. Start slow and concentrate on long-term goals. Some gyms offer free training programmes which can be handy if you don't know where to begin.

4) Stick to the rules

In the gym, rules are NOT made to be broken. Health and safety is important in the gym (even if you think it is a waste of time in other areas of your life like the workplace!). Know who your first aider is- all gyms should have a qualified member of staff on duty that is trained in first aid. In addition, familiarise yourself with the fire escapes in case of an emergency. Finally, pay attention to diagrams of how to use the equipment to avoid hurting yourself or those around you.

5) Hydrate

When doing any type of exercise it is important to stay well hydrated. Working out whilst dehydrated will affect your performance and slow your recovery time. Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your session and adjust your intake depending on how intensely you exercise. For shorter workouts - those lasting less than one hour - sports drinks are not necessary. However, for longer, more intense workouts, sports drinks can replace lost electrolytes and provide sugar for energy. If you forget to bring a drink with you, make regular trips to the water fountain. And whatever you do, avoid alcohol and caffeine at all costs!

6) Good posture

If you carry out an induction session, you will be told by your instructor how to use correct form when working out. If you don't maintain good 'form' or technique when doing exercises at the gym, you won't be exercising the muscles you are supposed to. Worse still, you may even be putting yourself at risk of injury. A classic place to spot poor posture is on the rowing machines; people will round their shoulders, hunch their back and pull as hard as possible, putting a lot of pressure on the spine and back muscles. Another common area of mistake is on the treadmill, where users will have poor dynamic body control when running. If you are getting pains in places where you shouldn't, then talk to a personal trainer before you do yourself a mischief.

7) Mix up your routine

It is easy to get stuck in a fitness rut when you go to the same gym day after day, month after month, but it is important to mix up your routine every 4-6 weeks. It is around this time that your body begins to adapt to your training and is no longer challenged. Not only will your fitness grind to a halt, but you run the risk of overworking particular muscles and joints. Try changing equipment, increasing your weights or adding sets. If your routine is stale, then take a fitness class to learn some new moves and gain some motivation. Variety is the spice of life after all!

8) Protect yourself with Physiotherapy

With all the best intentions in the world, we can all fall victim to sports injury at some point in our lives. Common gym injuries include foot and ankle problems like plantar fasciitis, stress on the knee, lower back problems and misalignment of the neck. If you are serious about your gym routine, then be prepared to visit a physiotherapist. Look for a health insurance policy that has cover for private physiotherapy- it will stop you having to wait on the NHS for treatment if you do hurt yourself. When investing in health insurance, choose an insurer that offers discounted gym membership- you might save yourself a pretty penny.

Chloe Hibbert writes on health and fitness for ActiveQuote, a website where you can compare health insurance quotes online.

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New Year's Resolutions Solutions

                   

Every year we make New Year's resolutions, only for them to quickly ware off within a few days, weeks, and even months. We try our hardest to use motivation to keep us in the game, but it goes beyond that. Motivation can only last so long, we need to know exactly what prevents us from going through with our goals.

The majority of people, approximately 95% of them don't follow through on their plans and goals, especially their New Years Resolutions. Usually because people don't set goals and they don't know how to put them into action...

You need to know why you're setting a goal and what it will do for you when you achieve it. Let's say you want to lose weight. Ask yourself why do you really want to lose weight, what will it do for you, what will achieving weight loss make you feel?

Get closer to your goals this year

Where are you right now in your life?

Do you want to gain/lose weight?

How much? 

Do you want to feel healthier, happier?

Do you want to build more muscle?

Do you want to work on vanity or function?

These are some basic questions you need to ask yourself. 

Once you know what you want and where you are, then we can go on to the next step. 

Choosing exactly what you want is the most important step.

Let say you want to lose 5 Kg, then this would be the goal.

I you need to lose 5 Kg then this is where you are. 

You are in a place of being 5 Kg overweight. You need to be clear about this part and it should be a specific as possible. Remember losing 5 Kg is just an example I am using to demonstrate how to effectively set goals. You may want to loose more weight, or you might want to build muscle. Whatever it is, you need to identify it, and you need to be specific. If you want to gain muscle, than how much do you want to gain and by what date?

Overview

A few things to keep in mind

Know what you want, this is your goal (lose 5 Kg)

Be committed to this (is this what you really want to accomplish?)

Put the goal into action

When you set a goal you need to get emotionally energized. A goal needs to excite you and have you jumping out of bed. In the beginning you might be going through some changes and you might feel a bit down. This might be your negative programming talking.

Get focused, gather all your resources that you need to bring your goal to reality.

Get momentum, by sticking with your goals. Get informed, how are you going to start something if you don't know how too. Seek the advice of a professional like myself, or talk to someone you know that has already accomplished what you want to accomplish.

Take Action

Start right now. 

What can you do right now to bring you one step closet to your goals?

If you want to learn what it takes to lose weight, and achieve a better life, than your already one step ahead because you are reading this blog.

Next you probably want to start to apply the things you learn in the blog. Let's say you want to start working out, you can get a gym membership, or you can assemble your own home gym. You can start by buying a pair of running shoes; just take the first step to make your goal a reality. All of these require you to make an informed decision first. So gather the right information. If you decide to get a gym membership, then you might want to ask people from the gym if they like it there.

Past Accomplishments

Refer back to a time when you accomplished something big or small. It takes the exact same amount of preparation to achieve something big or small. So pick your goals wisely. You might as well go for big, but realistic!

What did you want to accomplish last year that you never came around doing?

Can you make that a reality this year?

What do did you least enjoy last year?

What were some of the more important decision you made last year? 

If they proved useful than apply that strategy here!

Write down anything you want to accomplish, even if they are goals outside of fitness and health. These rules apply to everything. What have you done in the past to overcome obstacles and challenges in your life?

These are important exercises because they will help you become more aware of how to achieve your goals, and make your dreams a reality.

If you have accomplished a goal in the past write down the steps it took you to accomplish it. In as much detail as possible. This is important because you can duplicate that system, and even improve on it.

Did you focus on this goal day and night?

Were you emotionally charged about it?

Did you have a plan written out, and was it executed?

What are the reasons for you achieving your goals and why must you absolutely achieve them?

What are your most important goals you want to achieve this year?

What are some of things that might be holding you back from getting what you want?

What small thing can you do right now to bring your goals to reality? 

Could you buy a new pair of running shoes, clean out your kitchen cabinets of junk food, pass by the super market to buy wholesome foods, call a buddy and tell them you are committing to a program, get a gym membership, maybe join a support weight loss group/ forum, whatever it is that you can do right away. Even sign a written agreement with yourself, a promise to yourself that you will commit to making your New Years Resolution a reality!

I have put together this article in eBook form, please feel free to download it to your computer [http://www.bodybyweb.com/resolution.htm]!

Dean Boukaras is a person who has dedicated his life to educating and helping as many individuals as possible reach their absolute physical best. I truly want to impact one person at a time by spreading the health and fitness truth.

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MARK ORMROD - remembering this day 10 years ago

                    

10 years ago, while everyone was getting ready for Christmas, the Royal Marines were out if Afghanistan.

On Christmas Eve 2007 Royal Marines Commandos were on patrol. Mark "Rammers" Ormrod was about to have his life changed forever.

The first triple amputee to survive his injuries and pioneer the way for others that would unfortunately follow.

It was an absolute privilege to be his Physiotherapist at Headley Court after he survived an Improved Explosive Device (IED) whilst in Afghanistan.

Happy "Bang-aversary" to quite simply, the most inspirational man I know.

I interviewed Mark awhile ago and this is his inspirational story:

What motivated you to join the Royal Marines in the first place?

When I was about 15yrs old & approaching the end of my compulsory education I had a sudden realisation that once I had taken my GCSE's & the exams were over that I had a huge choice to make, that choice was to either continue my schooling with further education or go out into the big bad world & start earning a living.

At that point I was pretty much done with school, not because I didn't enjoy it or I wasn't any good at it (I got 9 GCSE's A-C & 1 D) but because I wanted to be out there earning & gaining an education in life. Now the problem that I had was that I really didn't know what it was that I wanted to do, I knew that I didn't want to be in a suit working a 9-5 but I wasn't really sure what all of the wider options were. After lots of thought, research & seeking advice from others eventually I narrowed my options down to the Fire Brigade, the Police or the Army.

As a 15yr old I really had no idea just how much the Fire Brigade actually do & assumed that all they did was put out fires (I now know much differently) & back then that didn’t really appeal to me and so I scratched that off my list.

Joining the Police didn’t materialise either as I thought that maybe that could be something I’d look at when I was a bit older & had a bit more life experience & so in the end I decided to join the Army. So one day I went down to the careers center, spoke to the guy in charge & came home with all of the relevant paperwork. Once my parents found out my plan my Dad took me to see an Uncle of mine who unbeknown to me had been a Captain in the Royal Marines. He talked to me about the differences between the Army & the Royal Marines & told me a little bit about his career, after that I went back to the careers centre and spoke with the man in charge of recruiting for the Corps. I sat down with him & had a chat, watched the standard recruiting video & that was the moment that I made my decision that I wanted to become a Royal Marine’s Commando. What appealed to me was that these guys were so flexible & could deploy to any environment in the world, arctic, desert, jungle, woodland & they could do it by land, sea or air, it seemed like the complete package & I knew that by joining it was going to make me grow enormously as an individual. I also did a lot of research & found out just how hard the training was & so I thought to myself “might as well go all in & push myself to see if I have what it takes”

What kept you going at Lympstone (Commando Training Centre Royal Marines)?

I think what kept me going through my training initially was my ego & pride. I was only 17 at the time & one of the youngest in the troop & so I felt like I had something to prove, it also made me sick to my stomach the thought of quitting because it was too hard or being kicked out because I wasn’t good enough.

As the weeks went by I watched people quit & get kicked out & I imagined how bad they would feel being on that train on the way back home & having to face their friends & family & tell them that they didn’t make the grade, I couldn’t handle the thought of that being me & so I used that to push me on through the tough times. Even if we were doing things like speed marches, yomps or any other kind of physical test as hard as it was & as much as I wanted to quit (even at times throwing up as I was running) I couldn’t bare the thought of getting back trooped & having to go through that pain again in two weeks time with another troop. It would feel like all of the pain I was going through was for nothing & I remember always thinking to myself “well I’m already in pain, it already hurts so I might as well get a reward from it” & so I continued to push.

Of course there’s also the rest of the lads that are around you. Everyone has their strengths & everyone has their weaknesses & when a member of the troop is struggling the rest of the lads rally around to help him through & then later down the line he usually repays the favor, that’s how the military works.

There was of course also the thought of becoming a fully trained Royal Marines Commando by the age of 18! That really spurred me on. I remember thinking how cool would it be not only to have passed the longest & hardest regular forces infantry training in the world, but to have done it by 18 would have made me a stud! (Well in my mind anyway)

What motivated you after the success of getting your green beret?

After I got my Green Lid what motivated me was standards. I had an absolutely incredible training team when I went through Lympstone and every single one of them always held themselves to the highest professional standards at all times, they were men that I respected & looked up to & men that I wanted to be like.

There was also pride. Training to become a Royal Marine is world renowned for its difficulty & so when people see that Green Lid or those Commando flashes or that Globe & Laurel tattoo they know what you’ve been through & what kind of man you are. Now I don’t necessarily mean a tough guy/steely eyed dealer of death etc… but the kind of man that holds himself to a high standard & pushes himself to be better & who never quits & always finds a way around things, that’s what I wanted people to see when they looked at me & that motivated me even more to be all that I could be. I also had visions one day of being on a training team myself & having other young, raw recruits look up to me the way I looked up to my training team. 

How you felt after you got injured?

After I got injured I felt the same way I guess most people felt. I knew deep down that my career was over & I had no idea what I was going to be able to do to support my family. I thought my days of being physically fit & able to train were over (boy was I wrong!), I knew my days as a Thai Boxer were over which was hard to take & I really had no idea what the future held.

The early days during my recovery were turbulent & like most people I’d have good days & I’d have bad days. Some days I felt suicidal like everything I had ever worked hard for had been taken away from me & I’d have to start again from scratch to rebuild my life but then I’d think “OK well I’m 24yrs old so there’s plenty of time to rebuild.”

It was tough trying to figure everything out & it was an emotional roller-coaster for everyone that was involved but there was so much help & support on hand that it helped me & everyone around me to focus on the positives & the little wins & get through the hard times.

 What inspired you to keep going with your rehabilitation?

To keep me going through my rehab & to keep me moving forward I had a mindset shift & started to look at things differently & tried to pull all of the positives out of my situation. I started to look at my situation as a challenge just like when I was a 17yr old going through training with the odds stacked against me except now I was the UK’s first triple amputee from Afghanistan with no path to follow & I just thought “well if I can get through training I can get through this”. Again pride played a huge part in my recovery

If you were to change the way the Military trains its personnel, how would you change it?

I’m not sure to be honest its hard to say as the training needs to be brutal, it needs to push you mentally & physically to your breaking point because when you’re in a combat zone you need to know you have what it takes when the lead wasps start flying in your direction.

I think after training it would be really useful to have mentors/coaches available to help guide people through their careers as when you’re a young man/woman it can all be a bit overwhelming & sometimes people aren’t always aware of what is available to them, I know I certainly wasn’t.

The biggest change I’d like to see is more support during the final 12 months of people leaving the services. This may have changed now but I remember situations where friends had put in there notice to leave & during their final 12 months they were sent out on 3-6 month exercises on the other side of the world rather then focusing on things like re-training, re-settling their families & preparing themselves for civvy street.

How do you motivate yourself and what lesson can we learn from your example.

I motivate myself by given myself mentors & role models to aspire to be like & by constantly setting myself goals in all of the areas of my life which are important to me.

The only advice I can give is to not get stagnant & to pro-actively keep moving forward & setting yourself goals not matter how unobtainable they may seem or what anyone else thinks of them. You have to make a choice to focus on the things you want in life, cut out the drama & things that aren’t important & keep heading towards what it is that you do want.

Mark Ormrod MPSA

Motivational Speaker

Director: Mark Ormrod Ltd

WWW.MARKORMROD.COM

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Thank you Mark, you are an inspiration to us all.

The Bulletproofbodies Team salute you.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/user/matteeeism