Judd, it sounds like you really have a plan for fitness--and are implementing it. Congrats to you. And it’s great that you and your wife are doing this together.

Thanks, and I am close to my goals but my progress is always so slow that I don’t know how long it will take me to reach them. Actually, I’m close to my weight goals but much further from my upper body strength goals. I have somewhere between 3 and 10 pounds to go.

Hi Judd

I was reading your last post and it reminded me why my trainer so valuable. He has given me a direction in my workouts in which I would otherwise be winging it and just going through the motions of exercise. At $60/session (usually 1 hour to 1.5 hours) I certainly can’t afford to do meet him every week let alone every workout. But I my sessions with him are my best workouts and he corrects my form so that I get the most benefit from each move. When I’m on my own I am more and more aware of how things are supposed to be done and am learning how to better connect with my muscles. I think I am going to employ him long term, but on a schedule I can afford which is a bit less than he recommends!!

Good Job on the trimming down - when others notice it you know you’re making real progress!!

Emmi - we are coming to you side of town soon for my son’s hoops AAU season - so I will take you up on that coffee ....

I’ll be here.

Hi All - thanks to all for your help and comments.

Catherine - nice to meet you - the trainer does help for sure from an efficiency and effectiveness standpoint. I signed up for another series - because it is taking longer than I hoped for me to feel comfortable. But I figure it is money well spent. We are going to go 3 more weeks with workouts 2X a week, then 6 weeks with 1X a week - conversely that means I do it on my own 1X a week plus cardio for 3 weeks - the 2X a week on my own after that to “spend” my 12 sessions. I think I pay $42 per 30 minute session and she is not a real clock watcher - but I am more gassed after 30 minutes with her than 55 on my own - so I am picking up the intensity level ....

Dropped 2 lbs over last week - oddly when I was far from perfect food wise but still more gooder than badder. I am not a big drinker so alcohol is not issue for me .... but I got in 5 good solid workouts last week.

I have a goal this week of really trying to get 7 hours sleep - since my workouts are at 5 AM that means alarm at 4:50 and bed by 10 - tough with 14 and 11 year old boys that are both playing 2 soccer teams, and one in baseball and the other AAU basketball - but we are trying. If I look at the schedule it is too intimidating - so I just take at a day at a time .... try to make it to bed time.

I wish you all success and I hope you like the new MTM lineup as much as I do ....

Awesome job this last week!!!! 2 lbs in one week is great!!!!  Amazing how the body responds when you workout and when you do the right things!!!  I think it is great that you are setting realistic goals and simple ones...taking one day at a time.  That way you don’t get overwhelmed.  As for the sleep thing, I am a monster if I don’t get 8 hrs....beauty rest

One of my friends just started with a trainer and she told him to ease up a bit. The irony is that she bikes, swims, and does yoga--but obviously not as intensely as the trainer works her. So your experience is common. Some of the trainers at the gym work out together on Sunday to a series of DVDs that they have because even they find it’s better when someone else is pushing them.

Good luck on getting enough sleep.

I’m liking the MTM changes too.

Hi Everyone,

Still here!! Golf Season and spring have arrived in full swing (pun intended) in NE Ohio. I am embarrassed to see that my last post was April 1. I have been listening to the podcasts regularly and really enjoying the Combo boost programs.

Lots has happened personally since my last post - and I am happy to say I kept my workouts constant - and Kim did too. Nice to keep each other in the game and very rewarding. Oddly not really showing up a ton on the weight loss side - I am down 2 more pounds - not much in a month - but the weight workouts are beginning to show - folks to have not seen me over the winter are noticing the weight is beginning to move around and my belly is smaller (threw out my fat jeans this AM since I forgot a belt and they almost fell off as I was leaving the gym). The compliments are pretty motivating. I played golf yesterday for the first time since January (contrary to what some folks believe - I really do not play much - but I need to play more) and really noticed the difference in strength and endurance - I was rusty to start, but birdied the 14, 15, 16 and 17th holes in a row. I wanted a shot to birdie 18 - but had promised our 11 year old that I would make his soccer game and announced to the members I was playing with at the start of the round that I had to leave at 2:30 - regardless of whether we were done or not. I am more proud of the fact I walked off after the 17th hole than anything. Bailey’s team lost 7 to 6 but he really played hard and well and a good part of the game. I was so happy to get there. He is beginning to follow Kim’s and my lead and talk about working out and slimming down. The Coach is noticing his improved fitness and slimming down and that made him smile. We do not over kill it - especially with him. He is not obese at all but, has such a build that later in life - he would have my propensity to hold weight and eats heavy carbs.

Speaking of compliments - Joan, Emmi, and Julie - your pics are RADIANT - thanks for sharing them. While I have not read your threads - the work you are doing is obviously paying dividends by your glowing smiles. Keep it up. Joan - it was great to hear your letter on the MTM show - or at least I thought it was yours that Scott read!!

I am battling the snack attack syndrome when I get home in the early evenings - I am hungry from the earlier workouts and the busy part of the day. We are pretty good about the earlier AM workouts daily and I am still 2X a week with my trainer, plus one weight workout on my own. I get a bar or protein shake right after and gets me to 11 or 11:30, when I can run through the salad bar or order a wrap at work. I get a light snack through the afternoon - a 100 cal pack or another Fiber One bar - but when I get home - I am a combo of famished and emotionally drained - so I eat too much - or too fast and end up feeling too full. This week I am going to try a more substantial mini meal about 4 PM so when I get home I can have a lighter meal. There is an emotional component there too for sure - somehow I think deserve to relax and I relax with food. Need to break that one. Will try to take an evening walk with Kim - or unwind another way - before taxi service for soccer, basketball practice and games and piano lessons rule the evening. Soccer is nuts - both boys are on 2 teams - that means soccer is a 7 day a week gig for each son - but they seem to love it and we try to support that.

Finally - the one thing at work that has created short term havoc - my First Assistant Professional - Todd - got a Head Pro job in his first interview. I am so happy for he and his wife Donna. He is a special person whom I have told about MTM a lot - but he is not really an iPod guy yet (even though I gave the staff iPod shuffles for Christmas ‘06). I have been busy interviewing candidates and hired a young man from a Club in FLA who wants to return to NE Ohio. I will miss my friend Todd daily - tough in a mentoring or coaching role to get close to someone over 5 years, then time comes for them to go - but this was the type of move that you hope for a great person - and Todd is that. He will bring the enthusiasm of a first Head PGA Pro to the job that really needs it. He will still be in the area so I will get to see him and help when he needs it - and I will seek his advise as well - maybe the best compliment I can give him.

Sorry to have to cram a month into a few short paragraphs - hope to be better about touching base - please know I am here in spirit - not a day goes by that I do not get something from MTM or think of you all.

Thank you Judd. Glad everything is going so well for you. Cheers to the new golf season. Please continue to check in and let us know how you are doing.

I’m glad to hear that you and your wife have still been working out. And thanks for the compliments about my picture and my letter. Yes, that was me.

Maybe this year I’ll find time to get some golf lessons--but I doubt it. Every time you post I think of it and one of my friends was talking tonight about golfing tomorrow but I can’t find the time yet to devote to it.

Well Judd, I finally did it. I went for a golf lesson on Tuesday and to a driving range today. I’m going to get the shafts on my clubs changed so the mis-hit balls don’t reverberate so much on my shoulder. And I have to figure out what I’m doing to the heel of my hand because I’m wacking it with the club again when I mis-hit. A friend of mine challenged me to do something about the golf. We’re meeting at the driving range tomorrow. I might spend more time just swinging and forget about the ball but I’ll enjoy her company and I’ll work on the problems on Tuesday.

So how are you doing? Your season should be winding down. . . .

Hi Joan,

Still here - after Monday things will start to quiet down - our last corporate golf outing!! And the end of 7 day weeks until spring. I am really looking forward to reigniting MTM in my life and I need it!

Glad to hear you are getting into golf again - today we had a beautiful 69 degree day without a cloud and hosted a 27 hole event for our members - it was just a glorious weather day and makes you so thankful that you play. I hope that you can enjoy such a setting ...

A note on changing your shafts - I assume you are changing to graphite shafts - which are lighter and absorb the “jarring” of impact of hitting the ball a little better - which I would totally recommend. MY question is this - what material are your current shafts? Are they steel? Switching graphite to graphite is OK because the weights are similar - but switching steel to graphite is a MUCH tougher equation and honestly - is not recommended.

If you are switching from graphite to steel - let me know what you are paying and I will find you a used set or one of our demo sets and ship them to you - if you would trust me. But switching steel to graphite - I believe that might not be in your long term best interest. For the same amount of money - or very close - I could get you something that would work better - or if I can’t I will certainly tell you that.

Equipment is so key - like using an oversize tennis racquet in tennis - if you’re not using one - there is an important difference.

Let me know - or at least let me know the specifics of what they are doing for your clubs so I can make sure it makes sense!

Thanks,
Judd

Judd, it is great to hear from you. And I definitely trust you.

Right now my “woods” are graphite. My irons are steel. What happened when I went in to report that there definitely was too much vibration is that the person who seems to handle equipment (rather than the instructor who was concerned on Tuesday) suggested putting some foam type material in the shaft to dampen the vibrations. They modified only the 7 iron which is the only one I’m practicing with.

I went to the driving range again today, this time with a friend and had no shoulder discomfort. Although I managed this time not to “top” the ball so often, I don’t think that is what made the difference.  I think the foam could be the answer. (The instructor did look at my swing again and corrected the cocking of my hands which is why I decreased the number of “topped” swings.)

The equipment person at first thought the club was a bit heavy, but I’m not even aware of its having any weight when I’m swinging it. Besides, if it was even remotely the correct weight back in 2004, it can’t be too heavy now. On the chest press machine back in 2006 when I started exercising, I could press 15 pounds for 2 sets of 10 but that was actually tough. Today I did 9 reps at 70 pounds and then 9 at 65 pounds.  I’ve certainly increased my strength since 2004.

Hi Joan,

The evolution of Clubs has been so fast in the last 10 years ... kind of mind boggling really - graphite gets the club lighter - so you can swing it faster and with more speed - the less weight - the fast and more power you can have - that is why I would suggest lighter. With your new strength - you will be able to hit it farther if the clubs are lighter - they have gotten lighter for sure over the years - I would rarely if ever put a lady in steel shafts - when graphite is not too much more expensive and lighter.

If I can help - I would be happy to ... I am just glad to hear you are playing!!

Judd, I’ll see first how I do with the clubs that I have--especially if adding the foam will eliminate my discomfort. I hate to discard clubs that I haven’t used at all. I did get them 4.5 years ago so your comment about technology changing is understandable. Right now I’m not that concerned about distance. If I can get to the point where I can even halfway reliably swing and not hurt myself, I’ll be happy.
I tried practicing just swinging once or twice today in the backyard but discovered that I really can’t do that without a ball in front of me. I need the target (the ball) to aim at.

Maybe I’ll get back to the driving range tomorrow for a little while. It’s not far.

So is this weekend Freedom Weekend for you (or maybe Monday)?

Good Morning Joan!
By the looks of the weather - we may not free up until October 5 - which is when we aerate our greens (punch holes in them like your lawn) that is the close of the official season. After that - we are done with tournaments and outings and level of play all depends on weather and when Cleveland goes into winter mode. We had 184 players yesterday which is hyper busy for us.

I am a little disappointed in myself on the health fitness side. Even tho I know I need to make time for it, I haven’t on a consistent basis since my late May back troubles. Weight is up to 240 - mostly due to eating late and sandwiches. But I hope to jump back in Monday and get started. The good news is I have been pretty good about getting to our kids games and supporting them and I am blessed with a wonderful wife. Below is an inspirational email she sent me yesterday.

You are a wonderful man trying so hard to help the club.  I just don’t want you to lose yourself in the process.  Just know how important you are to me and God.  I love you.  Kim

My iPod crashed about 2 months ago and I got a new one about 2 weeks ago - so I am trying catch up on my MTM. I have not been active in Mastermind, but I have been listening to that as well. I am disappointed given the money I spent on sessions with a trainer, but I just have to knock on the dust, get off my duff and get at it. Energy is just tough to come by at this time of the season. The ggod news is after Monday I will go to 6 day weeks the rest of the year instead of 7.

My job is very much a lifestyle and I guess I am not very good at balancing my fitness with it - and I should be after all these years. The seasonality is pretty intense. I have not lost vision of the Learning Center from my chat with Scott last January - and have actually had some discussions about it recently.

What type of clubs do you have currently? The foam will definitely help the jarring feeling. The technology if you get it when you purchase the clubs is called “Sensicore” or “Cushin” depending on what company you buy it from. The after market version may have a different name. To be honest - I did not know it could be added to a club after market - and that is what makes me a little wary of the process. That does not make it wrong or bad - I just have not heard of the “foam” being added after production.

I wish you a wonderful weekend. I am looking forward to my oldest son’s soccer game tonight at 7 against the #1 team in the state of Ohio, St. Edward High. My son is freshman at Avon Lake High, but made varsity soccer team. Will be great opportunity for him. He is my fitness role model - all that I am not - lean, fast with stamina, and strong. But I am working myself mentally to make a big fitness push to once and for all answer the question - is my weight causing my hip and back issues - or is my soreness keeping my from it.

Rambled a bit but thanks for listening!

Judd, I’m in Canada, and a “fair weather” golfer - I don’t golf in the rain, or when the weather gets too cold.  Meaning my season is over until I go south on vacation.  I’m curious ~ I don’t imagine you can golf year-round in Cleveland ~ what do you do when your club closes up?

Hi Sandy!

We actually do a nice retail business in the Golf Shop through the holidays. And west side winters in Cleveland are better than east - but it’s a year to year thing - one year - we had no rounds after November 15 due to cold and snow - then the next year we were still running golf carts in early January - go figure.

But I guess in the off season - I set up all of our corporate golf outing contracts for Mondays - we did 20 this year, inventory - ordering for the next year - staff reviews - all the behinds the scenes stuff that I hope makes things “in season” more successful. I do go to Orlando for the PGA Merchandise Show (where I met Scott and Carlyn last year).

Glad you are a fellow golfer - but to be honest - I don’t really play in the rain or cold either unless it’s a tournament and I have to ...!!

Nice to meet you! I hear there is some gorgeous golf in Canada but I have never played up north ...

Judd, how are you doing with your exercise? Has work slowed down at all? I’ve had my third indoor golf lesson. I’m working on keeping my left foot down and pivoting my right foot a bit sooner. So far it hasn’t come together. I did hit one ball 98 yards with the 7 iron (which is what I’m using to learn with) even though either the pitch or the speed was off. That was my best shot.

The stuff that was put in the shafts definitely seems to be working. When I mis-hit the ball, I’m not feeling any vibration up in my shoulder. AND I’m not mis-hitting the ball most of the time which is a big improvement. So far I haven’t headed to a golf course. The lessons are indoors with something that records distance, pitch, etc. And I have gone to our local driving range. I hope to get there on Tuesday to practice.

Hope all is going well for you. That was a great letter from your wife.

juddpgapro - 10 October 2008 10:21 PM

Nice to meet you! I hear there is some gorgeous golf in Canada but I have never played up north ...

There are so many golf courses up here in Canada!  I live just north of Toronto, and I think I could play a different course every day of the season, there are so many.  I belong to a Clublink club called Diamondback - love it, even tho it’s too tough for me!

Enjoy your off-season!

HI Folks,

Thanks Sandy - I hope to get up to Canada to play at some point! Ironically my job has become so little about playing golf and enjoying it - I need to remind myself that is why I got into this and my enjoyment of teaching.

Hi Joan - to be honest - I am struggling a bit at getting back into it. I realize that working out is the best path to increase my energy. My lethargy is effecting Kim a bit too. So I am trying to find my way back, listening to MTM again and I called the Doctor last week, had some blood work and have that appointment to review this week, I have been sleeping so hard and just really struggling getting up at 5 AM (so I haven’t been). We have to get up at 6 to get the boys going and get ready for the day.

Suffice to say - I just have not been good overall - at all - compared to what I know I need to do. I need to suck it up and be a better leader of those I love.

I have neglected several things through the busy season that I am setting right - like bringing my Dad up to spend the weekend with us last weekend, and this afternoon I am taking our 11 year old to get a halloween costume. Carlyn sent me a nice email reminding me not to neglect myself and my fitness through the process.

I am OFF today - no tournaments - no work - so I ate a good breakfast with egg whites in a flat out wrap with salsa and 2% cheese. But I am a little overwhelmed by what is in front of me, but I am going to get some exercise today - whether just a walk before weather gets yucky in Cleveland tonight.

I struggle writing posts like this - trying to be honest (in somewhat of a journal setting) but I hate being negative, as that is really not my way.

My Dad recently moved into Assisted Living (a good move and his decision) so when I went to pick him up, I picked up a number of things saved for me (like a bedroom set for the 11 year old) and my sister gave me a huge accordion file. My Mom (who passed away - a little over 2 and 1/2 years ago) had kept it for YEARS. It had newspaper clippings from my youth, report cards, teachers comments, reviews from the piano competitions I used to play in ... stuff like that. I happened upon a 6th grade fitness evaluation, noting that while I was a very good athlete, my fitness scores could be better. Interesting - that my inconsistency in this area goes back so far, and yet I have a job in an athletic field.

I read a little of Emmi’s 100 days - sure seems like she has her act together and that is inspiring, as is all of your continued support in light of my inconsistent efforts.

Not being negative - just honest in evaluation of myself as I get to the right place in my head to set things right fitness wise. Again.