I have created a new Facebook page which can be accessed through the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/rosstraining

My personal Facebook page reached the 5000 friend limit a few months ago.  As a result, I’ve been unable to accept new friend requests.  With the new page, there is no limit so I will continue to use it for site related updates (ex. new articles, videos, blog entries, quotes, etc.).

In addition, there are a few RossTraining groups within Facebook.  These groups are not mine.  I did not create the groups and do not administrate the pages.

The link above is mine however so feel free to contact me through it with any questions.

Thank you,

Ross Enamait

Back in 2001, Marc Herremans finished 6th in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.  Finishing 6th in such a highly regarded race is clearly an amazing accomplishment.  Yet despite his strong performance, Marc wanted more. He had only started training for triathlons in 1998. Therefore, it was reasonable to believe that he would crack the top three in 2002, with the possibility of eventually winning the race.

Unfortunately, Marc’s dreams took a drastic turn for the worse after a terrible accident in 2002. After losing control of his bike, Marc was left paralyzed below his chest. Following such a tragic accident, it would have been reasonable for Marc to give up his hopes of winning the Ironman.

Fortunately, Marc has shown that he is everything but reasonable. Three months after his accident, Marc began training again, this time as a wheelchair competitor. Less than one year after being paralyzed in a near fatal accident, Marc Herremans competed again in the Ironman. He then competed each year afterward until he finally won the race in 2006.   He was the first wheelchair athlete to finish.

Marc continues to train with the hopes of eventually walking again.  If you are in need of inspiration, look no further than the video below:

Athletes such as Scott Rigsby and Marc Herremans have shown me that we all have much more potential than we will ever realize.  In Marc’s own words,

“I didn’t know I was this strong either, but I became aware of it after the accident.”

I’m blown away by his determination.  To see him get up and compete after dealing with such a tragedy is beyond amazing.

Marc speaks more about his life and his refusal to give up in the translated interview below:

Walk With Marc Herremans

It’s worth taking a few minutes out of your day to listen to him speak.

The video below tells the story…

Scott is a living example of the words below (per Orison Swett Marden),

“Success is the child of drudgery and perseverance. It cannot be coaxed or bribed; pay the price and it is yours.”

The Youtube video description states the following:

Watch as kids in an elementary school class in Huntington, West Virginia have trouble identifying fresh fruits and vegetables. Huntington has been called the unhealthiest city in America where nearly half of the adults are considered obese.

Unfortunately, I’m not surprised by the video.  I am however glad that my three year old son was able to identify each vegetable from the preview.

Perhaps he has an unfair advantage, as he is usually my wife’s sidekick when she does the grocery shopping.  He’s been eating fresh vegetables since his first day of real food. When he asks for a snack, he is usually looking for fresh fruits and veggies. That is his idea of a snack. It’s what he’s been around his entire life.

In the words of John Dryden,

“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”

As I’ve stated many times before, youngsters don’t do their own grocery shopping. They follow the lead of their parents. It is up to us to guide, nurture, and teach them.

The best role model for a child is his or her parents.  Parents need to stop making excuses and step up to the plate.   If you don’t know what to do, take the time to find out.  Knowledge must be sought.  It won’t funnel through your pillow at night through osmosis.

Do what you need to do to raise a healthy child.

In the words of Ben Franklin,

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

Rob has certainly been through a lot.  He doesn’t sit around and mope about the circumstances however.  On the contrary, he remains as active and strong as most men half his age.  He isn’t a lifetime lifter though.  Rob didn’t begin powerlifting until he was 64 years old.

Yet, despite the late start, cancer didn’t stop him from getting back into the gym before his hair had time to grow back.  It also didn’t stop him from becoming a record breaking lifter for his age group.  He’s already pulled over 450 pounds and has his eyes set on 500.

Rob’s story is one of true inspiration.  He’s overcome repeated battles with cancer and continues to defy age.  He doesn’t sit around feeling sorry for himself.  He’s too busy taking care of his family and busting ass in the gym.  Hats off to him.  I wish him continued success and health.

Traditional ab wheels only cost around $10, but I realize that you may not want to bring equipment to a commercial gym.  If this is the case, a barbell can be used to perform rollouts (standing or from the knees).  The video below includes a few brief demonstrations of the barbell rollout.

As you can see within the video, resistance bands can be easily added to the barbell to perform an assisted version of the standing rollout.  It’s much easier to add a resistance band to a barbell than an ab wheel.  The band seen within the video is actually a pallet band used for commercial shipping.

To perform the resistance band rollout, first attach the band to a secure object (ex. power rack).  Within the video, I actually used a heavily weighted trap bar.  I then slid a 5 pound plate under each side to prevent it from rolling.  You can see the slip-knot below.

Next, simply loop the other end around your barbell.

As you roll forward, tension within the band will increase.  This will help you to maintain control as you descend, and will then help you return to the starting position.  The band essentially pulls you back (similarly to a band assisted pull-up).  If you are looking to perform your first standing rollout, the resistance band may be one useful progression.

Additional progressions can be seen here (partial rollouts and ramp rollouts) and here (with lashing straps).

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

Many of the older athletes that I’ve featured have been training for longer than I’ve been alive.  These men and women are not growing old in the traditional sense.  They continue to thrive and often improve.  For example, Fred Peterson can be seen below pulling 640 pounds at 70 years old.

Fred can also be seen within this video pulling 680 pounds.  He speaks briefly at the 4:35 mark and then prepares for the lift at approximately 5:00 into the video.  While speaking, he mentions that he’s been lifting for 56 years.  It’s great to see someone remain passionate about training as they advance in age.

Below is yet another tremendous display of older strength.  Larry Wallen pulls 705 pounds at 60 years old.

Keep Living

I’m not posting these videos in hope that you sign your grandfather up for a powerlifting meet.  I’m posting these videos to remind you that life isn’t over until it is over.  You can remain passionate about training regardless of age.  These strength displays are incredibly inspirational to me.  I’m amazed at the strength of these men in their 60’s and 70’s. I can only hope that I’ll be as active as them when I approach their current age.

Larry Wallen and Fred Peterson are two clear examples that the body is much more capable than many realize.  It is amazing what can be accomplished with years of consistent and diligent work.  It is also worth mentioning that you can still do very well despite starting at an older age.

Either way, the possibility always exists for one to remain passionate.   The past is the past.  It’s over and we can’t change it.  You don’t need to be defined by what you did or didn’t do. If there is something that you want to do, get up and get busy.

In the words of Chuck Palahniuk,

“You have a choice. Live or die. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be.”

Amputee Dayton Webber, 11, excels at wrestling

At 11 months old, Dayton’s limbs were amputated because of a life-threatening bacterial infection. Dayton was not expected to live. Family gathered as he was administered his last rites. Fortunately, it’s been over ten years since his limbs were amputated and he’s still going strong.  He’s been an active wrestler for four years.  He also gets outside to play football, ice skate, ride go-karts, and more.  He is as active as any of his peers.

In Dayton’s own words,

“I just like to do sports. I feel like I can play sports and kind of show people what I can do — that I can do sports just as good as them. I feel like I can do anything if I just put my mind to it.”

He went on to say,

“Anything they say I can’t do, I try to show them I can do it.”

If Dayton can live with such determination despite his unfortunate circumstances, it is safe to say that we can all live with such conviction.  There are no excuses.

I honestly don’t know what I would do if one of my own children had to go through what Dayton has endured.  I never would have thought that an 11-year-old could be such an inspiration to me.  His story has certainly struck a chord.

We can all learn and benefit from the way Dayton lives his life.  I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.