Friday, May 30, 2008

The Buzz is beginning...

Photo by Robert Reiff

 

Link to the Book buzz.

 

Brought to you by Captain Max,  Candace Booth N.D., and Destination Health

 

Sincerely,

Max

Max Wettstein

Airbus 320 Captain

Friday, May 16, 2008

How bad do you want it?

How bad do you want it? How bad do you want chiseled abs or the physique of a pro athlete or fit-mag cover model? Are you willing to pay your dues and work for it? Genetics and God-given anatomical structure go along way, but it is not enough, especially as you age past 30 and spend your days sitting in the flight-deck or commuting.

It is not realistic to expect to look like pro-athletes or fitness-models do, if you’re not willing to train like one. In reality, most fitness-models and athletes, including myself, are part-time or weekend warriors. Like my self, as an airline pilot for my ‘main’ career, many fitness industry professionals and athletes have other jobs or spend much of their time stuck in traffic driving to casting calls. Yet some how we manage to pull it off and stay lean and in shape, even when the odds of stacked against us with busy schedules and other career responsibilities.

It simply comes down to time management, planning ahead each night with your calendar, and discipline, as you probably already have realized. Sometimes it may feel like a daily battle to fit in your work-out. If so, then rise to the challenge and win – make it happen, because exercising is YOUR time. It is something you do for YOU, and don’t let anything take it away. Fitness is a way of life, not a convenient option.

Here is an example of a situation that just happened to me as a reserve-captain for JetBlue Airways: I got called to fly last minute so I hurried up and exercised that morning on my spin bike before quickly packing and heading off to the airport. Of course being a fitness-minded individual, I ALWAYS pack work-out clothing just in case, even if it looks like day-turn at the onset. Once I arrived at my layover hotel – an executive suite at Las Vegas resort – I had a choice to make: Go out and have a cocktail and enjoy the night life, or, do my second work-out session of the day at the hotel fitness center and get to bed early, since I knew I would be flying all day the next day and would not have an opportunity to even go for a walk let alone exercise. I was scheduled to fly LAS to JFK and then DHD back to Longbeach! Talk about cooped up and sitting on your butt all day! So guess what: A 2nd work-out is exactly what I chose to do during my short overnight alone in Vegas, because that is how bad I want to stay in shape after all of the hard work and dedication I have put in.

Sound obsessive? Probably - But that is the mentality it just might take to earn you the physique you want. I believe in taking a well-needed rest day as required for illness, rest and recovery, but this wasn’t one of those times for me. There will be plenty of other party trips to Vegas with family or friends anyway.

So…think you don’t have time to fit in a work-out…think you might as well leave you running shoes at home? Think again.

Sincerely,

Captain Max

Max Wettstein

Airbus 320 Captain

JetBlue Airways

www.maxwettstein.com

www.aircrewfitness.com

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Simple workout solution for Aircrew!



A Brian Tracy quote provides today's Wisdom of the Warrior Principle: "One of the best uses of your time is to increase your competence in your key result areas."

Said another way by T. Harv Ecker: "What you Focus on expands."

This principle is true regarding fitness and all areas of your life. Things don't happen on accident. While focus can certainly equate to time, I believe it has much more to do with the strength of your conviction. One of the GREAT things about CROSSFIT is that it is designed to take very little time and a great deal of focus. PERFECT for our busy lifestyles!

We have some folks joining our readership this week that are very new to crossfit so I am providing some of the BASIC LINKS for folks just getting started. I highly recommend CROSSFIT for my military comrades, fellow commercial aircrew, and anyone that wants to take their fitness to the next level!

One of the beautiful things about Crossfit is that there is no avoiding the workout of the day!

Crossfit Start Here:
What is Crossfit?
Crossfit Faq's

In the spirit of Brian Tracy quote - - take the time to read through the Crossfit Website and increase your fitness competence. It will lead to Optimal Fitness being one of your key results areas!

Pictured - Balad Iraq Warriors following a Crossfit workout in January 2008!