In this issue:
Press the "play" button above to see something totally different. This week, Anthony drops the kettlebells and brings a friend, Lieutenant Anthony Grokaitis of the Worcester, MA fire department. Together, they introduce you to a great drill you could easily perform at any farm... or firehouse! For those of you earning your "ETK Rite of Passage", take note: this is a great drill to try on your variety days. Oh... and the gloves are optional... and increase the difficulty.
Mailbag motivation
Subject: 600 f*&$ing swings?
From: "Kim Vanderspek"
Date: Fri, October 20, 2006 7:35 am
To: anthony@punchgym.com
OK, so except for today's Turkish Get-ups, I've finished 4 weeks of the ETK workbook.
4 weeks ago, if someone had told me that I would be doing 600 swings in 12 minutes I would have told them that they were 100% certifiably insane. Well, this was the week that I did it. Twice. And it wasn't (really) all that bad. I've decided that darts is a great "active rest". Anthony's picture in the center has a few more holes :) as my aim has improved due to kettlebells.
Seriously, this has been an excellent 4 weeks. I have stuck to the program almost perfectly (except for a Tues/Wed switch this week when my co-workers showed up at my door and said, "We're going drinking!" I told them that I was getting ready to workout. They responded with a 2 word sentence that started with a bad word and ended with "you". So, I buckled to beer pressure.) Going from 20 swings in week 1 to 50 in week 4 is really not something I thought would be possible.
My TGUs are much better. I'm simply amazing myself at how strong I am. As far as my body goes, this has been the most productive 4 weeks I've ever had (with the exception of the ones that ended up with babies coming out of me). I can feel and see a difference in my physique. My arms, shoulders, legs and back are starting to get quite a lot of definition (for me). Hell, by the time I finish the next 8 weeks I'll be buff! Thank you for being a hard-ass, nasty drill-sergeant wannabe. It has been my pleasure to be bossed around by you from both paper and DVD.
And now I'm off to Week 5.
-Kim
Minute of Style: The Velvet Blazer
The holidays are around the corner. What to wear? Whether you are hanging out with the guys, meeting the in-laws for dinner, or just wanna look good-- the velvet blazer is the answer. Ranging from $90-$500, the velvet blazer is the coolest "must have" in men's fashion.
Guys, it really doesn't take much to look good. You're probably thinking, "Is he really suggesting I buy a VELVET jacket?!?" Yep. If you're like me, you spend most of your workday in workout gear (or whatever attire is the business norm for your career)... and "standard man issue" jeans and t-shirt at all other times. How about those special occasions like dinner at a casual upscale restaurant? Or a maybe a night at the theatre? (think Phantom... not Borat)
Stop reaching for that same tired old striped button down and kaki pant!
It's boring.
You look boring in it.
You actually feel boring in it. (trust me on this one)
Come on man... step out of your safety zone. Grab a favorite pair of jeans and that tired button down. Toss on a blue velvet blazer and take a look in that mirror. You'll see what I mean. Trust me. Dress it up a tad more with a silk pocket square in the lapel pocket (check out that little touch in in this picture of me at a recent dinner party) and you are ready for any holiday affair. Oh yeah... don't forget the kicks. You can probably use those tired funeral shoes gathering dust at the back of your closet... but if you are going this far, you might as well ask for help at a real shoe store. To keep it more casual, the MOS Adidas racers are perfect for this Hollywood ensemble.
Now get out there and shine! You'll be amazed at the confidence a great outfit can bring. The truth is, it's not the clothes that make you the life of the party. It's the confidence you exude. Lemme know how it works out for you.
Anthony