Hey guys, Nate here. I'm proud to announce that I'm now the Program Director of Scrawny To Brawny. From now on all of my blogs and articles will be posted on the brand-new Scrawny To Brawny Blog. So if you enjoyed what you read here, please go check it out. (It's awesome, if I say so myself.) I'm keeping the NGE website alive for resource reasons, but will no longer be actively updating it. The best way to get in touch with me is through leaving a comment on the Scrawny To Brawny blog or by posting on the S2B Facebook page. See you guys over at the new blog!
Do You Have the Life for That?
Screw the New Year's Resolution; How Do You Spend Your Time?
I spent eight minutes and twenty-five seconds sitting on the toilet today. I know because I timed it.
I've been timing myself on a lot of important things recently: taking a dump, working out, reading, cooking and eating, writing, hanging out with friends and family, sleeping, sex (where, I'm proud to announce, my time in the bedroom far surpassed my time spent in the bathroom).
And I'm learning some scary stuff. For instance, I spent 14 minutes today listening to the song Tik Tok by Ke$ha. It's three minutes and thirty-five seconds long. And I don’t even like it. That's just sad.
Ever since I saw a study that showed typical Americans spend less than 75 minutes preparing and eating their food every day—the US, by the way, has the highest percentage of people with a BMI over 30 compared to other countries who spend nearly double the time eating and have significantly lower BMIs—I wanted to see where my time was spent.
We always hear about the "important things in life"—stuff like spending time with family, self-improvement, preparing and eating nourishing meals, and exercising—but how no one has time for them. I call bullshit.
I think people need to make time for them and stop wasting time on other, non-fulfilling projects and distractions.
But you really won't know how bad it is until you start timing yourself.
"An hour and a half of email? Shit!"
My friend and mentor Alwyn Cosgrove once told me to replace the word "time" with "life." It gives you a different perspective on the same tired excuses.
"Train four days per week? I don't have the life for that."
"Cook healthy meals and spend time with my family? Who's got enough life for that? I'm too busy."
"I don't have enough life to relax and read."
The thing is, it's the activities and rituals we don’t make time for that probably have a bigger impact on the quality of our lives.
Think about it: how boring and empty is a life that's meaningless activity after meaningless activity? Where's the sense of accomplishment? Where's the flow experience? Where the hell does your life go?
And "fulfilling activity" can mean different things to different guys. You may truly enjoy watching a couple hours of Southpark with friends, sneaking cheap beer into animated movies, and reading magazines cover-to-cover at your local Barnes and Noble. That's fine. As long as it brings you happiness and you're not doing it to "kill time", I see no harm in it. (Unless, of course, it harms someone.)
But I see no point in wasting your life on shit that just doesn't matter.
I'm not a fan of New Years' resolutions, but if I had to pick one, I'd suggest writing down a list of activities, people, and rituals that enhance your life, buying a stopwatch, and start having fun.
You've certainly got the life for it.
(And no, I didn't really time myself in the bathroom. I'd rather read than watch a clock. The sex thing? Well, a guy's gotta know where he stacks up, right?)
++++
I'm a sucker for goals. If you've got one (business, training, life, whatever) let me know in the comments. If you don't have one, get one. Happy New Year!
Comments for This Entry
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Good entry Nate. Personally I"m planning on starting the year with a bang V-Diet style, then diving straight into 5/3/1 to build some strength, and try my hand at MMA or Strongman events. Career wise do whatever I can to get closer to my goal of teaching TV Production at the college level.That and get out and enjoy life more and make some new friends, and re-connect with old ones.
Cheers to 2010! -
I've got a couple goals that enhance my life and bring me happiness.
Awesome article by the way!
1. I've had 6 fights - boxing - I want to go back and get another one for fun, at a heavier weight class this time though (I've gained 30 lbs since I last fought).
2. Write a book. I'm working on an ebook and a set of programs/dvds, which I guess is also a goal because it's not completed yet. But I'd like to write a full on book as well. I love to write, it's become a real passion of mine since especially since starting my blog.
3. Travel with my girlfriend. I'm head over heals with the girl, she's amazing and she loves to travel. I've also just gotten into in the past year and am excited to travel with her. I can't think of a better way to spend my time.
Hope you have a great new year!
Chad -
Killer post Nate, KILLER
Just reading Tim Ferris's new revised 4 Hour Work Week - he added like 100 new pages - I read the original a few years ago and changed my life
I like Alwyns idea ( switching the word "time" with "life") LOVE IT
Like I said, SWEET post
Hope you're doing great bud -
My goal this year is to enter my first bodybuilding competition. Write a book. do well in college. be the best man i can be, and live life the best i can with as much fun as possible.
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Tik Tok is a horrible song.
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Yeah, it's always funny what people don't have time for. I've noticed that people don't like being called out on wasting time. Frustrating, but I guess it takes a certain amount of maturity to accept that it's out of your control.
1. Keep my blog updated, I really was bad about excuses to not write. I 'had no ideas,' but I feel that if you sit down to write, something a post will inevitably materialize.
2. Study more.
3. Take life less seriously. Find time to screw around. Don't be afraid to say what's on your mind. It's better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.
4. Currently rocking the 5/3/1 program. See above. I've found that most programs are too complex (even the simple ones) and with 5/3/1 you can really focus on working hard.
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Even though you don't have a resolution, it'd be cool if had the chance to write another article that's similar to "The Most Brutal Training Camp on Earth." It was a great article. -
If you'd just admit that you actually like Tik Tok, like the rest of us sorry suckers have, then you wouldn't have wasted 14 minutes. you would have loved every second of them :)
what do you think P Diddy feels like in the morning?? -
Hey Nate
Your best-written post so far, imho! Read it twice in a row (without timing...).
As for goals for 2010:
- Travel at least 3 countries/cities I've never been to yet
- Read 20 books or more
- Learn 2 more English words every single day (French and Swissgerman are my first languages)
- Train with weights 200 times or more
- Increase my bench by 15 pounds (ramped up to 407 last week)
- Take 1st place in my next bodybuilding competition (december 2010)
- Earn 10% more money than 2009
- Pass my exams in Autumn
- Make someone laugh, give a little pleasure to someone I love, or just make somebody feel good every single day. -
As always, I'm so impressed with the work you've done at such a young age. Congrats. If I hadn't wasted my "life" as you say during my 20's, I too would be further ahead than I am today, so take this post seriously!
My goals:
-pass my comprehensives (for my masters) in the spring
-get my masters end of summer '10
-be faithful in recording my food every day with the LoseIt! app on my iPhone
-get down to 230 lbs from 268 (I'm 6'3")
-get rid of all credit card debt
-cut fast food trips on the way home from work and replace it with meals I've prepared in advance from home
Thanks, Nate, for your blog. I really enjoy reading it! -
We make time for what is important to us. If you can't find time to work out, it's because you're more interested in surfing the web, watching tv or whatever.
I want to have a masters boxing match this year. I hit my weight goal for 2009 but dropping from 250 down to 230 and was able to get my ten chinups that I promised myself. I missed my goal of 100 consecutive pushups, so I'll keep that on my 2010 goals. I'm also going to do the 100 burpee challenge. I'm going to continue drinking as many new craft beers as possible, concentrating on domestics. My current list is at 547!
Happy New Year Nate! -
Guys,
Those are some great goals; thanks for reading and posting! Keep 'em coming.
-Nate -
My immediate goal is to beat my powerlifting PR's once and for all. It will signify that I have overcome a pretty rough back injury in 2007; at least to me which is the most important thing of it all. Then I can finally move on with the physical aspect of my life and continue training MMA. This is something I've done since 'pre-UFC' days and was always told by instructors to follow it b/c I'm a natural fighter. Once I get over this last hurdle I will be able to get this monkey off my shoulder.
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Goals for early 2010:
-Get up my website asap, spend the money who cares
-Always be reading one personal development book and one marketing/business book- read 52 books in 2010
-Stop being so narcissistic
-Meet Dan Kennedy or John Carlton
-Drop to 6% BF for a few weeks and get a shoot done
-Make my first product
-Be my own boss
-Get a Tim Ferris lifestyle -
I love reading these articles and this was a great one. I really like using life instead of time, im gonna implement that. As for my goals,
-get hired onto a FD
-start 5/3/1 and get as strong as possible
-shed some body fat, not worried about where my weight is though maybe even gain some weight
-do more activities even little things like just going out with some friends on a tuesday for dinner or something.
Thanks a lot and keep em coming -
@ Nate.....Great Article!!!
People always have time for what they want!!
Professional Goal: Increase sales on website
Physical Goals: Shed 3 % BF
Gain 10 lbs Lean Muscle
Mental Goals: Read at least 1 book/month
Spiritual Goals: Go to Temple once/month at least
I've found in my life I need a good balance. All these aspects in my life are important.
Everyone enjoy the New Year and best of luck with all of your individual endeavors! -
I listened to Ke$ha, Tik Tok for approximately 32 minutes today. Admittedly I love that song, it's awesome. I was doing a jump-rope circuit to get a good sweat in before tonight. I'm with my man Blake, come clean and admit you love the song. It really is awesome and Dirt Nasty is in the music video, so you know it's the best.
In regards to you question, my goal is to continue reading, writing, learning and growing. Simple enough, but I don't want to ever sell myself short or not have the means to accomplish whatever it is I set my mind too. Call it a bull-shit cliche, but that is my goal for 2010.
enjoy the new years festivities
jc -
For some reason, you on the toilet with a stopwatch doesn't sound absurd to me. It actually sounds exactly like something you would do.
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Read more, waste less time, teach myself to consistently eat enough to fuel my pursuit of my goals, put on 20 pounds, 2xBW deadlift, bench 225 for reps, learn to squat heavy and then squat a lot (To put on the 20lbs).
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Thanks Nate for this post.
When you point it out, I realized I do waste a lot of time.
Anyway I have a few goals.
I. Study more in college
II. Eat better
III. To overcome my ankle handicap (3 Surgeries in 2009)
IIII. To loose as much weight as I can -
Great post! Do I have the life for responding to your blog? Yes, I do.
I feel that there is always room for improvement when it comes to using our time. Lately, I've been on a holiday for almost two weeks. And, I've found myself sleeping more than I have been for months. I wonder if I'm wasting time if I'm sleeping more, but then I know I won't be able to do much of that as of next week. So, wasting time over sleeping won't be an issue for long.
So what are my goals for 2010?! I have lots, but I will list a few.
1. Gain 20 more pounds!
2. Learn how to do a handstand and walk on my hands.
3. Use my time during the evenings on weekdays more efficiently so that I don't have to do so many errands on weekends. I'd like to free up my weekends for more time (or should I say life) to do adventures, fun activities, etc.
4. Take up a class or two at the local college...for fun and maybe to meet people in this unfriendly town.
5. Attend an international summer camp in Europe.
6. Attend at least two conferences for work.
7. Complete BFS!
8. Read HIAH, S2B, and Power Training before I complete BFS and start up another muscle-building and weight-gaining program.
9. Be as debt-free as possible. I'm sure I'll get my car and appliances paid off. I'll see about the one big credit card that's hanging over me.
10. Be happier with myself at the end of the year than I am at the beginning of the year. -
Hey Nate,
Great post as usual. -
Great read Nate, you got a nice way of writing.
Yeah we spend too much time doing meaningless thing's, maybe because they are easier? We are funny old creatures.
I wrote about the idea of New Year's Resolution's on my blog, feel free to check it out if you like.
http://www.howtochangelifenow.com/an-idea-as-to-why-you-shouldnt-just-wait-till-new-years-to-make-resolutions
Oh and i thought you were serious about timing yourself on the toilet, i'm gona do it....just to see how long ;)
Sam -
This year I hope to land a fulltime position as a Paramedic.
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Nate,
Great post. As for this...
" I spent 14 minutes today listening to the song Tik Tok by Ke$ha"
I gotta admit the song is catchy, not good, but catchy. I am just hoping you spent those minutes watching her music video, as she isn't bad looking. -
Nate,
I like the fact as a young man in your 20's, you are at least thinking about where your time/life is going or what you are doing with it. Many young men don't have short term or long term goals.
I see folks blogging, emailing, twittering, facebooking, mspacing, etc.....way too much these days.
You see Nate, on one hand I commend you for blogging and writing as your way of helping the young men or women to better themselves, but on the flipside, all this stuff I see, especially in the world of health and fitness is just too much of a good thing.
You see, everyone thinks they have the answer to proper health, fitness, and nutrition. They freakin blog about it, get intertwined into all these blogging, coaching, mentoring, or various groups and for what.............to make themselves feel like they have the answers? Well crap dude, that is no different than folks debating or arguing about RELIGION OR POLITICS.
So, my New Year's resolution is to make sure I spend less time blogging, emailing, and BTW.............hell know do I freakin twitter. Like Charles Barkely stated recently on a talk show.........Twitter is for losers who don't have a life or anything better else to do.
Now, why you might ask did I come on your blog............well, it's because if you have a voice and want to keep learning or educating yourself, don't do like the masses and be involved with all these so called experts in fitness who think that publishing on other people's blogs is really making a difference.
You wrote a book from a young man's perspective, now your goal should be how can I really get published in a JOURNAL, the same way medical doctors, business professionals, etc... do.
Maybe make your next goal of getting your college degree, maybe a Master's, then get out there and teach academics or better yet, forget publishing these articles in magazines where you are only published because you are friends with everyone.
I am not saying Nate, just because a dude has an acronym of degree or certification behind there name makes one better over the other, but you cannot be taken seriously in the world of health and fitness staying in BLOG WORLD.
A young man like yourself, who has owned his own business, gotten a CPT cert, written a book should strive for excellence in the field. Get certified from NASM or ACSM, get your Masters in Kinesiology or Exercise Science, get out a teach college or seminars.
BTW..............many fitness guys don't realize it, but the NCCA has not regulated or approved Kettblebell traning or any of their certifications. I throw that in there because I see you and many other guys paying a crap load of money to go to some workshop to train.................dude, anyone can come up with a workshop on any topic, put a cerftification together and charge people $1,000 to 2,000 bucks and say they are certified.................but no matter how valuable the info, it's still not legit and sure in the hell not approved by an accedited institution like NCCA.
It's the same with college degrees, some schools are not accredited, which makes the degree not worth the paper it's written on.
Sorry I digressed there, but if you are going to blog to people and your followers, tell the young men that if you are going to be the best you can be, get the right credentials, otherwise, all you are doing is perpetrating a fraud and you will only be taken serious in your inner circle of folks you know that right the magazines.
So, once again, New Years resolution is I hope something you will take to heart, try less time in your life doing all this blogging, emailing, or twittering................spend more time getting educated and spreading your knowledge of health and fitness in the right forum.
BTW, many superstar trainers to the stars, even ones on TV................never even got off their butts and got educated in college, got the right cert from NASM, ACSM, or NCSA................or have they ever been published in a real HEALTH JOURNAL...............documenting their ideas to improve the world of health and fitness.
I hope you take some of my old advice. Remember, being in the right place at the right time and getting the right connection to right a book about the same stuff everyone else is writing about is not groundbreaking.
Be different than the pack Nate in 2010................that is how you can change your life or time, be unique, stop blogging and really get out there on the national level..................hey dude, maybe even become a doctor in exercise phisilogy or kinesiology.............your young and I bet with your smarts you could make some great changes in the world of health and fitness when you get out of the mindset of looking good for girls.
I will practice what I preached here today and I too learned from you that I need to use my life or time wisely and accordingly...........not waste it on trivial stuff anymore.
Happy New Year -
@Tom:
I know you meant that comment in a positive, "hey, you're doing good but you can do better" sort of way, so keep that in mind when reading this.
You said that one should "use my life or time wisely and accordingly...........not waste it on trivial stuff anymore" -- Nate (along with many other bloggers, both in and out of the fitness industry) is making a handsome living, working far less than 40 hours a week, and reaching people on a global level. Why on Earth does he need a degree? Is he missing something in his life (aside from a piece of paper voicing the approval of some organization saying it's alright for him to be successful)?
If you don't want to be a doctor, a lawyer, or something else that quite literally requires a degree before careers are available, then why waste the time and money? If you can make a living by dreaming up some new form of training, making up a certification, and selling it to people who want to learn, what's the issue?
Yeah, getting published in a medical journal is prestigious, but very few people read those, and Nate doesn't strike me as the type to chase credentials or awards.
Saying that a blogger "cannot be taken seriously" is straight up fucking retarded. Blogs are the source of news for a pretty large chunk of the population, and that number is growing exponentially. While I can understand the idea that a blog is maybe less of a gold star than publishing new research on myofascial release techniques, to ignore the fact that your research will probably only hit the mainstream if it shows up in a popular fitness blog or magazine is either technophobic or a sign of blinding cultural ignorance.
I guess the point I'm driving at here is that to come on a popular fitness blog and belittle the author for blogging is a tad ridiculous. There are better places for you to voice your opinions; maybe you should start a blog of your own... -
Brad:
I agree with you to a certain extent. I knew when I ranted, I would get some comments sticking up for Nate as one of his followers.
The problem we have Brad in the fitness industry is "opinions are like assholes, everyone has one" mentality and as I stated in my previous post, people will argue about fitness in the same way they argue religion and politics, don't you agree?
The reason I made comment about Nate getting his degree, is if you look, that is one of his goals in his original posts, but in TV production, not fitness.
Yet, Nate claims to be published in numerous magazines, but has failed to do exactly what fitness experts, doctors mind you, by getting his college degree in fitness, followed by a regputable PT cert, wich according to NCCA, the top three are ACSM, NASM, and NSCA..............of which Nate has none.
Go read the past investigation in Men's Health September 2005 about "unqualified personal trainers" and issues in the industry.
You see Brad, although Nate has a following because he was smart enough to get into the blogging game, it doesn't make the guy an expert. Does it make him a savvy entrepreneur or businessman, maybe.
You see, in the world of MLM and SEO, which many fitness information marketers are all over the place, especially in blog world, putting out FITNESS INFORMATION as fitness bloggers are doing, doesn't make them resident experts.
I am not the only guy who has come to Nate's blog and questioned his experience or background. Go take a look.
You are right, if my opinion on him sounds belittling, then I should tone it down.
But, in answering his question about New Years resolutions, I was only offering constructive criticism and recommendations as how this young man can be taken more seriously on a bigger platform other than blogs.
If he gets paid for blogging or being published, more power to him..............my point was more about what Nate stated, using time or life in a more productive manner.
If Nate cannot take constructive criticism when he reads my comments, then hey, I guess being 24yrs old, he has a lot of growing up to do..............but I will venture to guess that Nate has thick skin and he doesn't need you or any of his blog followers sticking up for him.
The problem with our industry is there is no regulating and if you find the old article in Mens Health, take a look for yourself. Too many people out here today call themselves experts, when in fact all they have is a high school diploma and mediocre fitness certification...........next thing they are blogging, going to all these get rich quick fitness summits, paying stupid money on coaching, for what...........to fill the freakin pockets of the fitness information scammers..............that is what I hope Nate learns in 2010 and runs far, far, away from and gets real credentials if he wants to stay in the fitness arena.
So I guess we agreee to disagree and we can have our own opinion here. -
My bad on the previous post Brad, I thought the Nate on the first post was Nate Green saying his goal was to teach TV production at college level, wrong Nate.
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What?
He has a cert from the NCSM as far as I know. Also, he's not a trainer anymore. He's a writer.
As a college student, I honestly don't see what the world-shattering importance of the classes I take is. You forget most of the things you learn.
Basically, you spend a significant amount of your time trying to meet people, mack on girls, and get drunk on the weekends.
Bottom line; not a necessity. -
The simple truth is that I have a damn good time helping guys become better, whether it's through fitness or lifestyle advice.
And I'm certainly qualified for both of those. :)
Thanks for stopping by, Tom.
-Nate
PS - This gave me an interesting topic for a blog. We'll see what I come up with. -
The World According to Tom:
If you didn't purchase a certificate from a "respectable" organization (respectable according to whom? An "inner circle" of the academia that decided they knew more than anyone else, and therefore should be able to determine the credibility of others?), then you MUST be part of a pyramid scheme.
Well said. Remind me not to take the classes you teach on reality. -
@Brad:
Well bud, I take it you are in that group of young men that believe folks don't need to go to college, right?
So, you think the world of academia is a scam? What about all those folks with PhD behind their name in Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, or other books?
All the real players in the world of fitness, and I am not talking about trainers with just a couple years experience who get connected by going to seminars or workshops, I mean the guys you and I read about in all the major fitness magazines.
They have both strong academic backgrounds and years in the trenches of training themselves or their clients, athletes - pros, college, or high school. Every person that calles themselves an expert, needs both - academics and actual hands on training in fitness...........one without the other is useless.
Oh, don't get me started on being able to LEAD or MOTIVATE..............you can't train people or teach people if you don't know how to deal with people either.
Shit dude, I don't even think I am an expert or know it all. I still have room to grow, both academically and in the trenches. I have the Masters, the Cert, but more training, techniques, and knowledge in physiology, kinesiology, and overall exercise science I want to gain in 2010 and on.
I have over 16+ years experience in fitness, group exericse, instructing and never once have I knocked a guy for going to college, never. What about guys like Dr. John Berardi, or some of Mr. Green's mentors he has mentioned like Roberston or Crosgrowe........they all have the academic and hands on experience.
So, like I have stated before and want to be clear.............I think Mr. Green has the drive, entrepreneurial spirit, and overall motivation to succeed with his career, I don't doubt that..............I just have a problem with guys blogging about things when they obviously got to where they got to based on WHO THEY KNOW, not WHAT THEY KNOW.
Do you understand yet??
Sorry dude, you cannot convince me that a guy like Nate Green or other writers or fitness trainers don't need college? I can see if you are from the school of hard knocks or running the street, but the REALITY is Brad, there are many scams in the fitness industry and what you and other blog followers here don't realize is, it is running rampant.
The only way to differentiate between quality fitness trainers, fitness experts, etc....is that they have a high level of education in the world of health and fitness, have countless hours in the field as aforementioned in my previous blog post about what an "expert" is or isn't.
So, unless you can convince me otherwise, I will not be blogging again............I just hope that thinks about his future on a real tip and goes back to get his degree in Journalism or Exercise Physiology, or whatever academics he needs to help him down the road.
For all you young guys in college, keep going...........for all you blog followers not in college or don't think they need it, go back, trust me, it will make you a better person.
Isn't that what Nate Green is here on this blog to do, make folks better or to help them?
For some reason, you young folks or web based finatics feel you don't need to have an education to be an expert or that if some dude has a few years under their belt and starts writing or blogging, you all believe the hype.
Like I stated before, if Nate is around in 10-15 years and blows up in the industry with fitness writing or has a huge lifestyle column, I will be the first dude in the next decade to say "MY BAD" and eat my words.
BTW, is it safe to assume, you are a Nate Green follower and believe everything he writes or do you have your own opinion on what is right or wrong in the fitness world...........or do you just make a blog comment with no facts to back up your own arguments?
I don't believe it's the WORLD ACCORDING TO TOM..................but I do believe what I previously posted. Mr. Green, regardless of his age, should have more experience with fitness or lifestyle before saying he is more than qualified. -
Dear Tom,
It's a little sad that someone of your "experience" is relegated to slinging mud in the comment section of a successful journalist's blog.
Unless your last name is Venuto, I suggest you put the same sort of effort into your career as you have into these garrulous, pompous and ignorant posts.
Best of luck.
-Eric -
Wow!!! Some novels on here today. Guess I will spout my opinion as well. College doesn't mean jack shit in and of itself. I have a Masters degree and wouldn't dare use it to automatically assume my superiority. Funny thing is, college taught me that NOTHING is black and white and EVERYTHING is somewhere in between. While I do agree w/ old man Tom about not blindly following someone's advice and making up one's own mind. The majority of the rest of his post translated as -
*Old grizzled Tom opens front porch door, shakes fist and yells - "GET OFF OF MY LAWN !!!!!" -
@ Mr. Tom
Mr. Tom there is a reason Nate's blog is successful and he has built up a strong passionate following willing to back him up. Simply, he's not a arrogant douche bag like yourself. I was going to try and keep this mature, but your use of "Dude" "Cert" and ................................. makes you an open target for just being the biggest cock-sucker this blog has seen. Let's remember if it wasn't for the open forum you wouldn't be able to run your mouth and profess to be cleaning up the fitness industry. In my humble opinion Nate is doing more good for the industry than folks like yourself.
See in order for people to want to learn and grow they must have someone willing to push them and give them new ideas yet at the same time bouncing ideas and practices off of one another. In other words Nate is approachable. He's not sitting there professing from behind a bunch of "certs" he's there with all the people on his blog learning, growing and most importantly having fun. I'm sure I'd learn from Nate while sitting at a bar drinking a fine beer or a great bottle of wine as he would learn from me and my experiences. Look the reading rainbow guy didn't teach kids to read he got them interested, in turn they went off on their own picked up some books and read. I'll take you seriously when Tom whatever the fuck your last name is is published in a major publication. Till then I'll keep reading Nate Green on T-Nation and in Men's Health.
So hey dude, congrats on buying all of those certs and officially being the biggest dick head this side of thenategreenexperience.com. I'll reiterate my previous point, I think you owe Nate a great deal of thanks because if it wasn't for this blog you wouldn't have an open forum for running your over certified and arrogant mouth.
Best of luck dude................................................................................................
J.C. -
YES! oh man I must say i THOROUGHLY enjoyed reading what Tom had to say and then everyone's feedback on it. I personally, it goes without saying, am on Nate's side 100% but this was just entertaining as hell to read. At first I was curious as to whether Nate was gonna backlash but this was better he doesn't have to. I am looking forward to your post about this. It should be incredible.
Oh one last note. its ALWYN COSGROVE not CROSGROWE as Tom proceeded to write in his latest post.
ouch. im not sayin..... im just sayin. :-) -
Why do you have to be certified in order to have credibility? People always love to argue that point. Let's face it, how many of us have gone to college, gotten a degree and remembered all or most of the material that was thrown at us in classes that lasted a short period of time? My experience in college tells me people do what they can to pass the class, to quickly get the degree and to leave collage as fast as possible, instead of having a passion for the material and trying to understand it. I'm not saying people with certifications aren't qualified, but I am saying some people overrate certifications to the point where you have to be certified in order to discuss their subject. This is flat out wrong thinking and most likely just a route people take when they're losing an argument. How about instead of arguing certifications, argue that actual points at hand. If someone can present a valid argument, and all you have to say is "you don't have the certifications to argue this," that just shows me you don't have the knowledge to respectively respond back.
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Tom, I'm not quite sure why you are saying all these points to Nate. This blog of his doesn't look like a place where all Nate talks about is training specifics. He's a good writer and his accomplishments so far have been what a lot of similar guys want to accomplish, thus a lot of us look up to him. That is why this site is called "the Nate Green experience." Nate talks more about his mentality in life, and people like to read that. He'll throw in some training tips he's learned from the best in the field, but like I said this isn't really a specific training website.
While I'd say most of us agree with some those points you said, they seem to be more about criticizing Nate and trying to tell him what he should do with his life. From your first post you claim he should do this, this and this. Maybe these aren't Nate's goals for now, who knows, do you know what he wants to do with his life? -
Steve nailed it. Thanks to all for the comments!
-Nate -
Goals for 2010:
- to try and get in a full anaconda protocol dose without feeling nauseated ;)
For real though
Get to the next weight class in powerlifting (181), continue to be injury free in the gym, and add 30lbs to my best deadlift.
btw Nate, your site is great... and the layout is very catchy/professional. Kudos! -
Great post Nate!
Really got me thinking..
My personal goals for this year:
- Gain 35lbs.
- Get over 80% in my ATAR (Australian High-School score that gets you into Uni).
- Not miss a workout unless I'm sick.
- Get a job.
- Put in best effort for all assessments.
- Keep my room clean.
- Always be organised.
That's my goals! -
@Tom
Tom, I'm a co-worker of Nate's at TMUSCLE and although he didn't ask me to help defend him, I feel that I gotta step in to address a few of the points you posted.
First, I actually agree with you to an extent that the fitness industry is often dominated by prolific networkers that have no real substance (academic, professional accreditation, or experience).
But to say that having a Phys Ed. or Kinesiology degree or a CSCS somehow makes you a better trainer is absolute bullshit. Further, suggesting having a Journalism or English degree makes you a better writer is even greater bullshit.
How can I support my opinion? Because I have several of those degrees and then some (yeah, I'm old) and I can tell you Nate's work is spot on.
Experience, whether it's writing, training, or living life if by far the greatest teacher.
I'm not saying professional training isn't valuable- I'm proud of every diploma, degree, and certification I've ever acquired- but to suggest that the key to being more accomplished is to simply spend more in the classroom is just plain wrong.
The CSCS was challenging; I studied hard and learned quite a bit. But I learned TONS more actually training people, athletes, and attending courses with guys like Poliquin. Experience was the greatest teacher.
Same with the writing side. An English degree was rewarding- I can discuss 20th century literature with my geek friends. And Journalism was interesting- I wrote and edited my ass off- but neither was as effective a teacher as actually writing for a living. Experience wins again.
I guess my point is that while you might question the value of opinion's without academic support, I would counter that opinion's without experience are far less useful.
Plus, student loans suck. -
Goal: National Champion: Wrestling
Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist in Greco or Freestyle
and
lead a life that I wont regret -
Goal: National Champion: Wrestling
Olympic Wrestling Gold Medalist in Greco or Freestyle
and
lead a life that I wont regret -
Just because you have a degree or a certification doesn't make you a qualified trainer. It's a starting point, and experience counts for a whole lot. I have one trainer who has lost 225 pounds and spent the last 20+ years motivating people to get healthy and stay fit. He is Certified but his 20 years of fitness and training leave strong impressions on our clients.
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Well, my new year's resolution for 2011 are the ff:
1. Got to improve my training regimen
2. Spend more time with my family and minimizing workload to decrease mental fatigue.
And lastly,
3. Being optimistic for the coming of new year. Ruthlessly tore out negative thoughts for my well-being. -
I've learned to replace my end of the day Facebook visit ( ya how did I ever fall into that time trap??!! ) with a cup of tea and a good book. Something I used to "believe" I didnt have time for..
Great points Nate! -
There are pros and cons for all these arguments...
I read Bryan's comments, and I am also "old" with a college degree (by the way, on a friendly note, there is no apostrophe on the plural of 'opinion'). I have to say, there are a lot of benefits to a lot of people for getting a degree, but not everyone had to get one. If you are just getting one because you feel you have to and you can successfully teach yourself so don't see the point, then don't bother. A person has to feel a purpose when doing something for it to be worth it. Last time I looked, there were tons of free knowledge websites online where you can educate yourself for free!
I personally have only used mine to get a single job that I had only for two years. BUT... depending on the circle you are in, you may need one if only for respect when a person does not know you well enough to know your qualifications and experience. It opens doors and shows that you had the tenacity to accomplish a somewhat lengthy goal. It's not always about the knowledge and you can say there is value in training yourself to do difficult tasks (cramming for exams, meeting deadlines, memorizing huge amount of information in a small amount of time, the politics of having a boss who is your professor, and so on)
There are some geniuses around that didn't get one and are well spoken, literate, and attained wealth without one. On the other hand, I am a parent of a high-school child, and I am afraid high school does not guarantee literacy anymore. If you are not literate, YOU WILL NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY ANYONE THAT MATTERS IN YOUR CAREER (unless you write for the facebook-using audience that is also illiterate, but one day you will find 'texting' quite juvenile). My daughter does not want to go to high school, or even college, because she reads and writes on a post-college level and doesn't see the need, but who will take her seriously later as a high school dropout, even if she is a genius? She would have to accomplish something great, and it is possible, but it is a gamble. By the way, there are some people that do have college degrees that scrape by and still are not fully educated in the way that used to be standard. I got my degree before computers, and we had to hand-write papers. Maybe that is the key? The bottom line is: if you decide to skip college, make sure you read a lot of great books and write a lot to ensure you are literate and can present yourself in a professional manner. There are a lot of people that are smart out there in various fields, but when I see them misspell words or use incorrect grammar, it reduces my opinion of them. And if you don't have the "knack" for writing but have great skills elsewhere and want to write about them, hire an editor! This is a lot more inexpensive than you may think (elance, etc...).
Good work on the blog and I wish you success. -
I love this concept. I hear your voice in my head all the time now, asking me this question. And it always hits me a lot harder than just "Do I have the time for that?"
Wicked, buddy. -
I feel like you could probably teach a class on how to make a great blog.
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props yo
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good post!
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Inspirational motivational sensational.
2012 is the year I achieve financial independence (never work a job again), travel the world, chase girls and work from my laptop. It's not 4 hour work week but it's close :)
If anybody wants to know how I'm getting there, check out my "success story"!
http://www.freedombusinessblog.com/chris_success_story -
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COMMENT RULES: Critical posts are fine, but if you're rude I'll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your personal name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. But most of all, have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Tim Ferriss for the inspiration.)
Nate 6:51pm Dec 29, 2009