What a great event and a great time. Well worth it. Andy, the guy who organized the event, put on a good show.
Almost everyone there was a current or future trainer of some sort, it seemed. As a fitness enthusiast, I was definitely in the minority.
I wanted to share my take on shelling out money for an event like this. I've been to two major fitness events: JP Fitness Summit '06 and this one. Each had a vastly different take on things.
JP's was focused on YOU and your own fitness. It's obvious why you should want to go to JP's Summit.
The L.A. Strength and Performance Nutrition Seminar was focused on how to train your clients. So, why would I go to this one?
Obviously, I did some reading between the lines and found some value for myself in the content. How sneaky of me, eh? But actually, there was tremendous and obvious value to the individual fitness enthusiast and fitness professional, alike. No reading between the lines was required.
Was it worth it? Absolutely. Let me tell you what I got for my $300.
1. Physical Coaching. Once again, my poor and obvious flexibility problems scored me personal, one on one attention (read training) from the fitness professionals there. I have to thank Dan John for tricking me and the rest of the crowd into overhead squatting without us knowing we were trying to overhead squat. I could not put a bar above my head without falling over, before. Makes me curious how he tricked his kids into cleaning their rooms and taking out the trash...
I wasn't the only one, by the way. Everywhere you looked, Eric, Dan, Alwyn, Mike, John, Julia, and Jesse were seen helping people with questions on form, alternatives to lifts that they found problematic, etc. No quick little tips, either. They were spending quality time.
2. Nutrition Coaching. John Berardi's talk was great, and when I went to him with some questions and a plan of action, he sat down with me, listened and offered suggestions. In fact, he sat at a table and answered our questions for several hours, post presentation. It was like the line for Star Wars, on opening day, to talk to the good Doctor.
3. Advice. I personally spoke with Eric, Mike, Alwyn, and John about my training goals and "areas of opportunity." They each had interesting takes on things and I'm still absorbing it all. The interesting part is that they really do agree on that 90% that Alwyn often talks about. Even more interesting is hearing them give the same advice, but with their own personal flair on the whys and why nots. Also, although the message was often the same, their methods of getting that message out there was different and helped it to hit home is a slightly different way.
4. Monetary Investment. I will see no monetary return, per se. Yet, in a way, this same advice would have cost a lot more from the many trainers that I would have had to pay for that advice. And, how the hell would I have even been able to find local trainers of this caliber?
5. Personal Investment. Never underestimate the value that you will place on advice that you pay for. Free advice is great, especially if you know that the source is good, but the perceived value is less than the value of something that you shelled out for. I paid $300 to learn how to reach my goals. I went to L.A. frustrated with my recent lack of progress toward my goals. I came away with a figurative ton of information to help myself.
6. ART (Active Release Techniques(r)). If you've been a doubter on the value of something like this, this is a great chance to see how great it can be. It's rare to actually "fix" an issue with one ART session, but it actually does fix you for the day. Immediate relief. Immediate improved mobility. Jesse even cured Nate's headache, on the spot. Jesse, Eric, and Mike did a good job of explaining who a few scheduled ART sessions, then periodic followups can really do wonders. This is NOT like that Chiro who "needs" you to come in 3 times a week...
7. Stuff. By shear random chance, I won EC's manual in the raffle! Huge score! Can I bank on this kinda thing in advance. No. But, I've got to throw it in there. I wanted to buy it. I would have got it at a discount, there at the seminar, so there would have been added value, either way. There were plenty of other deals to be had, too. Plus, the freebies and samples...
8. People. Chris (Kuri), Danny (DKing), Kevin (Kevin Larrabee), and I (Roland/Lost Dog) had a chance to hang out together again. It was great to see some old friends again. If you're not shy (like I am), you'll have all sorts of chances to network (if you're in the profession) and make some new friends (if you're a regular Joe).
Over the next few days, I've got a lot of reading, thinking, and planning to do. Set my long and short term goals, make my long and short term plan, establish some measurement criteria, and figure out how to best get my behavior in line with my goals. Almost like a business plan.
So, you add up all the "stuff" and realize that you come away with so much more than the sum of the parts. I came away highly motivated. Highly.
By the way, if you get a chance, take another listen to some of these folks, with Kevin and John, on the FitCasts. I know Eric's been on, as has Alywn. In particular, take another listen to Dan John. Is he a fitness professional or motivational speaker? Everything out of his mouth was pure gold. Great advice and a great attitude. He may be the happiest man on Earth.
So, in conclusion, if you're passionate about fitness and nutrition, I encourage you to go to one of these seminars, sometime. You won't regret it.
Thanks so much for that summary LD. Great stuff! It sounds like it was well worth the time and expense. I'm glad you gained so much from it and your excitement will excite all of us as well.
I am jealous, but I guess I have a pretty busy month coming up. I'll be at Ryan Lee's bootcamp at the end of this month, and two weeks later I'll be at Staley's summit/bootcamp.
Quite a roster. Wish I could have been there to see all of those presenters (I've always heard great stuff about DanJon so it is good to hear more confirmation of that), and I would have also really enjoyed hanging out with you, Chris, Danny, and Kevin. How many people showed up? Did anyone film it?
I have not slept in 27 hours. The guy next to me snored all fucking night on the flight home. I am on 2 monster drinks, diet of course. Now I have to go to class.... I feel like I am going to vomit.
Yes that is my subtle way of saying I am slightly jealous.
Glad you all had fun and that you won some stuff LD being a winner kicks ass!
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
I'll add that Alwyn was very generous with his time and talk with everyone and lend his unique insight into every aspect of fitness you can think of. He was also kind enough to offer some great discounts on not only his own products but offered to pay $10 out of his own wallet for anyone that wanted Hartman & Robertson's new I/O DVD. That really says alot about how much Alwyn cares about this industry.
I had a great time hanging out with everyone too of course. Roland missed it but you'll soon be seeing a vidcast of Eric Cressey hosting his own show live from the hotel lobby. I think the guy has got a future
Kevin - make better travel arrangements next time man hahaha
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Thanks, Roland, for taking the time to fill us in on your weekend. Glad you got so much out of this. What an experience.
__________________
"Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right." - Henry Ford
"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss
"Life is no brief candle to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." - George Bernard Shaw
btw, taking Danny surfing right now. Will post pics later provided the men in grey suits don't get him
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I told Alwyn to kick ass & make everyone look bad. I refuse to believe anything else transpired.
Just kidding. I personally am not familiar with the teaching style of the other presenters, but that should change in the near future. I'm looking forward to attending the next one if scheduling (and sleep) permits.
Sounds like you guys had a blast. When I win the lottery, I'll be at the very next one!
__________________
Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
Well I'm afraid Danny's future has been decided. Once he tried surfing and got a look at the girls out in the water today it's all over. Had to drag him out of the car at the airport...
(Alwyn I'll accept a 10% cut of what Danny brings in for you )
Alwyn, it was a real pleasure to finally meet you.
Now excuse me but I've got to go back through all my notes while it's still fresh!
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I'm happy to relive it for you all. I am looking forward to seeing Eric and Kevin do that interview. That should be interesting.
By the way, Alwyn is a riot. Funny as *&$%! I'm assuming it's on purpose.
One part that I failed to mention, was Julia Ladewski. She talkled about training female athletes. This was the least applicable to me... I don't train anybody, and I'm not a female. Yet, I was riveted. It was so interesting to hear a woman's take, to a majority male audience, on other women and girls. She was pretty funny, too.
It's kinda like being at the doctor's office, with all the good magazines taken. So you pick up a women's mag and flip through. When they call your name, you think, "Darn. I kinda want to finish this article..."
My flight was delayed quite a bit, and it's already shaping up to be a hectic week, but I wanted to chime in and say thanks to all those who came out. It was great to put faces with names (or internet personas, if you will). Kevin was a good traveling buddy and dinner on Sunday night with the crew was a good time. I hope you all had as much fun as I did.
We filmed both my presentations, both of Mike's, and Julia's. I'll only be selling my Day 2 presentation, though (with Jesse Burdick). I filmed Day 1 to see how it went in case I want to use it on the Perform Better tour next year after some fine-tuning.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to inform you that I saw Jessica Simpson at the airport and you didn't. Ha!
Too much information...and was Jessica asking about me?
__________________
Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
I just wanted to say how great it was to meet all the guys and chat.
Dinner was a blast, and I know I've got some great material for my article.
I look forward to speaking with all of you again in the near future...except for that Cressey guy. He tried to steal my mojo at the Chili's bar. Bastard.
L.A. Strength and Performance Nutrition Seminar
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