My Photo Shoot
January 23, 2012 by danny · 6 Comments
This past weekend I did a “photo shoot.” Well, kind of. It wasn’t the type of photo shoot where I went in to see a professional photographer and get make-up applied, a spray tan, and air-brushed every which way possible. Although my wife did do a good job of taking the pictures and catering to my needs (she fed me grapes between shots).
Why did I have these pictures taken, you ask? Well, because I’m a trainer and a fitness writer – and a number of times I’ve had different people (for an interview for a website or for an on-line magazine) ask me to send some “fitness pics” over to them to include in the article/interview. I read all the time and when reading another trainer’s article/interview I often see great shots of them working out and/or showing off their physique. When I get asked by an editor to send my pics I start scrabbling/panicking… “Shondra, where did you save that one picture in the computer?!? I can’t find any good ones. What do I do!?!” So, I figured I better get some professional-ish shots done so this is no longer an issue.
Why I’ve Been Hesitant To Do This
I knew I needed to get these pictures done, for the reason I mentioned above. But I’ve been hesitant to get these pictures taken and to post them on my website and all over the Internet. Hesitant? Yes, that’s right. The reason is simple… I don’t want to make it all about me. When I train clients it is about them (both in person and on-line). It’s their time to get in the gym and get work done; their time to work to look better and feel better. But, as people have pointed out to me, “Danny, you need to sell yourself. It’s not ’showing off’ to post a picture without a shirt on. You are just showing people that you practice what you preach. Fitness is your profession.”
And I get that. I’ve had a number of friends/clients say to me over the years; “I always had respect for your knowledge. But it wasn’t until after I saw you without a shirt on, that I realized that I am working with someone that REALLY takes his job and this lifestyle seriously. That motivated me to want to work harder in the gym, eat better in the kitchen, and just take better care of my body/mind.” (Note: I am NOT saying that I have the best physique in the world. But I think I’ve worked hard enough and consistent enough over the years to earn the respect of at least some people).
This is just human nature I guess. If I were to “hand over my money” to an investor, I wouldn’t be happy if I heard that he has filed for bankruptcy four times in his life so far… not good for business! Likewise, if one is thinking about working with a trainer, they are more likely to do so if they know the trainer practices what (s)he preaches. So, I’ve decided to “put myself out there” a little more. All of this led to my “photo shoot” …
Reminder For Me
I’m usually a pretty strict guy. As I’ve mentioned before, I definitely find time to incorporate some of the finer things in life (beer, pizza, peanut M&M’s), but I like to “pick my spots.” In other words, I try to limit the time in which I subject myself to such foods. However, from time to time I find myself indulging more than I should. But when I set the date with my wife to get these pictures taken, I was money with my eating. It wasn’t very hard to walk by a cookie and NOT grab it. I made extra sure to prepare just the right food in advance. Etc. etc. What I am saying is this; taking photos of yourself is very motivating. I remember reading that John Berardi has often encouraged his clients to schedule a photo shoot because it is such a strong motivator and this will help you achieve your goals that much quicker. Keep this in mind (even if this “photo shoot” is just between you and your husband/wife).
Reminder #2
We are our own worst critic. There were a couple shots that Shondra thought were really good. While my response might of have been something like, “are you kidding me!?! Delete that picture. My 3-year old niece’s triceps look bigger than mine do in this picture!” If channelled in the right way, this can be a good thing… as a motivator to improve. If channelled the wrong way this can be terrible… causing someone to stop altogether and give up. Just remember that’s it’s ok to be hard on yourself, but channel it in the right direction!
So there you go… my photo shoot, the reasons for the shoot, and the power of pictures for motivation.
What event or occasion had you especially strict in order to reach your physique goal(s)? Did use the camera to “help get you there?” If taking pictures didn’t motivate you as well as you thought it would, what has worked better for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below…
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Preparation For “Beach Season”
May 23, 2011 by danny · Leave a Comment
With Memorial Day, trips to the beach, and pool parties right around the corner, it’s time to get lean. I’ve spent the last ~ 6 months trying to add a few lbs of muscle, even if it meant I added a little fat in the process. But, my mind-set has shifted – now is the time to shed any extra body fat in attempt to let the muscles show through. If you’ve been reading my work for any period of time, you know that I am the guy that has a VERY difficult time adding size, but can get lean relatively easily. So I’ve only just had to make a few simple adjustments. Simple as in; simple in theory, difficult in practice. To get lean, all I have to do is decrease my calories a touch and maybe add in a little cardio (if I am strict enough with the nutrition, I really don’t need any cardio, unless I’m trying to get uber lean).
But this is still difficult because like most any other human being out there, I’ll be craving pizza, desserts, beer, etc. I find that I crave this stuff less when I can have it – like during the winter months when I’m trying to add a few pounds. Don’t get me wrong, I still eat mostly clean in the winter, just not as clean. But when I’m trying to get ripped and eating really clean, I seem to crave some of the foods that I mentioned above. Like the song says: “You can’t always get what you want…”
I’m no robot, so I will make sure to enjoy life and treat myself to a beer(s) and pepperoni pizza from time to time. But I just have to “pick my spots,” making sure my “cheats” are few and far between. After all, goals and behaviors must match, right!
As you can see in the picture above, my abs are showing, but I have a little excess flab to remove. So, that is my goal right now: get as lean as possible without muscle loss. It’s going to be extra challenging since our twins are about to enter the world. Sounds like a good challenge though. And who doesn’t like a good challenge! 
Below is what my nutrition looked like yesterday…
-Oatmeal + Blueberries + Protein Powder + Almond Butter + 1 Fish Oil Capsule
-Ground Turkey + Sweet Potato (just a little bit) + Broccoli
-JayRobb Bar
-Beef + Sweet Potato + Broccoli + 1 tsp liquid fish oil (I’m currently using the orange flavored by Carlson)
-Beef/Chicken + Broccoli
-2 pieces bread (sprouted grain) + almond butter + chicken + 1 scoop “Superfood” (a veggie/fruit powdered mix)
-Steak + Cauliflower
Oh yeah, a ton of water all day.
I try to make sure my beef is grass-fed as much as possible, and I buy organic fruits/veggies as much as possible as well. And by the way, this was a non-training day.
I can get away with eating a decent amount of carbs/cals and still get pretty lean. But as June approaches I will probably reduce them a touch. And probably increase my cardio a bit. You know, from once every 4 months to one every week or two. 
That’s about it for now. You all have a great day and go stock up that kitchen with healthy foods, as preparation may be the biggest key in getting that sexy beach body!
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