My Gym Has Changed To A New Location
August 24, 2012 by danny · 2 Comments
We are moving to a new house this Sunday. Why is that important in regards to training? Well, I’ve been training my clients out of my basement. With the move, that will no longer be the case. As of yesterday, I started training my clients in downtown Rockton. My friend/client, Rich Spanton owns a nice building off of Main Street in Rockton that currently has space available, so with the help of my dad and my friend, Donn, we moved all of my equipment over there on Wednesday night.
About one year ago I started off with the bare-minimum as far as equipment, but have since added and will continue to do so as time goes on. Here is what the home gym looked like the 1st few weeks after moving from California back to Illinois…
And here are some pictures that I took yesterday of the new location at Rich’s “blue building” in downtown Rockton…
Daxton working on the TRX straps.
Daxton preparing for some dumbbell rows and Capri setting up for some kettlebell swings.
This location will serve as my “in-between” spot, until I find my “dream spot” as my permanent location somewhere in the Rockton area.
I’m very excited to be training out of my home, and in a space with some more room and HIGH ceilings! 
Anyway, I’ll be here at the location for the next few months, so if/when you walk by the “blue building” on Main Street, come and check it out.
If you know anyone that may be interested in giving me a visit, please forward them this blogpost. I appreciate it.
Have a great weekend everyone… enjoy week 1 of high school football!
Motivation…
May 7, 2012 by danny · Leave a Comment
If you’re in a rut or just need a little pick-me-up, hopefully this helps…
-As I stated in this blog post, I’m currently working around an injury. No need to stop training when injured (in 99% of the cases). There is always something you can do. Stop the excuses!
-Just Do It!
-Physiques that make your realize you can always do better…
Guys…
Ladies…
-“Commitment leads to action. Action brings your dream closer.”
Marcia Wieder
-THE key ingredient while training is HARD WORK! …
-“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” – Muhammad Ali
Now go make it happen …
Bret Contreras Has Issued, “The Sexy Challenge”
February 2, 2012 by danny · Leave a Comment
Bret Contreras made up “The Sexy Challenge” earlier this week and then filmed himself performing the challenge. He posted it on his website and challenged his readers to give it a go to see how many reps they could achieve. I’m all for a challenge, so I’m going to be doing this later tonight. I know it’s going to be hard, and that I’m going to be sore for dayssss – which is why I’m not a fan of performing these types of challenges too often as they can end up messing with your regular training, thus leading to a set-back. For example, last year I did sumo deadlifts for as many reps as possible and my adductors, glutes, and hamstrings were VERY sore for about 3 days.
But as long you pick your spots and only do these kind of challenges on the rare occasion, they can be a lot of fun without any negative consequences. So what is the Sexy Challenge? I’ll let Bret tell you …
-Bodyweight Front Squats X AMRAP (As Many Reps As Possible)
-Bodyweight RDLs X AMRAP
-Bpdyweight Incline BB Press X AMRAP (females use 1/2 of your BW for this test)
-Bodyweight Hip Thrusts X AMRAP
-Chin-Ups X AMRAP
-Perform (and film – for proof!) as many reps as possible and they must be completed within 1 hour.
I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ll film later on this evening and post my results tomorrow. I’ll post it below on this same page so be sure to check back to see what my number is. I’m predicting over 100. We shall see…
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Alright, I’m back today with the results. In case you missed it yesterday, above I explained what the sexy challenge is all about. Yesterday evening I performed it, and here is what went down…
Notes
Front Squats – I was pretty happy with my number (16). But quad/leg strength/endurance was definitely NOT the limiting factor. I rarely, if ever perform higher rep front squats. What stopped me from achieving more than 16 reps was the fact that it started to become very hard to keep my wrists in the extended position. And it was tough to keep my elbow high for that long of a period, thus the bar started to fall forward a bit.
RDLs - I figured I wouldn’t need clips because of the fact that I’ve done these a million times and keeping the bar horizontal would pose no problem… so I thought! I actually think that the plate starting sliding a bit when I unracked the bar off of the pins. And then from there, it slid more and more until it was at the very edge of the barbell. While 50 is still a pretty good number, I definitely had a bunch left in me.
Incline Press - Nothing of huge note here. 13 reps, not bad.
Hip Thrusts – I was happy with 28 reps. As I noted in the video, it was ALL booty and NO hamstring. This a good thing as quite off people use too much hamstring and low back when trying to activate their gluteal muscles.
Chin-Ups - About a year ago I tested myself to see how many chins I could get, and I got 22. That was in a fresh state, so I was pretty happy to get 20 reps after performing the other 4 exercises.
Overall, I’m pretty happy with 127 reps, but I really wish that RDL gaffe wouldn’t have happened. Damn! Oh well. It was a good challenge by Mr. Contreras and in a weird way, it was fun! I won’t be doing another challenge like this for a few months I’m sure (for the reason mentioned above), but whatever challenge I pick… bring it!!!
Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy the Superbowl! I’m not sure which way to go, but will you all do me a favor and root for heads on the coin toss? I’d appreciate the good vibes. Of course, I’m rooting for heads because I bet on that every year… for entertainment purposes only! 
Connect on twitter – @DannyMcLarty
Fitness Magazines – Here Is Why You Want To Work With Me…
January 30, 2012 by danny · 2 Comments
Dear Sir or Madam,
I’m Danny McLarty and I want to you let you know all of the reasons that you want me to write about health and fitness for your audience. I’ve been a Fitness Coach and Strength and Conditioning Coach for about 15 years now. Over the course of my career I’ve trained thousands of clients and helped them reach their health and physique goals. My clientele have come to me with a wide range of goals… fat loss, muscle gain, sports performance, rehab from injury, to prepare for physique shows, to prepare for strength competitions (i.e. powerlifting meet) and to simply feel better. This “in the trenches” experience in addition to the countless hours that I spend studying, attending seminars, and reading fitness articles, books, and journals puts me among the elite when it comes to giving my clients and readers the best opportunity to reach their goals.
I’m a, practice what I preach, kind of individual and definitely take great pride in my personal health and physique. Here are some of my pictures from a post I did on my website just last week; “My Photo Shoot.” I believe staying in great shape helps give a fitness coach and writer credibility. And “living the life” is something that has been in me for years and will be the case for the rest of my life.
I am also a “Basketball Skills Coach,” helping players improve their overall game (with an emphasis on dribbling and shooting). Standing 5′7″ and going up against many players standing well over 6 feet tall had many people questioning me and my game over the years. Me and my family would hear rumblings from others that would say; “yeah, he’s pretty good now, but there is no way that he is going to be able to succeed at the next level.” But whenever that “next level” came around, I continued to succeed. I ended up getting a full ride basketball scholarship and in 2007 was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. My “story” has inspired many as I’ve proven to them that hard work and dedication can go along way in achieving your dreams.
Finally, I’ve been published in a number of on-line health, fitness, and basketball magazines. My writing experience will help me continue to put out great work and make you proud to have me on your team.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Danny McLarty
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…
Follow me on twitter.
All Things TRX
January 6, 2012 by danny · 4 Comments
When I moved back to Illinois and started training people out of my home, one of the first things I did was purchase a TRX Suspension Trainer. I’m really glad I did this, because when you are working in a small area, you want to maximize the space you have with minimal equipment. And you can get a ton done with TRX straps. I’ve also seen a number of trainers (and “general fitness enthusiasts”) talk about how handy TRX straps are when traveling – just pop it in your suitcase and you can get a workout in ANYWHERE.
Eric Cressey getting his TRX on while on his honeymoon!
If you train at your house or own a gym, you definitely need to include the TRX Suspension Trainer in your toolbox!
While there are many, many exercises to choose from, I decided to film some of my favorite for you to check out and include in your training programs going forward.
Please note: when I learned now to insert words into my youtube videos in 2011, that was a BIG deal for me. BUT, I still haven’t learned how to add music. Recently, my brother-in-law (Tom) tried to teach me how to do it over the phone. But my computer/technology learning disability was too strong for his good directions. However, in 2012 I will learn this near impossible task! For now though, no music. You’ll just have to enjoy watching me train… because that is VERY enjoyable, right? Right! …
What are some of your favorite TRX exercises? If you haven’t used a TRX yet and are interested in getting one, just click on this link and type in TRX Suspension Training Pro Pack in the search engine.
Happy Training!
2011: The Year That Was…
December 21, 2011 by danny · Leave a Comment
Once again, the end of the year is already here! It’s time to reflect on what we did, what we are proud of, and what we could do better going forward. As a reminder, when you sit down to write your resolutions, focus on your behaviors rather than your goals. For example, if you want to lose 10 pounds by February 14th, write down the behaviors that will help get you there…
1) I will eat 6 + servings of fruits and VEGGIES per day.
2) I will train with weights 3 times per week and get 2 additional cardio sessions in.
3) I will eat (pick your vice) only 1 time per week – max.
Focusing on your behaviors will give you the road map to reach your goals.
2011
2011 was a BIG year for me… life changing! Let’s take a look at some of the bigger events that stood out – both training and non-training.
-In January me and my friend’s Marci and Jason flew down to Arizona for some fun and some education. Marci and I visited Bret Contreras and his garage gym. It was great and we picked up a lot of great information from Bret! I reviewed our time with Bret, here… My Visit With Bret Contreras.
-My favorite interview of the year was the one I did with Jen Comas Keck. She’s one bad ass girl! You can read more about it here… Girl Gone Strong.
-As 2011 kept moving on, Shondra went from pregnant, to VERY PREGNANT!
You'd think there was two in there!
-The BIGGEST day of my life happened on May 27th, 2011 (at 8:02 and 8:03 a.m. – in case you were wondering ) …
-This was a fun little interview I did with the Rockford Register Star.
-I continued my work, writing for FitStudio.
-I became a FitFluential Ambassador. Chief Execute Officer and Founder, Kelly Olexa asked for a blog post directed to those new to fitness. This is what I came up with … Dear Young Fitness Friends.
-I had to say goodbye to a my good friends in California.
Good times. Good friends.
-Although it was hard, I was excited to head back “home” and get our babies closer to family.
The reason we came back to Illinois!
-Da Bears looked great early on. Then Jay Cutler got hurt. Then Da Bears started stinking up the joint. Then I cried.
-Da Bulls showed A LOT of promise and I’m excited about their future. D. Rose is a stud and he just signed a contract extension. I smiled.
-The Cubs picked up Theo Epstein, which has many of us Cub fans really excited. BUT, we are still the Cubs – so I only half smiled.
-After arriving in Illinois, I started training people out of my basement, continued training clients on-line, and have been busy giving basketball lessons and clinics. I continue to add equipment to the basement, but here is what it looked like early on…
-My most “controversial” post/video of the year came when I posted a YouTube video, giving the reasons that I am not a fan of distance running (for most). Check out the video for my more in depth reasoning for this. But the short of it is; running is very high impact and very repetitive. So, the main point is, EXCESSIVE running is what I am not a fan of. However, “excessive,” may actually be less than you think…
I came across this article yesterday called, “America’s Scariest Fitness Trends.” Check out fitness trend #2, as Rachel Cosgrove talks about some of things I mention in the above video.
Below is just one (of an infinite amount of options) example of how to more evenly spread the joint stress throughout the entire body when getting your cardio in. Did I Beat My Previous Time?
-You know that I have to sneak in some basketball. Here’s another basketball article that I wrote for iHoops… “5 Intermediate Strength Training Lifts for Basketball Players”
-I’ve been so busy with life, babies, etc, that I haven’t played much b-ball lately. But I’m back in a league and starting to play a little more again. As I talk about in this post, My Body Is A Mess, I was not smart – the first time coming back to play, I ended up playing on back-to-back days and my body/blisters hated me all week…
My poor blisters!
Oh, and here are a couple updated pictures of Capri and Daxton…
And we had a pretty good deadliftingsession the other day. They struggled with gripping the kettlebell and with mastering the hip hinge, but I think they’ll get it soon enough.
There is a whole lot more that I could include, but I don’t want to make this too long. In 2012 I look forward to helping you all with your health, performance, and physique goals. I look forward to continue spending time with my family and friends. And I look forward to ATTACKING my fitness goals as well! Remember to write down a few of the BEHAVIORS that will lead you to your goals!
Speaking of behaviors and goals, what are yours in 2012? Let me hear them.
Your Healthy Reminder: Don’t Forget This!
November 16, 2011 by danny · Leave a Comment
As I’ve talked about previously, there are a number of reasons to workout and eat healthy…
The hard work is worth it!
-To improve performance
-To look better to attract others
-To look better to feel good and confident about yourself
-The high that often comes from a good, hard training session
-Improve energy
-Reduce stress (this is huge factor for many people!)
-To reduce the risk of all kinds of health problems
Now, the last one I mentioned unfortunately is the an afterthought for many people. But it should be high on the “reason to workout/eat healthy,” list. A couple reminders of why this is so important…
The Real “Main Reason” to Workout – This was a blogpost that I did awhile back talking about a guy that I used to train in California (currently training him on-line). When he came to see me, things looked bleak. His doctor told him that he was 48 seconds (give or take a few weeks) away from developing diabetes. and had a bunch of “red flags” when the doc checked all of his numbers (cholesterol, glucose levels, etc, etc). Anyway, this all GREATLY changed after a few months of good, hard training, and much improved eating.
It’s All Muscle Mark Young talks about how dangerous it is to carry around a bunch of abdominal fat, shows us some scary pictures (like what a “fat” heart looks like), and basically scares the bejesus out of us.
Sometimes fear can be a good thing.
Now, I do want to point out once again – if you are currently not living a very “clean” life, it doesn’t have to miserable and boring to workout and eat healthy. For example, you best believe that I’ll be having some fun with friends and family over Thanksgiving week (i.e. beer will be consumed, mashed potatoes will be consumed, and I plan on eating 4 pumpkin pies… not pieces, pies). Work hard, be disciplined, be consistent, and PICK YOUR SPOTS when it comes time to getting a little crazy. If you hop RIGHT BACK ON the clean living wagon, it’ll be all good. Scroll up and review the benefits of training and a solid nutrition plan, they’re well worth it!
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Follow me on Twitter >>> @DannyMcLarty
A Breakthrough Day For Me!
September 20, 2011 by danny · 2 Comments
This is my second blogpost in one day. I don’t think I’ve ever done that. But I am so pumped about this “breakthrough,” that I had to share it with y’all! My brother in law, Tom Matus, and one of my brothers, Chad, taught me how to “do fancy stuff” on YouTube yesterday. That’s easy you say? Psst, NOT for me!!! I struggle with all things computer/technology. I don’t have that gene that, “gets it.” When I finally figured out e-mail, I thought I was the sh*t! Then I figured out facebook, and twitter, and how to do a few things on my website. And now, I’m starting to OWN YouTube.
Check out what Tom and Chad taught me so far…
Huh? Huh! Did you see that? I included words in the video. How badass am I?!? Before you know it, I’ll go from being terrible, to bad, to below average with this editing thing. #1) If you’re not impressed, there’s something wrong with you! #2) I learned how to juggle in about 3 minutes and you didn’t… so there!
Anyway, thanks for sharing in my breakthrough day, look for more “advanced” YouTube editing in the near future!
Thanks Tom and Chad!
P.S. The leg “finisher” in the above video is no joke. Try it at the end of one of your leg days, and then limp to your car!
The McLarty’s are moving Back To Illinois…
August 8, 2011 by danny · Leave a Comment
Yes, that’s right, the McLarty’s are heading “home.” After nearly an 8 year run in California, we’re going back to Illinois. This is something that we’ve been thinking about for a number of years now, and we’ve just recently made it official. For those of you who don’t know, we have a big family back there, and well, we miss them… as well as our old friends. And when the twins were born, that pushed us over the edge from thinking about moving, to, it’s time to move. We really want them to grow up closer to their Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
With that said, there is quite a bit I’ll miss about the Bay area…
My Experience In California
-Of course, I have to bring up how nice the weather and beautiful scenery is! When I had my friends and family visit from Illinois and Nebraska, they were always blown away with how nice everything is out here.
-I’ll miss…
The relationships that I’ve made with friends…
More beautiful views…
Some of the great memories…
Training my clients/friends/athletes…
And the list goes on. As much as I’ll miss all of the above (and more), I am that much more excited to be close to family again. I can’t wait to get together for holidays with having to fly across the country; I can’t wait to drive just a couple miles down the road to get together with everyone for Bears games; I can’t wait to watch my babies grow up with their cousins; and again, this list goes on and on…
So, my Illinois family and friends, I can’t wait to see you all again!
As for work, I continue my work as a freelance writer, and as far as training goes, that is up in the air right now. I’m considering opening up my own training studio, but that probably won’t happen (if at all) for a couple years. Therefore, just to get started, I’m considering my options working at a local gym or putting equipment in our new house and training people right there. I’ll also continue with basketball lessons. So coaches, parents, and athletes, I look forward to whipping your butt into shape here in the near future!
Just a week away – Illinois here we come!
