RJ hits 1,000 Days in a Row with The Lean Berets 30X30 Challenge

I hit 1,000 days in a row last Sunday of straight exercise. 1,000 days. At least 30 minutes per day. NO excuses.

While my workout Sunday was pretty vicious--1,000 kettlebell swings with a 24kg (30X30 format: 50 minutes=1000 reps @ 20 per minute), many of my previous 999 workouts were not very hard...some were even very slow and easy.

I've learned a lot about myself the last 1,000 days of exercising. I didn't think I could do it at times...the rain, jet lag, late night sessions, heat during summer, STRESS, work, family, my own head games and whining, etc., but I pulled it off despite the challenges along the way.

There are a few take home points worth mentioning. I'll probably be the only person you'll know that exercised 1,000 days in a row, so I hope it's worth noting and that it helps, because as a Wellcoach, I truly want everyone to play. :o)

• Most of the days I did NOT want to exercise. ALL 1,000 days I was glad I did after it was over. This is a powerful statement regarding the chemical response of exercise and movement. Ever wonder why so many Americans are depressed and unhappy today? Maybe it's at least in part related to the fact we don't move enough! NOT ONE DAY did I say, "#@!# I wish I had not done that exercise for 30 minutes!" The power of the mind-body connection ceases to amaze me sometimes. I've talked to other people about this, and they say the same thing. They never regret the exercise once it's over--they are always glad they did it even though they didn't want to do it before they started! The mojo of movement!
• I focused on "doing something" each day--not how hard, how long, or making it complicated. I never kept an exercise journal or used an organized "program" that I had to follow specifically--I just did something each day as dedicated exercise. Nearly 40% of my 1,000 workouts were probably just walking--SLOW! Sure--I did a lot of kettlebell work the last 1.5 years getting ready for my certification, but what got me in the place where I could even take a shot at the KB certification was my daily 30 minutes of exercise the previous months...walking, riding my bike, some yoga, gym workouts, hiking, running, and whatever else I felt like doing at the time.
• 30 minutes per day of exercise is not unreasonable. 40+ years ago, all this might have been a mute point. We didn't need to "put activity back into our lifestyles" because daily activity was already there. Times have changed. Now most of us sit--most if not all day. The best thing you can do for your body and joints is to MOVE...daily. It's that simple. We simply have to start moving again if we are to have a chance at getting healthy again as a nation and controlling healthcare costs.What I hope people will realize is that 5-6 days of exercise per week for the rest of your life is pretty good deal--I can't really think of any significant negative side effects...pretty amazing when you compare that to medications, surgeries, and diseases.

It's been an interesting journey the last 1,000 days. The stress relief alone was worth doing it--additionally I maintained my weight and stayed pretty fit in the process. At age 49, I can still run around and play with my children and do what I want to do. I'm still in the game not on the sidelines!

If you don't exercise--start. If you exercise--don't quit! It's worth the effort to stay active and be an ACTIVE participant in your own healthcare.

So how did I get it all started? The Lean Berets 30X30 Challenge! Check it and report for duty yourself! In health-ALWAYS! Ron Jones, Founder, The Lean Berets

PacifiCare BASTARDS!

PacifiCare just denied my whole family health insurance! BASTARDS! Each one of us individually was not not worth insuring according to them. I'm OUTRAGED! What the hell is going on with what's left of our country? I have one of the healthiest families in America, yet we got denied health insurance! I'm sending PacifiCare to The Lean Berets-Avengers of Health "Firing Squad" NOW!!!
This is NOT the last of it! I've been given this situation to bring LIGHT to the darkness of the screwed up and corrupt "sick" care system of America. Enjoy the pain PacifiCare because that's what you are going to get from me. What complete BS!
Mad as hell, Ron Jones, Co-Founder, The Lean Berets-Avengers of Health!

Organic Throwdown!

What in the world is going on here?! OK, you say you want to change the nation, but you keep getting The Lean Berets angry. Are you kidding me? We’ve been waiting, AND expecting this to happen. We didn’t need to read the latest story in the news bashing organic, because it is the same old story we’ve been told ever since we flipped the bird to conventional food! We never did, currently don’t, and surely never WILL give a heck about clinical studies on organic vs. conventional. It’s not about the nutritional value, it’s not about research; it’s about common sense.

You see, The Lean Berets are not concerned about the nutritional value of a conventional peach as opposed to an organic peach. To us, it makes sense to eat food that has not been touched with chemicals or pesticides. Oh, for those of you who might not be keeping a close eye on the scoreboard, your fruits and vegetables are grown, raised and bathed in chemicals and pesticides from the time they are seeds until the time those seeds grow into trees and bare fruit. The fruits and veggies then make their way to your plate, your hands, your mouth and eventually to the pit of your stomach. If you want our opinion, that's some pretty scary business. The likes of which The Lean Berets want to put an end to!

The kind of insurance policy that we are willing to put money into revolves around a neat, clean, pesticide-free world filled to the brim with organic fruits and vegetables. These articles that bash organic, gingerly dance around pesticides and chemicals. Sure they mention them, but they try to sweep them under the rug like it's no big deal. Well it IS a BIG deal; and WE'RE TICKED OFF! And we forever will be until the “MAN” wakes up from his coma and starts giving people the truth.

Not to mention, did you ever stop to think that this all might revolve around greed. Somehow, somewhere, there’s money to be made by using genetically modified organisms, chemicals, pesticides and growth hormones. If foods raised with this crap are so healthy for you, then why are there warning labels on the bags and containers to keep this stuff out of the reach of children and out of your face, and off your skin, and to protect yourself at all times when using it? Well... we want answers... NOW!!! We're no science project and we refuse to buy in to rhetoric that god didn’t put on this earth when it was created. If you love your kids AND your family AND your friends AND your body, then take a few seconds and think about what what you just learned in class here. We're just stating facts and all we want to do is create awareness. This is also called "doing the right thing."

Also, if you haven't done so by now, check out "The Lean Berets 30 x 30 NO EXCUSES Challenge!" Do the challenge with a smile on your face and eat some organic fruit after each workout session to celebrate your liberation from being fooled all these years!

Throw down or shut up!

The Lean Berets-Avengers of Health

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "Weight of the Nation"

Staring at our future unless we get
FIT & HEALTHY STARTING NOW!

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius addressed the nation this morning with the usual parade about how jacked up American health is and how much work needs to be done to fix it. We agree. However, she had virtually nothing to say about exercise as a solution beyond how we need to *invest more money* in cities in order to make safer walking and biking along with increasing public transportation options. While we love biking and walking in "cities," that is a feeble attempt for laying out major plans for obesity prevention regarding physical activity solutions. Basically a couple of sentences out of the whole speech for exercise. UNACCEPTABLE.

Look at the source--the government! The government is part of the PROBLEM and NOT the solution people! If you're waiting for the government to fix obesity and health care--think again! They are the ones shoving BS called "food" into our school cafeterias while they throw their hands in the air about the horrors of child obesity and soaring diabetes rates with children. Can't you see the hypocrisy here? Feed crap to our kids and take away their PE classes then attack child obesity. HELLO! What idiots! If we don't complain about this to the schools as adults, we are idiots too!

Have you looked at school lunches in America lately? At the amount of "quality" physical education structured properly to address obese children so they also have a chance to get fit? At available recess for free play--if there is any left at all? The Lean Berets are outraged! We will NOT get healthy as a nation until we get in better physical shape. This cannot and will not happen with a pill, clinical solutions and more "services" provided at hospitals, by our kids eating more crap at school lunches, or with more "talking" about the problems without ACTION and SWEAT.

On a positive note, there is 200 million being released to train health educators to get out the message. This is a step in the right direction--but a small step if you think about the magnitude of the problem. Until people realize there is a real problem in THEIR OWN backyard, they won't do much. Health education that creates awareness is part of the solution. The Lean Berets have a high-octane version of creating health awareness, but much more needs to be done about getting the word out and with many different approaches.

Need a fitness kick start with NO BS? Try The Lean Berets 30x30 NO EXCUSES Challenge! Oh...the *investment* in infrastructure required? IT'S FREE! Requirement? Leave your excuses at home and get it on for 30 days in a row with exercise...it will change your life. It's that simple. Stop making excuses and start doing and improving health.

In Real Solutions for Real People, The Lean Berets-Avengers of Health!

Cankle Throw Down Lean Berets Style!!!

Kevin Rail, Co-Founder, The Lean Berets
Reporting for duty in Malibu, CA!

What is all this talk about "cankles" in the media? For the gymbonically challenged who might be reading this message right now, cankles is a word that describes a phenomenon when the calf of an obese person strategically blends into the ankle area with no concrete deviation between the two. Hmm... That sounds pretty scary to us. To be honest, there is probably one, or on a good day, 2% of the obese population that have cankles because of a health issue with their hormones or glands. But what about the other 98 to 99 percent? All we have to say is one thing... "You need to get 30 minutes of exercise, 30 days in a row with The Lean Berets 30x30!" That should be a good starting point. We are not being critical, judgmental, or being jackwads. We are just telling you the truth and trying to offer assistance, which is a hell of a lot more than your triple mocha latte is doing. Meet us at the park and we'll show you how it's done! In Cankle Throw Down! --K/Rail, The Lean Berets-Avengers Of Health!

Child Obesity Is Child Abuse with Candas Jones

Candas Jones
Lean Berets Avenger of Health!

We've posted our FIRST Lean Berets Radio Show with the female voice--and a STRONG voice too Comrades. An Avenger of Health! Check out Candas Jones, mother of twins, educator, and fitness chick to further discuss child obesity as child abuse, unacceptable school lunches, the disappearance of quality PE programs and recess in our schools, and many POSITIVE tips for parents on raising fit and healthy kids. Throw down with Candas NOW!

Mitch Albom Show today

The Lean Berets RJ Here Comrades!

I got invited to be a guest on the Mitch Albom radio show on WJR News Talk 760 AM in Detroit this afternoon with Mitch Albom. Mitch Albom is a best-selling author of several books including "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" along with running his radio show. I wanted to say thanks to Mitch and his producer because they were an absolute pleasure to work with today. I've done a few media gigs--some of the hosts were not pleasant and didn't give me a chance to speak properly. Today I got time to answer their questions appropriately on the critical issue of child obesity. The show had high energy and was bias for action. I feel like we made a difference today to create awareness about preventing child obesity.

For more on Mitch Albom, go to www.mitchalbom.com

Also, we taped The Today Show segment on child obesity in Ventura, CA. It should air Friday during the 7AM hour--possibly Thursday--but more than likely it will be Friday. It will be available off MSNBC.com for reference. I'll keep y'all posted on the link...stay tuned!

"When in doubt--throw down in the sweat of the moment!" -The Lean Berets

National Media Throwdowns This Week!!!

Avengers of Health!

RJ here...co-founder of The Lean Berets.

I’ve got some national media updates. I’m doing some media projects on child obesity as child abuse this week.

I’ll be on the Mancow Radio Show out of Chicago on Wednesday morning, July 22nd @ 5:30 AM PST. This is a syndicated show in 60 markets with about 3 million listeners.

www.mancow.com

Listen live PST to me on Mancow at KJZN-FM in Fresno tomorrow at 5:30 AM:http://www.fresnostruth.com

I’ll be on The Today Show this Friday, July 24th. We are taping my part of the segment tomorrow in Ventura, CA. I’ll be working out with a couple corporate clients and some of their children. The topic is the same—child obesity.I was quoted in a recent USA Today article related to the South Carolina child obesity and child abuse case in court. The article can be viewed at the link below:http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2009-07-20-obesityboy_N.htm

The time to make a stand for straight up NO BS health and fitness is NOW. If I was just running around with The Lean Berets making comments to offend people and put them down, it would be socially irresponsible. My statement reflects my efforts and efforts of The Lean Berets to quickly raise awareness about SERIOUS health issues with Truth, Urgency, and Passion! Then find like-minded people willing to help us throw down and fix it!

“When in doubt--throw down in the sweat of the moment!” –The Lean Berets

In health, Coach RJ!

"Big Ron" Carolus-Avenger of Health!

"Big Ron" Carolus & Ron Jones
Avengers of Health

Just put up an AMAZING new Lean Berets Radio Show with "Big Ron" Carolus! This guy kicks serious ass and is a true Avenger of Health! Big Ron went from 610 pounds down to 350 and is still losing. Barely alive, drinking an 18 pack of Pepsi a day, and barely able to walk or hold a job due to weight, now he's cranking off 2-3 hours per day workouts 7 days a week! He's in better shape than people half his size. This guy throws down and gets it on baby!

Throw down with "Big Ron" now @ The Lean Berets Radio Show!

http://www.theleanberets.com/RadioShow/RonCarolus.htm

Team Surfing USA-Race Across America

RJ, Laird Hamilton, Don Wildman, Jason Winn, Tim Commerford

Back in the saddle for Coach RJ for some ultraendurance racing action!

I’ve teamed up with my fitness friends in Malibu, CA from Team Surfing USA for the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM) bicycle event. This is not only a celebrity team—but also a team of highly skilled and well trained athletes, and important to me, ALL huge advocates of life-long fitness and health.

I’ll be the crew chief for our bike team that will race 3,000 miles across America from Oceanside California to Annapolis, Maryland. We have four racers and 24 crew members, a tour bus, a large RV, two race vans, and one crew chief/mechanic van—plus our trailer hauling the surf boards, extra bikes, and even a cool scooter for Coach RJ’s occasional roadside spins. I’m taking three people very special to me…Kevin Rail, fellow Avenger of Health and my partner in The Lean Berets, Jim Marchesini, my kettlebell training partner and work colleague, and Marlee Bisbey, my world-class massage therapist and RAAM racer veteran that helped me in 1995-96.

We leave Saturday, June 20th and will push to finish on Thursday, June 25th. Since this is a “Surfer” bike team, they must hit the waves! Plus these guys love to get a great workout whether it be land or sea and rarely want anything less than maximum output and effort. They will be on the surf paddle boards for about 24 hours straight from Malibu to Oceanside the day before the race. We’re hauling the boards across the USA with us. After the finish of the RAAM, we’ll bike 240 miles or so to NY where they will hit the ocean again and then paddle surf into NYC. We’ll be covered by Today Show as we finish this amazing transcontinental surfing and biking journey. If we are time, look for our TV coverage on Friday, the 26th (Saturday at the latest).

We are shooting a film documentary to chronicle the journey’s purpose or raising charity for ALS, Autism, and bicycle advocacy. The film producer is legendary Don King-called the “Zen Master” of surf and skate epic films like Blue Crush and Lords of Dogtown. King is the same producer that has done Laird’s surfing movies. I’ll also be shooting some professional photos to document the event as well.

This is a four-man relay team that will race 24/7 for 3,000 miles. It will take us around 5 ½ days to arrive depending upon weather, etc.

Here are my friends and All-Star Team:

Don Wildman (Founder, Bally’s Fitness, age 76 and still going strong!)
http://www.esquire.com/features/don-wildman-0508

Laird Hamilton (Pro Surfing Legend, Big Wave Expert, Surf Innovator)
http://www.lairdhamilton.com

Tim Commerford (Bass Player for Rage Against the Machine rock band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Commerford

Jason Winn (Founder and President, Bonk Breaker Energy Bars)
http://www.bonkbreaker.com

RAAM Homepage:
http://www.raceacrossamerica.org

I’ve raced RAAM twice winning with my team in 1995 and 1996. In 96, we set a new world record of 5 days, 6 hours, and 4 minutes with an average speed of 23.0 MPH. In 1997, I was the crew chief for Team Brazil from Sao Paulo. It’s been a while, but some things never change in RAAM…INTENSITY!!! What I really love about these guys and everyone on the crew is that they all throw down…gotta love the throw downs of fitness horsepower Comrades!

See ya in 3000 miles Dudes!

Cowabunga,
Coach RJ, Co-Founder, The Lean Berets

Avengers of Health!

National Cemetery-Memorial Day.09

114.5 acres. 82,000 graves. 82,000 American Flags carefully placed by American children.
(View Tribute Video)

Today after the KBLA Sunday Morning Line Up in Santa Monica, I stopped by the National Cemetery for a Memorial Day visit and to photograph this special place of honor. It was a sobering moment as I entered this sacred ground. Words cannot describe my emotions, but I will try...Overwhelmed. Generations of sacrifice. Honor. Passion for country and service. Sadness. Re-dedication to fight because America is worth it.

I was born in SoCal and have driven by this cemetery for decades. This was my first visit. It truly was a crossroads in my life...a life changing moment. I've always been respectful of the military and our country. This was the way I was raised and the way I am raising my own children, BUT, until I stepped into 82,000 dead from the military men, women, and their spouses, I truly did not really understand. It's ominous. The sacrifice. I cannot imagine giving up my son Cade or daughters Alicia and Ronnie--yet many did just that. I sincerely hope we do not take this for granted by wasting their efforts to defend this great land!

I was struck by one grave in particular--that of Daniel Patrick Cagle. SPC Cagle was killed in Iraq during 2007. So young yet gone.

So Comrades...let's fight on. From The Lean Berets front--it's about fighting back with fitness and health. We can't come back with disease and dysfunction. WE MUST BE STRONG.

From SoCal with honor on Memorial Day Weekend, Lean Beret Ron Jones

Lockouts @ Age 5 & Power Breathing?

The highlight of my day was tonight in my gym. While doing my dynamic warm up exercises prior to throwing down with the KBs, my five year old son Cade started asking me something I could not quite understand. I finally figured out what he was asking, "What about the lockouts Daddy?" I looked over there and he was making himself stiff really fast--he was trying to do the "HARD" style lockout drills! How funny. Then I noticed both he and his twin sister Ronnie were "power breathing" like me when they finished their exercises. Cute. Interesting too. Funny what kids pay attention to--sometimes really small details you don't think they notice. Makes me think of all the people eating junk food in front of their kids! The poor kids grow up thinking it's normal to eat toxic food! A few healthy behaviors with exercise and eating can go a LONG way with kids.

Well...at least in the Jones gym (Lean Beret World Hdqts!) tonight, the kids are thinking and even doing "HARD" style. With healthy kids, there IS a future! Locked down in the South tonight, Lean Beret RJ

KBLA Sunday Morning Line Up with Dr. Mark Cheng

Comrades,

Check out the positive energy of Dr. Mark Cheng’s Kettlebells Los Angeles Sunday Morning Line Up. You’ll see all kinds of people in our group…male, female, younger, older, multiple RKCs, beginners, and ALL are welcome @ The Line Up.

This particular day we worked on a “REBOOT” of the Program Minimum starting with some dead lifts then moving into the essential swings and TGUs…and more swings…and more swings…and more swings…now that’s HAAAARD Style!

If you ever get out to LA, drop by and join us because you will not be disappointed! This group has really changed my life in positive ways. We meet Sundays @ 7AM-Sharp!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3f-FGvnolA

In HARD Style, Lean Beret Ron Jones

800 Club!!!

"Do the DO!" -Steve Ilg

I joined the 800 Club the other week. I'm now over 800 straight days of exercising for at least 30 minutes per day without a day off. Starting in April, I'm rolling on my 28th straight month!

There are not many people that exercise over two years straight without ever missing a single day. Want to know how? I keep it simple. I just do something every day. That's it. I might do walking, yoga, hiking, kettlebells, cycling, running, body weight strength exercise, traditional strength training with Olympic weights, surfing, or something else, but regardless, I do something each and every day. Some days I go easy. Some days I go hard. Some days I go moderate--but I always GO!

Using this simple but consistent method, I've lost weight, increased lean mass, and improved my overall health and fitness the last two years. Is it reckless? No. Is it crazy? No. In my profession, I spend most of my time these days sitting in a car or at a computer or in a meeting with a client or group, so doing some exercise for 30 minutes per day is the LEAST I can do to take care of my vehicle in life--my body!

I don't keep exercise journals. I hate them. Too formal. They stress me out. I don't always know what I'll do that day when I wake up, but I do know one thing, I will do SOMETHING for 30 minutes that day as dedicated exercise.

It's been as simple as 10 minutes of my Dynamic Warm-Up or yoga before heading to the airport, then another "dedicated" 10 minutes of walking around or yoga at the airport before boarding, then another 10 minutes in Atlanta of "dedicated" exercise like walking instead of taking the tram while I wait for my family to arrive. It ALWAYS adds up to 30 minutes of "dedicated" exercise. Every day. Every week. Every month for the last 27 months.

The key is keeping it simple and being consistent. People underestimate the power of a daily discipline when it comes to exercising. Trust me on this one--it works.

Today? I went to the park with my family and we walked and played Frisbee for an hour. That's it. Very simple. We just played for exercise.

Want to learn more, check out The Lean Berets 30X30 Challenge. This is how I got started with DAILY exercise again.

In DAILY sweat, Coach RJ!

The Lean Berets Radio Show-March 23rd

We just put up our new show for March 23rd. Topics include public responses to The Lean Berets' THROW DOWNS, Pinnacles National Monument corporate hike in California, O Band surgeries--which is America's latest BS health wave!!!, Kombucha organic drinks and more. Check out this show and others below--then throw down and kick ass Comrades!!! *This show is listed under "General Topics" with Rail & Jones.

http://www.theleanberets.com/radio_show.htm

From SoCal today--and getting ready for the kettlebell throw down tonight, Lean Beret Ron Jones!

John Spezzano & Pacific Coast Martial Arts

We have our new radio show interview up with RKC John Spezzano of Pacific Coast Martial Arts & Fitness. Great show discussing the importance of self-defense training, history of martial arts, martial arts philosophy, and the importance of fitness in the moment of truth--especially Russian Kettlebell fitness. Check it out Comrades!!!

http://www.theleanberets.com/RadioShow/JohnSpezzano.htm

HardCore360 Interview Videos Up!

Comrades,

We have our videos up of the recent Lean Beret Radio Show interview with Rusty Smith of HardCore 360 in Santa Barbara, CA. They turned out great. Check 'em out at:

www.youtube.com/theleanberets

Enjoy! In HARD Style, RJ

The Lean Berets Radio Show!

The Lean Berets Radio Show hit the beach Comrades! We have four shows posted now with many more locked and loaded for the cyber waves. Here's what we have so far:

• WELLcome-Meet The Lean Berets!
• 30X30 NO EXCUSES Challenge!
• HardCore 360 Interview with Dr. Rusty Smith

Stanley Jay Tucker of Metal Blues Band Calcaneous
Check out The Lean Berets Radio Show if you want a NO BS and straight up approach to health and fitness! From the front, LB RJ