8 Things You Should Never Say to Customers

"The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best but legendary."


If you don't genuinely care about your customer and have an actual interest in what they're saying, no matter how good your words are they won't have a positive affect. Combining genuine care and interest with the proper verbiage is essential to high level communication with customers. 


I came across this article I want to share with you: 8 Things You Should Never Say to Customers


At WAC we train and coach quite a bit on verbiage, especially with the front desk, to be sure the right message is coming across. 


Using words like "right away" or "immediately" help show what they said was important and that you're going to handle it. For example -"I'll get that handled for you" vs "I'll get that handled for you right away". 


Customers also want you to take responsibility, whether or not their request is in your job description. So instead of telling them "what you should do is..." - take care of it! If you absolutely cannot do it for them then let them know "I'll get somebody that can take care of that for you right away". 


Here are some examples of word choices we train on at WAC: 
Verbiage

• What you say is important, but being GENUINE is more important
• We say “yes” whenever possible
• Say “please”, “thank-you”, and “you’re welcome”
• Do NOT use:
• No
• Policy or guideline
• I don’t know
• Hold on
• Sorry about that

• DO use:
• Yes
• In order to be fair to all members…
• Let me find out for you
• One moment please
• I’m sorry/I apologize

Simple word choices can help defuse an upset member or help them keep from getting upset in the first place. Again, no matter what words you use, if they're not genuine the customer won't buy it. You're better off hiring genuine, service minded people and training/coaching on verbiage than hiring robots that use the right words. You can't train caring (that's a product of upbringing), but you can train verbiage. 

Faith vs Fear

"You must expect great things from yourself. Faith brings out the best in you."

Fear:

• depresses and suppresses your abilities
• sees only the darkness
• is pessimistic
• predicts failure
• creates stress, worry, and anxiety
• wonders why all the bad things always happen to them

Faith:

• increases brainpower
• sees the silver lining
• is optimistic
• predicts success 
• prolongs life because it never frets
• knows things will come out right

People that are faithful are not shaken when disappointments, losses, or catastrophes come their way. Their faith looks beyond the negative and instead sees the sun behind the clouds.

Think about the things that bring you the most stress. Those worries that take the spring out of your step and rob you of your joy are not those which actually happen. If you constantly question the outcome of things you create doubt and you cannot thrive in the face of doubt. Fear creates failure.

Athletes are a prime example of this. If you golf you'll know exactly what I mean. If you hit a few bad shots you start to lose faith in your swing and begin making all kinds of corrections. Before you know it your body and mind don't seem to be working together and you've forgotten how to swing altogether. Or take a quarterback that has made a few bad decisions, is getting hit every time he drops back, and has receivers that aren't running the right routes. Over time, these factors ware on his mental capacity and he may begin to doubt his abilities or his teammates. When that happens he becomes timid and struggles even more.

Same thing in your life. If you hit a few roadblocks or hit a rough patch where things just don't seem to be going your way what do you do? What do you "think"?

Faith is a positive confidence in yourself and your abilities. It's what keeps you going when the odds are against you. When you're beat down and want to give up, when things have been so difficult that you just want to cry - faith is what gets you through. Faith is what lifts you up, rights the ship, puts that smile on your face, and gives you that spring in your step despite the troubles you're going through. Faith brings success.

Do you live with faith or with fear? 

"You can change what you are. You can change where you are in life by changing what goes into your mind. All you have to do is believe in yourself." - Zig Ziglar

Why We Fall Off Workouts

One of the reasons I love my job in the fitness industry is because I enjoy seeing people transform their lives through exercise. You can tell when somebody is having success - they seem to just kind of beam when you see them at the club.

Unfortunately most people very quickly fall off the wagon due to a variety of reasons. Most clubs, WAC included, have several tools in place to help members get started and achieve lasting results. The reality of the situation is that even though more and more people are finally seeing that exercise needs to be a staple in their lives, most fall off within the first 3-6 months (the critical time frame consistency is needed to achieve results and make exercise a habit).

I came a across a great article on-line: 8 Reasons Why We Fall Off the Workout Wagon that I want to share with all of you in hopes that you will see why you've fallen off in the past and use the "what you can do" tips to get back to exercising, achieve consistency, and achieve your health & fitness goals.

Reason #1: You have a perceived lack of time

This is probably the most common complaint. You have your career, a girlfriend or wife and possibly kids to attend to, not to mention your buddies who are always tempting you to go over and watch the game. Life's demands just don't stop, and often, they crowd out your gym time.

What you can do:
Schedule your workout time. Start scheduling your workout time into your day just like you would a doctor's appointment. Once it's written, view it as a commitment, something you will have to schedule other things around.
Maximize your workout time. The second thing you can do is make sure you are making the most out of your workouts at the gym. Instead of doing a whole bunch of exercises that isolate one muscle, such as tricep kickbacks, do compound exercises that will work many muscles all at once (e.g. chest press).
Consider super-sets. You can either alternate between agonist and antagonist muscle groups like biceps and triceps, or between upper and lower body exercises. This way, you can work one muscle group while the other is resting and cut that "dead" time out of your workout.
Schedule shorter sessions. If you only have 30 minutes, you can still get a great workout, so long as you push yourself hard. You don't really need to dedicate an hour or more to see results. Many times, people in the gym are actually over training, and cutting down your workout time might actually provide you with better results.
Have easy access to your gym. Finally, when choosing a gym, make sure it's easily accessible. Find one on the way to or from work and you will be much more likely to make a stop.

Reason #2: You don't see results

You've been working out for three months and have yet to see results. This makes you question why you even bother and sends your motivation out the window. If this is the case, it's time to re-evaluate your workout routine.

What you can do:
Hire a personal trainer. Enlist the help of a professional trainer who might be able to quickly pick up exactly what to change to achieve your desired results.
Set realistic goals. If you started working out a month ago weighing 200 pounds with 25% body fat, you won't be able to get down to a cut, 10% body fat frame in a few weeks. If your goal is a large one, break it down into smaller mini-goals so that you are continuously making small achievements.
Eat healthy. Finally, have a look at your diet; if you are grabbing a handful of nuts while watching the game or have been knocking back an extra beer after work lately, these will all add up and slow your progress. When your diet is on track, your efforts in the gym will be much more noticeable.

Reason #3: You injured yourself

If you've suffered an injury recently, this will no doubt be a setback for you. But don't become depressed about it and completely avoid the gym.

What you can do:
Shift the focus of your workouts. Take the time to focus on other aspects of your workout that you have been neglecting. If you've been really hammering the weights hard, try emphasizing your cardio training a little more. 
Emphasize other body parts. If you injured a smaller body part, such as your shoulder, you can still perform strength exercises for your legs. Just make sure you allow yourself enough time to recover and seek professional treatment if need be, otherwise you will only increase the amount of time you are sidelined.

Reason #4: You go to the gym, but don't get enough done

This may be the case if you socialize at the gym. Your rest periods turn into rest sessions and a trip to the water fountain usually involves a detour to chat with the girl on the bike. If this sounds like you, it's time to focus on why you're there.

What you can do:
Set an amount of time to train. Try to perform your entire workout within a set period of time. Once you get it out of the way, take a few minutes to socialize and relax.  
Hire a personal trainer. As mentioned above, a personal trainer might keep you on track. Since you're paying by the hour, you'll be a lot more focused.

Reason #5: You are self-conscious or intimidated

Or, if you're a newbie and don't understand many of the basic concepts, you might feel intimidated by all the different equipment and machines.

What you can do:
Talk to a personal trainer. Make an appointment with a personal trainer who will show you all the basics and get you started on a program you feel comfortable with. 
Train during slow times. If your appearance makes you feel uneasy, head to the gym at non-peak hours so there will be fewer people around. It would also help to remind yourself that it's a matter of time before you see improvements. 
Train with a buddy. Find a friend who's also interested in getting in shape. Your workouts will be more enjoyable and you'll have a spotter.


Reason #6: You don't like your gym

If you got your gym membership years ago, various factors might have changed. If it's the gym that's keeping you out of the gym, then it's time to look at taking out a new membership.

What you can do:
Get a membership at a new gym. When looking for a new gym, take advantage of many of the free offers out there allowing you to be a "member" for a week before making a commitment to ensure you like it. Also, make sure you read up on all their policies and guidelines before signing any sort of contract. 
Subscribe to a large chain of gyms. Become a member of a larger chain that allows you to train at any location in your city and drop in as a guest when you travel.

Reason #7: No one supports your efforts

Your girlfriend may be angry that you're cutting into the time she gets to spend with you by going to the gym, and your friends may become slightly resentful of your rapidly-improving body and the fact that you're making them look bad.

What you can do:
Invite them to train with you. Invite your girlfriend to the gym and try to pique her interest in fitness. If she's not the fitness type, then make it clear that you are working out to feel better about yourself. If your buddies are the problem, invite them as well. Otherwise, you may want to avoid mentioning your workouts around them.

Reason #8: You don't like going anymore

If you are just finding it hard to go, for no particular reason, you may just need a break. Everyone experiences a bit of a burnout or a psychological barrier from time to time.

What you can do:
Visualize the results. Envision the results you hope to see as a way of motivating yourself to go again. 
Update your routine. Change your workout routine. Try some new exercises or maybe even a whole new form of workout such as boot camp or a kickboxing class. Often, a change of pace is enough to get you going again. 
Reward yourself. Buy yourself something you really want after a given amount of successful sessions. Set a goal you can work toward.

I love how they said a "perceived" lack of time. It doesn't take long to exercise and start making healthy life and body changes. If you have a spouse and children that only compounds the difficulty in finding time. Sit down with your spouse and work out a schedule when both of you can get exercise in. Even if it's only every other day for 30 min, at least it's something. The WAC, and most larger health clubs, have child care available for a nominal monthly amount so you can actually bring the kids to the club to play while you work out. Time is no excuse, we all have the same 24 hours in a day and must schedule exercise in - your health and well being depend on it!

Getting help from a certified trainer can help you overcome several of the reasons. Many clubs now offer a complimentary session with a trainer to get you started. For example, we offer 2 - 1 hour sessions with any of our trainers or instructors so you can meet with a personal trainer to get workout guidance, a dietitian to get your nutrition in line (70%+ of the weight loss battle), yoga instructor for some one-on-one tips, etc. Even if you've been working out for years and are extremely advanced a certified trainer that keeps up to date on the latest information in their profession can help infuse new ideas into your workouts.

Examining why you have failed in the past is an important part of succeeding now and in the future. If we don't learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it. I hope these reasons and tips to overcome them help give you that positive push towards achievement of your health & fitness goals. If you have any questions for me or need any guidance please contact me and I would be happy to help you. Have a great weekend!

The Only Competitive Advantages Your Company Will Ever Have

Excerpt from "Zappos: Delivering Happiness":
"...a big reason we hit out goal early was that we decided to invest our time, money, and resources into three key areas: customer service (which would build our brand and drive word of mouth), culture (which would lead to the formation of our core values), and employee training and development (which would eventually lead to the creation of our Pipeline Team)."
"...our belief is that our Brand, our Culture, and our Pipeline (BCP) are the only competitive advantages that we will have in the long run. Everything else can and will eventually be copied."

Zappos is so successful in part because they put their resources (time and money) into 1) customer service, 2) company culture and 3) their people. When I read this I immediately starred it, underlined it, dog tagged the page, circled it - this excerpt stuck out like a sixth finger.

Think about it; processes can be copied and technology can be copied. Eventually a competitor will take your great idea, copy it completely, package it at a lower cost, and try to beat you. The only way you will win is by having great service and great people (culture helps cultivate these two things).

Yesterday the WAC held their quarterly Member Services Kickoff, which is when all the membership reps at the 6 clubs get together with the owners and GMs for ongoing training and education. One of our owners shared a story about a product called Zune. Microsoft came out with Zune shortly after Apple created the Ipod in an effort to keep up with Apple. Haven't heard of Zune? That's because Apple stuck true to the above 3 items (customer service, culture, and people) and kicked Microsoft's butt. Even though Microsoft created a similar product and a similar price point they couldn't keep up with Apple.

No matter how good the product, how low cost it is, or how big the company brand is - if your service isn't top notch, your work environment doesn't cultivate fun and creativity, and your people don't believe in it or aren't well trained then failure is imminent. You can put as much money into marketing as you want, but word of mouth spreads quickly (especially in the age of social media) and customers will go elsewhere.

What are you or your company investing most of their budget into? If the top three aren't: customer service, company culture, and employee training & development then you/your company aren't capitalizing on setting yourself apart from everybody else in the industry and sooner or later that will catch up to you, effecting your long term success and bottom line.

Strength in Numbers

"The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others by your side" - Margaret Carty

If you've been struggling to achieve your fitness goals then maybe it's time to grab a partner.

Everybody hits plateaus in their workouts - you get sick, family situations arise, work demands get bigger. Before you know it a few days off turns into a few weeks which turns into months and then you're starting over from square one because the gap was so big all your results went out the window.

People that workout by themselves have a drop out rate that's nearly 40% higher than that of people who workout with a partner.

Working out with a partner is successful because:

1. It's social - happiness studies have proved that we need human interaction to have sustained happiness
2. There's accountability - you're expected to meet at a certain place and time each day so you're more likely to go
3. It's competitive - you push each other more so you end up working harder and burning more calories
4. There's motivation - your partner can keep you going through lulls so you stick with it and avoid falling back into old habits or dropping out completely

If you're struggling to stick with workouts grab a partner with similar goals, schedule workouts together, and get busy achieving your fitness goals.

If you need somewhere to workout together that's clean, fun, and full of energy please let me know. There's this great health club I know about that can help you achieve your goals ;)

It's all in your head

"Cogito ergo sum" - "I think, therefore I am" - Rene Descartes

Sleep is all the rage in the health and fitness world. Every magazine you pick up has something in it about the importance of sleep on your physical and mental well being. It's recommended that adults get anywhere from 7-9 hours of "quality" sleep per night; quality meaning uninterrupted sleep. How much sleep do you get and how does that affect you during the day?

I was having a conversation with a group of people yesterday and the topic of sleep came up. We all had various answers as to how much we get and need. Somebody brought up how he's never really tired unless he's sick because he mentally does not allow himself to be tired. Very interesting point and the more I thought about it the more it dawned on me that he was pretty much right on.

Everybody has different sleep needs. There's the 2-5% of the population that can function successfully off of less than 5-6 hours per night, but for the other 95% of people need to get somewhere in the 7-9 hours range. For me, I've found over time that 7.5 hours is perfect. 

The mind is a very powerful tool and it can do extraordinary things if you're feeding it the right information. Think about the positive - if you expect good things to happen to you and that you're going to overcome any obstacles in your way then good things will come. Same thing with the negative - if you tell yourself you're having a bad day then chances are your day is going to get even worse.

Next time you're feeling tired or drained mentally/physically take a moment to think about what's going on in your head. Stop thinking "I only got 6 hours of sleep. I'm beat and just can't do this right now." and replace that with "I feel great. I'm well rested and full of energy". If you say those positive affirmations internally over and over again your mental state changes to reflect renewed energy and a renewed attitude. For even better results try saying it aloud - but you might want to go into an area by yourself so people don't think you're losing it ;). It takes time and a conscious effort to control your thoughts, but it can and will work.

Don't believe me? Try it and you'll be amazed!

Where the Passion Lies

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they're doing." - Dale Carnegie


If you aren't enjoying your career, having fun, and having success, then re-examine whether or not it's where your true passion lies. The pay can be great, the people can be great, the company can be great, but if you're not passionate about it your success will be short lived and you'll be left feeling a little empty and unhappy.

I went to college at UW-La Crosse for a fitness specific degree (athletic training and/or strength & conditioning coach) and wound up changing that degree to marketing because I learned there was no money in it unless you're doing it for a very long time. After college, I spent a few years in the mortgage industry and the money was very good, even during the so-so economy. After a few years the high of the financial success wore off and I realized that no matter how good the money was I wasn't really happy with what I was doing. I lacked the passion for what I was doing, which lead to my happiness in my job deteriorating, which lead to my success slowing.

Finally, I decided to not worry about the money and chase my passion, which was in the fitness industry. Ever since high school I've wanted to own my own gym and that goal has not changed. I made the leap and although the money is less right now, sooner or later the money will follow. 


If you find something you're passionate about and go all in and give it everything you've got, the money will follow at some point, but your success and happiness will be beyond anything you thought possible. And in the end, being "successful" is all about being happy. 

Passion --> Fun/Happiness --> Success (personal and professional)

Slow Down!

Great blog post from Men's Health on the first ever study that links fast eating to weight gain.

The Japanese study had a good sample size and followed them for an extended period of time. I wish there would have been some data on exercise involved (if 300 of them were fast eaters and none of them exercised then the numbers would obviously be skewed).

I like the tip about taking a bite, then taking a sip, taking a bite, then taking a sip. This will help you fill up by slowing you down so your brain can register when you're actually full and also by filling your stomach with a liquid. However, if that liquid is a high sugar juice or soda you may want to replace it with water.


Another tip to help you cut yourself off sooner rather than later - drink a glass of water before you dig in. This will put something in your stomach right away and lessen the chances that you put too much food in your mouth.

The key to all this however, is realizing when you're full. If you get that full feeling and keep eating then it doesn't matter if you take any of the above steps.

First Impressions

"You only have one chance to make a first impression"

First impressions set the tone for what's to follow. Regardless of how great your company is or how great your people are, if that first impression isn't positive and spot on, your bottom line will suffer.

Technology is great, but it has brought our average attention span down to 7 seconds. When people meet you for the first time or come in contact with your company for the first time they will make a decision on you or your company within those 7 seconds.

When that customer stops in or calls in make sure that, regardless of how busy things may be at the moment, you pull yourself out of the lull and greet them with a smile, positive tone or body language, and are welcoming.

If you manage people then I encourage you to shop your people and watch or listen to how they first interact, whether it is face-to-face or over the phone. Watch their body language and listen to their tonality and verbiage so you can coach them on how to make the best possible first impression. If you're not training on first impressions as part of your service training then study it, learn about it, and start training on it immediately.

If you want any ideas on what you should be training on please feel free to email me at amarkos@thewac.com and I would be happy to share what we use for our initial front desk service training.

Loyal or Satisfied

Take a moment to think about your customers. Are they satisfied? Sure, most good company's customers are. Are they loyal? Probably not.

A satisfied customer is one that was OK about dealing with you, their needs were met, you sold them an OK product, the service was OK, and they were happy with their purchase. They may go out and refer someone to you...or maybe not.

A loyal customer is one that feels great about dealing with you, their needs were exceeded, the service was great, and the experience was great. They will proactively talk about their experiences and refer someone to you.

Which customer would you rather have?

Loyal customers are created, they don't just come looking for you. Their needs have to be exceeded and their experience has to be "WOW".

Think about some of your very own experiences. What was it about that experience that made it so special? I bought a couple dress shirts from Van Heusen at one of the outlet malls. The sales people were helpful, but it wasn't anything special. A few days later I got something in the mail from them - it was a handwritten thank you note for purchasing the shirts! WOW I said to myself, I have never ever received a handwritten thank you for the countless items I've purchased over the years. There have been some emailed thank yous or some printed on letterhead, but only one handwritten thank you ever. Ever since that moment I've been writing handwritten thank you notes - first while I was in the mortgage industry and now as a membership rep at Wisconsin Athletic Club. I've had countless prospective members turn into members and thank me for the handwritten note both personally and also financially through referrals.

Take a look at your service experience, maybe even shop your own people, and see where you can add a little "WOW" and create a little loyalty.

Doing Your Job

At every meeting we go around the room and all directors and/or GMs will share their "WAC Moments". A WAC Moment is any moment where a team member goes out of their way for a member or fellow teammate. This is one of our core values and is essential for our success.

A few weeks ago one of our directors' WAC Moments was when one of their staff put away some inventory that was delivered. Everybody laughed and nodded their heads in agreement. He took initiative and put it away without being asked to do it - how amazing!

Nothing against our director or the person that put the inventory away, but have we become that lazy as a culture that simply doing your job earns you praise for going "above and beyond"? (psst - the answer is yes). So many people just "get by" and do the minimum that when somebody actually does what they're supposed to be doing everybody is in awe. I watched something yesterday called "The Boys of Fall" on ESPN as I was biking and the head coach at Alabama, Nick Saban, said something along the lines of how he doesn't think people want to be extraordinary; most people just want to be average and that's ok for them. At first I thought that was kind of a pessimistic, negative thing to say, but it's true.

I shared some rules from Og Mandino's "A Better Way to Live" a couple weeks ago and I encourage you to live by Rule #2 - Today, and every day, deliver more than you are getting paid to do. 

Those rare people that want to be extraordinary and work hard at it are some of the most successful people in the world - be one! Don't just get by or be average - dare to be great, work to be great, and believe in greatness and you will achieve it.

Why is it so hard to lose weight?

The number one goal I hear from prospective members who are stopping in to check out the Wisconsin Athletic Club is weight loss. Even for those that are already in above average shape and just looking to workout without using any of the classes, amenities, etc they'll write down "lose some weight" in their fitness goals.

This is from an article I read recently by Nancy Clark:

Why Gaining Weight Is Easy

• To the detriment of our health, we are living in a food carnival. No wonder today's kids enter adulthood 20 pounds heavier than in 1960. By the time kids are 4 to 5 years old, 60 percent of them have lost the ability to self-regulate food intake.
• Most people believe that obesity is a matter of will power, but it's not that simple. For example, in obese people, the brain's response to food odors and flavors is often blunted. Compared to lean people, they need more of a food to experience a positive brain response.
• When stressed, obese people (more so than their lean counterparts) seek high fat foods such as chips, ice cream, fries, etc.
• Impulsivity, a genetic trait, is a risk factor for obesity. That is, obese people (more than their lean counterparts) tend to impulsively eat, for example, the whole plate of cookies.   
• Food advertisements are designed to encourage impulsive consumption.
• Food advertisers know that marketing "works"—and kids who watch TV are a prime target. The average child sees an average of 13 food ads a day on TV; most of these foods are high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat.
• Research with children who watched TV with four ads for food ate 45 percent more Goldfish Crackers (100 calories more) when exposed to the ads for food as compared to when they watched four ads for games. The kids who liked the taste of Goldfish ate even more calories.
• Foods marketed with a character (such as Scooby-Doo) sell better. Fifty-two percent of pre-schoolers said the character-food tasted better (as opposed to 38 percent who said it tasted the same, and 10 percent who said food without the character tasted better).
• The standard supermarket diet is rich in sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. It causes obesity in rats. That is, rats fed standard rat chow maintained a normal weight. But rats fed a standard supermarket diet ended up overweight—until researchers took away that food. The rats then lost weight when they returned to eating rat chow. There's little doubt that fats, sugar, and salt stimulate us to eat more than we need.
• When the calories are listed near a food, as is happening in many fast food restaurants, some people choose the foods with higher calories, believing it will be yummier. That response certainly negates the intention of the calorie campaign!
• People make an average of 200 food choices in a day; all these decisions can deplete our limited mental "resources" that govern self-regulation. That's one reason why, at the end of a hectic day, you can more easily overeat. You lack the mental resources to say "no" to that tempting cookie.
• The food industry's bottom line is profits. When Pepsi started marketing more of its healthy products, sales of the unhealthy products dropped. The stockholders complained—and that puts the food industry in a bind.

So how do you combat these and start losing weight?

• Get active! Even if it's as simple as going for a walk with the kids in the stroller for 30 min each morning. If you aren't moving, you aren't losing.
• Watch less TV. Go for a walk every night with your spouse or children. Not only will this burn some extra calories but it will also deepen your relationships due to talking and connecting.
• Or watch TV while you workout on a bike, treadmill, or elliptical. At the WAC we have individual TVs on most pieces of equipment with separate cable controls for them.
• Pay attention to your stressors. What causes you to eat unhealthy or binge? Next time that urge comes up take a minute to think back about what you've had to eat today and WHY you're feeling like this.
• Once you determine the why you can figure out if you're truly hungry or if it's just because you're stressed or bored or whatever your stressor is.
• If you're legitimately hungry then eat, regardless of what time it is. If it's 8pm and you're hungry then have a high protein snack that will fill you up before bed. Avoid eating about an hour before bed time if possible because this may or may not cause trouble sleeping.
• Set small goals. Maybe one week you cut down from two sodas a day to one or only eat out once per week instead of three times. Study after study show that those who set goals and write them down are far more successful in achieving them.
• Stop making excuses. Yes, life is busy. Learn how to better manage time and find a way to work in at least 4 - 30 min exercise sessions each week - your health is counting on you.
• Too tired to get up early? Stop watching late night TV and go to bed earlier. You're more likely to stick with a workout if it's first thing in the morning rather than after a long, stressful day of work. Not only will morning workouts actually get done, they'll give you extra energy for the rest of your day.
• Don't give up. The first 3-6 months are the most critical in making exercise and healthy eating a habit. If you stumble, get back up and start fresh right away (not on Monday).

I wish you the best of luck in achieving your health & fitness goals. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask me.

NCAA Football Picks

Today is a great day for me - one of the greatest along with the NFL's first day, NFL draft, big NCAA bowl games, big NFL playoff games, and fantasy football draft day....oh, and then my wedding anniversary is pretty cool and I like spending time with my kids too...

If you can't tell, I'm a football nut and get giddy like a kid in a candy store during football season. My eyes get big, my speech gets fast because I'm so excited, and I get football tunnel vision. Ah yes, I love it.

Here are my picks for NCAA football this year. I'm not a prognosticator or anything like that so please don't bet on these and send death threats when you lose money - I'm just a guy that loves the game a little more than most.

ACC Winner: Florida State beats Virginia Tech
WHY? - Florida State is just flat out better

Big 12 Winner: Oklahoma
WHY? - Oklahoma is ubertalented

Big East Winner: Rutgers
WHY? - they get Pitt, West Virginia, USF, and Cincinnati all at home

Big 10 Winner: Wisconsin beats Nebraska
WHY? - I'm a homer

Pac 12 Winner: Oregon beats USC
WHY? - Oregon is ubertalented and the Pac 12 South is awful

SEC Winner: Alabama beats South Carolina
WHY? - Alabama is ubertalented, LSU is overrated, and Arkansas plays at both 'Bama & LSU

Big Bowl Games: Florida State, Oklahoma, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Oregon, Alabama, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Boise State, Stanford

2011 National Championship Game: Oregon beats Florida State
WHY? Oregon is ubertalented, ACC is too easy, Alabama and Oklahoma will lose at least one tough one, and Boise State is still in a crappy conference

Please feel free to comment, make fun of me, argue with me, or give me your picks. I look forward to the banter!