First Gym Characters Post

This is the First Gym Characters post

First Fitness and Sports Post

This is the first fitness and sports post

A Wheel of an Abdominal Exercise

“The wheel” has been a staple of my exercise regimen from the beginning. I bring it everywhere I travel and put more miles on it than I do automobiles. Check out the . It beats any abdominal infomercial machine from the past, present and future markets! With a little innovation and a lot of sweat and determination, this primitive mechanism will enhance the muscular definition of your six pack. You may often find one in your local gym collecting dust because its use requires a total engagement of your core stabilizer muscles and was not made for slackers.

I begin the exercise by kneeling on a flat quarter-inch mat and make sure to keep my feet in contact with the floor at all times. I engage all my muscles and slowly extend my body in a straight line until my arms can reach no further —and slowly wheel back to a kneeling position. On my tenth repetition I will bring my knees off the floor at full extension and make an attempt to over-extend to an imaginary point on the floor. I’ll remain in this position to failure, and if I feel strong, will attempt to do push-ups from this stance. This will cause all of your muscle fibers to engage and will put tremendous strain on your core, but is well worth the results for your physique. Without resting, I will wheel back with my knees remaining off the floor until I am in an upright position.

To add more definition to my obliques, I will do my second set by wheeling my body to the right and left of center on each repetition. The last repetition is repeated same as the first set from a knees-up position.

On the third set, I will keep both hands on the wheel with my knees off the floor and rotate my entire body to the left. This will give my shoulder girdle and abdominals a great stretch as I remain in this wheel plank position until failure. The fourth set is similar to the third as I rotate my body to the right.

The fifth (and last) set is the most difficult, since I will wheel my body straight out with knees off the floor and wheel back until I’m in an upright position. I do this for ten repetitions or until failure.

The wheel cost about ten bucks and you can bring it everywhere, as it will last you a lifetime. I still have mine from twenty years ago. Next time you see an infomercial guaranteeing six pack abs, when you purchase their machine that costs $79.99, coming from an athletic model who probably doesn’t even use the expensive apparatus, break out your wheel and put them to shame. Remember, Coach Reilly from Absolute Intensity guarantees it … and check out his ‘wheel abs’ below …!!

Larry Dean Treads on Multiple Sclerosis

Rather than just donate money to a cause, Larry chooses to be a hands-on-type and takes his fight to the streets. Being an avid bicyclist with a big heart, Larry refused to let a severe knee disability stamp out his cycling enthusiasm. Together with wife, Blanche, they became stellar volunteers for the M.S.FITS Cycling Team.

Both make time to mobilize the masses to stamp out multiple sclerosis with different riding events throughout the year. Keep Nov. 20th open on your schedule for the MAKIN’ ROOM FOR TURKEY RIDE!! I normally don’t go out on a limb, but knowing the type of competitor Larry is, this will be the “ride of your life” or I’ll eat my hat! …………………………………………………………………………………………………..Larry and Blanche doing a double team!

Multiple sclerosis cripples your neurological functionality, and your donations and participation will aid the progress from those who suffer by enhancing their mobility and promoting safety and independence. In spite of the ravaging effects of this crippling disease, rehabilitation specialists can continue to help patients function optimally thanks to M.S.FITS and teams like them throughout the United States.

I first met Larry when my wife was making shirts for his team. He is built like a bull, but one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. I wish I would have known him when he was younger. I could have trained him to be a fighter and we would have made a lot of money. This is the beauty of joining the M.S.FITS Cycling Team and participating in their events. Not only will you be fighting multiple sclerosis while getting some serious exercise, but you also have the opportunity to connect with fabulous and fantastic individuals.

“Cyclists, Cyclists, Don’t Be Slow!! Be Like Larry. Go Man! Go!”

By “The Fighting Fireman”

Battling Fire Chief Tim O’Neill

He was the best captain I ever served under and I’m absolutely sure 99% of our company felt the same way. He is a man’s man and judges everyone by the content of their character. Timothy led by example and refused to ask anything of any firefighter he wouldn’t do himself. When things got tough at a job Tim would take over physically rather than just shouting out orders. His demeanor was always calm and professional when others around him were screaming and losing their heads.

After moving on to chief, Tim was assigned to work at headquarters where he continued to retain contact with his men and offer them whatever assistance they might need, whether it be job related or other. This guy was there for everybody, and like the rest of the department took an enormous hit on 9/11/2001. Whatever it took to serve in the rescue and recovery Chief O’Neill was the first to respond. Being in condition was a must for Timothy.

He would come from headquarters to our boxing gym in lower Manhattan for stress release after the attacks on our twin towers. Whenever I worked the boxing mitts with him in the ring his right hand had more power and force than “Bonecrusher Smith.” (I’m talking about the professionally ranked heavyweight; not the firefighter, Roy “Royal” Smith.) I was glad I never had to face Timmy in the ring with that right hand hammer of his.

Unfortunately for Chief O’Neill he came down with an illness which nearly took his life. After being in a coma for months he awoke to near full paralysis. True to form, Tim O’Neill is proving once again the fighter he is and the never-say-die attitude he possesses. He fights to gain back his strength and range of motion daily and is achieving success slowly, but surely. Chief O’Neill is a man you would want coming to your house for an emergency or a fire and is an inspiration for everyone who knows him. Absolute Intensity is what Tim is all about and he would be a number one pick on any team I would coach. We all send him our best wishes and look forward to his recovery.

By “Coach Reilly”

Tara Oozes Absolute Fitness and Beauty

Become a FAN of Tara’s FaceBook Page. It’s packed with great tips, info., videos, blogs, and more!!!!

Tara Marie Segundo is a human dynamo who will not permit herself to be second best. When I first laid eyes on her as a fellow class instructor at New York Health and Racquet Club I did a double take. Her body was sculpted to perfection and her dazzling outfits seized upon the hormones of the male clientele. Her finely-tuned curvaceous muscle accented the obvious assets all female fitness enthusiasts dream about. I’m a stickler for perfection and don’t give anyone in my field a sliver of slack, but I was forced to concede Tara took the rest of the instructors in New York City down a notch.

She was multi-talented and could teach any class imaginable. She ran the gambit of body sculpt, abdominals, step aerobics, dance aerobics, super stretch, boot camp, hatha yoga and could fill my box aerobics class in a pinch. Tara’s sessions were always packed, and members had to be there early to secure a place.

Her most amazing quality was that none of this went to her head and she always made certain to get the most out of the members’ talents. I can’t count the number of instructors I’ve been associated with who think they are the best in the world and strut around with an attitude. The problem with them is that most are mediocre, at best. The level-headed and extremely talented Miss Segundo would have none of this nonsense and treated her students how she enjoyed being treated. The students were able to lose weight, sculpt the muscle, learn a skill and depart from her classes with a decidedly better body, which is what Tara is all about. Just like a top notch coach, she has the talent to get the most from her students.

This relatively young fitness phenom has cut down on her classes so she has more time to concentrate on her work as a fitness expert, personal trainer, radio personality and talk show host. You can view Tara on Facebook and tune in to her informative show on Health and Fitness where she will answer all your questions. Bring it on, guys and gals, because Tara has the answers you are seeking. For more information about Tara, you can go to her website at: www.taramarie.com.

Check out her talk radio show TARA MARIE LIVE! on Thursdays @ 2:00 PM Eastern time (or) 11:00 AM Pacific time, and follow her on twitter.

To contact Tara via phone: 877 692 6221

Kevin Hamill Led By Doing

Kevin left this world at the-way-too-young age of 26 and is so missed because he was an inspiration, one of the good guys, and he led by deed rather than blather. I was Kevin’s teammate from 1971-1974 and we were positioned as the wedge busters for all three years together. I always knew if I got knocked on my behind Kevin would wipe things up. He provided confidence for the entire team. I’d look at Kev before a game and think to myself how fortunate I was to have him on my side rather than compete against him.

As his fraternity brother and teammate (Pete Erndl) declared, when Kevin was voted into the Missouri Valley Football Hall of Fame in 2008, “Kevin was the best athlete of his era and had a heart and will to win second to none.” Being a former multi-sport coach and professional, I can tell everyone with certitude that Kevin Hamill is the first competitor I would choose for my team in any competitive event.

His exploits on the football gridiron and cinder track are legendary at Valley. He was a slashing runner who could go inside and out and relished the thought of punishing the competition’s backers if they took him on. Kevin rushed for 1553 yards with a 6.7 yards per carry average in 1973 as he tallied 20 touchdowns. The fact that he remained on the field for all special teams play made it all the more incredible. That same year he ran the track for Valley’s fabulous 440 relay team anchored by Steve “Speedy” Lucito.

Being the true blue friend that Kevin was, he offered to be my sparring partner to prepare for the 1974 Golden Gloves Championship in Kansas City. I couldn’t make the daily commute to Kansas City to train, so Kevin would lace up and we’d spar (more like brawl) for three rounds every other day in the basement of Young Hall. Thanks to him I made it to the finals before being defeated by the reigning champ. He was truly a man for all seasons and lived life to it’s fullest. A leader? Kevin Hamill was a doer and has been sorely missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. “We miss you Kevin, thanks for the memories.”

“Coach Reilly”

The Wedge Breakers

Your attitude has to be from another dimension on the gridiron to be considered as a wedge breaker. Good speed, great strength, superior attitude and reckless abandon rolled into one is all that is demanded to excel at this simple task of annihilating the heart and soul of the oppositions blocking phalynx intent on destroying their opposition. The beefiest and most muscular combine forces to run over whoever tries to impede their progress to free their most elusive runner for a shot at paydirt. When a coach finds a player to fill this position he sticks with him forever.

As a freshman in college I was awarded my appointment as the wedge breaker along with my teammate and good friend, Kevin Hamill. We would stand opposite each other on either side of the kicker and streak down the field at break neck speed when foot impacted leather. Kevin was a sophomore and we performed this task to perfection for three years. There is not any skill to this position other than preparing oneself to hurl your body into an onrushing mass of moving muscle with the intent of causing optimum havoc and stop the ball carrier in his tracks. Kevin and I were also the up-backs on the punting team with the mission of search and destroy the enemy return man. There were times we would laugh that coach thought us two dumb Irish guys willing to do anything, but inside we both knew that wasn’t the case. This is a position that doesn’t receive much recognition or notoriety, but can make or break a contest in a nano second.

When I became a coach after my playing days I made certain to pick the best for this special teams position. As a special teams coach it is not difficult to find individuals with talent, but it requires someone who knows the sacrifice that individual will make to fulfill the honor of being a wedge breaker.

Yours in health,
Coach Reilly