“It would be a stretch financially, but if you truly feel it’s the right thing to do, then I am on board with it.”

That is what my wife said after I told her that I felt a burning desire that I needed to be at the TT Summit in August of 2011.  I had just gotten certified a few months earlier through Turbulence Training, and that was when the momentum started – with just that one click.

It was that click that started the first step of the TT certification.  The success snowball started to roll as my articles got posted on the Turbulence Training blogs.  The next thing you know, I have a clickbank product online simply based on the feedback I got from the articles.  Two years prior to that, it was just an idea collecting dust.

When I first approached my wife about the Summit, she asked if I was sure this was something that I “needed” to go to and if we could afford it.  I told her I was willing to live off of protein powder (I get a discount at my gym) and can start one of the most intense intermittent fasting programs known to man.  I kept asking myself,

“What if This One Trip Changes Everything?”

I knew I had to be there, and I was going to find a way somehow.  Sure, it was a long trip from little Acworth, GA and I had an 8-month old at the time.  It was a sacrifice for both myself as well as my wife. Would it be worth it?  I had drained what I had left of my paypal account from recent bootcamps to find out.

First, I got to meet all the awesome people who make up the TT team.  After just spending a couple of days with them, I felt like I have known them for much longer.

I had some incredible moments at the Summit.  The boot camp sessions alone helped me with awesome ideas with my small group training and boot camps including some wacky, but very effective ways to use a towel for metabolic resistance training.  As Chris Lopez, CTT, schooled us on kettlebell exercises, I thought to myself two things:

“So that’s how you perform a Turkish Get-up”, and “That dude has 5 kids… good gosh …. (dramatic pause) … FIVE”.

By getting to know Chris and establishing a relationship with him at the Summit, he helped me with my Workout Finishers launch just a few weeks after that.

I not only met other great trainers, but I’ve established relationships with many of them as well.  I’ve been following Bedros Keuilian for a long time, and I was finally able to meet him.  As usual, he threw fitness marketing knowledge bombs and my notebook and pen absorbed them all.  Josh Carter taught everyone the art of facebook, and thanks to that, I’ve got a better connection and interaction with my facebook fans.

But the most important moment and biggest impact for me was when Craig taught us the importance of having a vision of where we want to be.  He laid out, step-by-step, of how to put one together for not only your fitness business, but for your ultimate lifestyle. This makes decisions so much easier.  It was my biggest “a-ha” moment.  As a matter of fact, I spent most of my plane ride home writing my vision on paper.

Before the Summit, I had not been on a plane in 8 years.  As a matter of fact, I had never been in a taxi in my life.  Shamefully, I’ve been known to get lost very easily, even in parking lots (yes, parking lots).  But sometimes, you just have to get out of your comfort zone and get out of your own way.

Since that life-changing event at the Summit, I’ve been a “little busy”…

• Launched my first Clickbank product less than 3 weeks after the Summit
• Launching my second Clickbank product in February
• Working to launch more products this year
• A joint venture is launching next week, while I am working on two other joint ventures
• Have been able to step away from my gym management job
• I have only attracted clients that are willing to put in the effort and consistency, which  has improved my offline business dramatically
• Have helped 5 clients either win or place in the Turbulence Training transformation contests, allowing them to win a combined $3,500.
• Online sales before the TT Summit  (since the TT Summit – almost 1,000).

All of the things above fit perfectly with my mission and vision, which was written on that plane ride home.  Every decision I have made since that weekend in San Diego has been influenced by those sheets of paper.  Without that “a-ha” moment, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I have done.

“I don’t know what happened in San Diego, but you are a changed man… and I like it”.  That is what my wife said once I returned from San Diego.  I left for the Summit for some kind of answer, but I returned with something much, much more – a purpose and a vision.

Mike Whitfield
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Every year I make fitness predictions for the upcoming year. It truly is my favorite blog post of the year. And I thought it would be a great idea to give out Turbulence Training awards as well.

So welcome to the 1st ever edition of the TT’s. If you work hard, play by the rules, and add value to the world, you might end up winning a TT next year. Let’s start out with the client awards first, and then move into the trainer awards.

Client of the Year – Catherine Gordon

Catherine has been a long-time supportive reader and participant in the contests and forums over at www.TTMembers.com. This year I finally had a chance to meet her at the 1st ever TT Summit and we had a great time. She even joined us on stage and shared her success tips and personal transformation story. It was very inspiring to everyone in the TT world.

Here’s Catherine…. And James Cheyne…

 

 

 

 

 

Transformation of the Year – James Cheyne

Surprisingly, James didn’t win his category in the 12th TT Transformation Contest (coming in second by just 7 votes), but he did manage to lose over 45 pounds of fat in just 12 weeks (plus he finished 2nd in the 12 week contest and did in fact win the 6-week mini-contest). His results are incredible…dropping almost 4 pounds of fat per week and nearly achieving a full set of six-pack abs. Well done, James.

TT Trainer of the Year – Chris Lopez

Here’s to the longest serving TT Trainer (except for yours truly, of course). It was a big year for Chris Lopez, re-launching his www.KettlebellWorkouts.com product and having a record-breaking year with that website. He also schooled us with kettlebell exercise tips at the 1st ever TT Summit. Oh, and he has 5 kids. It’s always worth mentioning that, because most people think Chris is a kid himself. It goes without saying that 2012 is going to be an even bigger year for Chris Lopez, RKC, CTT.

Rookie TT Trainer of the Year – Mike Whitfield

Aw yeah, what an awesome and deserving winner. Mike Whitfield has been an extreme pleasure to work with as part of the TT Certification and as the author of one of the hottest new fitness programs, www.WorkoutFinishers.com. He’s also been a huge help for contributing dozens of articles to my blogs. Don’t miss his new products – such as his Abs Finishers program – coming out in 2012. It’s going to be a big year for Mikey W. All thanks to that fateful day when he threw his Playstation controller on the ground and was shocked to realize he needed to transform his body…interesting how things turn out. Congrats Mike.

Workout of the Year – 24-7 Fat Loss, Advanced Phase 1, Workout C

The one with 20-10 bodyweight squats – and that’s on video here for you to enjoy my suffering. This workout also features some beach-body arms for good measure. Truly a classic. If you disagree, please email Lesa and let her know what you thought was the ‘workout of the year’ in the TT family. Drop us a line at: TurbulenceTrainingHelp@gmail.com

Bodyweight Exercise of the Year – Total Body Extensions

The fake squat, as I like to call it, played a huge role in the 24-7 Workouts, as well as my TT Metabolic Finishers program. It also showed up and made a lot of friends at the 1st ever TT Summit. This exercise is a fantastic, low-impact way to provide an MRT or finisher stimulus for clients of all fitness levels. It’s like a jump, but without the jump, and I promise you that if you do 20 reps – or better, 40 seconds – of this exercise, your heart rate will be waaaaay up and your quads will be burning. If you aren’t using this in your programs, check out my video demonstrations to find out how to use it ASAP.

Exercise of the Year – Narrow-Stance Barbell Squat

You probably thought I was going to give this award to the deadlift, after all, that’s my favorite exercise. But with the popularity of MRT, and more recently, M-MRT, this exercise has become a staple in my advanced programming. Here’s why…the set-up of this squat variation allows you to exhaust your quadriceps better than any other two-leg squat movement. Try doing 4 sets of 10-15 reps at a 2-0-1 tempo and your quads will feel pumped up like never before. C’mon, tell me the last time you had a “quad pump”. Probably not too recently, unless you do leg extensions. Enjoy this exercise and let me know on the TT FB page here – www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com – how you are using this movement.

I hope you have enjoyed the 2012 TT’s awards. Keep working hard, doing the right thing, and never, ever giving up on your dreams and lifestyle design. By committing to the TT lifestyle, you could be one of our winners in next year’s TT awards. Stay strong.

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Just arrived in Vegas last night for 5 days where I’ll be hanging around Bedros Keuilian and John Romaniello. We’re teaching
personal trainers how to blow up their businesses…

…and by that, I mean get more clients and make more sales, of course.

If this sounds cool to you, then I have good news. While you can’t make this weekend, you still have a chance to join Bedros,
myself, Joel Marion, and many others at the Fitness Business Summit on March 9-11 in Costa Mesa, California.

This is the weekend of the 2012 Fitness Business Summit, where trends will be set and trainers will be given the secrets they need to dramatically increase the number of clients they serve. I will be there and hope to see you there, too.

Reserve your spot here.

It should be even more fun than this weekend in Vegas because of all the surprises Bedros has up his sleeve. He’s got a party, car giveaway, Personal Trainer of the Year award, and much more lined up.

BUT…

The seminar registration INCREASES today. Don’t miss out on your early bird discount and bonuses.

At FBS 2012, you’ll discover…

- How to slash your working hours by over 33%
- How to get more clients every time you do a consult
- How to work less and make more

It’s that simple.

Here are all of the trainers you’ll get to meet that weekend:

- Certified TT Trainer, Mike Whitfield (author, WorkoutFinishers.com)
- Joel Marion, my co-author for 24-7 Fat Loss
- Shawna Kaminski, author of the Pull-up and Push-up Programs
- Cara Eckerman, Fit Body Bootcamp Superstar
- The so famous he’s infamous, John “Roman” Romaniello
- Rick Kaselj, the Canadian Crusader for Injury Rehab
- lil’ ol’ me, and many, many more (I might even be able to convince Alwyn Cosgrove to stop by)

There’s also a women’s only business building session, plus tons of great speakers on bootcamps, one-on-one personal training, and much more.

Get your spot and early bird bonuses – today only

See you there,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS – Fitness is one of the few industries that continues to grow during a recession.

And you’ll find out how to grow your fitness business during even the toughest times when you join me and
Bedros and his crew at Fitness Business Summit 2012.

Reserve your spot here.

These will be the 3 most important days in 2012 for the fitness industry.

There is NOTHING I could say that would be even HALF as powerful as this true life personal trainer certification success story from TT “Rookie Trainer of the Year”, Mike Whitfield.

Discover how just one “click “changed his life…

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What a Difference a Click Makes
By Mike Whitfield, Certified Turbulence Trainer

Every year, my wife and I share a one-page letter on our anniversary reflecting on what had happened the previous year. We’ve been doing that since we started dating in 2004.

There is no doubt that we’ll be talking about my incredible year in 2011 and the positive impact it has had on us. I don’t believe in hype, but trust me when I say that my life changed with just one click on my mouse in 2011.

That was the day I started the Turbulence Training Certification. Before that click, I had almost gotten to a point of burnout with a lack of purpose as a fitness trainer.

I loved what I did and I certainly enjoyed training people, but I felt that there was more to it and I wasn’t making as a big of an impact as I could.

I was a trainer who had lost 105 lbs and I knew I could connect with so many people who are struggling to lose weight, but I didn’t have an avenue.

That all changed after that click. I became a part of something bigger and bolder, helping 1,000,000 people transform their lives. I jumped in head first and it has really paid off.

Because of the client attraction tools we receive each month from Craig, I grew my summer bootcamps from 5-8 people to 20 in my 6 am class (yes, during the summer).

Later that summer, I had a series of articles posted on Craig’s site (one of the many perks you get as a TT trainer) and due to the response I was inspired to put a fitness info product on Clickbank.

My goal was to have it done by the first TT Trainer Summit in San Diego last August, and I beat my goal by two days.

At the TT Summit, where I got to meet and connect with other great TT trainers, it was like a switch went off inside of me.

I still remember coming back home and telling my wife, “Look what I found”, as I pointed at my smile. It was just like the famous scene in City Slickers with Billy Crystal’s character does the same thing.

Numerous friendships were established at the TT Summit as well, and I still stay in touch with them.

My wife even noticed the change in me. It was at the TT Summit where I truly understood my potential, but more importantly, Craig taught us how to create a powerful vision for our lives.

I still remembering writing down my vision on paper on the plane ride home; a ride I will never, ever forget.

That’s when I recognized my passion for an online business, where I can connect with many more people.

In less than 12 weeks, I have sold close to 700 copies of my first product on Clickbank, Workout Finishers. Before becoming TT Certified, this was just “an idea” on the shelf.

To think this all started with just a click of a mouse about a new opportunity is incredible.

Mike Whitfield
Certified Turbulence Trainer
“TT Rookie Trainer of the Year, 2011″

******************************************

Just one click changed Mike’s life. When he clicked through to become a Certified Turbulence Trainer, it opened up a whole new world of possibility.

Today is your chance to do the same. We are accepting our first new class of FIVE TT Trainers for 2012.

And there is still room for you to join the elite First Fifty.

So join the First Fifty Club today and get immediate access to the Certification and free admission to the next TT Summit

Looking forward to seeing you in the Club,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Creator, Turbulence Training Certification

PS – Only First Fifty Club members receive free admission to the 2nd TT Trainer Summit in 2012. If you hesitate and wait to join, the price of admission alone to the TT Trainer Summit will be $497.

So join the First Fifty Club today and get immediate access to the Certification and free admission to the Summit. We are only taking five new trainers in this online class, so please hurry and reserve your spot.

I recently stopped by the new house of an ol’ college buddy to meet his wife and new baby boy…and to have a serious chat.

You see, he’s gained 25 pounds since birth of his son. He really fell off the wagon. But he’s taken the first and most important step by admitting things have to change and so we sat around for over 2 hours in his backyard on a beautiful day and hammered out this plan.

I could have wrote a 6-month plan, but I wanted to fast-track his  results – and YOUR results – because research shows people who start losing fat quickly get better long-term fat loss results as well.

So here’s your complete 14-day FAST-TRACK guide to fat loss (if you like it, please forward it to a friend or print them off a copy too):

Day 1 – Stop Everything to Plan, Shop, & Prepare This Meal Plan

I want you to plan, shop, and prepare today. Skip your workout if necessary and do this instead – its THAT important.

And I don’t just mean planning what you are going to eat for dinner. I mean planning what you are going to eat for every meal for the next 2 weeks.

Don’t tell me that’s too hard. After all, most people with lean physiques stick to a relatively similar diet for 90% of their meals and then enjoy a random cheat/reward meal 10% of the time.

So your schedule might go like this:

Breakfast – 2 eggs, 1 slice rye toast, 1 apple, Green Tea, fish oil

Snack – 1 oz raw almonds, 1 pear, Green Tea

Lunch – Grilled chicken/salmon or black bean salad with spinach, onion, peppers, mushrooms, etc., 1 banana or bowl of cherries, 2 cups unsweetened iced tea with lime or lemon

Snack – Unlimited raw vegetables and hummus

Dinner – Protein and vegetables and fruit…so this could be a small piece of steak, chicken, or fish, along with your favorite vegetables, and a bowl of your favorite fruit.

Or it could be the veggie dinner I had last Monday of quinoa with red pepper-cashew sauce and avocado wrapped in kale leaves.

Or it could be wild rice with beans and avocado and salsa.

That schedule won’t change much, with the exception of a slight variation in your main course at dinner, right? And then once per week schedule a meal of your favorite food.

Everyone can stick to this plan for 14 days, and this tip alone will help you lose 5-12 pounds of fat in just 2 weeks. And this is also how you’ll need to eat for the rest of your life. It’s not hard, it just requires a little practice. Keep at it and never, EVER give up.

Alright, so to review, here’s your 3-step guide to Day 1.

i) Plan your meals.
ii) Shop for the food.
iii) Prepare the food (cut everything up, put in the proper trays, cook food if necessary, and get it all packed up for work)

In addition to planning out all of your meals, you must also start keeping a food journal (you could do it online too), because studies show that keeping a food journal will help you lose fat faster.

Next, make sure you do 60 minutes of activity today AND take a “before” photo along with your weight, body fat (if possible), and measurements of your waist, hips, arms, and thighs. Continue to weigh yourself every other day, as research shows that frequent check-ins lead to greater weight loss.

Day 2 – Attend An “Online Turbulence Training Seminar“

Today you’re going to do a Turbulence Training workout.

You must set EVERY workout and activity session as an appointment with yourself that you must keep – just like a doctor’s visit. Let nothing, except real emergencies, come between you and your workouts.

Now if you are currently using long, slow, boring cardio to lose fat, stop that bad habit immediately and switch to Turbulence Training.

If you need to learn more about TT, watch my free videos on youtube where I explain Turbulence Training and interval workouts. While you are there, look up my “Diet vs. Exercise” video series to see why diet is much more effective for fat loss than cardio.

You can watch all my videos here (it’s like an online TT seminar):

=> http://www.Youtube.com/cbathletics

If you are a beginner, please start conservatively. But if you have been working out for a while, the next 3 weeks are your time to step your workouts up a notch.

Day 3 – Write Your Way to Fat Loss

After yesterday’s TT workout, you’ll have a recovery day today. So schedule 30-60 minutes of easy to moderate activity. I’ll talk about why we do this in a second, but you can do anything from a 30-60 minute walk, a yoga session, a light bodyweight and stretching session, an hour of playing with your kids, or playing an easy game of your favorite sport. Don’t go too hard, but stay active.

You must also carve out 15 minutes to sit down and write out 3 short term goals and 3 long term goals. Write down EXACTLY what you want to accomplish in these 14 days. After that, write down what you want to accomplish in the following 90 days.

Once you’ve done that, you’re going to prepare a contract with yourself promising to take the steps necessary to achieve these goals. Sign the contract and review it everyday to keep you on track.

Day 4 – Recruiting Day

Today you’ll do another TT workout. Make sure you are using a professionally designed structured and proven fat loss workout, rather than just “winging it” or using long slow cardio for fat loss.

You’ll also spend time today recruiting for these 3 components of your fat loss social support team:

- Nutrition buddy
- Workout partner
- Fat loss forum accountability buddies

Research shows that recording your nutrition in a food journal and having someone review your meals increases your chance of losing fat.

Another study found that if you workout with a partner who is losing fat, then you’ll have a greater chance of losing fat as well.

And finally, a third study found that the more often subjects checked in to an online fat loss forum (like the TT Member’s forum), the more likely they were to lose a lot of fat.

Get your team together and you’ll get more results – faster.

Day 5 – The 30-60 Minute Solution

Why am I telling you to get 30-60 minutes of activity on your off days from TT?

Well, to be honest, I do NOT expect you to burn massive amounts of fat with easy, off-day activity.

However, every minute you spend moving, you are NOT snacking.

I know the biggest problem you will have is your diet. So instead of snacking in front of the computer or TV, spend your free time away from food. That’s the simple secret to the 30-60 minute solution.

So get 30-60 minutes of activity on Day 5.

Day 6 – The Challenge

Your 3rd TT workout needs to be a challenge workout so that you can improve your performance each week. In fact, you should set at least one personal best in each workout. If you improve your performance, your physique will improve as well. You can use one of the TT bodyweight, Adrenaline, or Addiction Challenge workouts.

Day 7 – Diet Check-In and Reward Meal

Congratulations, you’ve made it through 7 amazing days of fat burning. Today you’re going to double check your nutrition plan by reviewing your food journal.

If you haven’t already done so, eliminate all liquid calories and replace with water and Green Tea.

If you need to learn more about nutrition, start using the free service called Fitday.com. It will help you track your calories.

And if you’re really struggling to avoid night eating, try this tip. Place a small mirror on your fridge door. Research shows that subjects consumed fewer calories when they did this because it will remind you to make smarter choices.

Finally, as a reward for all of your hard work, you can treat yourself to your favorite meal. But that doesn’t mean gorging. It simply means having a normal meal of your favorite foods to give you a mental break from your plan. When the meal is over, don’t go back for seconds. Get right back on the 14-day plan instead.

Days 7 & 8 are also off-day activity days.

Day 8 – Review your goals.

It’s no good to write your goals down and then forget them. Review them at least weekly, if not daily. Heck, carry them around in your pocket and look at them at every meal.

As you workout, visualize yourself reaching your goals. Believe in yourself, keep a positive attitude, stay motivated and you’ll continue to make fast fat loss progress every day.

This will also be another great day to plan, shop, and prepare.

Day 9 – Take It to Another Level

Week one was great, but with only 5 days left it is time for you to step it up again. This time I want you to hire a trainer for just one TT session to make sure you are doing all the exercises correctly and training as hard as you can (safely, of course).

Add this trainer to your support team. And by the way, a good trainer should be able to estimate your body fat better than any of those “fat scales” you can buy at a store…so get them to check that too.

Day 10 – Plan Your Next Shopping Trip

Today is another 30-60 minutes of off-day activity, and you’ll also work on improving your nutrition even more. What I want you to do is focus on eating more from the Fat Loss Foundation.

The 3 components of my Simple Nutrition Fat Loss Foundation are raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Research shows that eating more of these 3 foods will help you lose weight better than a diet that is low in fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Make an effort to eat one new fruit, vegetable, and nut each week during your between meal snacks.

If you aren’t already eating grapefruit, try one today and see how it helps fill you up (because it contains a lot of soluble fiber called pectin). Add a new vegetable – such as broccoli, cauliflower, or asparagus – to your dinner. And try walnuts or pecans instead of almonds at your morning break.

Slowly but surely increase the fiber in your diet until you hit the recommended amount of 35 grams per day.

And I hope this goes without saying, but you should have eliminated all foods that contain added sugar. That is one the simplest yet most effective nutrition changes you can make.

Day 11 – Recruit Again

Add a new member into your social support team, such as a new workout partner or healthy-eating partner. This will add strength to your commitment. If possible, join a transformation contest online, or start one among your friends or co-workers.

But when you do that, keep in mind that you want to help other people succeed. The more you can help others lose fat, the more you will help yourself as you share what’s working with your friends and they show you their fat loss secrets too. Stay positive, and you’ll build a powerful fat loss team.

Today is also another TT fat loss workout day, so give it your best.

Day 12 – Check-In Time

Today you’ll re-measure your weight, body fat, and measurements. Take a look in the mirror to compare yourself against your before photo to see big changes that will motivate you to stay strong.

I also want you to start thinking about getting a tan. Yes, I said getting a tan. Why? Because simply adding a little bit of color to your body can make you look leaner. There’s a reason all those models in supplement ads are tanned, you know.

Finally, if there is a “big day” at the end of the 14-days, make sure you try on the outfit you are going to wear to double-check that it is going to look great on you.

Make sure you do this check-in either before your 60 minutes of activity or a few hours after so that exercise does not mess-up the numbers.

Day 13 – Mental Performance Review

Write down all obstacles that are still in your way of success, and then brainstorm 2 solutions to overcome each. Get some help from your social support team on this. The more you and your team share solutions, the more fat you – and everyone else – will lose.

For example, you might come up with rules like, “No eating in the car” to help cut down on bad food choices. Someone else might suggest “brush your teeth after dinner to avoid night-time snacking”. Those are simple yet powerful tips to keep you on the fast-track to fat loss.

Follow up this positive session with your best TT workout yet!

Day 14 – Review, Plan, & Prepare

Congrats on making so many powerful changes in just 2 short weeks.

By now, you’ll probably have lost 5-12 pounds of fat and just as importantly, you’ll have developed proven, life-long fat burning habits that will be easy for you to stick to forever.

Keep this weight loss train moving by reviewing your original goals. Next, do your planning, shopping, and preparing for another week, and get ready for even more fat loss.

Enjoy your 14-day results and celebrate with a reward meal (and show off your firmer, leaner body at the big event too!).

Wishing you success!

Please email me with your success story in 14 days (or sooner!),

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Certified Turbulence Trainer
Creator, Turbulence Training Metabolic Resistance Training Workouts