Melody's Sofa

Who's On the Sofa???Question and Answer with Shane the Trainer....

Here we go!! Let's get started on our fitness challenge this week...here's some inspiration to get you ready for Thursday!
May I introduce a fab guy....devoted husband of Cathy and dad of Tyson and Dylan...one of the greatest guys I've ever met.........total family man.....

Here's his interview...you'll understand why he's changed my life!

1. Does it matter how old you are how how many children you've had when it comes to getting into great shape? (Be honest)
Sure it does. There are some theories that say that your natural ability to produce hormones you need get decreased which can prohibit your body’s metabolism to function the way it should. But, just like in Melody’s case, even if you get started later in life after children or whatever, the human body can tone at any age and that can increase one’s metabolism on a consistent basis.

2. What are the differences between men and women when it comes to getting?
into great shape? The is a funny one because I get asked this on a daily basis. What it really comes down to is calories in versus calories out. Men do usually have higher testosterone levels which can help with weight loss but, no matter what even if you are a man, you still have to burn more calories than you consume when you want to lose weight.

3. Can you tell us a little bit about how important it is to be
Consistent...and the difference it will make? I love this question because lots of people get in the gym expecting miracles over night; but the truth of the matter is that it takes time to get those results you’re looking for. When set up on the proper nutrition and exercise program, it will definitely help but you have to be willing to stay with it. Not only will you feel better but, you will be that much closer to achieving the results you’re looking for. I promise.

4. What is the SINGLE MOST important change you can make in your diet when
it comes to losing fat? (If you could only choose one) Those calories and when eating healthier your calorie intake will usually be lower. Think about the amount of calories there are in fruits and vegetables compared to crackers and doughnuts. I’m not saying don’t enjoy your life by not ever eating these things but, keep it in perspective by watching what you eat and when you decide to eat it. For example, is it late at night that you decide to indulge or earlier in the day when your body will hopefully have a chance to burn some of those calories? Some of the worst times to eat is late at night. Trying to make your last meal at six is a great start to achieving those goals. Just ask Melody about that.

5. How long have you been a trainer? About twelve years.

6. Have you seen a lot of success stories, especially when it comes to women?
Who have had children, or are past their twenties? What do all of these
Women have in common? What do they NOT have in common? Sure I have. The biggest thing that they have in common is that they stuck with it even when miracles weren’t happening over night. Some of the best things one can do are not only take the time to get with a trainer but, to find someone that has the same motivation that you do and someone that you can depend on. Not only can it help one achieve the goals one is looking for but, it’s a chance to have fun while doing it.

7. Aside from losing weight and toning up, what is the best health benefit?
Of lifting weights? It’s good for the heart. Cardio vascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in America. Eating well with a balanced nutritional program along with a regimented work out routine is the only way to go.

8. How important is cardio? Extremely. I have to admit that it isn’t my favorite thing to do but you can’t have one without the other. What I mean by this is that weights are not the only thing it takes to achieve those goals. Incorporating cardio along with weight training is what needs to be done to optimize the results.

9. What's your favorite part of your job as a trainer? This is an easy one, helping people. It’s a true passion for me to help people get those results they are looking for because it can be done and I love helping them along the way.

10. Give us some words of encouragement....we're all ready to HIT IT
HARD..... Stay with it, stay with it. Just remember, there’s always some one else out there that are in the same shoes as you. If possible, spend a little extra for a trainer maybe just enough to get you in the right direction and STICK WITH IT. I will be honest that the results one is usually looking for won’t come in a few months but, the way you’ll feel from the consistence is irreplaceable. I’ve seen it time and time again where it’s easy to just want to give up but it just takes a little time and patience.

THANK YOU SHANE!!!

Is That Troy McClain On My Sofa?

I get to meet a lot of fantastic people in my travels...and sure, I was a fan of The Apprentice and I watched Troy with the rest of the millions who watched him take New York City by storm....but I must admit...when I was getting ready for my first meeting with Troy a while back...I made some unfair assumptions...I thought the fame would have surely gotten to him...that he'd show up in a $2000 suit in a luxury car, proving that he's living the high life...that the success and worldwide acclaim would have taken the country boy out of him and turned him into a high-rollin' stuffed suit.......

Man, was I wrong.

Troy is a family man...Troy is living the American Dream...and was even before his fame on The Apprentice. He is highly successful in business and in life...he is madly in love with his wife and crazy about his mom and his sister.....Troy showed up in cowboy boots and jeans in the same truck he's always had. Troy is just a really, really good person. He is unforgettable because of his raw, unapologetic authenticity. I have rarely been so impressed with another human being.

So, it is with great pleasure that I share this interview with you (hopefully you'll be able to LISTEN to the podcast before I leave on my vacation...)....and I can hardly contain myself when it comes to talking about the projects we are working on together...but, I must....

Here's Troy!

Melody:
I am introducing the fabulous Troy McClain...wanting to know what you're all about....so let's get right to the first question....Troy, how has telling YOUR unique story been a powerful experience in your life?

Troy:
Oh my goodness! I’m all nervous now! Well, first of all my life before going on The Apprentice was 10 miles to the left and 10 miles to the right and I spent most of my life ‘mendin’ fences and skinnin’ my fists’…on trying to do the right things….then all of a sudden, you get catapulted into 27 million Americans a week and my wife is the one that I owe the most credit to because she’s the one that sent in my application and said that I can do it….and the way that it’s changed my life is just that it’s simply introduced the values that I’ve always had, and it’s introduced me…to America, which I never would have been able to do door to door, and now, the power of media has allowed 27 million people to see me and to really let everybody out there know that there’s good people out there! And the good people are right next door to you and sometimes they’re even on your tv!

Melody:
So, how has your story helped others? Because I know you get letters and emails and all sorts of feedback because you are so open with your life stories….

Troy:
You know, I don’t know how it’s helped others…just by sharing it. I don’t know if you saw the Dateline NBC episode that they did about me, or even if you go to my website, you’ll see…as a young man, my mama always had a positive outlook about things, and she’d say “Troy, we’re upgrading the house!” So I’d think, “Great!” So, I used to think we were rich because we were always upgrading houses…well, later on in life I found out that we were being evicted and we weren’t upgrading houses…and when I share those funny stories, now they’re funny, but going through that was an extreme struggle, and while going through those things, sometimes I didn’t think we were going to make it through them…but, it was because of my mom’s positive self image, and because of her positive ways of presenting things that we didn’t realize that things were that bad, even though our heart and our gut knew it was, we also knew that we were going to get through it…then, later on in life, in 1998, I took over legal guardianship of my kid sister…my kid sister is profoundly deaf and developmentally delayed. Doralyn McClain is her name, and I always mention her when I do interviews. But, I think my story has influenced people because I shared….and I think there’s a lot of successful people out there that don’t share their story, and when you don’t share your story…perception is reality…and people think “Oh, he’s always been rich…” or “He’s always been famous…” and I ain’t always been rich and I ain’t always been famous, but I’ve gone through the same struggles that people listening to this have gone through or ARE going through…and I’m willing to bet that my struggles aren’t HALF as hard as somebody else out there…and I’m also willing to bet that some of my struggles are twice as hard…but the point is…when people listen to my story…they think “Hey, if he can do it, so can I….” I mean come on, I’m a Podunk from Idaho! (melody…”Don’t knock that! I’m right here with you!) I tell everybody that, but I truly say it, as cliché as it sounds…that you can do it! But, you have to have faith and family…and you have to be able to crush the resistance with your persistence! You’ve got to continue to strive through those walls…don’t climb through them, break through them! I mean, forget about looking at it and thinking ‘that’s a long way to climb…’ run right through them because I did…and probably the biggest inspiration IS my little sister…again, she’s profoundly deaf and developmentally delayed, yet EVERY SINGLE MORNING, she wakes up with a smile on her face…and to her, the world is great! And, I’m not gonna let her think any other way…and I’m gonna start adopting the way SHE thinks. And, when I share those stories with people, that’s what I think inspires people the most…because they think “You know what, he’s stumbled!” I have stumbled and I have failed…I’ve failed more than I’ve succeeded, and I tell people that…but the success that I’ve had is because of all of the lessons that I’ve learned through failing. And so when you share those stories, people are inspired, and I’m glad they are!

Melody:
Ok, Troy…this is a question that I’ve asked people on my blog…and I’d like you to answer it too….What were you great at as a child, what did you really enjoy…and how have you transferred that into your adult life?

Troy:
What was I great at? I think I was probably great at finding common ground, with anybody and everybody…I could always relate to whoever was in the room, and I’ve been able to take that into business…to be able to take that common ground…and that’s probably one of the most important things that I’ve discovered in business now…big business people and small business people….big business and employees, husband and wife…people just don’t look for the common ground, they try to move someone into THEIR area, rather than moving into a common area…and I’ve really looked at my life as a child and thought “Man, I pretty much got along with everybody…” and, it was because I was willing to give a little bit to get a little bit…and now I look at my business, and my relationship with my wife, and I’m willing to give a little bit to get a little bit…and that’s probably the greatest success from childhood that I continue to bring into today…to just find that common ground with people.

Melody:
I love that! I love it!

Melody:
Ok….everyone has fears…what are you most afraid of…and what do you do to overcome your fears daily?

Troy:
Oh my goodness…that’s a good one…My fear is not being successful, and my definition of success is different than most…and I’ll kind of let you know that whenever you get asked a question and you have to answer it, you should ask the definition of that word…somebody asked me if I felt lucky…and I said, “yeh, I’m extremely lucky!” but, my definition of luck is being prepared for opportunity when it arises…so, if you have the same definition of luck as I do…you’ll know that I was prepared for that opportunity and so I’m just fearful of not being successful…and my definition of success is being able to take care of my family, and give them everything that they’ve given me over the years…give them the same feeling that they’ve given me…and I’m not talking about money or anything of monetary value…but the feeling I have in my heart and the feeling I have in my soul…I want to every day be able to give that back to them. And, if I’m not doing that, I’m not being successful…so that’s my biggest fear…my biggest fear is not being successful.

Melody:
Ok, I know you have an absolutely crazy schedule…how do you juggle such a busy schedule while keeping your marriage great and keeping your relationship with your mom and your sister the way that you want it?

Troy:
Well, I definitely do have a crazy schedule, I did 160,000 domestic air miles last year, this year I just checked and I’m at 171,000 miles. So, I’ll break the 200,000 mile mark in domestic air miles…and what we do is we travel the country doing public speaking…and people ask the question…how DO you do that…and the way you do that is incorporating….you know, incorporations…when someone tells you to start a business, they say ‘incorporate!’ I say…incorporate your family! You know, include them in, I mean I incorporate my mother, my little sister…she’s a part of my speaking when I speak, my mother is a part of my consulting when I consult…and my wife is my full-time business partner…and she’s not my business partner at home or at business…she’s my business partner in life, so I incorporated all of them IN to my business, so even though I travel 3 out of 4 weeks of the month, they’re with me…they’re with me in my mind and in my heart and I communicate with them constantly, from my wife handling my business schedule, to my mom, my wife and my sister sitting down and making business decisions together…”how do you feel about me going to China? What are the benefits and the consequences?” and I ask them about it, we share it together…and I do it all with their permission…I say “tell me what do you think about this? Give me your opinion…” I don’t always agree with their opinion, but I always GET their opinion…and I think that’s how you juggle all of that…to incorporate them into your life and I was doing that before I did all of this…and I thank God above and believe that that is why we have such strong family and why my business IS so successful, because your best business partners ARE your family.

Melody:
What do you have to say to people who think that their life stories are small….or too small to share?

Troy:
You know, I think anybody who thinks their life story is to small to share just needs to look at me. I mean, I sat here and argued with my wife…the day we got home from our honeymoon, and she saw the advertisement for The Apprentice and she said “Troy, you’ve got to share your life story and send it out there” …and I refused to do it…my wife is the one that filled out that application and sent it out there…and, she sent the videotape in..and said “Troy, you need to do this..” I thought my story was too small….but anytime you think your story is too small you miss-out on big big opportunities…on to the public speaking…like you saw on my video…when Mark Victor Hansen called me and asked me to come and speak and share my story, he said “You need to tell your story because you can CHANGE somebody’s life…” and, if it wasn’t for those words of encouragement, I wouldn’t be changing anyone’s lives…by me changing their life…they’re continuing to change mine…because it motivates me…so…you’re story is never too small to share, it’s always important to communicate and always important to throw it out there…because you’re gonna inspire SOMEBODY…

Melody:
Absolutely! And you have inspired me today..and I thank you…and I want everyone to PLEASE go to www.troymcclain.com to hear your whole story…so beautiful. Make sure you watch the video….get some Kleenex!

Yes, It's Troy McClain from the Apprentice!

Okay, for sure, it's a much better day than yesterday!!
Just spent the day with a couple of incredible and fabulous people that I'll soon be working with....one of them is the incredible, authentic and inspiring Troy McClain.....(and you'll be meeting the other one soon!) But, he's done so much more than being the #1 favorite on Donald Trump's Apprentice....he's just a great small town guy with a lot of grit and whole lot of heart.....

So....stay tuned as I type out this very thought-provoking and meaningful interview....and hopefully I can get the digital soundtrack on here, too!!

.....you'll love what he has to say and as promised....you'll adore him.

Go check him out at www.troymcclain.com
a great guy with a great story....just like all of us.....(well, the great story part, at least!)

Keep checking in....I'll be typing as fast as I can!!!
Melody

Who's On The Sofa? Interviews With People You'll Adore

Starting this week, I'll be doing at least one weekly interview with people who I think are absolutely fabulous, I'm quite sure you'll agree.....

This week.....watch for a fun interview with a much adored person (I'm sure most of you know him!) who lives a beautiful life of service...can't wait to share the thoughts of this incredible & authentic individual.....
This will be so fun!
M.