Damn you Miami…

Hulk vs. Hulk!

So right off the bat, Hulk vs. Hulk is warming over well with a lot of individuals. I figure with no competitors in sight, I’ve got to make my OWN competition! The official announcement will be this weekend, but seeing as how I only have about 10 spots left out of 50, I’m putting the word out now! Start date is August 13th and the end date is October 22nd (With the midpoint falling on September 17th… the day right before Tough Mudder baby!!). If you’d like to reserve one of the few spots left, hit me up! (Click here)

First, I want to give some extremely heart-felt wishes to Amanda Martin on behalf of Team Hulk. Amanda, for those of you who don’t know, had a baby recently and he’s suffering from complications requiring multiple surgeries and intensive hospital care. That was the reason she wasn’t at Hulk last night nor will she be there this Saturday. She sends her best to the team and wants everybody to know she will be back Thursday! Well Amanda, on behalf of Team Hulk, we wish YOU the best, hope everything is going well with your son, and that if you need ANYTHING from any one of us, we’ve got you :).

Last night’s Zumba was amazing! I got Eric Van Diest to join in so right away it started off a success. Then, I let the rhythm get me so bad that Gloria Estefan’s tour bus flipped right side up (that reference is acceptable because she turned out fine). Jessica kept in my Britney jam and I was as happy as a Mavericks fan last night (Damn you Miami… Were you even THINKING about Tosh Tuesday?). Fellow Hulkster Chris Kelly joined in too! He even guest instructed once Jessica saw how much his hips influenced Shakira (not the other way around)! That last part may or may not be a lie… I’ll let you decide.

How many of you remember “ring ding dong” by Dr. Dre? You know, the “Friday” soundtrack and whatnot… Anyways, if you remember the song, do you remember the part at the end where he says “I know you’re bobbin’ your head…” Well, when that song first came out, I remember first hearing that and being AMAZED that Dr. Dre knew I was bobbing my head! It was like magic!

Then I realized I was an adolescent idiot.

Song of the day – I miss you Korn! Er… KoRn… Don’t want to offend anybody…

– Hulk

 

2 Hulk nights in a row… I know you dig that!

Gettin' down and dirty in the back alley behind the gym. That's how Hulk gets down!

I’m expecting some SORE Hulkamaniacs this morning my friends! Last night was definitive brutal, and I’m proud to say that you guys brought it to another level last night. I’m not sure how many of you remember me saying (screaming) “I can see the transition!” last night near the end, but the cohesiveness was palpable. It happened at about 6:47 (I remember because I looked up to see how far along we were) and I could FEEL everybody take it to another level. Worries, frustrations, and insecurities were pushed aside and everyone just SWEAT. Definitely gave me something to clean up!

One of my favorite moments last night was when Chris and Tye got to their ropes and Chris looks over at Tye and says “You ready to do this?” and Tye doesn’t skip a beat when he says “Yup.” This was their first workout together (Tye had been in Hawaii) and none of that mattered when it came down to it. It said “we’re in the trenches together, let’s fight our way out together.”

Another favorite moment was seeing Chenoa fight every urge to drop her arms on the isometric flexes (Bathroom mirror pose) and keep those babies up for the reminder. Chenoa, you truly are a soldier.

ANOTHER favorite moment was Jessica saying “I need to leave for Spanish now, but don’t worry… I’ll be late.” I don’t HOPE for that, but her instant willingness meant a lot. Thank you Jessica. Also, the look in your eye on those ropes got me all KINDS of fired up!!!

Yet another favorite moment was walking by when we were in the back alley and hearing Art chanting to himself during the resistance band curls “I’m not going to stop, I’m not going to stop, I’m not going to stop.” It’s that quiet lightning that turns into Hulk Thunder!!

Kima, thank you for pushing through a tough upper body workout when your elbows bug you as much as they do.

Bobbi, I hope you got those covers on alright!

Meghan, thank you for giving as much as you gave even with a migraine and rough week. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Kristina, I didn’t say it out loud, but you looked like you wanted to legitimately and intensely cry after the last set of Isometric flexes, and I couldn’t have been more proud of that effort. You don’t look the way you looked without giving your absolute all.

Ruben, that pec grab after the “Team Hulk on 3!” didn’t go unnoticed! Neither did your insane effort… I look forward to cleaning your sweat off the floor multiple times a week ;).

Chris, welcome back from the midwest! Hulk missed you. Way to jump right into the deep end my brotha!

Krista, Vegas was kind to you because you destroyed this workout. You’ve got this animalistic look when you’re gettin’ down with the get down that rivals Tug’s war face!

Tug, I hope that you were able to relax your stress ball of a body after that workout! You were red, shaking, and contracting every muscle you had. You, are HULK.

Amanda Martin, you have so many reasons not to give 110%, and none of them ever show. You are so magical, keep it up!

Bud, I NEVER doubt the fact you’re going to give your all whether you need to leave 15 minutes early or not. Last night was no exception.

Kathi, I LOVE hearing you call everybody’s name out and counting down with me. Please don’t ever stop, k?

Cheryl, you are a beacon when people are looking for inspiration. That, and you laugh at my jokes harder than most. Let’s keep that last part up shall we? 😉

I’m flyin’ off the top of my head here, so anybody I miss, it’s not because I don’t love you, more because I’m scattered!

New “Team Hulk: Round VI” photos! Click Here!

– Hulk

PS song of the day has a slow build… About 2 minutes in get ready to be more pumped than you’ve ever been in your life.

About to Hulk Smash

Say goodbye to your shoulders now Hulkamaniacs

Your chest and shoulders are going to cease to exist after tonight. T-Minus 41 minutes…

– Hulk

Hulk is Growing!!

We're the strongest ones there are...

First, I can’t start this update without singing Happy Birthday to Art! There, I just did it. I mean, I sang. Right here. At the computer. If you wanted me to type it out, that would be weird of you… Plus, if you don’t know the words, then I’m surprised you made it to my page… Anyways, Happy birth anniversary Arty the one man party! Artimus Prime! I got you and Lorna the same present… Complete soreness! Birthday BOSU class tonight anyone?

It’s pretty cool the impact my “scale address” is having on people. I’m getting messages and e-mails from all over the country saying basically that it was the slap in the face they needed to wake up and realize who is REALLY in control. You’re damn right! I got plenty more where that came from! I’ve been screaming for years, but it hasn’t been until now those ears have perked up!

“Everywhere there’s a kid that no one cares about, you’ve just gotta keep screamin’ till they hear you out.”

So let me remind you Hulkamaniacs, tomorrow we have a bootcamp at 6pm. Upper body time! Get ready for some push-ups till you drop (then more after that), some re-enactment of “Thor’s Hammer”, Isometric flexes, and the introduction to some BOSU action! Oh the fun times we are going to have…

In a couple of weeks, we’re going to be running our first theme workout… Black Light Special #2 is first up. This one is my personal favorite, and I even dropped some money on portable LED lights (Click Here to see the lights being used in “The Story of Et Ducit”) that will brighten the ground so we have the crazy black light, glow stick, lit walls effect with VISION!! Look forward to that June 2nd my pretties… Right before measurements!!

Alright bros and chicas, I’m off to go murder my core, destroy a few other kindhearted well-to-do individuals, then run a successful BOSU stabilization course with the intent to make it a birthday Art never forgets.

– Hulk

PS song of the day… another good cardio gem. I love me some Timbaland!

Hulk Strongest There Is!!!

The world is ours, all we gotta do is grab it...

Alright Hulkamaniacs, let’s do some talkin’! First, I gotta say that as the day has gone on and I’ve seen everybody on Facebook changing their pictures to either “Hulk” or “She Hulk” pictures… My heart swells. I mean it. Y’all did that on your own, and I’m just sitting back and watching… So far I’ve got Lorna, Maggie, Jessica, Cheryl, Bud, Matt, Eric, and Tye down as having their pictures changed… Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, to latching on to what I so firmly believe in. Today is only Monday… GREAT day.

Just a reminder that this week we have THREE Hulk workouts. Wednesday at 6pm (Upper body), Thursday at 6pm (Core) and Saturday at 10am (Lower body – John will be taking care of weigh-ins while a very special guest is being brought in to destroy you ;D).

I’m gonna keep it short and sweet tonight, as I’m exhausted and about ready to grub down on some yum yum (Brown rice pasta, 7oz chicken breast, and sautéed peppers all tossed in olive oil and pineapple vinegar… Color you jealous!).

Song of the day is perfect for cardio!

– Hulk

State of Emergency: The wild fire running rampant on your legs is out of control!

GREAT LEGS TODAY!!!!

Good god almighty was that a leg workout if I’ve ever seen one! You all just wait… They are going to only get more and more intense… I mean, we haven’t even steamed up the room OUTSIDE the aerobic room yet! Regardless, that was AWESOME. I can’t WAIT to get my hands on y’all on Wednesday!

Just a reminder, I will be gone in San Diego bringing my boy Billy back from the greater Southern Region, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a special surprise for you on Saturday. Get GEARED, because it may even be worse than me! Come on now, you didn’t think I’d leave you hangin’ did you? Puh-leez, that ain’t my style baby birds. My style goes for miles but the buck doesn’t stop short on gettin’ out of dodge! I’m EVERYWHERE!!!! AHHH!!!

So I gotta give the shout out of all shout outs to Cheryl Taylor. Cheryl is going in to have her hip replaced in about 7 weeks, and she DESTROYED the workout on Thursday. Well today, she wanted nothing more than to stay home and bundle up in some blankets and not move. When I asked her “I don’t want you to push it if you’re dying girl, you sure you wanna get going on another extreme workout?” and she says “Honey, that’s what this is all about, right?” God I love that woman. Sound off for Cheryl!

Also, if you didn’t know, TOUGH MUDDER 2011 (September 18th) TEAM HULK  (Click here to register for Team Hulk! Password is: “Bangerang.”) is growing and getting stronger by the day! We are going to OWN that mountain. We will be mapping out the course, breaking down strategy, and a couple of months out we are going to get together once a week and do some terrain training with the team! We will be heading out the day before (Saturday, September 17th) where we will be organizing lodging for everybody as well as having a “family dinner” to make sure everybody is fueled the hell up! Also on the agenda is family breakfast the next morning before we go out and claim Squaw as our own. Our objective is to leave NO man or woman behind. This is a challenge, not a race, and we are treating it as such. If we have to walk, we will walk. If we have to carry someone on our shoulders, we will. If we have to push someone over a wall, it’s going to happen. One team, one dream, and we are going to make some real life magic that day. Registration is $100, but you get $20 back when you get there. I know it seems a bit steep, but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I beg you not to miss out on. Come join Team Hulk, let’s show the other 5000 contestants who REALLY came to play!

Lastly, the new board will be up at the latest by Tuesday everybody! We had an AMAZING week this week! The numbers were through the ROOF! And guess what, I didn’t see a single GLIMPSE of what made me so angry last week. Weird how the mentality switched and the numbers were through the roof amazing… I mean, we lost something like 30 lbs this week alone team! AhhhhOOOO!!!!

For your viewing pleasure, a couple important videos…

Wall-sit for Tyerone (Dedication)(Click Here)

The Introduction to “The Shovel” (Click Here)

Bionic Robots #9 and #10 (Click Here)

The First Team Hulk: Round VI Chant (Click Here)

– Hulk

PS song of the day? Yeah, this is your moment team…

Week 2 isn’t even done and magic runs rampant!

That beast in you better be ready for the longest leg workout of the challenge tomorrow...

So a couple things… First off, it was Hulkster Lorna’s birthday on Wednesday! I promised her sore abs as my gift to her, I’m hoping my present pulls through! We had the pleasure of singing to her during our workout last night, but I wanted to give one last shout out… Happy birthday Lorna!

Another important note… Hulkster Jessica LaVenter is a BEAST! She is our resident Zumba instructor, and guess when her class starts? 7:10pm on Thursday evening. When does Hulk bootcamp end? 7:00pm on Thursday. She has a 10 minute window in between a BRUTAL workout and teaching her OWN class to have everybody sign in and get her class ready for action… I just wanted to say Jess that it DEFINITELY doesn’t go unnoticed! The mere thought gets me fired up… Not to mention the fact that Lorna and Tanisha and Meghan seem to be regulars in participating in the class right after mine… Motivation knows no limits when you’re in the House of Hulk! (which turns into the “House of Zumba” temporarily :P)

While I’m on a roll… Cheryl Taylor I love the hell out of you. You ATTACKED the workout last night! I mean you were rockin’ the mat, the ball, the floor… You KILLED it. I’m so proud of you girl, I’m just sorry I didn’t get to play “written in the stars” for you last night :).

Tomorrow will mark the longest leg workout of the challenge so far. You better believe we’re visiting the alley again. Wall sits and four horsemen will rear their beautiful faces. Adele will make her presence known. The shovel will be brought down off the wall and you’re going to dig deeper than you’ve ever dug before Hulkamaniacs! Whether you’re a veteran or new to the team, you will have NEVER had a workout like the one you’re going to have tomorrow. I promise. And if you know me, I make good on my promises. If you can, rest up today baby birds ;).

Guess what day it is?! You’re welcome (Click here).

Alright y’all, time to destroy some more warm bodies! Be on the lookout for the link to the “Introduction to the Shovel” video! Some teams have trophies… Not Hulk!

– Hulk

PS song of the day (reminder, always click the picture of the “hulk of the day” to hear it) is one of my favorite workout songs of all time for cardio/undulating ropes. I need a respirator!

A new daylight…

 

The wall is symbolic of your core tonight Hulksters…

 Tonight marks the beginning to a new daylight… A daylight into your future that you will be made painfully yet heavenly aware of tonight. Tonight, we dine… in the House of Hulk ;).

Not only does the first core workout of Hulk: Round VI make its debut tonight, but this will also be the LONGEST workout we’ve had yet! I’m introducing one thing and one thing only tonight… “The Shovel.” Get ready to dig deeper than you’ve ever dug before!

I’m talkin’ y’all are the Gramercy Riffs and I’m gonna pull my best Cyrus impression (just make sure nobody kills me).

I’m talkin’ CAAAAAAAN YOOOOOOUUUUU DIIIIIIIGGGG IIIITTTTT???

Warriors, come out to play tonight…

What I’m saying is be on the lookout for “The Shovel: The Video.”

Get what I’m sayin’?

Y’all better get hyped or get skyped cuz that’s the only way anybody is gonna want to talk to you… from afar. I’m talkin’ get so geared up that you tear up! Put your helmet on because we’re gonna have a blast! Make sure your ticket’s out cuz this train is about to leave the station! Clear the villagers from down below, this snowball of motivation has no brakes.

– Hulk

Your life can be the best movie you’ve ever seen.

Beast Mode

So yesterday, I pop open Facebook on my cellular device, and I see this:

So, today in Culinary, I demonstrated the now infamous, ” Hulk Juice” …named in honor of YOU!
check it out:
2 cups frozen mixed Fruit ( go organic from Trader Joes, or Whole Foods)
1 banana
2 cups organic baby spinach
2 cups of water
blend all together. sip on it all morning.
delish…and you already get 5 servings of fruits and veggie, before lunch!
toasted to you, Josh!

Those are the words of my former culinary teacher and friend, Mrs. Marie Ganister. Needless to say I was floored! Not only for the honor… but that thing is sound nutritionally! Only thing you’re missin’ is a touch of protein and possibly some blended sunflower seeds and you go from a veggie/fruit energy blast to a complete meal replacement! Boy howdy are there options ;). In short, thank you to Mrs. Ganister for sharing and being the catalyst for the smoothie fun. Credit to Marcus Samuelson who added the “Hulk” (spinach) to the mix!

I hope you’re ready for tomorrow Hulk-a-maniacs! We’ve got our first Core workout of the challenge, as well as introduction to “The Shovel.” Eric and Anne, you 2 are in for an hour of heavenly core work a bit earlier than the rest of the Hulksters… See you in a few hours!

Also, I want to give a shout out to Hulkster Chenoa. Since January, she has cut her “Fitch Mountain” hike time in HALF. in a matter of a few months! That’s like going from running a 20 minute mile to a 7 minute mile. That’s my girl! Also, her and I had a one-on-one session from 6pm-6:30pm. My BOSU stability class is at 6:30pm. I say “You gonna do my class too? You know you wanna…” and she takes ONE SECOND to think about it before saying “Sure, let’s do it!” I couldn’t have been more proud/stoked/happy about jumping right in. Chenoa, you rock girl.

Time for some morning meditation!

– Hulk

If the sun shuts down and decided not to shine no more… I would still have you.

You better believe I'm gonna fight for you till my fists can't keep swingin'...

Someone sent me a message the other day saying that I do a good job at “making people feel like they’re a part of something.” The message was a very positive one, but I’ve got to say… I’m not giving anybody the ILLUSION they’re a part of something… You ARE a part of something! For every person on Team Hulk, there are 5 people that want to be in their place. Fact. If you could hear the yelling, the screaming… See the joy on the faces of the dedicated Hulksters as they endure one of the most brutal workouts they’ve ever gone through… To get recognized by complete strangers as “The Hulk guy.” This is big, make no mistake people. You are not only a PART of something, you ARE that something. I just needed to let you know that!

So the shirt designs are in, should get word on when we get these bad boys soon enough!

Just a reminder Hulksters, I’m running my BOSU Stability course tonight at 6:30pm. All the cool kids are doing it!

Alright, keepin’ it short and sweet today. If you haven’t already, head to my Facebook for my addressing of the scale (Click here). If you take anything away from this challenge, I need that to be it. If only one thing… That’s it. Underlying; Nothing is in the way of you, but you.

– Hulk

PS the song of the day… Dedicated to every single one of y’all.