More Slideshows Than You Can Shake a Stick At!

Here are the slideshows depicting “Hulk vs. Hulk – Round VII”… Enjoy!

– Hulk

The greatest day of my life

It is now 12:10am on October 23rd and a very short time ago I completed Hulk vs. Hulk – Round VII. By “completed” I mean put the kabosh on the slideshow. You see, to me, the challenge isn’t over until the slideshow is completed.

Sure, I know who won. Sure, I know how many pounds and inches team hulk accumulated as a whole. Sure, I’ve completed the before and after certificates and matched them up with everyone’s personal recognition award. Sure the board is ready and the final workout is in the record books. Sure my car is packed with the shovels, markers, shirts, and various other goodies that are necessary to get down with the get down tomorrow…

But the slideshow… You see, I did it different this time. I USED to flood Facebook with photos so everyone could get a taste of what it is we all are blessed to be experienced! Now though, people know. It is understood Hulk is special… So I held back. I have about 5,000 photos. I have posted about 200 TOTAL the last 2 and a half months from this challenge. I am literally the only person on the planet who has seen these pictures…

Until sunday, at roughly 5pm. My baby will be unveiled to the world. I spent about an hour a minute on this slideshow. Not because it’s hard to string photos together (although let it be known I edit all the music, time all the photos, and splice the effects all myself), but because of the fact that I can think of nothing harder than to choose select few photos from THOUSANDS. Well, I did it. I told the story I wanted to tell, and you all lived it. Tomorrow, you get to see the last 2 and a half months replayed back to you on a 30 minute time span.

I find myself wanting to reveal planned events for the party so I am better off stopping while I’m ahead.

The champagne popped tonight was the sweetest I have ever tasted. The toast to a point in time that I feel is going on nowhere in the world but here was the finest toast I have ever clinked. I promise that everything you expect the final party to be, it will be.

I told you “hulk vs. hulk” was going to be life changing, after all, didn’t I?

– Hulk

Train the Trainer!

Sorry about the late notice everyone! That time of the challenge is upon us… It’s YOUR chance to train ME! I had to wait until this point to put it out there because I wasn’t sure it was possible to still put on… But I made it work!

Monday, October 17th is the official date for “Train the Trainer!”
6pm is the official time!

If you’re unfamiliar with “Train the Trainer” it is where you, yes YOU, are able to come to the gym and have your chance to bestow some pain upon ME! I figure that for 10 weeks, I’m pummeling you into the ground in the best way possible, it’s only fair you get a shot too! Come on down to Anytime Fitness on Santa Rosa Ave, and get ready to make me work!

Next up… Next weeks schedule! Pay very close attention and E-MAIL ME at Alllevelstraining@gmail.com if we need to schedule you at a seperate time. The final measurements are not like the midway measurements… If I don’t get your fit test, measurements, and after picture then YOU don’t get a before/after certificate! Also, if you are on Team Black but are able to come to Thursday’s fit test, that is ok too! Please make adjusting the “Hulk” schedule the very last possible option… There are 50 of you after all, gets a little difficult tailoring the schedule for so many of you!

Hulk vs. Hulk – Last Week Schedule

 

10/ 18: Team Black “Final Push.” A test of what you’ve accomplished the past 9 weeks. Team Black your fit test will be on FRIDAY (10/21) at 6:30pm.

10/20: Team Green “Final Push.” A test of what you accomplished the last 9 weeks. Starts at 6pm. Team Green, you are going to be run a bit different. This workout is TWO HOURS. It starts with the fit test and leads RIGHT into a true test of what you’ve accomplished the last 9 weeks. Get after it! No Zumba after on this day 😦

10/21: Team Black Fit Test! Starts at 6:30pm. If not able to make it, contact me via “AllLevelsTraining.com” and we will work out additional arrangements. Please try your absolute besty best to make it here!

10/22: Last day! “After” picture taken, body fat % tested, blood pressure tested, circumference measurements done, and final weigh-in! No workout this day. Team Green, I will start measuring everyone at 9am until 11am. Show up no later than 10am (As soon as everything is done, you’re done!). Team Black, I will start measuring at 11:30am until 1:30pm. Show up no later than 12:30pm.

10/23: HULK vs w/ Hulk Party! Location to be announced. Be prepared to celebrate what you all have accomplished the last 2 and a half months. Before and After certificates will be handed out, as well as individual awards. The winning team, as well as winning individuals will be announced. The slideshow will be presented, as well as several other SURPRISES!! HULK!!!!

Don't Be a Diock - Support Jon Michael

I know I don’t need to remind people this Sunday “Hulk Helping Hearts” is putting on a Zumbathon to help out Lil’ Jon and his family in need! Be there or be circlular (because it’s hip to be square). Seriously, I’m gonna be really pissed if you’re not there *points at you menacingly*

– Hulk

Black Light Special 3.0!

You can't imagine how much fun we're having

 

Team Black doing what it does best... kicking ass 😉

 

Notice the shovel? We dug in the dark!

 

She made it through, and then taught Zumba afterward, don't worry everyone

 

So I must say… Black Light Special 3.0 was a success! There are sore cores and smiles running abound, and that was one hundred percent the goal… The only thing that could be cooler is… 80’s night! Next Tuesday and Thursday teams, rock your best 80’s gear! Whether Don Johnson and Cyndi Lauper or Flock of Seagulls and Culture Club, I’m expectin’ to see EVERYONE black velvet their sweet asses on in with some gusto!

I wanna say thanks again to everyone for showing up for the Black Light Special 3.0 :). I promise they will continue to get bigger and better as we go, while the workouts will stay retaining the ability to make you feel as if you’ve never felt more alive by making you feel like you’re dyin’ ;).

Also, Black Light Zumba might be turned into a monthly event… FYI 😉

– Hulk

October 8th – Team Green vs. Team Black: The Last Stand

20 vs. 20... Let the games begin!

Time to get down with the get down...

Everybody literally "Getting Down"

He's so dreamy...

Jessica won the plank off... These are her trophies 🙂

Placed 2nd place on the plank off out of both teams!

Get in there Cara!

She always keeps me on my toes!

Makin' the shovel look good 😉

This man is a beast. Jose Zavala. Remember the name.

This girl is amazing. Shaleena Gibson. Remember that name too. Ask her to show you her "Invincible" tattoo 😉

"Make your own luck." She is. Love her.

I get a little excited 🙂

Both teams of twenty in a race to pass back an 18 lb kettleback back and forth twenty times

Should say "Shut up and look FAAAAAAABULOUS!"

I can't tell you how many people from Team Black this man took down... GIANT KILLER!

Feet don't fail me now! Cara Tocchini got Tye and myself a pair of these bad boys... Unveiled at the "Blacklight Special 3.0" workout perhaps? Yes. Definitely.,

'Nuff said. Brain Stew

The REAL Superstar was Trevor, the young buck in the red!

"Shut up and pull"

Well ladies and gents… The showdown at the park was as legendary as I was hoping. Other than an unfortunate injury (Anne is ok everyone! A partially torn Gastrocnemius is what it ended up being. A pre-existing running injury did not help the cause :(. Bottom line, she will be ok! CLICK HERE to wish her well! As a matter of fact, CLICK HERE to wish Tami Larsen some votes of confidence! She ruptured her Achilles doing Tough Mudder, and I know some words of positivity will help tremendously!)

The air was thick with anticipation as both teams, donning battle gear with their team colors, took the grassy stage… Tempers were cool but motivation to show the other team how hard each team has been working was on the fore front of everyone’s mind! That, or “just make it through… just make it through…”

First, I lined everyone up facing each other. Then, I took the “alternates” (People who I invited to take the place of team members if the teams were uneven) and placed them accordingly. Next, I went down the line and individually matched people up with likely abilities (until the end when people had to get pair up based on who was left :D). Once every Team Green member had their Team Black nemesis lined up in front of them and vice versa, it was time to GET DOWN!

First on the agenda was 15 rounds of 5 squats, hold for 5 seconds, and repeat! This was the warm-up, and boy howdy was it effective :). Next up? A Plank off! I had everyone get down into a plank position on the grass. The last planker planking took the point for the team! What did you have to do if you fell? You had to lunge… You were either lunging or planking. You get the results people don’t get by doing the work people don’t do :). PS Jessica LaVenter took that one (away from Team Green’s plank champion Randy Paul Larsen! This is getting interesting…)

Next up, a tap out push up battle! Everyone was instructed to line up across from their opposing team member, and push up in a “battle” format (ie one person goes, the other person goes…). The idea was to go until you couldn’t possibly do anymore. First person to tap out had to get up and jog from cone to cone while the rest of their team kept battling. Once your opponent was taken out, you then went down the line and kept your push up stride with the NEXT opponent. The winning team? Team Black again… The overall Winner? None other than Bud Hulk!

Following the push ups was a partner crunch competition! Each opponent took turns standing on the other team member’s feet while said team member did crunches for 90 seconds. The person standing on the other person’s feet kept count. When both people had gone, I had a show of hands to count out the winners. The first round, Team Black BARELY pulled it out. The next round, was a tie. I decided a 3rd, 2 minute TIE BREAKER round was needed (even though Team Black technically took the first round… it wasn’t substantial enough to please me :D). The result? A landslide victory for Team Black…

Following THAT was an 18 lb kettle V-sit relay! I lined everyone up and had them facing each other. The goal was to pass the kettlebell down the line all the way to the OTHER end of your team, only to have it passed back to the other side again. Each time it went down the line, that was one lap. We were doing 20 laps :). Who won? Team Green took it like champions!

Oh wait…

Team Green WAS going to soundly beat Team Black until Team Black turned into a Phoenix and rose up from the ashes! Don’t call it a comeback… Actually, you can. Team Black took the kettlebell relay as well… We need to get you a point Team Green!

Then came the shovel relay…

I had 10 people from each team line up on opposing sides of the field. It was as simple as this… sprint with your shovel to the other cone and hand the shovel off to your teammate. While THEY are sprinting, you are getting into “flutter kick” position to keep your body moving. This one was Team Green all the way… Team Green rocked the speed round like nobody’s business (Bobbi, you called it). Just like that, Team Green’s spirit was lifted back up towards the beautiful sunshine we were all working so hard under!

Lastly, the tug-of-war… By this time, we’d been out in the sun for an hour and a half. Some people had time constraints and had to leave, but that doesn’t mean we weren’t left with about 15 people per side ready to BATTLE! Team Green ended up eeking out the first one, then Team Black took the final two… I was going to go into more detail about this one, but I’m going to save that for the slideshow since there are so many awesome pictures of these jam I’d rather let the pictures and song do the talking ;).

In the end, even though Team Black kicked some ass and won all but one event, it wasn’t by much… It wasn’t by enough to be settled with the fact that Team Green won’t be able to beat you, which is what I LOVE. If anything, I saw a spark get set off in Team Green that I am going to take advantage of… How so?

October 8th’s core workout has been cancelled. In 13 days, both teams will be meeting again… Same time format (EVERYONE at the gym at 10:30am) and we will battle until 12:30pm. Expect some of the same exercises… and some that we have never done before :). After the demand I got to do another one, I’d be a fool not to pit you Hulk-monsters up against one another again!

Get ready… “Team Green vs. Team Black – Last Stand” coming your way October 8th…

ARRRRREEEE YOOOOOUUUUU REEEAAADDDDYYY?!?!?!?!

– Hulk

PS every picture has a song tied to it 🙂

PPS Black Light Special 3.0 tomorrow night and Thursday (Black Light Zumba going down Thursday night!)

Tough Mudder Slideshow

Tough Mudder 2011 – Team Hulk Edition

– Hulk

Slideshow Teaser for Hulk vs. Hulk – Round VII

Slideshow Teaser Trailer

– Hulk

Seeing is Deceiving, Dreaming is Believing…

Pretty emotionally charged night, I must say

Sometimes I like to make fun of Chanra...

So… my legs hurt. Just wanted to put that out there. Also, Tough Mudder is in 4 days. Wanted to toss that out as well. Moving on!

So last night was a pretty emotionally charged night. I had posted in Hulk – Team Black’s Facebook group that last night was going to be the toughest workout yet for any Hulkster (don’t worry Team Green, it applies to you too!). This opened up the flood gates of people on Team Black sending me messages of self doubt and fear. Going into halfway done with the challenge, I was hoping that everyone had overcome their biggest obstacle (themselves) and we could start tackling the work that most people never get the chance to tackle! This didn’t incite anything negative in me though. Quite the contrary, it showed me there was still work to be done! A twist needed to be implemented greater than just a “take-no-prisoners-good-to-the-last-sweat-drop” workout can offer. So, a couple hours beforehand, the curriculum changed…

Something Team Black doesn’t know is pretty much the EXACT same thing happened to Team Green a couple weeks prior. They got the same treatment… The song I chose for them was “Fix You” by Javier Colon. It had worked. For those that needed to receive the message, it was received. I watched it happen…

Last night was no different.

The song I chose for this spur of the moment occasion was “Who You Are” by Jessie J. Only, I had it done a little differently… With Team Green I had everyone circled as I explained what the true meaning of “Hulk” was after the lyrics to “Fix You” were soaked in. With Team Black however, you guys were in need of a little bit more personal flavor… So, personal flavor is what you got! I had Team black face the mirror and stare themselves in the eyes. “The windows of the soul” a great man told me today… Not everybody did it however, and I know why… Because it is HARD. When that self assurance is cracked and confidence is running on empty, it’s hard to be good and honest with yourself… I say dig. I say get the results people don’t get by doing the things people don’t do. Not physically… Mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually. Most people never have the chance to face their demons because the fear of failure has them tied down to the point where self deprecation and “I’ll just try to stay out of everybody’s way…” is the best option. Well guess what? The Achilles heal of these said demons just so happens to be effort. As long as you try, you are NEVER a failure. You may not succeed right away all the time… but you WILL. As long as you hold that head up high then there isn’t a force, tangible or not, that can knock down your castle.

You are as beautiful on the outside as you feel on the inside. Until you learn to love yourself, you will always see “ugly” in the mirror.

SoI played the song “Who You Are” by Jessie J. With Team Green the lyrics to the Javier Colon song (originally Coldplay, in case Chris Martin is reading this. Love your new song! “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” is my jam!) took a moment to set in. With the Jessie J song however, the lyrics were felt immediately.

The rest of the moment of listening to the song will be for Team Black’s memory blanks in case they’d like to share :). I encourage everybody to watch the “Boombox Series” version of “Who You Are” I have posted below. I dare you not to feel SOMETHING.

 

Jessie J – Who You Are

“Who You Are”

I stare at my reflection in the mirror:
“Why am I doing this to myself?”
Losing my mind on a tiny error,
I nearly left the real me on the shelf.
No, no, no, no, no…

Don’t lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It’s okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it’s hard to follow your heart.
Tears don’t mean you’re losing, everybody’s bruising,
There’s nothing wrong with who you are!
(who you are [x11])

Brushing my hair, do I look perfect?
I forgot what to do to fit the mold, yeah!
The more I try the less it’s working, yeah
‘Cause everything inside me screams
No, no, no, no, no…

Don’t lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It’s okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it’s hard to follow your heart.
But tears don’t mean you’re losing, everybody’s bruising,
There’s nothing wrong with who you are!

Yes, no’s, egos, fake shows, like WHOA!
Just go, and leave me alone!
Real talk, real life, good love, goodnight,
With a smile, that’s my home!
That’s my home, no…

No, no, no, no, no…
Don’t lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It’s okay not to be okay…
Sometimes it’s hard to follow your heart.
Tears don’t mean you’re losing, everybody’s bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
Yeah yeah yeah

Coldplay – Fix You

“Fix You”

When you try your best, but you don’t succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can’t sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can’t replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you’re too in love to let it go
But if you never try you’ll never know
Just what you’re worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down on your face
And I…

Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down on your face
And I…

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

– Hulk

ps I started work on the slideshow today… 😉

Red White, and Bruised!

Red, White, and Bruised!

Well, I’ve gotta say, today’s “Red, White, and Bruised” workout… we weren’t s******’ around (love you to death Cara)! I wanted to honor the lives lost and the 10 year anniversary of an event none of us will ever forget, and boy howdy did we do that! You core is gonna be SCREAMIN’ tomorrow in honor of the fallen!

I also wanted to take this time to let everybody know… Good AMAZING job. Today marks the official “4 weeks down, 6 to go” period and let me tell you from MUCH experience… it’s going to go by SO FAST. It’s like high school… feels like you have a long time to go and before you know it, BOOM, you’re done and have made friends for life ;). This last 4 weeks though, holy geez-us… I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people bond together so fast in my life! In my years of doing this, THIS challenge has the greatest impact I have ever seen. Tean Green, Team Black… You, WE, are all in this together and I could not be more proud of each and every one of you. More importantly though (and I’ gonna sound like a broken record here) YOU should be proud of YOU. You get the results that people don’t get by doing the work that people don’t do? You all are doing that work and then some…

Next Saturday, we have measurements, so be ready. Inch day is a GREAT day. It takes the frustration of the scale and throws it right out the window because it puts in your face a living, breathing, tangible example of the fact that you all are accomplishing SO MUCH whether that scale says so immediately or not. For all of you frustrated by that god forsaken scale, remember that it has only been 28 days. Again, 28 days. Wrap your mind around that and realize that you’ve done more in 1 month that some people do in YEARS. I’m not exaggerating… I’ll be reminding everyone as we get nearer the time schedule in which I will be running the measurements. If you cannot make it, please e-mail me at AllLevelsTraining@gmail.com. I will most likely be doing a universal make up day so be ready to get a little flexible for me (TWSS). There is one of me and more than 50 of you… Thanks for the understanding :).

“Do this like Chris”

I just wanted to point out that Chris Keys, member of Team Black, lost 9 lbs this week. For those of you on Team Black, his work ethic is legendary after only 28 days. For those on Team Green, you’ll hear about him… I wanted to take this time to congratulate Chris. When someone fights as hard as he does (as you all do), it’s only right to broadcast the accomplishment! Speaking of accomplishments, the new board results will be up Monday ;).

Click HERE for 83 new pictures chronicling some of my favorites out of Team Green’s “Back Alley Beatdown”, Team Black’s Saturday “Upperbody massacre”, and our “Red, White, and Bruised” September 11th honor workout (Complete core destruction baby!). You know you want to!

– Hulk

PS special thanks to Tyrone Rivera and my beautifully gorgeous girlfriend Taryn Casalino! They ROCKED the decor while I weighed in and measured y’all. They truly are rockstars and I truly love them both. Over and out. 10-4. Roger that (no Jersey Shore)

Shirts are on their way!

1/5th of our Tough Mudder Team! The finale picture… I dare you to find a dry spot of clothing!

I just wanted to lete everyone know that your team shirts are on their way! I will share my shirt story with you in person since I’m not a big “Slander supporter” but let’s just say a local company screwed my HARD. I had shirts meticulously designed and worked out, only to be given the finger and a frown by said company… But never fear, I made it work! They’re just a little later than I would have liked them to be…

Also, a reminder that tomorrow is the red, white, and BRUISED workout! Come dressed accordingly! Your best red, white, and blue apparel :). Let’s honor the lives lost on the 10th year anniversary of September 11th! See you all in a few short hours 😉

 

– Hulk