www.mom-going-organic-sensibly.com

October 7, 2008

Hi Everyone!  Here is a last minute interview I just did for mom-going-organic-sensibly.com. I hope it is helpful…and I say last minute as I will be a papa tomorrow!

For those of you that want a sensible approach to fitness, Matthew Perry is your man with the know-how.

Matthew has experience as a health club owner. But, more than that he brings a down-to-earth perspective to healthy eating and fitness through his website 3rd Chance Fitness and blog.

Matthew Perry is also the creator of Muscle Memory™ a proprietary protein powder supplement.

And here is the interview:

1. Hi Matthew, thank you for taking time out today and sharing your fitness and healthy eating expertise. Please tell us briefly about yourself, the services you have to offer, and the websites that you write for.

I’ve been a fitness enthusiast since childhood and got to live out my passion daily by running two health clubs in Tucson for 8 years. When I left the health club industry, there was a gap in my life that I knew I needed to fill. My passion is helping people live healthier lives and that’s why I started 3rd Chance Fitness. Our website offers free information on healthy eating, healthy living and working out. We also offer our proprietary whey protein called Muscle Memory™. We’ve also just started a blog to help us create an interactive community of people who share the same goals.

2. While most of our readers don’t have gym membership or exercise equipment, many of them are interested in fitness.Your Lean Muscle Makeover Routine™ can get a beginner started with only a three day a week commitment. What would realistic expectations be for the beginner who uses this routine?

The great thing about making a commitment to a healthy lifestyle is that it doesn’t take any special equipment. I’ve always worked out in a health club but my wife prefers working out at home. Most of the exercises I show can be modified for a home workout. The great thing about being a beginner is that just getting moving is going to make you feel better right away! Many beginners take on too much, too soon and give up because they get themselves too sore or expect themselves to do it perfectly. I often tell people to just think about eating well and working out for the first week. Then, progress to doing some form of physical activity for 5-10 minutes 3 days a week. It’s important to learn your limits before increasing your activity. It’s ok to start slow!

3. You talk about your early morning exercise habits on your blog, as part of being flexible to fit things into your life. Many of our readers are on the go all day caring for their children. How can these readers involve their kids in exercise for a short period each day?

With small children, dancing is one of the best ways you can both get some exercise. Put on some fun music and just start moving and shaking! You can even put on an exercise tape and do it with your child. They can mimic the movements with you (minus weights). Of course, pushing a stroller is great exercise as well, along with bicycling with a child seat attached and hiking with a baby pack if you have the time for it. It’s important to set an example early for your kids so that they see that physical activity is a normal part of life.

4. Your experience as a co-owner of a gym provides you with insight into why people fail at sticking to exercise. You have also had the opportunity to see people that started and 5 years later, still have fitness a part of their lives. Can you share with our readers your insight into what those that succeed are doing?

I’ve certainly seen my share of people who purchase a gym membership and come to the club only a few times before stopping altogether. One way people sabotage themselves is by expecting themselves to do it perfectly or not do it at all. They set unrealistic expectations like coming to the gym 5 days a week and when that doesn’t happen, they stop coming altogether.

A better approach is to be honest with yourself about your limitations. If you’re not a morning person, don’t workout in the morning. Workout when you have most energy and only when you have time to really commit to it. Your goal should be to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes slowly over time, not to make a bunch of changes all at once.

The people who are still working out 5 years later went through a lot of ups and downs to get there. Finding the balance between discipline and going easy on yourself is a challenge. Start by doing an honest inventory of what you’re willing to invest into yourself. Are you willing to choose a piece of fruit over a candy bar? Are you willing to take the stairs instead of the elevator? Are you willing to go to the park to walk a mile after work instead of going home and sitting on the couch? Face these choices head on everyday and that’s how you start to build a healthy lifestyle.

5. One of the benefits of being fit is an awareness of when things aren’t right. You provided the example on your blog, of your father-in-law who was able to be diagnosed early for cancer. He had an awareness that something just wasn’t right. How does your fitness provide benefit to you and your family?

My wife and I live a healthy lifestyle so that we feel good enough to do the things we enjoy doing. Life for us is about experiencing all that we can with the time we’re given. The older we get, the more likely we are to be faced with health challenges. My goal is to do everything I can to not sabotage my recovery. There is simply no substitute for physical activity. It makes you feel good and increases confidence.

6. Congratulations on your soon to be new hat as father. Having had an exercise routine since you were 13, how do you plan to adjust and still get in exercise time?

I don’t know…but I am committed to making it so…life will be more realistic after a “schedule” is constructed, that is my first goal, to get a routine set, then I can fill in the gaps with exercise.

7. This brings us to our last question. You and your wife created Muscle Memory™, a whey based protein supplement. With umpteen protein drinks already available, can you tell us how you discovered that there was a need for this product? And what sets Muscle Memory™ apart from your competitors?

Protein is vital for muscle growth and repair. I wanted to create a simple meal replacement for people trying to get into shape as well as a supplement for seasoned workout enthusiasts like myself. I’ve used countless protein powders over the years so I know what I like and what I don’t like. When I decided to create my own protein powder, it was important for me to keep it pure and simple. You shouldn’t have to be a scientist to understand what you’re consuming. And, it needed to taste great. Muscle Memory™ has it all. With 3rdChanceFitness.com, I also wanted to be able to share my knowledge and offer support to people trying reach their goals. It’s not just about protein powder but about creating a community and sharing ideas and information.

 Thanks so much for the interview Doris!  Your site is very informative and I highly recommend it to all of our readers.

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