I was able to pin Mackie Shilstone down for a quick interview which, considering his clientele, wasn’t easy. As sought-after as he is nationally and internationally, many people don’t realize we have one of the foremost experts in the world and a true pioneer in the health and fitness field right here in our own backyard.
Mackie Shilstone’s worked with over 3,000 athletes and celebrities such as John Goodman, Riddick Bowe, Serena Williams, Michael Spinks, Bernard Hopkins, Steve Wynn, and Ozzie Smith – just to name a few. He is a special advisor the U.S. Olympic Committee; has held positions at Tulane, LSU, and Nicholls; has served on the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; has been praised in or on USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, ESPN, HBO, and People; and was voted one of the 50 most influential people in the history of boxing. Mackie holds four degrees, including an M.A. and an M.B.A. He is currently the director of The Fitness Principle at East Jefferson General Hospital and the owner of six area GNC franchises.
To have one of the foremost experts in the world sitting across from me was an incredible opportunity. I wanted to know how he began, what kept him going, and what he’d like to share with us.
How did you get into the field?
I’m a third-generation Tulane alumnus. When I was attending Tulane, I knew I was going to play – but at 5’8” and 130 lbs., I knew I would have to prove myself. I trained, I pushed myself, and did everything I could. As I ran near Tulane’s stadium, I kept telling myself, “I’m going to be in there someday.” I was.
While in college, I created one of the only “real” gyms in New Orleans in my own backyard, across from the old Tulane stadium on Audubon Boulevard. I was in the health and fitness field before there even was a health and fitness field. In 1975, the Pittsburgh Steelers came to play Super Bowl IX at Tulane. There was no gym in town, so the entire team came to my covered backyard gym to work out. Their strength coach was my own mentor, so I had the exact same equipment they already used. They won that Super Bowl.
Later that year Arnold Schwarzenegger was just coming out with his book Pumping Iron and he came to New Orleans to promote it. Again, there was no real gym for photo shoots or anything else, so he came to mine. I had Arnold Schwarzenegger working out in my backyard.
There’s a lot more to the whole story, but that’s really how it all began – believing in myself and in what I was doing.
Who do you look to for inspiration?
My father, may he rest in peace. He fought in WWII in Asia and in Europe, ending with the pivotal Battle of the Bulge. He was a captain and a chemical engineer, commanding Company A of the 94th Chemical Mortar Battalion. He blew holes in enemy lines to make way for Allied troops, including General Patton himself. At one point, he was ordered to take control of a German town. As the company was searching building by building, he came into a room at the same as a German soldier. As my dad told his brother later, “It was him or me and, luckily, I shot first.” If my father could survive the horrors of war and still accomplish all he did later in life, then I have no excuse.
What is your formula for success?
For me, success is straight-forward. One, study – you have to be knowledgeable in your field. Two, plan – you have to know what your goals are. Three, preparation – you don’t jump into a fight with training for it. Four, execution – you do it. Five, follow-up – you have to finish it. And the driving force behind all of it is attention to detail.
What advice would you give everyday people?
First, I’d say there are no excuses. My body doesn’t know I’m 59 because I don’t treat it like it’s 59. I challenged the Tulane football team the other day to 14 minute conditioning drills before the start of their summer conditioning program and some of them didn’t finish. There are no excuses.
Second, I’d say there are no barriers between professional athletes and the average person, only different target goals and training times to reach them. After working with million-dollar athletes and everyday people alike, I know this is reality.
Third, I’d relate three easy-to-do tips:
1. Get a pedometer and count how many steps you take per week. On average, an obese person takes 4,600 to 6,000 steps a week, an overweight person takes about 6,000 to 7,000, and people of normal weight take between 7,000 and 8,000. You need to add about 2,000 steps a week to your routine to move into the next fitness bracket.
2. Cut out 100 calories a day from your diet. This alone will help you lose a pound every 35 days – between ten and twelve pounds a year. Keep a simple food journal to find ways to cut just 100 calories a day.
3. I recommend taking between 500 and 1,000 mg (EPA + DHA) of a high quality fish oil every day, with physician approval. The American Academy of Cardiology and scores of others have endorsed the long-term health benefits. Some people may need more based on their medical history, so they should consult their doctor.
To put it another way, Mackie’s success is mostly due to his attitude – there’s no excuse for anything less than the best. We’ve got to get off our attitude and focus on achieving a wealth of health to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.
To learn more about Mackie and achieving a wealth of health, go to www.mackieshilstone.com and visit one of his six stores.
“Remember that it is up to you to choose everyday to Get off Your Attitude and to create a positive lifestyle for yourself and others” Ryan C. Lowe
For more information please visit www.getoffyourattitude.com or www.ryanclowe.com
