After just under six hours of sleep, 5 a.m. nudges me, letting me know that it’s time to work.

It’s Friday morning.  I know that I need more rest, but that will have to come later.

It’s time to have a great morning!

Coffee, smoothie, dressed in Jordan gear and out the door.

For the next 45 minutes or so, I ride alone in the darkness over the thirty-seven and a half miles of cool asphalt, rap music filling the early morning air as I prepare mentally to get better.

I arrive at my destination and the only light that I can see anywhere around, is that which is pouring out of the large rectangular windows at B Meyer Training.

I have no idea what I’ll be doing on this day.

I never know.

For two months my workouts have been different every single time.

I love it that way.

I grab my bag, my clothes, tell myself it’s going to be a great day and enter the gym.

I’m the first one there.

I’m always, the first one there.

Sign in, morning greetings with Dave and Coach B, bag down, it’s time to work.

After 50 or so minutes of push, I’m drenched in invigorating struggle, and I know I’ve gotten better.

But on this day, I’m not done.

Coach Dave Rubin points to the elliptical and says, “Let’s go!”

I take a deep breath, wipe the hard work from my brow and begin walking in the machine’s direction.

**

Every single morning when I arrive at the gym, Dave Rubin, the guy that’s been training me, is already there.  He’s got the music going, he’s upbeat and he’s ready to help me get better.

Dave’s tough, I’m not gonna lie.  His expectations are high, but they’re coming from the right place.  He’s a HUGE Jordan fan.  Some would say that it’s merely a coincidence, but I don’t believe that.

***

I step on the machine, still not sure what I’m going to be asked to do.

30 seconds prior I had thought that my workout was complete.

Dave says, “OK, let’s get better!  I want you to go all out, as fast as you can…let’s go!”

I begin, giving it every ounce of what I have remaining.  Arms and legs pumping back and forth, up and down, in a torturous rhythmatic performance.

15 seconds in, Dave informs me, “We’re gonna go a minute.”

My mind says, YOU DON’T HAVE A MINUTE KEN!

27, 28, 29, 30

The burn begins sliding up and down my legs, as my pace slows.

“You’re slowing down!  Come on, pick it up!  You’ve got to get stronger at the end of games!  You said you wanna get under a minute in the 300 yd shuttle, let’s go!  Push!”

37…38…39…

The burn isn’t moving.  It’s set up camp on my legs, as I try to give more.

My mind says, YOU GOTTA STOP!

44…45…46…

And it burns like hot cast iron skillets have been strapped to my legs!

My mind says, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?  DON’T YOU FEEL THAT!?  STOP YOU FOOL!

52…53…54…

My legs, perhaps feeling a pain they’ve never felt, are trapped…between a mind and a heart.

My mind is screaming, QUIT!  QUIT!  QUIT!

58…59…60!

My mind is weak…but my heart is strong!

“Great job! OK, now walk it out,” Coach Dave says as he gives me a fist bump and more instruction.

“Control your breathing.”

“Cheek to cheek…move those arms!”

“Give me some light shuffles.”

“OK, you’ve got 15 seconds and we’re going to do it again.”

My mind is telling me, NOOOO!

He says, “Grab a quick sip if you need it.”

I make one step towards the water and then internally say HELL NO!  I’m about to bust this machine’s ass!

I get back on the elliptical, determined to succeed!

My mind is weak, buy my heart is strong!

GIVING MY ALL!

I may never be able to jump out of the gym or keep up with the likes of the facility’s most recognizable athlete, Dwight Howard, but what I can control is my effort!

My whole goal as I prepare on this journey to play Michael Jordan, is to be the best ME, that I can be.

That’s it!  So I push!  I give my all!  I strive to be the best Kenny Eller that I can be!

When God handed out gifts, he may not have given me the natural tools to be the best basketball player, but HE gave me a lot of determination.

HE gave me heart of belief!

Great Mornings!

Much like I control my effort in those early morning workouts, I’ve learned to also control my perspective.

I awake every morning and I tell myself, it’s gonna be a great morning!  Then, it’s gonna be a great afternoon!  Then finally, it’s gonna be a great evening!

Ask me how I’m doing at anytime and I’m going to tell you, “GREAT!”

April of last year, I sent one of my many hope filled emails along this path to a gentleman who has become a friend and mentor.

Dave Hopla received my email and a couple of hours later we spoke.  Three weeks after that initial conversation, we met and shot hoops together.  Since that time, nearly every few weeks I receive a call from Mr. Hopla, checking in to see how I’m doing.

You see Dave doesn’t deal with good.  He only associates himself with Great!

That’s why he shot 98.92% during his basketball shooting clinics last year.  With over 23,000 attempts, while speaking, he made almost 99%.

It seems undoable, but it’s not.

It begins with proper perspective.

Right before we ordered our lunch some nine months ago, Dave said, “People don’t remember good movies, but a GREAT movie, they recount every line!”

He said, “No one remembers good players, but GREAT players…they’re never forgotten!”

He went on with, “So why would you ever want to be good?”

“Why would you want to have a good day, when you can have a GREAT day?” he added, “It begins with how you think!”

Since that meeting and with the help of some Hopla perspective checks, I’ve incorporated this mindset into my daily life.

I ask people every single morning, how they’re doing and I NEVER hear great, other than the handful of people I’m working with, because they’ve heard my Hopla stories.

I hear, “OK”, “I’m good”, “I’ll be better in a bit”, “Alright”, “Ehhh”, and the list of improper responses rolls out like a red carpet, except their red carpet is leading to a mediocre day and worse, a mediocre life.

Shame on them!  Shame on YOU!  Shame on ME, until a few months ago.

You’ve been given the gift of another day, so be respectful of that and make it great!

It begins with YOU!

Getting Better!

There is no doubt in my mind that I’ve gotten better!  No doubt that I’m more prepared!

And the next time the burn says hello in the greatness of morning, my heart will smile the greatest smile and triumphantly say, “LET’S GO!!”

me vs. Michael Jeffrey Jordan…the journey continues!  Thank you so very much for following along!

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I’ve been working with Dave Rubin and Coach B Meyer for right at two months now.  I really can’t say enough great things about either of them.  I can tell you that I have thouroughly enjoyed every bit of the experience and the improvement physically has far exceeded all of my expectations.  I have just a month remaining on what was my initial commitment, but I can already tell you that the things I’ve learned there I will carry with me for life.  For more information on B Meyer Training, which I HIGHLY endorse, check out BMeyerTraining.com!

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Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

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If you’re new to the site, I set out in August 2010 to get a game of 1-on-1 vs. my childhood hero Michael Jordan.  This site is about that journey…through every valley, to every mountain top of triumph! 

OK, the title of this post may be a little harsh, but if we’re being honest with one another, they both do suck.

The point is, only one is supposed to.  (*see note at end of post)

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I don’t have any New Year’s resolutions.

I didn’t set any this year, or last, or the year before.

Just reading the lines above may send the voice inside your head jumping up and down, screaming in an inaudible, yet judgmental tone, “What!!??  Is he serious???  This is time for change!  It’s 2012!!!!  Wahoooo!!!  Cue the memory fireworks!!!”

I get it.  I used to think that way too.

I would get caught up, just like the majority, in all that is great with the hype of resolutions brought on by the New Year.

The last “New Year’s Resolution” I remember setting came after seeing a movie with the family over the holidays.

The lead actor, Will Smith, was in riiiiii-diculous shape!  That prompted me to go home and research how he had transformed his body from those “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” days. (Yes, ladies, guys really think like this!   At least I did, haha!)

Within minutes of beginning my search, I found an interview that had then recently been done in conjunction with the movie, in which Smith stated that in addition to a weight-training program, he ran some 30 miles per week.

So with little thought and absolutely no planning, I set my New Year’s resolution:  Run 30 miles per week!

I literally went from zero miles, to thrusting myself into 30 miles per week on the first of January.  In truth, I hadn’t run 30 miles in the previous 10 years combined.

Does that sound silly to you?

How long do you think I kept with my New Year’s Resolution?

I ran 30 miles per week for just over five weeks, until I was sent on a work trip that placed me in 35-degree weather.  That lingering winter cold was a big enough excuse for my resolution to wither away.

I didn’t really “run” again until I “trained” for my first half marathon, two years ago.

Just recounting that story makes me cringe, but is my story really much different than yours?

Have you planned for success?  Have you thought out each phase and visualized your victory?

If not, your resolution this year may sadly falter just like those of New Year’s past.

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“Popular” New Year’s Resolutions

• Lose Weight
• Exercise More
• Eat Better
• Quit Smoking
• Drink less alcohol
• Get out of debt
• Save money
• Volunteer
• Be more organized
• Watch less television
• Improve education
• Learn a new language or musical instrument

And the list goes on and on and on….

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Why New Year’s Resolutions DON’T Work

I could spend thousands of words describing why, but this quote sums it up:

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

The origins of that all so true series of words may be up for debate, but I first read them in a book by John Wooden some 14 years ago.

That quote, while really so fundamentally simple, is seemingly so difficult when almighty inspiration strikes!

And what fuels resolutions after the first of the year??  Inspiration of course!

Why I didn’t launch mevsMJ.com When Inspiration Struck

If I had launched this site when the idea of mevsMJ.com exploded in my head, I would have surely failed.

I wasn’t ready.  I wasn’t prepared.

The idea was there.  The passion was without a doubt there.  The plan however, was not!

Publishing my first post when all that fueled me was a passionate idea, would have almost certainly led me to the same conclusion as running those 30 miles a week did.

Instead I did my best to write and write and write without publishing a word.  While most of the reasoning for my delayed launch was so wrong, taking the time to think through what I wanted to accomplish, and discuss, as well as, come up with some sort of plan with someone who already maintained a successful blog, is a large part of why I’m still going today.

Resolutions ARE Good, but Defined Goals are GREAT!

Please don’t misunderstand me; making a commitment to change and improve oneself is GREAT!

I absolutely LOOOOOOOVE that!

In order for you to really enact change though, you need to take the inspiration and make it a lifestyle and that can only happen with a plan!

Are You Being S.M.A.R.T. About What You Want to Accomplish?

Specific

Measurable

Attainable (all things are btw)

Relevant

Timely

*The above mnemonic has been around for decades and is a great tool to get you more structured as you begin setting goals/resolutions for yourself.

My Big Goal:  Play Michael Jordan 1-on-1

When I set out on this journey, playing hoops with Michael Jordan was the goal and still is.

Was it S.M.A.R.T.?  Yes, even as large of a goal as playing MJ is, it still met every step.

(Keep in mind I originally would have played hoops with MJ, one year from the creation of this site if his camp hadn’t been canceled.)

Sub Goals

Without making this too academic (I’ll let the PhDs do that) I always set sub goals to further breakdown my ultimate goal.

At the beginning I set the following four sub goals:  Get in the best shape of my life, Become the best basketball player I can be, Enjoy every second of the journey, and Attend Michael Jordan Senior Flight School.

Those four encompassed what I wanted to accomplish, but in no way were detailed enough to be measurable.

Sub Goal:  Get In The Best Shape Of My Life!

Taking a look at my goal of getting in the best shape of my life as an example.

It began with training for and completing two half marathons and then continuing to run some 20 miles per week for the next year.  I then incorporated more basketball specific workouts, pulling from my experience at Impact Basketball.  Then in November, I made a three-month long commitment to train with B Meyer and his team.

For me, it’s always been about keeping it fresh and having fun.  It’s also about learning and growing.

At this point my sub goal of achieving the best conditioning of life, has become a lifestyle for me.

If I look at myself prior to beginning this site, to where I am now, everything from my daily eating habits, to my conditioning has improved drastically.

I AM in the BEST Shape of my Life!

I absolutely love and am proud of the fact that I can go run 10 miles anytime.

It began with a 2 mile jog.  It began with a scheduled plan of attack.

On Tuesday morning, I repped out more pull-ups even on my third set of my circuit training, than I can ever remember doing and I was beyond enthused at my progress.

It began with a single repetition.  It began with a scheduled plan of attack.

“A 6 or a 7”

During the first training session I went through with Coach B Meyer and Dave Rubin they constantly gauged my effort output.

They wanted no more than a 6 to 7 out of a maximum 10, when it came to effort put forth on an individual exercise.

Coach Meyer told me, “I could put you through Dwight’s workout (Dwight Howard), but you wouldn’t be able to move for days.  That’s not the goal!”

Instead the focus was on technique and building a foundation.

You see they understand that a 6 or a 7, and a 6 or a 7, and a 6 or a 7, and a 6 or a 7, when totaled is far more than a couple of 10s.

Eventually that effort level can increase of course, but first the foundation must be set.

Why You Should Stop Giving It Your ALL

My natural tendency with anything I really want to do is to go all out!

I think it’s within all of us to want success quickly, so we lie to ourselves and make ourselves believe that if we skip steps we will get to our goal quicker.

When I first started running, I’d be so amped up that I’d almost take off sprinting!  That’d be fine if I was running a short distance, but when you’re running five miles or more, it’s definitely not the way to go (in the beginning).

I had to learn to control my excitement for being out there and distribute my energy effectively so that I could finish strong.

After quite some time, I got to where I could run at a fairly quick pace the entire way, but the foundation of proper conditioning through miles and miles of running had to be set first.

This of course is applicable to anything in life.

Success is a process that requires days and days of hard work.

Knowing that, you must pace yourself!

You always want to do the best you can do, but it’s true, sometimes a little less over and over again equates to more.

Accountability Partner(s)

Even with S.M.A.R.T. goals fully planned out, written down and detailed, you need to establish accountability partners.

This is with anything in life!

Find people with similar interests, partner up and hold one another accountable.  As I’ve stated in the past, if you can choose, find someone that is currently better than you at whatever it is you want to do to partner up with.  This is how you truly grow and get better!

January 1^st DOESN’T Cause Change, YOU DO!

Whether it’s the first of January, August 22^nd, or any other day, you can make a decision to change at any moment!

Set a goal, make a plan, gain accountability and make your dreams come true.

It’s never been about the New Year, it’s always been about YOU!

Happy New Year!

Yes, yes…the journey continues!!!

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*Note:  My Dyson does a great job!

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BIG NEWS UPCOMING!

So I’ve whispered about the upcoming news to a few and very soon I can let everyone in on what is coming up!

I will tell you that it IS about basketball and it’s not about vacuums!

Giddy up!  It’s going to be a fun ride/flight (hint, hint)!!!

Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

As the final days and hours of 2011 come to a close, I can’t help but reflect on my official slogan for this year, which was “Life is AMAZING, if you allow it to be!”

For me and my journey of playing Michael Jordan 1-on-1, 2011 was beyond amazing and for that I am so thankful!

Having said that, there were definitely some struggles over the last 365 days, but overall it was without a doubt more than I ever could have expected!

Here is a recap of all that was 2011 for mevsMJ.com!

-1st Quarter-

(January, February, March)

Looking back, January seems like years ago.  I began 2011 gaining my first 1-on-1 match-up win (Me vs. Scott Spencer) and feeling like my game was getting stronger and stronger.  Unfortunately then, but rather fortunately I suppose as I reflect now, I got injured on the next to last day of the month (Pop Goes The Dream) and was faced with painful rehabilitation that consumed the next eight weeks, testing me both physically and mentally.

During the rehab, even though I wasn’t playing, some great things still happened!

The very next day following my injury in the most surprising turn of events, I got some Jordan love! (Jeff Jordan promotes mevsMJ.com!)

Over the eight weeks of rehab I wrote 18 different posts including (Dear MJ:  My Letter to Michael Jordan).  Then exactly 62 days after the injury that left me devastated, I made my comeback in the last part of March against now Virginia Tech Hokies freshman Robert Brown, a good friend and the very first player to really believe in what I’m doing here on this site! (I’m Back!!!!)

-2nd Quarter-

(April, May, June)

I gave my life to the Lord when I was 23 years old (Yes, I’m a huge Jordan fan, but no, I didn’t plan that!)  I’ve sprinkled my faith over many of the posts I’ve written on this site and I mention that to say that I always feel that God has a plan for me.  During the injury I believed that and as I went through the second quarter of 2011, HE left me amazed as things began happening so quickly that I could hardly keep up!

April began with me meeting up with a talented young man named Ziarekenya Smith!  He had gained National accliam for his Jordan typeface, pictured to the right.  (God Inspired Designs)

From there, a simple hope filled email returned back to me, someone I now call a friend and mentor, Dave Hopla. (My time with Dave Hopla, World’s Greatest Shooter)

Then, still in April, I took on my first real professional basketball player, in what was the worst showing of my life! (Me vs. Garfield Blair)

May began with another no and then the biggest YES to date! (Nick Anderson Called Me!!!)

While nothing ever materialized with Nick, it was beyond cool having the former NBA player call me on MY cell phone!

Later in the month I had the blessing of getting to know and workout with then one of the top high school coaches in the country and now George Washington assistant coach, Kevin Sutton! (My First Workout with Coach Kevin Sutton!)

June came around, I played much better against my second professional player (Me vs. Andy Gebru) and had my third rematch with Robert Brown (Me vs. Robert Brown – Round 3).

-3rd Quarter-

(July, August, September)

The third quarter of 2011 kept up the momentum with me spending a little time with Tracy McGrady and even getting a shout out from T-Mac himself! (My Time with T-Mac)

On August 22nd, mevsMJ.com turned 1 year old. (me vs. Michael Jordan – 365 Days Later!)

In September I flew to Vegas for Impact Basketball’s Competitive League, where I told Chauncey Billups, John Wall, Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Corey Maggette, Jared Dudley and more about my journey to play Michael Jordan and almost had a shootout with NBA Sharpshooter Damon Jones! (Me vs. Damon Jones – The Shootout That Almost Was)

-4th Quarter-

(October, November, December)

In October I switched things up a bit and did my first video post (Where Are You Going?) so that everyone could actually hear me speak!  [Side note:  I often wonder how people sound when I’m reading their blogs/posts.]

A few days later, by reader request, I posted a video of me draining 22 of 24 from the 3 point line. (Is This Why NBA Guys Won’t Play Me??)  So pretty!

Mid November, I began working harder and sweating more than I probably ever have in my life! (Me + B Meyer Training – The Man Behind Dwight Howard)

On Thanksgiving day, Eric Griffin and I helped one young man’s dream come true, in what was one of the most fulfilling moments of my life.  (Thanksgiving Day Dreams)

Then the moment I had been waiting for happened!

→Michael Jordan KNOWS!!!←

I‘m still blown away by what happened in the first moments of December, the last grouping of days of 2011!

In what played out like some scene from an inspirational movie, I met Michael Jordan! (Michael Jordan Knows About ME and mevsMJ.com!)

As I wrote when I began this post, LIFE IS AMAZING, IF YOU ALLOW IT TO BE!

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Through all that has happened on this journey, the part I never really anticipated is all of the great people that would come into my life and become true friends.

This mevsMJ.com walk has always been about truly believing that anything is possible with faith and hard work and I really feel that through 2011 that became more eveident than ever!

I’ve always believed in me vs. Michael Jordan and now I’m sure a few more people do too!  That’s a great thing!

For every person that has read a post, for each one of you that has believed in what I’m doing, for those who took time out of their life to help my dream come true, for those of you that I’m fortunate enough to call my friends, I say THANK YOU!

2011 was an unbelievable ride!

Off to 2012 we go!

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!!!!!  Thank you for following along!

Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

So last week, as you may have seen in Saturday’s post, I began individual performance training at the B Meyer training facility in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

If you didn’t see Saturday’s post, Coach B Meyer has been featured in Men’s Health, USA Today, and ESPN to name a few and is the performance coach for many professional athletes, including the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard.  It’s safe to say this is the real deal!

Through my first four sessions it has been an unbelievable experience!

Truthfully, I’m not really a morning person or a “working out” person (besides running and court work), but over the past week I’ve been so excited to wake up at 5am and go workout with Coach B and his program coach Dave Rubin that I almost can’t sleep the night before!  I’m thrilled because I know I’m getting better!

Last week I was scheduled for two sessions, but then on Friday morning because I was so amped, I sent Dave the following text, “Man, I wanna workout today!”

I really didn’t expect anything from that but within a few minutes Dave had made time for me in his schedule so that I could come by and get some work in!

That to me is an example of, as my buddy Andy says, “Good people!”

It’s the best feeling to have people that want you to improve as much as YOU want to improve and that’s what I’ve got with Dave and Coach B!

I’m thankful, for sure!

Initial Test Results

So I did a series of tests on Friday, ranging from vertical jump to 300 yard shuttle, so that I could track my improvement over the period of training and I thought I would share the initial results:

Vertical:  23.6 inches (no steps, just straight up)

Max Push-Ups:  30

Max Suspension Pull-Ups:  15

Broad Jump:  6’10”

300 Yard Shuttle:  1:12

Measurement of waist at belly button:  32 inches

Measurement two inches above belly button:  32 inches

Due to me not working out at all prior to last week (besides running and playing hoops as previously mentioned), I’m satisfied with the initial results and know that I will see great improvement as I continue to get stronger!

Operation NBA Body is in full effect!

me vs. Michael Jordan…the journey continues!  I’m getting ready!

Are you Mr. Jordan?

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HELP ME:  I’m working hard over here and I need your help!  Please share this site with at least one person today and help spread the mevsMJ.com word!  All things are possible with FAITH and HARD WORK!

Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and Facebook Fan Page.

“Come on Ken!  Stay up!  You’ve got this!  Just a few more seconds!” were the encouraging words coming my way from Coach B, as I lay stretched out on the floor early Tuesday morning, arms and chest raised, head tucked, in full Superman mode.

With effort dripping from my brow, it seemed only fitting that my initial evaluation/workout would include the Superman near its conclusion.  After all, the man that is Coach B, Bryan Meyer, is the performance coach behind probably the best physical specimen in any sport, Superman, aka Dwight Howard!

Will You Help Me Get Better?

“Will you help me get better?” was the humble request I sent Coach B’s (@CoachBMeyer) way a couple of weeks ago through Twitter.

I wasn’t sure if he would even respond, due to his schedule and the fact that he didn’t know me, but he did!

Over the next couple of days we exchanged a few messages and then this past Monday afternoon I was at his B Meyer Training facility, in Altamonte Springs, Florida, discussing my goal of playing Michael Jordan and what this site is all about.

More Than A Game of 1-on-1

For those of you that have been with me since the beginning here at mevsMJ.com, you understand that this journey is much more than a game of 1-on-1 vs. Michael Jordan.

While MJ is the end goal, this site is about pushing the limits of what is viewed as possible by the majority and maximizing the potential we all have in whatever venue you choose to do so.

Me + B Meyer Training

I’ve written in the past about preparing for WHEN, not if, your goal will happen and that’s what working with Coach B Meyer and his staff is all about!

I’m preparing for WHEN I check the ball in to Michael Jordan!

While I may never be able to do the things that Dwight Howard can do, I do want to maximize every bit of Kenny Eller! (Note:  I didn’t say that I wouldn’t be able to do what Howard can do!  Always gotta think positive!)

So over the coming weeks, I will wake up at 5am, drive some 50 minutes a couple of times a week, to work with Coach B and his staff to become the best me that I can be.

I must tell you that after my first three sessions I already feel stronger and more prepared!  (Don’t be afraid Mr. Jordan! ;-))

My Commitment

My initial commitment is to train for a minimum of three months and to give every bit of myself in each session.

I sincerely want to get BETTER and I know that working with Coach B will get me there!

I may not be where I’d like to be currently, but I can already see where I will end up and that is beyond exciting!

Session number four is early Monday morning and I CAN’T WAIT!!!

me vs. MJ…the soon to be in NBA shape journey continues!  As always, thank you following along!

Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and Facebook Fan Page.

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For more information on Bryan Meyer and his B Meyer Training, connect with him on Twitter (@CoachBMeyer), through his Facebook Fan Page and on the B Meyer Training website.