Watch this video on YouTube.

Ok so I’ve had a few people email me or in general ask me about my gym program that I work off that has got me to my 135kg record.

There are many different things that I do in the gym however this is the tried and true program that I always go back to that gets the best results for my style in particular.

The key is to work out what your best style is for yourself and to learn with expert guidance ever step of the way. But in saying that this is a brief 10minute video clip to give you an idea of what I do on an average week.

I must apologize for the work I did editing this clip down. I’ve had troubled with my laptop and some software lately so it’s not as clean as I would have liked but I’ll aim to record another week soon and edit it down better.

I will leave it there for now.

All the best.

Dean.

Well today is the end of 2011 and so it was my last chance to hit the gym for this year.

As some of you know I’ve been really struggling in the gym. My skin has been a little tricky to handle of late in one tiny little area on my left arm. The consequences of that tiny little 2mm area has been that the skin around my left shoulder has been particularly tight since that little issue arouse. That has meant that I’ve had to change my technique in the gym because of the reduced flexibility and movement that I’ve now got in that shoulder.

That small little issue has made getting back into the heavy weights in the gym a lot harder then ever before. Technique is so crucial to lifting the really heavy weights that I regularly lift. So I’ve been struggling to get my form and technique at the level I need to lift big and have struggled in the gym at weights I normally eat up for breakfast. Weights like 115 or 120kgs that to most is very difficult for me is usually a stroll in the park. Not so much anymore. It’s been a real fight for control and stability as my technique has had to be re adjusted many times since then.

The past few weeks or couple of months actually I’ve not enjoyed my gym workouts as much as normal while I adjust to the increased pain and adjust to the new technique and new style in the gym. Granted most non gym people probably would not see or notice the slight differences but to me they have been huge.

So with today being the last chance for the year to get into the gym I was keen to send the year out on a high note. Before I went into my gym I sat down and thought about my technique. I focused on four things. 1) Technique 2) Control 3) Power. and the 4^Th) and final thing was to focus on how fun this is and how easy these weights sessions are for me. Pain is no issue. Never has been an issue for me. I focused on the mental side of enjoying it and knowing that this 115kgs is an absolute piece of cake for me. “It’s easy. Simple. It’s nothing.” I kept telling myself. The mental side of life is something that I focus heavily on these days and so I focused on the mental side of my gym workouts more then I have done for a while of late.

Today’s gym session ended up being an absolute piece of cake. I only went up to 115kgs (253 pounds) but it’s the first time in a number of weeks that I felt like my old self in the gym. I could have gone a lot heavier but I’m working towards another record attempt in the not to distant future so I stuck to my plan that I’ve created to get me to my next record.

It felt fantastic to be back lifting like my old self again and reminded me again of the need to focus on the mental side of everything that we all do in life because that is the difference that turns hard work into easy work.

I’m really looking forward to sharing some exciting things I’ve been busy working on with everyone in the early new year. But for now I’ll keep you guessing a little longer about all that.

Until my next post stay strong. Be safe and happy.
All the best.
Dean.

I was recently asked to speak at the Salvation Army Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centre here in Brisbane. It was a special night because 3 people were graduating from the 42week program being clean and sober for 10months now.

It was great to be able to spend a few hours with everyone and share my story with all the people who were there. Some were students who are still struggling to go through the program. Others had already graduated the program in the past or were friends of the Salvation Army that were there to show their support.

The atmosphere throughout the night was really positive. Everyone was very keen to hear my story and take on board some of my life philosophies, and in general learn about the outlook on life that I have.

So as a speaker the vibe in the room was already so positive that my job was basically done before I had spoken. It made things very easy for me!
It was great to meet all the people who were there. I stayed as long as I could to talk individually with everyone who wanted to come over and say hi. I think the 5 stages that I speak about including having a strong attitude, and zero negativity in your life really struck home with everyone. Life really is all about having the right attitude and the more I speak and the more people that I meet continually drives home that simple point that it all begins with a strong attitude.

I decided to do something a little different towards the end of my presentation, something that I haven’t done on stage at a speaking event now for probably 12months. I think I’ll leave that up my sleeve as a secret to use should I feel the need to bring it out at more presentations in the future. Needless to say, it went over very well so I guess if you want to find out what it was that I did you’ll just have to book me for an upcoming event in your area.

How many people out there were aware that last week in Queensland was Disability Action Week? I know the great people at SDS were aware of the fact because I spent most of Monday (19^th) with all the staff. It was a great day and everyone that came to my presentations were fantastic.

Apart from everyone at SDS coming together to acknowledge and celebrate Disability Action Week and all the possibilities that exist for disabled people these days, I was surprised that the week came and went without media attention or much recognition from those within the Disabled sectors themselves.

Let’s start off by acknowledging that yes we have come a long way from the bad old days when disabled people had basically no rights at all but I wonder if we have become complacent and almost stalled in our fight for equality.

Statistically the odds say that 1 in 5 people in Australia have a disability or major limitation of some kind. However if you ask me we really don’t see that figure crossed over into actual support or funding for the needs of those 1 in 5 people.

Disabled people still have a harder time trying to find mainstream employment. That’s a fact whether you like it or not. We as disable people still face the ignorance and cruelty of a society that is very much focused on the physical appearance or superficial aspects of looking and acting a certain way.

Disabled people still have an incredibly hard time trying to gain access to specialized regular care that they require in order to live independently or to a standard that most able bodied people take for granted.

So, when weeks like Disability Action Week do roll around, it should be a week to celebrate how far we have come but also to take stock of what is still desperately needed. How far do we still have to go before disabled people are given the freedom to just focus on their strengths and getting themselves as healthy as they can be, without having the ongoing stress and concern about how they are going to access the care that is needed to simply survive? Let alone live a life with any degree of quality.

I must admit I had a bit of a hidden agenda in catching up with Darryl though.

As some of you may know by following my Facebook Fanpage Daryl and I have had an ongoing bet for a number of years now over the Rugby League State of Origin Series, which Daryl lost once again this year. I keep telling him every single year its pointless going against Queensland. We are just way too good. But every time he goes for New South Wales so I guess it’s only fitting that every year he has to embarrass himself.

This year I thought it would be funny to bring my old mate down to the Broncos and I asked Darren Lockyer if he wouldn’t mind jumping in the photo given that Locky’s on field brilliance has won the bet for me so many times now.

Now Daryl has to wear this shirt all day at work as well just so all his regulars can laugh about him losing yet another bet. It’s all in good fun and I’m hoping that my mighty maroons can keep winning for a few more years because I’m so not looking forward to when the inevitable time comes around and I lose this bet and have to wear a shirt that Daryl makes up.

Then this afternoon after the bbq I came home and hit the gym and did a really good session. I’m starting to get back into the heavy weights again lifting 115kgs with ease. So all in all it was a great relaxing day hanging out with friends and hitting the gym.

Image 1: Darren Lockyer from the Brisbane Broncos and I had a good laugh at training this morning as my mate was forced to wear this tshirt after losing our annual State of Origin bet.

Image 2: This is the back of the tshirt!!

This Saturday I’ll be heading into Suncorp Stadium to watch the Wallabies take on the All Blacks in their final match up before the Rugby World Cup.

I am very much looking forward to the game. However it does put me in an unusual situation. Although I am a “True Blue Aussie” and support any Australian team or Australian in general, my loyalties on Saturday will be slightly more towards the NZ All Blacks then the Wallabies.

The reason for my change in allegiance can be summed up in two words:

Brad Thorn.

Brad will be playing his final game in Brisbane on Saturday night and as my loyalty goes to my best mate more than my country on such occasions when the two cross paths.

For those of you who do not know Brad and I first met back in his rookie year at the Broncos some 16 or 17 years ago.  We became mates more by chance than anything else. My seat in the dressing room before and after games and at a lot of Broncos events just happen to by beside Brad’s.  So it was more a case of coincidence that after the games when we would all sit in the dressing rooms and wait for Wayne Bennett who would come in to give his thoughts on the game and say his piece. I sat beside Brad either in my electric scooter or on the spare seat. Brad would often ask my thoughts on the game and from those little conversations the two of us quickly became good mates.

Brad has had a huge influence on my life. Initially as a sporting hero and someone I looked up to on the footy field through to someone that I’m lucky to call a close personal friend of mine.  Even though the guy clearly can’t read a map as he once got lost in Kilcoy on his way to my hometown of Kingaroy for my 18^th birthday!

I remember attending the 1998 Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium. Brad was playing for the Broncos and we won the Grand Final. It was a fantastic game. Afterwards I was lucky enough to be invited down onto the field to walk the Lap of Honour with all the guys. If my memory serves me correctly that was the first time that just about anyone at the club saw me walk. Up until that time I relied on getting around in my electric scooter or the wheelchair when I couldn’t take the scooter with me. As I slowly walked out onto the stadium turf a lot of the guys came over to make sure I joined in on the celebrations and the team and I made our way around the stadium on the lap of honour Brad and one of the trainers hung back with me as I was very unstable on my feet. Brad made sure all of the people on the field stayed away so as not to knock me over and all the cameramen did not get in my way as we slowly walked the lap of honour and took the moment in. I think Brad was just shocked that I was walking as I don’t think he had ever seen me actually walking before.

Brad was also the one who got me into weightlifting. It was Brad who uncovered my natural ability to lift heavy weights. For as long as I can remember I had always avoided lifting anything heavy and had only ever sat back and watched everyone in the Broncos gym go about their training programs. But Brad offered to give me a hand in the gym one day to see if my skin could handle some light weights. What I’ve achieved since that first session lifting small lightweights has all come from Brad’s guidance and expert advice. There is no way I’d be lifting the kind of weights or doing the kind of things that I do in the gym if it wasn’t for my mate taking the time to map out a gym program and guide me in the world of weightlifting.

On the footy field I think Brad will be remembered as one of the toughest true professional athletes in the modern game. He doesn’t score many ties nor does he stand out as superstar but every great team needs at least one player like Brad who can roll up his sleeves and do all the little things that often gets forgotten about or over looked by fans and supporters. As a mate I’ve learnt a lot from watching the way he trains and prepares for everything he does on and off the field.

We both live by the simply motto to never admit defeat and both Brad and I share that fighting spirit to work towards achieving and realizing all the goals that we have both set for ourselves.

In this modern age of sport where contracts and celebrity status often become more important  than the game itself, it has been refreshing to see Brad often turn down the easy options and at times the big money to chase the dream and achieve all that he has been able to achieve in both Rugby League and Rugby Union.

Fingers crossed he finishes his career off with the All Blacks by winning the World Cup and then I’ll be able to go back to cheering for Australia. Although it will be weird not to see him run out onto the field for the big games  I am looking forward to having my gym mate back in Brisbane when he eventually does retire (I have to wait a few more years though as he is heading to Japan next to play a few years of Rugby over there) and it will be good fun when he finally does return home to Brisbane to be able to sit back and watch the next generation try to fill his shoes.

(Image 1 was taken in the dressing room after one of the Broncos game at ANZ Stadium. Yep Brad always had to have his shirt off in just about every photo!)

(Image 2 was taken immediately after I finished the lap of honour with Brad and entered the dressing room to start celebrating. I spotted the trophy sitting in the middle of the room and sat down beside it to get a photo then all of a sudden Brad and all the guys jumped in to be in the photo! Awesome memories!!! Again Brad’s without his shirt, What is up with that?)
( Image 3 was taken a few years ago at my place after another record lift)

I owe a lot of this to my good mate Ashley Dionysius from AD Marketing. You’ll be able to find out more about AD Marketing and my mate Ash if you look through my site or jump over to his website www.admarketing.com.au
With his help and assistance I think we have created an awesome website.

I will continue to update it with even more content however I simply could not wait to take it live and show you all so now that it stage one is complete here it is for you all to check out.

There will also be  a newsletter now that I will send out on a regular basis but trust me I will not flood your inbox’s with daily updates. At this stage I am thinking bi monthly or quarterly but I will see how things unfold.

I would very much like to hear what you think of my new website so please comment and let me know your thoughts or if there is anything extra you would like in it and we will see what I can do.

Until my next update.
All the best.
Regards

Dean.
TG1

While many people see him for his disability I am honoured to be able to share a relationship that is much deeper where I see firsthand his ‘Never Admit Defeat’ attitude.  I know Dean as the little bloke with the guns that whips everybody at table tennis.

It’s this personality combined with his achievements that makes Dean Clifford a brilliant speaker.  Dean’s story is an inspirational one however it’s his tireless efforts in striving for more each and every day that impresses you.

Dean’s true character is in his ability to achieve and make the difficult appear effortless through his will and determination.  Many people speak of great sports people or brilliant actors as ‘making the difficult appear effortless’ well Dean Clifford does it as a part of his daily routine.

His story is moving and far from over, I am grateful to have him as a friend and I look forward to many more floggings from him on the table tennis court.

I have no hesitations in recommending Dean for any speaking engagement – he has a brilliant story to tell and certainly captures the attention of a room!

To whom it may concern:

In June 2007 I travelled from the UK to present at the ACE Annual Disability Employment Network Conference in Melbourne, Victoria.

The conference was a great success and not least because I met Dean Clifford, a keynote speaker at the event. I knew then that I must get Dean over to the UK. His style, contact and overwhelming sincerity positioned him way ahead of any other speaker I had ever met.

In November 2008 Dean came over to the UK to speak at a range of events I had arranged. In two weeks he held the attention of, and won the hearts of 500 teenagers, inspired 30 students with the most significant disabilities to believe in themselves, got the first ever standing ovation from the Business Leaders Group and so inspired my staff team that they consistently speak of the honour of meeting a man of such determination, humility and strength.

I can whole-heartedly recommend Dean to you for any event where you need to engage people. His story has a hook for everyone and anyone. Aside from his excellent presentation skills Dean is a joy to work with. Despite challenges with dates, visas, permits and accommodation his relaxed can do attitude reassured me that all would be well and it was.

We are always looking for opportunities to invite Dean back to the UK. If you want to give people an insight into what is possible, take people from their comfort zone in a way that doesn’t hurt and ensure people never forget then commission Dean Clifford.

Yours faithfully

Deborah Parker
CEO
Progress Recruitment