A Six Minute Workout?
Getting back on track with my previous Vision Quest themed posts… It ain’t about “going to work out.” It’s what HAPPENS when you work out.
Why all the Vision Quest references lately? You’ll have to follow me on my FB “fan page” to find out…
Motivation
What are you doing right NOW to get you closer to your goals?
…and who can you count on to push you to the top when the going gets tough? (and believe me, it will get tough)
You can do it. It doesn’t matter who you are.
The Reality of Winning
Believe it or not, many others have the same goals and challenges as you. A lot of ‘em will get hurt, get scared or just roll over and quit before they have a chance to taste victory.
Seeing others fail to overcome the same challenges (perceived or real) you expect to face might just scare the living crap out of you…
Grand Rapids Personal Trainer Leading Statewide Fitness Challenge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
David Roddenberry roddenberry@healthywage.com or (917) 213-2235
“Mighty” Joe Stankowski news@JoeStankowski.com or (616) 827-7479
New York Based HealthyWage™ Enlists Grand Rapids’ Fitness Guru to Help Michigan Lose Weight
Jan 4, 2011 – Need extra motivation to lose weight this year? Modeling the success of the popular TV show, The Biggest Loser, New York based HealthyWage [www.HealthyWage.com] has issued a state-wide fitness challenge to all of Michigan with the help of a local fitness expert, plus some extra special incentive.
In “The Michigan Matchup,” teams of five will compete for the greatest percentage of weight lost from January 8 through April 15, 2011. To join the challenge, participants pay a modest registration fee and weigh in at the beginning and end of the contest at a local health club. The winning teams will receive a total of $18,000 in cash prizes ($10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second, and $3,000 for third). Additionally, individual participants can earn $100 cash if they start with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 30 and achieve a BMI below 25 after one year.
Grand Rapids’ resident fitness expert, “Mighty Joe” Stankowski, creator of “This Workout Doesn’t Suck” [www.ThisWorkout.com] and a co-author of “The Power of Champions,” was enlisted as The Michigan Matchup’s official spokesperson and will provide contestants advice, support and motivation via weekly Q&A-format telephone conference calls.
“The Michigan Matchup brings the state together in a collective effort to achieve weight-loss and health goals through a fun and lucrative contest,” said HealthyWage co-founder David Roddenberry. “Competing in teams of 5 against family, friends, and co-workers for added encouragement, bragging rights and big cash prizes leverages our social network model proven to help motivate and sustain weight-loss. Academic research shows that obesity has spread through social networks and will likely reverse through social networks.”
Stankowski adds, “Of course it would be great if everyone was motivated by improved health and wellness, but in reality, there’s a tendency to take those things for granted until it’s too late. Fortunately, HealthyWage understands the motivational power of cold, hard cash and they’re putting some serious money on the table to help those who need an extra kick in the backside!”
Over 90 health clubs throughout Michigan have signed on to support contestants and serve as weigh-in locations, including many YMCA’s, Endurance, Bally Total Fitness and MVP Sports Clubs. Registration for the contest is open now through January 8 for all Michigan residents.
Those interested in joining The Michigan Matchup may do so online at www.michiganmatchup.com.
# # #
Your Weight Loss Resolution Sucks (And How To Fix It)
It’s that time of year when a lot of people traditionally “resolve” to lose weight.
Problem is, “losing weight” isn’t an action one can resolve to do; it’s an outcome.
Lifting weights 3 times a week – now THAT’S an action.
Planning your meals a week in advance… THAT’S an action, too.
Drinking water instead of soda… more ACTION. (I’m 3+ months diet coke-free, by the way!)
Resolve to take positive action and there’s a much better chance you’ll get the outcome you want.
***** ***** *****
Last week, I was a guest on the Tim Doctor radio show (WJRW 1340AM right here in Grand Rapids) where we discussed some other common problems people have with their resolutions and training plans. While it’s obviously too late to call in with your questions, you can listen to the podcast at the links below.
[UPDATE - 1/20/11: THE PODCAST IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AT THESE LINKS. IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST LISTEN TO IT, CONTACT ME (SEE "HOLLA'" AT TOP OF PAGE) AND I'LL FIND A WAY TO GET IT TO YOU]
Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.
Many years ago, when I was still trying to figure out which way I should go with this whole “eat right and exercise” thing I fell into, my friend Jim suggested I hire his business coach for my own biz.
Her name was (and presumably still is) Debbie Happy Cohen. And yes, that’s her real middle name.
Working with Coach Debbie turned out to be one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. I discovered a new level of creativity (not that you can tell from this blog) and really developed my professional identity by implementing the strategies she introduced me to.
It’s been several years since I ran the following ‘interview’ I did with her – it was previously only available to my clients and subscribers of my first website – but when I was digging through my archives a few days ago, I figured you, my adoring legion of fans (I think there are 8 of you now), would enjoy this blast from the past. The information is every bit as valuable today. Enjoy. Share it with others.
…And breathe.
-JS-
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JoeS: Can you explain why people actually limit their own success? – Whether it’s fitness, business, personal life or anything else.
Debbie Happy Cohen: We’ve lived in a world where for centuries and millennia, our goal was to survive, and we had a strict order of class in terms of what role we were supposed to play (male-female, serf-lord, king-subject). We also had to physically protect ourselves from the elements of nature without the safety we have today.
In the last century alone, we have gone from being an industrial society to an informational and service-oriented one… So what in the heck does all this mean to YOU?
It’s only in recent times that we’re thinking about PERSONAL HAPPINESS, satisfaction, feeling loved. Choosing positive feelings was a foreign thought to many of our ancestors because they were busy surviving.
So we are on the leading edge of FEELING GOOD AND GREAT.
BUT - our societal ”thermostat” setting for feeling good is not set very high. We have peak moments, like winning at the Olympics (or watching someone win) but we still spend most of our time watching the news and other negative drama. WE GET USED TO FEELING EITHER BAD OR MEDIOCRE.
JS: But why is it so easy to become content with mediocrity?
DHC: BECAUSE IT FEELS SAFE. Because when we stretch out of that comfort zone, it feels UNCOMFORTABLE and most people run back to the safety of mediocre feelings.
For example, I have a friend who is a best-selling author of a parenting book, and she shared a story about receiving a call one day from a majorly hot and hard-to-get publisher. Though she was elated, she was also extremely uncomfortable feeling so good. So what did she do? She ran upstairs immediately after the call and grabbed a piece of cheap chocolate, which she knows she is allergic to. She effectively and immediately brought herself down instead of letting herself enjoy the feeling of pure satisfaction and bliss of receiving that call.
JS: Where exactly do these beliefs come from?
DHC: We hold these beliefs in our memory storehouse, like a baby blankey.
JS: Can they be changed?
DHC: Absolutely. But it takes courage and often outside support. Like your newsletter…or a live coach.
I think it’s interesting that EVERY Olympian – the beginners as well as the multi-gold medalists – EVERY one of them has a coach! I think that one of the purposes of that person is to hold a vision for a higher possibility, because it’s often easier to do it for someone else than it is for ourselves.
One exercise that you can do on your own (that was shared with me by my author friend and credited to Gay Hendricks :-)) is to change the HIGH-LOW pattern to PEAK-REST. For example, have you ever said to yourself when things were going really well, “I wonder when the other shoe will drop,” or ”I wonder how long I’m going to actually stick to this diet” when you just lost a huge amount of weight? Those are ways people bring themselves DOWN when they’re HIGH, in order to get back to NORMAL.
TO RAISE NORMAL TO HIGH, you want to get comfortable with PEAK STATES.
JS: So how can you do this?
DHC: DEEP BREATHING. When a person is afraid or uncomfortable, their breathing is shallow, and they block good feelings. When a person is comfortable and feeling happy, they laugh and breathe deeply. During your next PEAK moment, take a breather, rest for a few minutes or a couple of hours. Laugh. Take it in.
I have an audio CD called Sensualization: Exceeding your Upper Limits and Getting Comfortable with PEAK LIVING. In it, you’re guided to experience yourself in a moment of satisfaction and well being. When you get there, you notice what fear comes up, and you breathe through it until you feel comfortable. It’s amazing because it’s beyond the limited visualization techniques that so many of us use. It’s leading edge and it works because you use all of your senses and your mind really believes you are there, so when the time comes and the success really happens, you don’t resist it (at least not as much as before!)
It reminds me of a story of a guy who was in the back room before an event where he was to be receiving an award. Someone “caught him” talking to himself and shaking hands with an invisible partner, saying “Thank you. Thank you very much.” When asked what in the world he was doing, he replied, “I’m getting used to the idea of people congratulating me, so that when they do, I am able to really accept it.”
JS: How often should we do this?
DHC: Many people have benefited from doing this breathing technique for 15 minutes a day for 30 days. What you do is imagine a future PEAK moment with all of your senses, then notice when you feel any kind of discomfort or fear. And then BREATHE DEEPLY until it passes.
JS: So if I do this simple exercise for only 15 minutes a day for a month, what can I expect to experience?
DHC: You’ll notice it’s much easier to take in new experiences and successes when you do this regularly. This, of course, will allow you to notice newer and better opportunities, and you’ll be more likely to grab them. You’ll spend more time feeling good and making better choices. You’ll enjoy your life more and experience more peak moments.
JS: I really enjoyed reading (and re-reading) your book Reach Your Stars! Who do you think could benefit most from reading it?
DHC: Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the book. Its message is for any person who cares about their personal or professional growth, especially if they are exploring new options in their lives, or developing the confidence to take new action.
JS: The changes I’ve experienced by simply learning to accept higher levels of success as ‘okay’ (and even downright acceptable!) have me convinced there’s much more to it than simply “positive self talk”. How can I learn even more about this technique and others that we’ve used during my own coaching sessions with you?
DHC: Here are two things you can do right now:
1. You can visit the MastermindU archives and listen to a live recording of a lecture I gave, called “Real Pearls, Cheap Chocolate and Stone Soup” which includes a Sensualization audio experience.
2. Register for the MastermindU course called “Break Through Internal Barriers”. Just visit MastermindU.com and click on Courses. When you sign up for the course online, you will get a FREE copy of Reach Your Stars!
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
…now exhale.
Life Lessons From Powerlifting #3
Lesson #3: Surround yourself with people who have already accomplished what you want to do.
While I never broke any records on the lifting platform, I went from a sloppy 400lb squatter as a young 20-something while doing things on my own to a respectable 700# lifter in my mid-20s by training with guys who squatted as much as 300 pounds MORE than me (and at a lighter bodyweight, I should add) who’ve already ‘been there, done that’.
Experience is the best teacher.
(now that I’m creeping ever closer to 40, I’m still keep this lesson in mind every single day!)
Life Lessons From Powerlifting #1
Back in the day when I trained alongside Ed Coan at Quads Gym on Chicago’s south side, I learned many a lesson that still apply to many aspects of my life today.
Lesson #1: Stay focused and do what you say you’re going to do.
If your training schedule calls for you to lift a weight for X number of reps, it doesn’t matter if you vomit, bleed or ‘hershey squirt‘ in the middle of your set – you’ll still be respected if you complete your set. You can always clean up your mess later.
Sales People: Stop Making America Fat
Fitness equipment distributors train their sales force to sell their latest configuration of plastic, aluminum, iron and computer circuitry as “cutting edge” or “state of the art”.
As such, it’s not uncommon for the typical gym or private training studio to start out with an investment of at least $100,000 in the latest & greatest equipment.
Now keep in mind, I’m NOT an equipment salesman – I’m a practitioner.
I’m also a pragmatist.
I ‘get’ that people have certain perceptions of what a gym *should* look like. Heck, they’ve been conditioned to remain deconditioned for the last 40 years. It’s hard to forget everything we ‘know’ cold-turkey.
I also ‘get’ that people want something to show for their investment of time and money. Isn’t that what it’s really about?
In 2004, I contributed a chapter (Is A Health Club Right For Me?) to a book called “The Power of Champions”. While the numbers have likely grown a bit since then, I explained…
- In 1982, there were barely 6000 health clubs in the US
- In 2003, there were more than 20,200
- More than 36,000,000 Americans belong to a health club
- Total industry revenues exceed $13 BILLION PER YEAR.
State Of The Art = Same Crap (Only Newer)
By creating more of the same, diabetes increased 33%, overweight/obesity is at an all time high and here in 2008, we’re not showing any signs of slowing down.
The “cutting edge” element doesn’t need to be the equipment, the environment or the logo on the door.
It needs to be in the way ACCURATE information is distributed.
People don’t NEED gym memberships.
Nor do they NEED personal trainers.
They need coaches/educators/mentors who can help them make the transition from “then” to “now”
They need accountability.
They need to have a base level of understanding of the consequences of their decisions.
They NEED to re-establish the fitness habit before they worry about the next “best new piece of equipment”.
Most of all, they need to accept RESPONSIBILITY and put what they learn into ACTION.
NOBODY ELSE CAN EXERCISE FOR YOU.
Seek out quality sources of information. When you find it, share it with your friends, family and anyone else who is tired of struggling to make a faulty system work.
If the fitness industry expects to be taken seriously (and not just as something you buy into while watching an infomercial at 3am), ALL OF US need to re-consider the way we provide our services.
Hear me today and believe me tomorrow, traditional gyms may work for the few, but they clearly aren’t working for the masses.
Before You Hire A Personal Trainer…
Think about what you want to accomplish. More importantly, think about why.
Still even more importantly, be specific… VERY specific about why the time is NOW. You can start a training program any time. What’s so special about today?
Above all, don’t ever tell a trainer, “I just want to get in shape”. That means absolutely nothing.
What kind of shape do you want to be in? Are you an actor and have to look a certain part for a role? Or do you just want to have your pre-(food)-baby body back? What’s your prime motivator – aesthetics or performance?
What do you want to be able to do that you can’t do right now? What prevents you from picking up your grandkids without back pain? Being able to tie your own shoes? Breaking tackles at the line of scrimmage?
How will you measure progress? Subjectively, by the way you ‘feel’? (that’s not necessarily a bad thing) Or do you need something more concrete, like your V02max, body composition, maximal strength in a particular movement or do you have a closet full of clothes you can’t quite fit into anymore? How will you know when fitness has “arrived”? Measurement eliminates argument.
Also, don’t ever say, “I’m just looking for a new workout routine”. If that’s truly the case, go to any bookstore and head directly to the magazine rack. Every month, you get a supply of new workouts for about $4 per issue. Many titles offer more than one workout, too.
(never mind the fact that most of ‘em are the same regurgitated bodybuilding-style workouts from the 1970s. You only said you wanted a new routine – no mention of the results you’re after)
For about $20, you can avoid all the supplement ads and subscription cards and buy an actual book that’ll go into greater detail about the particular training program than a magazine would ever have space to do.
Now that you know what you want and why, what are you willing to give up to achieve your goal(s)?
There’s the obvious financial commitment. But what about those comfort food binges? Excuses for missed workouts? Lack of meal planning? Can you give up those, too?
There’s nothing wrong with having priorities other than those that are fitness-related. Just don’t expect a trainer to be your ‘enabler’. We’re never going to tell you it’s okay that you had a deep-fried Snickers bar ‘because you felt a little sad’ or because you ‘just wanted to try it’. It probably does taste good. Fat and sugar can have that effect.
But even without the ‘expertise’ of a trainer, you already know THAT’S not going to help you achieve your goals.
Good Things Come To Those Who Lift Weights
Without including overly technical reasons (eg: increased insulin sensitivity), here’s my short list:
The Pros:
1) You’ll look better
2) You’ll feel better
3) You’ll move better
4) Your clothes will fit better
The Cons:
1) Requires effort
Got anything to add?
Risk:Benefit
EVERYTHING in life comes with some degree of risk
If you’re gonna eat, there’s that slim chance you may get food poisoning or choke.
If you cross the street, there’s a chance you may trip on the curb or get hit by a car.
If you get out of bed, you might stub your toe (doh!).
If you exercise, there’s the chance you’ll get injured - maybe even drop dead in the middle of a workout.
Risk vs. Benefit
As living, breathing people, we simply have to accept that risk is a part of life – there’s no way around it.
But not all risk should be avoided even if we could. Lewis & Clark, Neil Armstrong and Jimi Hendrix were the first to venture into their respective territories. They realized that the potential for benefis outweighed any risks (preceived or real) and through their efforts, they reshaped the face of the world.
The real trick is in knowing how to minimize risk to an acceptable level of tolerance. Chew your food (and don’t talk with your mouth full!), look both ways before crossing the street, pay attention to your surroundings and recognize potential obstacles.
It’s your choice: Follow a proven path to fitness or be a pioneer. You might just stumble upon the fountain of youth (or die trying).
[side note: last week I was interviewed by Dr. Chris Mohr at MealPlans101. It's a quick read and you can find it right here - enjoy!]
Oldies But Goodies
The ancient Romans really had things figured out.
No, I’m not referring to aquaducts, numerals (i.e. MCXVII), the letter “G “(a big thanks to Spurius Carvilius Ruga for giving us that one) or those faux-hawk military helmets sporting a stylish horsehair crest.
I’m talking about their use of language. It seems to me that a large number of latin phrases reflect the Roman’s understanding of all-things-health-and-fitness.
Julius Ceasar said, “fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt” (as a rule, men willingly believe that which they wish to).
Could ol’ Jules have somehow foreseen our present-day weight loss industry and the way people continue to believe in spot reduction? Even though these same people understand this isn’t the case, could the overwhelming desire for a flat stomach be the reason they continue to fall victim to quick-fix marketing gimmicks?
The truth is, gutta cavat lapidem non vi sed saepe cadendo (a drop hollows a stone not by force, but by falling often)
My interpretation: Regular exercise is more effective than sporadic attempts hoping for immediate gratification.
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The Jefferson Society has the motto, haec olim meminisse iuvabit (one day, this will be pleasing to remember)
My interpretation: As much as you may think exercise sucks today, when you’re “lean & mean”, you’ll wonder why you didn’t commit to fitness sooner.
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Or what about solvitas perambulum (solve it as you walk)?
My interpretation: When you’re working on a project at work or school and can’t seem to make any progess, get up off your butt and exercise. Your mind will quickly become clearer plus you’ll reap the long term physical benefits.
Now backing up my advice with facta, non verba (actions, not words), it’s time for me to get a workout!
Ad Multos Annos
(To A Long Life!)
Pillow Talk
Let me slip into my smooth, soulful Barry White-like voice for a moment. Mmmmm, that’s good. Now come a li’l closer so I can whisper sweet-nothings in your ear, baby…
“Oooh, you’re so right. Lifting weights WILL make you bulky”
“Long, slow cardio is the BEST way to shed unwanted pounds”
“Eat all the no-fat/no-carbs/no-flavor chocolate cake you want. It’s made with only healthy, all natural ingredients so that means it’s good for you.”
“No, of course those pants DON’T make you look fat. Now come give big papa some o’ that sweet sugar”
Another Notch On The Bedpost
Whether you’ve had a series of one night stands or long-term relationships with fad diets, informercial gimmicks and other promises of dramatic change with little to no effort, you already know all that sweet talk was simply to get you to open your checkbook and give up the money.
The fat loss industry can be like the guy who hangs out at the bar until closing time. He’ll tell you everything you want to hear, even if you know it’s nowhere near the truth.
TOUGH LOVE
Hearing the right words (read: marketing) at a time of weakness or despair can be enough to allow you to justify starting another doomed fitness and nutrition relationship. Unless you change the way you think – about yourself - history is bound to repeat itself – over and over and over.
I don’t know how Dr. Phil would say it, but “eat right and exercise” is really all you gotta do.
…You Were Saying?
Sure, it’s tough to commit to regular exercise. There are just so many other things that require our undivided attention. Or maybe it’s just easier to feel sorry for ourselves and find something better to do.
“I don’t have time”
“My elbow/knee/back hurts”
“It’s just too hard”
“I didn’t sleep well”
“(enter your favorite exer-scuse here)”
I admit, there are days that I consider skipping my workout. But I have a li’l trick for getting past the “poor, busy me” syndrome – I think about some of the people I met who had every possible reason to forget about training, yet they soldiered on…
– One guy was in a wheelchair, his shriveled legs resembled overcooked linguine. Since squatting and running were out of the picture, he competed in bench press contests (quite successfully, I should add). He’d train just as hard as any able-bodied person would – probably even harder. I remember watching him with awe as he did rep after rep of pull ups with his wheelchair strapped to him.
Did he have a valid excuse to not exercise?
– Another guy was born with a condition that left him with flipper-like hands where his arms should have been. (I’m not positive, but I think his phocomelia may have been attributed to thalidomide prescribed to his mother while pregnant). Still, he’d deadlift, do pulldowns and any other exercise he “shouldn’t really be able to do“.
Could he have found an excuse to not work out?
– “One-legged Jim”, a Vietnam vet, had one of his legs completely blown off by a C4-explosive mishap, yet he’d be in the gym working on the leg press, riding the stationary bike. He would occasionally find excuses to skip coming to the gym. Most often, it was because he was busy competing in various sporting events – including the paralympic games.
But I guess he should’ve just stayed home, right?
– A couple of months ago, I met a competitive powerlifter in New Jersey who lost an arm and a leg when he was hit by a car. So what does he do now? He has a special prosthetic device that clamps onto an Olympic bar and he still presses the kind of weights that most guys only wish they could.
Why didn’t he cancel his gym membership?
I could go on and on with stories like these, but maybe it’s a good time for you to remind me…What was your excuse for avoiding exercise?
[if you have stories of inspirational people who find a reason to exercise despite their so-called 'limitations', please post 'em as a reply right here or send it to me by email: questions (at) joestankowski (dot) com]
What Does It Take To Offend You?
In a world where majority rules the court of public opinion, I woke up this morning with a bad, bad feeling in my gut…
Given America’s ongoing addiction to political ridiculous-ness, I’m starting to suspect it’s only a matter of time before exercise is known as the “E” word and fitness pros around the country are put in the same category as the Ku Klux Klan or Krispy Kreme donuts.
As our collective waistlines continue to expand and fatness (gasp!) becomes accepted as not just “ok”, but normal, I fear that prohibition will make a return and we’ll have to get our fitness fix in some futuristic speakeasy filled with squat racks and bootlegged dumbbells.
C’mon people, stop being so offended by what others say and start do-ing something about your own life before fitness has to go underground.
Success Begets Success
Restrictive diets, when done with a specific goal in mind, can be very empowering.
At least that was my experience last autumn when I gave Dr. John Berardi’s Get Shredded diet* a whirl. I dropped from 254 (16.8% body fat) to 232 (9.9% – an all-time personal low!) in just 8 weeks.
Not only did I shed a significant amount of fat, I actually maintained my strength during my ‘experiment’ (as a powerlifter in a previous life, there is always going to be that part of my ego that needs to feel strong like bull).
Even though my goal was to get my body fat into the single-digit range, the end result wasn’t nearly as empowering as the day-to-day feelings of superiority that came with succeeding.
I knew there would be challenges along the way, but because I was prepared for damn near anything, every single ‘Get Shredded’ meal gave me a sense of winning. I conquered a program that most people would ‘modify’ (read: render useless) before they even get started.
And the more I succeeded, the easier the program became. What started out as a feeling of restriction or deprivation quickly became an ego-boost (not that I need it!) each time I made the decision to stick to the plan. As they say…
Success begets success
Unfortunately, failure usually works the same way. Think about that next time you’re waiting in line to order at a fast food drive thru. Or when you’re reaching for that after-dinner ‘treat’. Habits are hard to change – unless you’re willing to work at it one day – or even one meal – at a time.
So you’re probably wondering…
After I reached my target body composition, I did permit myself to go back to my normal eating habits – my weight eventually made it back to the low 250s. BUT – and here’s the interesting thing: unlike typical fad diets where you lose weight (mostly healthy lean mass) and regain it (mostly in the form of fat), I can now comfortably maintain my body fat at a leaner 13%-14% (over 2% lower than my previous starting point at the same weight).
Ultimately, I’d like to maintain my body fat levels under 10% year round. If I can just get my head past the idea that going under 230lbs is just “too skinny” for me while dieting down, I’ll look forward to taking on the Get Shredded diet again sometime in 2008.
*Get Shredded is an extreme variation of the original Precision Nutrition program and is not recommended until you have plenty of experience applying all 10 rules of nutrition. Even then, it’s suggested to use ‘Get Shredded’ for only 6-12 weeks every 2 years. Full details of the diet are available (via the PN online forum) to those who have purchased the Precision Nutrition plan.
What Would YOU Do?
Yesterday, you may have noticed I didn’t post to “The Cup”. My schedule took some unexpected turns and before I knew it, yesterday became today.
Maybe I should lower my expectations about how frequently I can write?
Would it make more sense for me to use generic, run-of-the-mill articles?
Or should I consider quitting blogging for good?
No, no and hell no!!
Yet these are the same kind of responses many people have when they miss a workout or fall off thier goal-supportive nutrition plan.
I struggle to understand why.
Seriously – life happens. Failing is a sign that you’re making the effort. If you don’t fail, it’s because your not even trying. The ones who get back up and try again (and again and again and again…) are the ones who have the bodies to show for it.
If you’re expecting perfect adherence to a fitness plan, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
An “A” for effort is what makes the difference between fit and fat, slow and fast, strong and weak.
I know it’s cliche (as is much of today’s post), but fitness really is a journey. Detours (planned or otherwise) give your journey a unique personality.
Learn to enjoy your journey wherever it takes you – just don’t lose the map altogether.
Making Wise Choices – Poetry In Motion
As I’m sitting here drinking my morning cup of green tea, I came up with the idea of trying my hand at a little fitness-poetry; specifically, in the Haiku form which came to life during the Japanese Edo period.
The thing I really enjoy about Haiku is that you are forced to choose your words carefully since there are only 3 lines to each poem. Plus, if you paid attention in your high school English class, you’ll remember that each line must consist of 5, 7 and 5 syllables, respectively.Exercise and nutrition have a lot in common with Haiku poetry. To be successful, you must be respectful of the limitations within the art form and choose your actions wisely.
Now I can’t promise these are the what Haiku master Matsu Basho had in mind in the 1600s, but here goes…
I Need To Lift Weights
It Helps Me Become Stronger
In Body And Mind
Not Sure How To Eat?
Precision Nutrition Plan
Will Show You The Way
Determination
A Need To Do More Than Win
…I Must Dominate
Exercise At Home
Avoid The Crowd At The Gym
Get Fit On Your Terms
Strained Muscle. Now What?
I Should’ve Started With The
Ultimate Warm-Up
Nearly 2500 Years of Fitness Wisdom
A few of my favorite fitness-related quotes for your enjoyment:
“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”
- Hippocrates 460BC-357BC
“No citizen has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. What a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”
- Socrates 469BC-399BC
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but instead will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
- Thomas Edison 1847-1931
“There are so many health food nuts out there that eat nothing but natural foods but they don’t exercise and they look terrible.”
- Jack LaLanne 1914-
“I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with Guess on it. I said, Thyroid problem?”
- Arnold Schwarzenegger 1947-
"Mighty" Joe Stankowski
