Progress Review

Sometimes it's good to look back and remember the journey into and out the wilderness of obesity. 

I was always a fit lad and maintained this into my 30's. I went from fit to fat over 10 years and decided that I just did not want to be that middle aged fat guy. NO THANKS! 

 
I started logging my food and exercises, and here is the reality. Nutrition is 70% of the health equation.
EAT LESS-MOVE MORE  - simple but hard, hard, hard. The result of all this is summed up in my level of fitness today.
Age is no excuse! ALL IS POSSIBLE

Age Is Merely A Number

Too many guys allow the passing of time to become a handy excuse for ill health associated with obesity. My body began to change about age 27, so I know. It's going to be different for each person.
I remember age 27 as the era of bigger pants sizes.

My jeans were always a size 30, but when I bought new that year....size 32! 

WTF! 

Size 32 became size 34....and then 36...and then 38....and then size 40....
One day I was age 44 and rolling around in size 44 pants. 
HEY...MY PANTS MATCHED MY AGE! 

Look, I realize that as we age, our bodies change, and we can't pretend that we're forever 20 years old.
That's not realistic. My goal is to just be the best version of myself no matter my age. Size 44 pants was NOT my best, so I worked it off and am now back in size 32 working toward size 30. 

Too often people used age as an excuse to give up on themselves which is why so many go to pot in middle age. Don't be that guy! Today I am age 50 and still can do much without having to compete against my younger self. 

In life success is a choice, so choose to be your best. Anything less is a cop out. 

ALL IS POSSIBLE! 

Birds of a feather flock together...

Guys with similar character or interests will often choose to hang out.
My mother used to say "you know people by the friends they keep".  When it  comes to health and fitness, I have seen a complete turnover in my friend list. 

Our common interest used to be food and drink in addition to health issues. That's normal - right? A group of fat ass middle aged guys gather for pigs-in-a-blanket dipped in onion gravy washed down with a whiskey sour. Nothing wrong here...

                      or  
Things have changed...and all of my old friends have just drifted away. When we see each other, it's always nice, and I love these guys, but we have little in common now. They're all fat and still on that road to nowhere. It's actually a good reminder of what I escaped. Our conversations usually end the same...

THEM: "We should get together for lunch and some drinks"
ME: "We should get together for some tennis or biking"

These are just two different worlds, and my former friends want no part of my transformed life and vice versa.
Once I made room in my life, fresh acquaintances emerged, because nature abhors a vacuum. All of my new friends are health and fitness oriented, and every social gathering is in some way connected to physical exercise.

Don't fear that you'll lose friends. Remember, until certain doors are closed, new doors can't open.
Birds of a feather flock together...

ALL IS POSSIBLE!

Enjoying Life

Amid the bustle of achieving goals, we must remember to enjoy the journey.
 The destination is our ultimate aim, yet the quest is what takes us from what we were to who we desire to become. Our goal in all things is to be the best version of ourselves, but have fun in route!

Today I am hurting in places I have not felt in years. Yesterday I pushed myself hard in an effort to defeat a  tennis player seeded #2 in a tournament I entered. I took a game off the guy. It felt great!
Later, we grilled steaks!

My point is that while we strive toward our personal ideal, stop and remember to relish every ounce of life. Don't get so caught up in your work that you become driven to the point of misery. ENJOY LIFE!
Too many guys forget that every minute that passes is a minute that you never get back - ever! Don't waste a single moment of your life chasing the wind.

Goals are important, and our choices and action are as well. I believe this. And as paramount as our efforts are, it is equally crucial to remember that our journey is gratifying as well. If you're not enjoying the process, it's time to regroup. You won't enjoy success either.

I want to enjoy life to the fullest at every step toward my goals and beyond. Life is to be lived!

ALL IS POSSIBLE

The Comfort Zone

Nothing much happens in the comfort zone.
It's comfortable though! It feels nice, and yet to truly grow, each man must reach beyond the warmth of what's familiar. Sometimes it's much easier to get a dance with the ugly girl as opposed to risking rejection by asking the pretty girl to dance. Risk is uncomfortable!

We all must define and step out of our personal bed of roses from time to time. This weekend I am playing in an open tennis tournament against players above my level and much younger. It's damn uncomfortable!
They'll be people watching me fight an impossible battle. My opponent will call me a scrub. Why go through this embarrassment? GROWTH!

This is a unique opportunity to step on the court with a player who wouldn't bother returning my phone call otherwise. My game goes up every time I participate. Guys my age I once played even tennis with are now guys who can barely win a point off me. They're happy in their comfort zones while I am not. I want more.

This was the same in boxing, MMA, business as well the game of love. Life rewards people who can endure the uneasiness of insecurity. I know a guy who'll only compete against others he knows he can beat. I was once one such opponent for this guy. Well, I grew; he did not, and one day I defeated him and broke a 30+ game losing streak.

We never played again. His ego just can't take the notion of another good drubbing.

One way I deal with the inevitable of the no win scenario is to lower my bar for victory. In years past it was merely winning a single point per game, then it became winning a single game in a match...and so on.
Last year I won 2 games and felt like the greatest man on earth. This year I drew the #2 seed and expect to win a game or two off this opponent, yet I am playing to win every point! .

Supposedly, my opponent will get an easy ride to the second round, and I will get eliminated from the tournament. That's the smart odds, yet I am going in to win way above my personal bar, and if this guy gives me any opening, I will exploit it. It shall be a load of fun as well as a huge opportunity for growth.

Each of us deserve to become the best version of who we really are, but for this to happen, you must step out of your comfort zone. So, why don't you?

All Is Possible! 

Tap Your Passion!

I train about 3 hours nearly every day. Some have said this is excessive, and those same guys will sit and watch 4 hours of TV every day. then wonder why they're fat.
That's most people.

When guys ask me what is the very best, most effective exercises, I can't really answer. Swimming is nice unless you hate swimming. And while there will always be an element of resistance to training, for the most part, you must try to do something you enjoy. Don't merely exercise...play!

OK, biking is the best exercise - better than anything...for me...some days...
Why?
I LOVE BIKING...some days...
I also love MMA, hiking, swimming and playing tennis. My training sessions are me at play,  having fun and earning results with my health and fitness goals. When you hear people say fitness is more about lifestyle, this is what they mean.

DO WHAT YOU ENJOY!
And again, this does not mean that there won't be times when you'd rather just lay down and gel before the TV. You must still engage discipline and work ethic, but matching your training routines to what you enjoy makes the process easier.

I prefer calisthenics over lifting weights; I prefer hiking or swimming over jogging. It's possible some of these activities I hate would indeed be more effective if all I look at is what's on paper. My aim is to enjoy what I do, so what's most effective objectively is totally non-effective if I just blow it off and skip training that day.
And that is most people...

Our goals must be to realize measurable results over a specific time period. END OF STORY!
This ONLY comes through consistent work. Nature does not care about your good intentions, platitudes or excuses. Nature just is...and nature rewards or punishes depending on the choices we make in life.

Find a way to integrate your passions into all that you do. Choose wisely...choose life!

ALL IS POSSIBLE!

Success In One Word: Goals

"Goal"
If I could sum up success and achievement in a single word, this is  it.

Most people are without goals in life. They just wonder through the days hoping all works out for the best. Sometimes it does but most times not.
Oh well....

Here's the deal: you can have some success just living life and doing good things; however, if you want to be your best, you need to set goals, make a plan, take action, stay motivated and keep punching. That's it!
It's not rocket science, yet most people just won't do take the effort, and this is why most never reach potential.

When it comes to goals, you must address all areas of your life as though they were spokes in a wheel. A wheel may function with a spoke or two missing, but for optimal performance, address everything in life that matters. The price of success is hard work both intellectual and physical. 

You must write down your goals based on your passions coupled with what is realistic. There are tons of resources available for those seeking to take ownership of their lives by addressing goal setting and achievement. 

Here is one terrific article: http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html

Our purpose here is health and fitness, so you need to know all the target items related to what you seek for optimal wellness. 

• How much should you weight
• What is your best body fat
• Who can support you in your efforts
• Who will hinder you
• What foods should you eat
• What exercises should you do

And on...and on...

To become the best version of yourself, the notion of specific. timely, attainable goals must be carefully considered. Great health and peak fitness does not just happen. You must want it enough to get real about exactly what you desire for yourself, make a plan, take action and see it all through to the end.

Success is a choice...and for those who set goals....

ALL IS POSSIBLE!