Level Of Fitness @ Lane 8?

Yesterday’s Lane 8 blog post ended with me promising to share today the level of fitness that was unknowingly gained on the journey to become a world class Master’s athlete.

And by the way, the goal was never to become a world class Master’s athlete.  The goal was, and always will be, about getting and staying healthy to contend with the hereditary predisposition to both physical and mental illnesses.  I am, after all, 50 years old.  🙂

Here’s a jeff noel midlife You Tube video which highlights the strength of the body’s core.  And just before heading to Lahti, Finland for the 2009 WMA Master’s Track & Field World Championships, I increased the time from “20-count” (in this clip) to 30-count:

Guarantee you, if you try to put both feet up at a 90-degree angle, you won’t be able to hold it for more than a “2-count”. Don’t believe me? Try it. Carpe diem!

Everyday Health

Everyday Health is a daily email I subscribe to.  Why?  Because when I find something that is excellent, it’s helpful to have a way to find it easily.  Click here to see a great one from yesterday.

Yes, we all bookmark certain websites, adding them to our Favorites. But an RSS feed or an email subscription can be a great strategy for daily reminders about what matters most – Health.

The health of our Mind, Body, Spirit and Finances.

Staying active is important at any age, yet it’s especially important at Mid Life.  Be the change you wish to see in others.  Be the role model for healthy living.  Have the courage to do the hard work. Or not.

Gold’s Gym Was Packed Yesterday

My son and I went to Gold’s Gym yesterday.  It was packed.  That’s great to see.  Yet even though Gold’s Gym was crowded, the people exercising represent such a small portion of the population.

When I drive to and from work, or on errands, there are occasional joggers along the way. Again, a small portion.

Maybe the ones who exercise regularly are missing the boat.  Perhaps they are the crazy ones.  Wasting their time on the frivolous pursuit of a sound body.  Not a perfect body.  A sound body.

Wasting their time and energy by rearranging their schedules to make exercise fit.  Passing on “delicious” foods, or skipping second helpings, in an effort to practice healthy moderation.

What’s wrong with that small portion of the population?  What a bunch of self-indulgent individuals.  They remind me of the people on the airplane who put the oxygen mask on first, before offering to help the person next to them.

Gaining Weight

Gaining weight is easy for me.  Almost as easy as breathing.  This is a scary proposition.

Why?

Because of the ease of putting on pounds, I have to work extra hard to counteract this natural tendency.  Most humans do.

Once, two friends who were talking about their current diets, looked at me and said, “You’re lucky, you don’t need to worry about your weight”.

In reply, “I worry about my weight every single day, that’s why I don’t have to worry about it”.  Ya with me?  Stay focused.  Fight a good battle today.

What’s Impossible?

What is impossible?  Almost everything, right?  Our goals, our ambitions, World Peace, eliminating poverty.

What is possible?  Ordinary, average, common, within reach, comfortable.

If people only focus on what’s impossible, they won’t focus on what is possible.

Did you catch that?

If people only focus on what’s possible, they won’t focus on what is impossible.

It’s a catch-22 isn’t it?