True Confession?

Jack In Lane 8, In Finland
Jack In Lane 8, In Finland

If you promise not to call me names, I’ll tell you my true confession. Promise?

Since August 2009, I’ve gained nearly ten pounds.

New readers may not know that after ten years of focused effort to bring my health metrics in line, I had the honor of representing the United States in the 2009 Master’s Track and Field World Championships, in Finland.

So now that the big goal – the motivational carrot – is no longer in front of me, I’ve digressed.

This happens to everyone.

The gift from all of this?  It has increased (if that’s even possible) my conviction that an impossible goal is the only one that will work.

Have you ever thought about that? I mean the impossible goal part?

Then perhaps we can journey and endeavor together, to make 2010 a great and healthy year. Who’s in?

Ready To Build Your Fire?

Lots of Fuel, Arranged Just Right
Lots of Fuel, Arranged Just Right

Most people have had so little experience in the wilderness, that making a campfire is foreign to them. And making a campfire is more involved than it seems.

As a Boy Scout and then again in Outward Bound, we were taught to prepare the wood as if we only had only one match left. If you didn’t prepare properly, and the one match you had went out…

Just throw it in the microwave. Or, order delivery. Or maybe, stop by on the way home for take-out.

Well, it’s like that for our health too.

It may not seem so, but most really don’t have much experience being successful in building healthy habits.

Hey, I’m not making this up.  Look around.  There’s your validation.

It’s epidemic. And we have the opportunity to resolve to be part of the minority – the healthy minority.

And if we can get enough of the minority to change, we can start a movement to become the healthy majority.

Who doesn’t want that for their children, their nieces and nephews?

Lane 8 Happy New Year

Motivation Is Like A Fire
Motivation Is Like A Fire

Wow, another year come and gone.

It can be so challenging to get healthy, so challenging to stay healthy.

I often wonder if I’ll ever end up a hypocrite, a phony.

Living in Central Florida now for 26 years, it’s this time of year when we actually use our fireplace. And being on vacation the past ten days, we’ve been having a fire nightly. Sometimes we even start the fire in the morning.

And this thought just entered my mind while typing this blog post:

Motivation is like a fire. You must continue adding fuel to it to keep it burning.

Otherwise, it will go out.  A “no brainer” as they say.

Much Too Young To Feel

To Live Without My Music Would Be Impossible To Do
To Live Without My Music Would Be Impossible To Do

We all love music don’t we. And tonight, New Year’s Eve, we’ll most likely be listening to great music. What a joyous occasion New Year’s Eve is for so many people.

One of my favorite songs from legendary Country singer, Garth Brooks is “Much Too Young To Feel This Damn Old“.  It reminds me of all the resolutions people make to get in shape, lose weight, quit smoking, etc.

Last week, I was reminded of this and had to laugh. The morning that I was heading to the Podiatrist for long-term foot pain, was the same morning an email came from the USATF, United States Track and Field.

The email announced the deadline was fast approaching for the 2010 Master’s Track & Field Indoor World Championships, in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Good thing I have a sense of humor, and a box of tissues.

Too Damn Busy

Busy, Busy, Dreadfully Busy
Busy, Busy, Dreadfully Busy

We hear it all the time don’t we?

“I’m just so busy, I don’t have time to exercise”.

Happens all the time doesn’t it. In fact, we’ve all been guilty of saying something like this. Which begs the next question.

When your health falters, then will you have time?

Ever know you know something important about yourself, but you either can’t quite put your finger on it, or, you simply don’t want to admit it?

Yeah, me too.  So, with New Year’s Eve one day away, and the opportunity to resolve, finally, to do something great, here goes:

I hate being “unhealthy”.

And I hate it so much that I’m willing to do all the common sense things that healthy people do.

Common sense, but not common practice.

Not any more.  Not this year. Ya with me?  Is this your year?