Random Rambling

Collections of thoughts that have been clunking about my cranium...

More and more I am beginning to believe that things don't just happen to us. We happen to us. You are a product of the environment you create around you. Your circumstances are often the sum of the choices you have made. That might make you defensive or depressed. But if so, perhaps that's a hint of what's holding you back. Why doesn't it inspire you? If your choices and actions put you there, then you know you have the power to get yourself out.


How can a puppy sleep 8 hours in his crate with no accidents, but an hour after taking him outside he has the urge to soil the rug?


I passed my CPT exam (NSCA's Certified Personal Trainer cert) back in June. Lots of book learning, a ton of studying and a ton of worrying for those little initials. Now what? Now the real education begins. Forget the textbooks for now. I have been reading anything I can find from guys like Eric Cressey, Martin Rooney, Dan John, Mike Robertson and Tony Gentilcore, as well as my personal favorites, Kevin Buckley, Chris Martin and Conor Nordgeren. I've also been running a few sessions a week at Dynamic. What a change in perspective being on the other side of the kettlebell. I knew of the general bad-assery of the folks at Dynamic but it's even more impressive to watch when I'm not drowning in my own pool of sweat.


Unwritten rule of life #2173 - The driver is not responsible for YOUR beverage. The driver must focus on the road, the traffic signals, the signs and all the other drivers that are NOT paying attention to either the road, traffic signals or signs. The driver's decisions to accelerate, decelerate, stop or turn are complicated and unpredictable enough that consideration for the location of your beverage in relation to your mouth or lap is not their primary concern. Your cup is your responsibility.


Out of all the reading I have been doing, there has been one concept from Martin Rooney that has been sticking in my head. It's that decisions, wishes or wanting don't make your goals a reality. Rooney uses a riddle to make this point. I'm paraphrasing here, "There are three birds on a fence, one decides to fly away. How many are left?" If you said two then you are an idiot. Kidding, kidding. The answer is 3. Deciding to fly is not the same as flying.... or maybe they were frogs jumping off a log.... anyway, the point is that the only thing that counts is action.

If you rather contemplate the wisdom of puppets, Yoda (pre-CGI) said something in a similar vein once - 'There is no try, do or do not.'

Over 15 years ago I couldn't understand teenaged girls. Nothing has changed except the reasons why I bother trying to understand them in the first place.


One my favorite quotes of all time, "We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are" - Anais Nin. If someone is untrusting, is it because they are untrustworthy? (Too deep?) How about this? Have you ever read a curt email or text, added your own tone to it, created a back story as to why the sender is an a-hole and vowed that THIS time, you're done with them? Only to find out the other person was in the ER, having dinner, their phone died or they were in line at the grocery store? Your anger, insecurity or general bitchiness fabricated the circumstance. It was a projection of you, not them.


I can deal with a busy and ever changing schedule because quite honestly, I like or at least appreciate the things we fill it with. What bothers me is where the largest chunk of time is allocated. Eliminating it is simple, but the consequences are hard. If I am ever going to replace those 40hrs, I need to make it count.


Call me crazy but I kind of liked being unplugged for a few days during the mass power outages of 'Snowtober'.


Is it true that everyone is special, or have we just lowered our standards? If we are all the same, then why strive to be exceptional? Does mediocrity suit you?

"Everyone can be super! And when everyone's super... no one will be." - Syndrome - 'The Incredibles'

Ok fine. I don't understand women of any age. But they're definitely worth all the confusion.

"I didn't do it..."

Where has personal accountability gone? Though they are the leading experts, lacking accountability is not reserved for just children and teenagers. (Was that redundant? Teenagers are children right?)

"It wasn't me" says the 5year old through a chocolate stained smile.

"It's not my fault! You distracted me when you asked about my day and then I forgot!" says the 10year-old who's Friday lunch leftovers are found decomposing in her backpack Sunday night.

"I can't make people stop texting me and I can't be rude and not respond." says the teenager who has wasted 5hours doing 30min worth of homework. (And I'm sure it was some virus that kept Facebook open the whole 5 hours too....)

"Kids!" right? Wrong...

"It's a special occassion so I can splurge a little." Sounds innocent enough unless 'splurge' means sharing a plate of mozerella sticks with me, myself and I before the Bacon-Double Onion Ring and lard burger with double chili-cheese fries entree.

"I can't pay for the new transmission because I have to pay for my vacation next week." I'd be lying if I didn't admit I live dangerously close to such a scenario.

"I'm too busy to read, exercise, play with the kids or cook healthier meals." Quilty.

I could lecture (and hope to follow my own advice) but instead I will simply translate the statements above into the truths they hide:

"I'm sick of pretending to have the discipline or dedication to eating healthy."

"I only plan to pay for what I want, not what I know I will need."

"I am oblivious to how much time I actually spend on Facebook, XBox, texting and catching up on the 50shows a week I have DVR'd."

Now don't get me wrong, if that's where you WANT to budget your time or how you WANT to budget your money, then so be it. Nothing says you have to change anything. Might as well quit reading this and get back to watching Jersey Shore. Just realize you relinquish your right to bitch and moan when you don't get what you want or more importantly, what you need, down the road.

Instead, try accepting the fact that you put yourself in your current situation. Skate by or work around the problem. But if you don't want to face it again, cut the excuses and make the required changes.

It starts with facing the hard truths about you and your choices. If you can't be honest with yourself, you'll continue to come up short every time.

Batman is not a quitter...

If one can find the courage to accept challenges, be fearless in the face of failure and recognize the many achievements along the way, in the end the original goal might not be your biggest success.

I am a firm believer that sometimes NOT getting what you want or what you strived for may turn out to be the best thing for you. Sometimes it is a roadblock that you ultimately overcome to achieve your goal on subsequent tries. Other times it is a realization of another dream or simply the acceptance that you've been chasing the wrong one.

Don't confuse that with the notion that giving up is ok. Remember, 'fearless in the face of failure'. It's a fine line between brutal honesty with yourself and an indomitable spirit to forge ahead.


It's like Bruce Wayne's dad said, 'Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn how to pick ourselves back up.' And then Bruce became Batman so who's the smart guy now?


I'm about to turn 35 and only recently in the same ballpark as 'fit'. I can't be an NFL linebacker no matter how much I may work at it and hope for it. Most NFL linebackers don't see a snap past age 35. But while in pursuit of such a goal perhaps someone in a similar situation can discover a new one. Maybe training others in pursuit of the same dream, maybe coaching or maybe handball (Jake Plummer) or MMA (Michael Westbrook), politics (Heath Shuler) or sports journalism (Ross Tucker and just about everyone on the NFL Network).


If at first you don't succeed, try, try again... if you don't succeed again, try again... if your definition of success still eludes you, maybe your definition is flawed. Maybe your goal wasn't the endgame you thought it was. That's not to say those efforts were wasted. On the contrary, those efforts were worth every second. The problem is, the path you're on may not take you where you thought you were going. Where you are going, you need those experiences and you need the pain to make the realization of that ultimate goal that much sweeter.


The trick is finding the line between quitting and moving on. In the former you turn back because the path is too long or too steep and you never find a destination. In the latter, you simply find a new path. It may be longer, it may be steeper, but you're progressing.

Not getting what you want, not achieving your goals or realizing your time has passed isn't always the abject failure we believe it to be. Ignoring the lessons and refusing to apply them and move on is the failure. Or worse, never trying.


So I can say it... but can I live it? What's my dream? Where's my courage?

Six-Pack

What's a more meaningless measure of one's fitness level? Six-Pack abs or how much you can bench press?

When people, guys at least, talk about wanting to be in shape they mention or simply visualize the 6-pack. (As they simultaneously down one…) It's the holy grail of fitness. It's a gold medal, the Lombardi trophy and the top score in Space Invaders all in one. It means no more shirts at the beach. Belts, the guardians of plumber's crack are demoted to optional accessory.

When guys enter the weight room for chest and triceps day they eye the benches. Subtly counting the plates and sizing up the muscle that's pushing them skyward… repeatedly… like an elevator that can't get past the 2nd floor no matter how hard it tries. Their clandestine assessment results in a scoff, a 'damn!' or a shrug. That response determines which empty bench they'll choose to work at or whether they'll start with triceps today, just to shake things up. Or to wait until the 'competition' moves along.

In the quest for a healthier more active self it seems many people focus on the wrong thing. It's typically a misguided ideal. It's the look they're after. Or they feel they need to compare to a macho measuring stick.

A six-pack means you have low body fat. It doesn't make you healthy, it doesn't mean you are fit. There are plenty of fit and active people without a six pack. There are plenty of people with a 6 pack that couldn't run a mile if they had to. To get a 6 pack, unless genetically pre-dispositioned or dedicated to ultra-clean eating and aggressive exercise or all of the above, the 6 pack will elude you.

In some cases, depending on where you are starting from, a 6-pack won't ever happen naturally. It not pessimistic, it's realistic. Skin just doesn't bounce back the way you want it to, not when it's been stretched for so long. Ask any mom. Hope and wish and believe all you want, in many cases it won't happen without surgery. But I ask… who cares?

A bench press means you can lift a bunch of weight off your chest while laying down. You can generate some impressive short bursts of power. Invaluable if you are a defensive lineman or you happen to have a vehicle stuck on your chest. Although if I have a vehicle stuck on my chest I want to be able to throw it off of me not just raise it higher above my chest. Luckily, I'm not much of a super-hero so a car on my chest is not a typical hazard I face.

Another thing a bench press helps with is thickening up those pecs. 6-pack + swollen chest + no shirt at the beach = chicks. You can even do that muscly mating ritual with your dancing chest… left, right, left, right, left, left, right, right… 'hello, ladies'. So a bench press helps develop perky 'moobs' (man boobs). I concede, if you're a single guy, that's functional.

One of the major.. ok, probably the #1 reason, most people workout and try to eat better is to look good. The aesthetics; bumpy abs, broad chest, the cool vein down your bicep (I'm still working on all 3). Despite my making fun, there's really nothing wrong with that. (Unless you become an obsessive narcissist I guess.) What I am sensitive to is that misguided ideal.

When someone finally has the motivation to make a positive change and they begin their journey towards it, they focus on an unrealistic and ultimately meaningless vision of what they want. I am afraid that as they progress, as they work, as they achieve better health and a higher level of fitness they still get discouraged. They reach a self-imposed milestone and they don't see the results they expected. They don't see those 6 hard bumps, it's really just one bump with maybe a ripple or two and think they have come up short. And then they give up.

It's as if they become blinded by the glare of failure that they can't see that what they actually have done is far greater than washboard abs or finally out-benching their imaginary competition. Before they couldn't lift 20lbs, now they lift 40. They couldn't walk a mile, now they run 2. They ate a whole bag of chips for snack, now they eat a bowl of strawberries. They got winded walking up 4 flights of stairs, now they bound up two at a time. They wouldn't even watch the marathon, now they're in it. Their shirt size used to have an 'X' or two in it, now it doesn't.

They way I see it is this: When measuring the positive and healthy changes in your life, if your focus is on how good you feel, it will reflect in how good you look. Don't live by someone else's image, create your own.

Tragically absent

I'm ba-ack! Sort of. It's easy enough to say I've been a slacker with my writing lately, but I prefer say that I've been 'living the dream'. My objective has been to write about my journey into a more active and healthy lifestyle so it is a little ironic that I haven't been writing anything lately because... I've been living a more active and healthier lifestyle.

My prime writing times have traditionally been lazy weekend mornings or late nights on Mondays/Wednesday as I didn't have to get up early for the gym. As of about 3 weeks ago my wife Lynne and I have been going out for walks/runs on weekends (sometimes with kids) and just this past Sunday we went for our first bike ride. No more lazy AMs for us. Also in the last few weeks I have been getting up early on Tues/Thurs AM to run. No more late nights. The only negative, no more writing. (and I need the practice)

Lynne and I were just talking this AM about how things have changed in this past year for us. Last spring I dug my size 36 shorts out from the depths of the closet and squeezed myself into them. Last weekend we went shopping for new shorts and I surprisingly slipped into 32s. Lynne slipped her svelt self into sizes she didn't think she'd ever fit into again. (I won't publish her sizes cuz 1 - she's a girl and probably doesn't want me to and 2 - I'm a guy, I will probably get them wrong and end up in the dog house)

For all the hard work we put in at the gym, tweaking our routines at home and with food, overall, the experience itself wasn't difficult. Leading a healthier life is not hard to do. It's committing yourself to do it and finding what works for you that's hard. We each found things that we love to do, made it a priority and it just worked itself out. If you don't know what it is you'd love to do the one piece of advice I would give is to look outside your comfort zone. Don't be intimidated and don't allow yourself to say 'I'd never be able to do that'. If that's what you believe, then you've already failed. Pass the Cool Ranch Doritos please...

Just as we had to adjust our lifestyle to fit in exercise, I'll find a way to fit writing in again. With more activity I ought to have more material.

Just a few quick hits on a variety of topics:

I have an article for Tragically Fit about Trail/Ultra Running coming up as part of a new series of sports/activities. Every couple of weeks/months I will try something new, write about the sports and my experience with it. The articles will also profile an athlete or two (recreational, amateur or pro) to provide their story on what makes them 'tragically fit' and show how everyday people find ways to challenge and enjoy themselves. A few sports I am considering are cycling (road or mountain bike), kayaking, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a few others. Suggestions for new stuff is more than welcome? Volunteers to be my 'ambassador' to the sport as well as a spotlight athlete are even better!

Recently watched Sugar - The Bitter Truth - excellent if you can find the time and can get past the 'sciencey' stuff. Shows an interesting link to sugar in our diets, how it correlates to the obesity epidemic and the metabolic syndrome. My biggest take away was not the issue with the sugar you know, it's the sugar you don't. If I choose to eat ice cream or eat a candy or drink a soda (even Diet), then I know what I am getting myself into. But sugar (High Fructose Corn Syrup especially) added to bread, peanut butter, fruit juice, cereal, low-fat processed snack foods etc etc... That's where I feel decieved. FYI - there is a difference between sugar in fruits and the sugar added to fruit juice or just about every other food we eat. Watch it and learn. If I have time to watch it again and summarize the major points I will.

One little bike ride and I am ready and willing to drop down some coin on a new bike! (Notice that I did not say 'able') I'm looking for cheap options. Road tires for my mountain bike, a cheap road bike, a hybrid or maybe a used Cyclocross bike?? I'll mostly do roads, typically with the family, but I want the option go fast and the durablity to go off road if I choose to.

I still want to watch Food Inc. Has anyone seen it? What did you think? Did it change anything for you?

Dedication vs Stupidity

Last week I asked where to draw the line between dedication and stupidity. At what point does one's dedication to their sport or activity cross the line to where they are exposing themselves to undue risk and maybe even jeopardize their ability to continue what it is that they enjoy so much?

If you are one of the handful of people that read my blog, you know I am not at risk for overdoing anything other than questioning what it is I am doing. So my question was posed to those of you that have that 'thing' you do. That thing, or maybe things, that you have such passion for it has become a compulsion. You don't just want to do it, it's an urge. But I want to know, when have you taken it too far?

Just to recap for those too lazy to click the link above, last Sunday, was a monsoon here in southern NH. I was set to go for my first legitimate trail run with my friend Chris. Through various texts while getting ready to go not so bright and pretty early in the morning, he suggested we postpone my inaugural run through the backwoods mostly due to my lack of gear for the terrain in conditions with a high suck factor. Although initially reluctant I finally succumbed to his logic as well as the call of my pillow.

When I 'woke up', so to speak, I had this sinking feeling that I wussed out. Well if Chris still went out was he taking it a bit far? Were conditions that bad or was I that mentally weak? Or with clocks jumping ahead an hour was Chris too exhausted to endure both the weather and my bitching and moaning if I couldn't hack it? Thanks for letting me down easy, Chris...

This was his official take on what transpired...

Chris:

haha....I decided. You were ready to go, which certainly does not make you a wuss. Here is my reasoning....as stated you are now just getting back into running. Sure, a quick jaunt over roads and you would have been fine, even in those miserable conditions. But on the trail we were hitting, you can run into the unexpected all the time (trail underwater and having to traverse over rocks or fallen trees, etc). And, you don't want to be in Nike frees. That would have been like running in wet socks (blister city). My goal was for you to enjoy your first time, wanting to come back for more. Maybe even spread the word on how awesome trail running is. Not sending you home with feet made out of hamburger, or rolled ankles from slippery rocks and roots (nike frees are not good in wet conditions, on that terrain). As a host, it would have been irresponsible for me to bring you out there without gear that keeps you semi dry, and upright on the trail (well most of the time with experience). Hence smart vs wuss. There are many ways to get a workout in, as you know. With that, a good reason for someone to get out in those conditions, is if they are training for a race or series of races. That is because you never know what you will get for weather on race day. Now don't get me wrong. Running in the rain, on trail, is a ton of fun. Let's just get that first run out of the way.

Plenty of logic and reason there, Chris, and I appreciate that you take your role as 'host' so seriously. My feet and ankles thank you. But I still had this ache that I let myself down. I figured if anyone would give me a constructive smackdown it would be Kevin. He didn't disappoint.

Kevin:

Reading this I get the sense that you feel like you should have gone for the run. In my opinion, not having sufficient gear is not an excuse to not go for a run. "Sufficient gear" is a modern phenomenon that enables more comfort for doing the same tasks that people have been doing forever without "sufficient gear".. People were running in rain and wind long before Nike and Gore-Tex…

There you have it… WUSS! Seriously though, it is quite true. It's not the gear that provides us the means to do these things. We already have the means. The gear provides comfort for sure, mostly to allow one the ability to perform at a level they otherwise would not have.

However, to Chris's point, the other intent is injury prevention. Whether it is cold weather gear that protects from extreme temps/frost-bite or water-proof trail shoes with better grip to avoid slips and ankle rolls while also preventing blisters, the intent is not only to make training safer and more accessible in any conditions, it is to keep training and enjoying our sports. Who wants to be sidelined with a sprain or slowed by never ending blisters? Nagging injuries due to poor preparation hurt worse than the ones that just happen despite your best efforts. You have that sense that it could have been prevented and it's your own fault that you're icing your ankle instead of riding your bike or playing basketball with the guys.

So what's the verdict? Well, despite the fact that I think not going for that trail run with Chris was the right decision, I still wussed out. Seeing as this would be my first run through mud and over rocks it would not have been smart. Could I have done it? Sure. Would I have been injured? Maybe. Would I have loved it? In a sick sort of way probably.. when it was over.

I wussed out because I did not seize the opportunity. I don't typically get up early on a Sunday, or any other day, and run. It's not part of my routine at the moment. But here I was out of bed and about to lace up my running shoes. I was ready to go. I wasn't just faced with a decision to trail run, I had the opportunity to push myself somewhere other than my bed and I didn't take it. Sure, maybe a trail would have been a questionable choice for me that morning, but I could have hacked the perfectly good roads right outside my door despite the wind and rain. Or I could have gone to the basement and put myself through some intense intervals instead. It's a challenge I didn't meet or even recognize. That's where my disappointment came from.

So are these 'nutjobs' on their bikes in mid-January dedicated or stupid? Well that depends on the conditions, their level of preparation and the rider. When the Jens Factor is high, the most dedicated cyclists will opt for riding the trainers in their garage instead of risking certain death. But the point is, when a limit is reached they don't pack it in. They adapt. In conditions most people don't even want to run to their car in, dedicated athletes suck it up and endure.

The latter portion of Kevin's comment brought it all together for me:

...I'm not going to call you a wuss. I might suggest that you're uncomfortable with your decision to bail on the run and that the next time you are confronted with the same decision you should get out there and do it. I admire the fact that you are questioning your decision. Too many people would have been more than happy with their decision to pull up the covers and "sit this one out". You clearly are not, and that's a good thing!

What I have learned is that it's about preparation and knowing the limits of safety as well as your own limits. The trouble is, not only do you have to be willing to find your limits, but you need to have the courage to reach them and redefine them whenever the opportunity presents itself.

That's enough

I've noticed that those who are truly passionate and committed to something know how to answer the question 'What's enough?' Look at those 'crazy' bikers or runners out there in the bone-chilling winter months or battling through a classic New England Nor'Easter. Those 'nutjobs' are out there because they know the answer. Although I wonder, do they even ask the question?

When faced with a late January freeze, many people will say it's too cold for a ride. A dedicated biker will say 'It's warm enough' as they slip on their thermal gear and hit the road.

As buckets of water pour from the sky, some may find themselves rolling over and tugging the blankets up tight to their chin, happy for the extra sleep. The passionate runner will say 'It's not wet enough' as they slip on their Gore-Tex and hit the trails.

You've probably heard the rationalizations from friends and co-workers, or it may even be your own; 'I didn't complete the workout but I think I did enough to work off the doughnut I had for breakfast.', 'I would have run more but I think that mile was enough, don't want to over do it you know.', 'I ate well enough today, I'll go with the meat-lover's pizza for dinner.'

I'm thinking if you have to convince yourself it's enough, it isn't. When you feel it's enough, you'll never question it.

Now with that said, where's the line between dedication and stupidity? This past Sunday I was supposed to go for an inaugural trail run with my friend Chris the super-ultra-runner. (Not his legal name) After a late night and a one hour 'spring ahead' imposed on the clock I stumbled out of bed raring to go.. ok, whimpering, but going nonetheless. Chris sends me a text asking about my rain gear. Huh? It's my inaugural trail run, I haven't invested in 'gear' aside from the shoes I have been using on the road 1-2 times a week for the last month. (Or is it 1-2 times in the last month?) I have some hiking shoes and a Gore-Tex ski jacket, but heavy shoes and a parka didn't seem like the sort of 'gear' I needed.

I reply that I have none but wasn't really thinking about it. I didn't want to 'wuss out' over some rain. In fairness, we were in the midst of one of those aforementioned Nor'Easters with strong winds and a steady stream of rain. Chris suggested we don't go if I don't have sufficient gear. 'There's a difference between being a wuss and being smart', he tells me... Fair enough, he's the super-ultra-runner that knows best, back to bed I went. But then today something occurred to me... I think he still went running. Who's a wuss now? Maybe it's just paranoia talking, or maybe it's my lack of facial hair that does it, but I am thinking that wuss is ME! Perhaps it wasn't just rain gear that I didn't have enough of. If I am asking the question, I must know the answer.

Tragically Fit? What's that?

"Tragically Fit? What's that? What's a 'Lorg'?"

That's the question I get asked about 2-3 times a day when I wear one of my 'Lurg shirts'. I typically turn my back to the inquisitor as I tactfully correct their pronunciation of Captain Caveman's name, point my thumb at the URL on the shirt and tell them to check it out online. Lurg's story explains it better than I can. However, I've been thinking about it more lately and wondering if there is a more concise and compelling definition I can provide to inquiring minds. Well, maybe not concise...

Tragically Fit is the idea that one can be fit in mind and body through natural means; not based on the gimmicks, pills and contrived training methods we are force fed by the diet and fitness industries over the last several decades. These are industries whose purpose is ultimately to maximize profits and sell a service or product to the broadest market possible. They are not a honest movement towards good health, they're a commercial force.

In the process of becoming experts on fitness and exercise, we got collectively stupid. I blame marketing. You can't package common sense. It's hard to sell hard work. It's even harder to vaguely tell people to move and have fun, without telling them how to move or what fun to have. They need to sell it, it needs to be simple and it only needs to sound legit.

As technology advances to make business allegedly more efficient, we seem to lose more time. So now, not only do we sit on our asses most of the day, we're sitting there longer. So much for efficiency. So now we apply this backwards logic to diet and exercise. It has become a chore, not a lifestyle.

To me, Tragically Fit is as much about being accountable and empowered as it is about being physically fit. It's about creating balance in your body and in your life. It's not about being an ultra-marathoner or MMA fighter, although it can be. It's a way to break from the chains of your Lay-Z-Boy and discover that there is actually a world out there to enjoy, batteries not included, or needed. It is not constrained by the walls of a gym or a line of products. Tragically Fit does not fit in a package and it's not a routine.

It's about redefining your self image. You aren't likely to resemble a magazine cover model or professional athlete, nor do you need to feel like you should. What good is a 'six-pack' if you pull a hammy moving the couch while in search of the remote? (or better yet, your running shoe) Will you be measured by someone else's ideal or will you measure yourself by what you are capable of?

So as for my attempt at a concise definition goes...

Physical fitness and good nutrition are not the means to an end, they are the means to opportunities that are endless. To be Tragically Fit, is to make functional movement and natural health a way of life, not just something else to cram into it.

Competition of one

I've never been one to compete. Although I don't like losing, I've never had an urge to be the best at anything. Perhaps I am content or perhaps I am just lazy. The only formal competition I remember entering was a Tae Kwon Do Tournament when I was about 14. It was my one and only tournament. After a tough match in which I came very close to disqualification for a variety minor transgressions, I came in 2nd place... out of 2. Thus ending what could have been an illustrious career. Aside from my early days as a martial artist whose kicks flew higher than his ambitions I don't recall a time in my life where I was a part of anything that stoked a competitive fire in me. I don't even know what I could have competed in. Perhaps there was a place in competitive rock, paper, scissors for me or maybe, just maybe.. extreme channel surfing.

Although it's easy to blame all those tee-ball games that mysteriously ended in a tie, I attribute my aversion to formal competition to Jr. High and High School gym class. It's not because I was I always picked last. I wasn't. The awkward kid with the coke bottle glasses that avoided changing in the locker room by wearing his 'high water' sweat pants to school (which in turn maximized his nose-picking time between class) usually ensured that I saved a sliver of dignity while waiting in the angst ridden line of the phys. ed. pecking order. No, it was those overzealous ball hogs and JV bench warmers that always took things a bit too far. You know the guys. Taking off their shirts to impress the girls (the ones that walked laps around the gym to avoid sweating or breaking a nail), taking twenty 3-point shots per game and only sinking two, calling a foul after every mishandled pass or errant lay up. My personal favorite was when they would swing for the fences, pop-up to the outfield where Urkel was exiled and score a home run on a dropped ball, a short throw and two errors. The irony of the high fives and chest bumps as they crossed the plate made me laugh more than the errors did. Their ultra-competitiveness and selective sportsmanship turned me off to competition more than my lack of skill did.

So here I am, a guy that has never seriously competed at anything in his life, theorizing about the nature of competition. What do I know? Well, I can relate to competition on a smaller scale. When I trained in Tae Kwon Do decades ago I used to admonish students to not compare themselves relative to others. At least when it comes to technique or ability. Everyone is different, they are at varying levels of ability and rank. You lose appreciation for what you can do and undermine your own development when you only measure yourselves to others. Pretty soon motivation wanes and discouragement sets in when one feels like they just don't stack up.

This is not to say you should not observe others in an effort to better yourself. It's one thing to observe, learn and adapt. It's another to simply judge and push yourself without focus. In anything you do, be it gym workouts, racing, dancing, singing, software development, accounting, marketing, sales or even parenting, it's valuable to watch others that you deem to be successful and learn from them. Just don't value or de-value yourself based on what you what find. But if their 3pt shooting percentage is a hearty 10% just snicker quietly and be on your way.

Try to look for those proverbial intangibles. Effort, focus, determination, attitude. It's these attributes that determine success, whether it's in the gym, the board room or on the production floor. Can you match their intensity to push your limits? There's always a few people at the gym that go all out in the workouts, they finish with great times and try everything at high degrees of difficulty. Can you keep up? Well, chances are, no. Not yet anyway. But do you see them looking around at everyone else? Do you see them stealing so many breaks? You may not be as fast or as strong, but do you work as hard? The aim is to progress yourself from where you are to where you want to be. You can try mimicking what they do, but I gather it is much more efficient to mimic how they do it.

You can even learn from those that aren't at the pinnacle of success so to speak. You can be feeling like a slug, unable to push yourself for another round, glance over at the newbie pushing half as much weight as you, simply grinding it out. What the hell? You gonna let newbie show you up, tough guy? Don't look now but she just went up a height in box jumps. Still not as high as you but when's the last time you raised your height up? Been getting a little too comfortable maybe?

Aside from the intangibles you can learn a lot by observing techniques or habits. Your back always hurts after kettlebell swings. The muscle soreness from Monday seems to creep into Wednesday.. and Thursday. You have a tough time getting started in the AM. Well how is Kareem doing his two arm swings? What's Tom eating after the workout? Why does Sandy seem to have so much energy each morning? How do they do it? (This is not to discount the benefits of a great mentor or coach of course)

Out on the playground, why do some parents seem to be able to corral their kids without the use of sheep dogs, lassos or tasers? Why do some actually look like they enjoy it!?

In the office, why does Bob always seem to get his spreadsheets done on time and how is it that he never misses a lunchtime bike ride too?

In the sales world, why does your competitor seem to be grabbing more market share with an inferior product? Or why is Bob's brother, Bill, outselling you? Look at his smug little face as he joins his brother for a bike ride while you make cold calls. You hope those tight shorts make him sterile don't you?

I like the term 'healthy competition'. It acknowledges the benefits of competition but also alludes to the inherent evils that lurk within it. (play spooky music here) If there is a 'healthy' there must be an 'unhealthy' right? Competition spawns ambition and creativity. It helps one strive to do or be more. It becomes unhealthy when the objective is simply to win at all costs and without regard to others. At its worst, an overly competitive nature can lead one to only find self-worth in winning, not simply achieving.

What healthier way to compete than to compete with yourself? Every time you progress it's a victory. That's not say you should never look to compete with others. Heck, competition is what our economy is dependent on isn't it?! (unless you are a Democrat apparently… kidding, kidding.. a little bit) Competing directly against others can sharpen those intangibles. You retain that focus and you can re-discover that determination. Plus, did you ever notice that you work harder when someone is watching? (Like the cute girls walking their laps - or your crazy coach hopped up on a mix of coffee and cyclocross fever) The folly is when you compete and you feel it was all for naught if you aren't the last one standing. Did you give it your all? If not, then fine. Feel like crap. You should, slacker. Did you give it everything? Did you reach a new plateau? Yes? Then congratulations. You won!

I'll probably never be an Extreme Channel Surfing Champ. Maybe my goals have changed or maybe it's my 'girly' hands. Whatever the reason is, I can accept that I lack the world class endurance it takes to channel modulate competitively. In the meantime, I am looking for my first 5k to run. Perhaps I'll mountain bike too. For fun at least and then see where that takes me. At least I know how to run. The only gears to change are run, run faster, slow down. One thing I won't do is get caught up in my own success or failure. I'll keep my shirt on, only call the blatant fouls and give the guy with high-rise sweat pants an 'atta boy' on my way around 2nd. Heck, just showing up was a victory for him! (Besides, someday he might be my boss)

Changing Channels

'Change' is not simply the act of choosing an alternative. It is a concept that can only be born out of determination, planning and an unwavering commitment to a specific purpose. One can say they will change, one can hope for change, one can wait for change, but unless there is an honest commitment to it, one will never experience it.

The concept is diluted when used as a political rallying cry or as a vague wish of the apathetic. 'Change' is most powerful when it is applied to yourself, your habits or your point of view.

The concept remains the same whether it concerns health/wellness, finances, addictions, careers, projects, processes or politics.

Change is not a blanket with which to shroud an issue. It can't be imposed upon others. Change has to radiate from you.

Be honest...

You're busting out burpees at the gym. You're on the 4th round, you're sucking in air but it feels more like you're breathing under water. You consider cutting out the pushups because you're convinced your shoulders will cave in on the next one. The jump? It's a calf-raise at best, with what appears to be a half-assed attempt at 'the wave' thrown in.

Do you quit? Steal a quick second to catch your breath and move on? Steal a long minute to recover? Fake an injury? Suddenly remember you have to leave early because of a big meeting at work to discuss the shortage of coffee stirrers in the break room?

As someone who has stolen those seconds and minutes before… correction… someone who steals those seconds and sometimes minutes I can relate to the thought process and the excuses that go with it. You begin to question yourself, 'Did I select too much weight?', 'Can I maintain this pace?', 'I wonder if anyone has thrown up in class before.', 'If I don't slow down I won't finish. Gotta pace myself right?', 'Is anyone else having as hard a time or am I doing this wrong?', 'I think I am going to be the first person to puke in class', 'How many rounds left?', 'Will Kevin notice if I drop to a lighter weight?', 'Will it be worse if I get sick on the floor or the chalk bucket, cuz if I run for bathroom I'll probably pass out too.'

I'd like to believe the excuses and musings that eat away at my focus have diminished over time. I'd also like to believe they are fueled by logic and reason as opposed to panic or my inner wuss who's cloaked in my denial. (The word 'cloak' evokes images that suggest my inner wuss dresses like a Hobbit. So my inner wuss is also a dork apparently, therefore, I will name him Bentley.)

When I have pushed myself beyond what I thought I could do, not only did I survive, but I felt exhilarated by it. 3 days of muscle pain notwithstanding. (that was for you, Kevin) No vomiting, no death, no passing out on top of unsuspecting classmates. (which I did in 9th grade during gym class by the way) It's as if there is this point where your body decides it can't convince you to quit so it might as well chip in and stop you from dying. It's like pulling off a band-aid. You tug at it, it pulls at the skin and hair, it hurts, you tug, it hurts some more. Then finally you just yank it off. Sure there's some pain (and less hair) but it's not as intense as it was, it's bearable and you move on.

Years ago, when I ran regularly I noticed this 'band-aid effect' at about the first mile or so. Lactic acid builds up in the legs, the chest burns with each breath and the damn ear buds keep popping out! (Probably not related to this but a pain in the ass anyway) Then your body gets on board and decides to fuel your muscles and get your blood pumping to push you through the next couple miles (I never said I ran distance). There's probably some scientific name for it, it's probably endorphins or some other chemical that flushes the lactic acid out, but to me, it's just time for the band-aid to get ripped off.

When training with full-body, functional workouts, the dynamic nature of the intervals as well as the type of exercises makes it difficult to identify the 'band-aid' point. You're constantly changing the load, the movement and the intensity during your workout. The mental game lasts longer. How do you push through it? Where does your mental toughness come from? Seriously... I don't have an answer for you.

For some people it is part of their character, genetics or some freakish mutant pain threshold. They refuse to give in.. ever. Just look at ultramarathon runners or guys that still wear their Members Only jacket from 1986. Others of us have no idea what our limits are and have either habitually underestimated them or we are too afraid to find out how far we can go.

This has a 'real men of genius' song waiting for it...

"Some guys would have given up when it hit 1990, but not you Mr. Members Only Jacket guy, you said 'Hey, I'm not giving up until I'm the only member!' (background singers - "I think you aaa-are!") So here's to you..."

I believe mental toughness can be learned. It's human nature to stay within a certain comfort zone, to stay with what we know, what is familiar. Sticking to what is familiar got me overweight, lazy, self-conscious and unmotivated. It's only through pushing through the pain, but more importantly through the doubt, that I found the limits were self-imposed and underestimated. That's not to say I don't still place limits on myself or that I have achieved some lofty plane of fitness. Far from it. All I am saying is that I am beginning to recognize the circumstances where I have placed the barriers in front me. What I am working on is how to overcome each barrier, work to the next, then bust it out of the way too. To be honest with myself about what's holding me back.

I wish I could offer you some mental gimmick or mantra to get you through whatever circumstance you find yourself in that requires some extra resolve. I got nothing, but I imagine it's different for everyone. You've got to find it and make it work for you.

For me that inner voice has become rather sarcastic and condescending lately. Now when I think 'I can't do this anymore.' Bentley chides me with the tone of an older sibling, 'Really? You can't? You don't have another one in you huh? Well, I guess we know why mom loves me more than you now don't we?' Ok, so that's not it exactly, the dialogue is a little simpler and more encouraging than that. But it's there.

We don't always have a coach or classmates rooting us on, we have to be accountable only to ourselves. It's always easier to give up when no one is looking. Convince yourself you have a little more left in the tank and step on the gas. You'll thank yourself for it later.

Vacation?!

This won't be my usual rant. Just hoping to inspire (or guilt) others into getting off their butts for at least part of vacation.

I've gorged a little more than I should have the last 2 weeks. I could have eaten worse, but I could have eaten a lot better too. I can't say I have been as active as I would have liked, but I have been keeping up with workouts regardless of circumstances. With all this snow and no snow blower, I think I have plenty of shoveling, sledding and snow ball fights coming my way the next two days to make up for it.

On Monday we drove up to North Conway to stay with family and go tubing on Mt Cranmore. I skipped the 7am workout so we could get an early start. Aside from towing a couple kids around in tubes and an epic snowball fight in the park, my workout of the day was done in a 7x3 ft area between a bunk bed and a closet. (I think this is a more accurate description of a 'prison workout') I brought a pushup bar, a jungle gym, power wheel and jump rope with me. I used what worked best for the circumstances.

This is my 'No excuses' workout for December 28th:

15:15 (15 seconds work: 15 seconds rest) of each for 10 rounds. Rest 2min, then go to next exercise:

Hindu Pushups (with pushup bar)

PowerWheel rollouts

Hindu Squats

Tuck Jumps

Last night was spent partying with great friends and aside from our Wii Bowling Tournament, there wasn't much else for activity unless you count eating, drinking, eating and eating. We were supposed to go snowshoeing for the first time ever today, but with conditions less than ideal and some scheduling conflicts with the kids I was left to improvise once again.

This is my 'I'd rather be snowshoeing' workout to kick off the New Year. a.k.a 'Something I wouldn't even have thought of doing (or been able to) a year ago today':

Alternating ladders - 10,9,8...1 and 1,2,3...10

A1 Down: Pushups (with bar)

A2 Up: Body Rows

B1 Down: Mountain Climbers (20, 18, 16...)

B2 Up: Skiers (2, 4, 6...)

C1 Down: PowerWheel Knees to Elbows

C2 Up: PowerWheel Hamstring Curls

D1 Down: Burpees

D2 Up: Deck Squats

Neither workout took more than 45min including warm-up and cool down. I used minimal equipment (easy to pack and bring along) and I needed little to no space to get it done. They both kicked my ass and I was still feeling Monday's workout during my Wednesday morning gym workout. Although I'd rather be working out at DynamicSC, working out at home does not have to be a compromise. If you can make 'workout' time 'play' time, even better. Play in the snow, save gas and shovel the driveway or walk way or find a 3 year old to follow around for an hour. The latter being the most exhausting and fun. (Of course, make sure you know them and get their parents ok first! It's supposed to be fun, not creepy.) But if you rather have a set plan try this blog out for some great ideas.

It's a New Year, so try something new this weekend. Who knows? Maybe by Jan 1st, 2011 you'll find yourself doing something other than nursing a hang over.

I Resolve to Make No Resolutions

I've never understood New Year's Resolutions. I have yet to meet a single person that has made a New Year's resolution and stuck with it, so it is little surprise to me to hear that the success rate for resolutions is only in the 10-12% range. It's still higher than I expected. I imagine that statistic does not have a margin of error that factors in the percentage of survey respondents that are liars.

You hear the same resolutions every year and in many cases you hear the same ones from the same people year in and year out. But they really mean it this time. "It's 1999, I'm closing out this century debt free!", "2000 is a new millennium and the first step to a million dollars! As soon as I pay off these credit cards.", "2010 is the decade to finally focus on financial freedom! I'll spend less and save more!" It's like that Mac commercial poking fun at Windows 7... It won't be like last time. 'Trust me.'

But as 2010 approaches, once again people are resolving to lose weight, quit smoking, get in shape, pay off debt, save money, give to charity, go on a vacation, listen more, start a new career, volunteer, eat their vegetables, watch less TV, read more books, control their anger... etc etc.

Unfortunately the reality tends to be losing weight by smoking or gaining weight from quitting, joining a gym at the 'New Year's special rate', going in to more debt to pay for vacation, saving money by only shopping at wholesale stores (2 gallons of peanut butter is an investment in peanutty goodness the whole year through), giving an extra dollar to Jerry's kids at the checkout, listening during commercials, adding monster.com to your bookmarks, making excuses to skip the gym, thinking about volunteering but never making the time, adding lettuce to your whopper, cutting your regular shows by 2 (but adding 5 more to the DVR), placing more books on your night stand while racking up the late fees at the library then getting your library card revoked for verbally abusing the librarian when she refuses to let you borrow 'The Total Money Makeover' because you still owe $50 on 'Personal Finance for Dummies' which you've had checked out since last January. But hey, at least you went on vacation.

The absurdity of a resolution on January 1st isn't so much about the failure rate really. We could get into a whole discussion about goal setting and creating a plan for success, two things I am only qualified to discuss in a 'don't try this at home' kind of way, but I'll leave that to the experts. I am simply annoyed by the notion that anyone would let the calendar dictate when they make a change. If you want to give the calendar that much power then screw it. The Mayan calendar apparently says that in 2012 the world is going to end anyway. So max out your Visa and order a double whopper, however... please keep your smoking to the designated smoking areas only and dispose of your cigarette butts in the receptacle provided.

People are often caught up looking for 'perfection'. The perfect moment to start something new, the perfect moment to ask someone out, the perfect job or the perfect mate. Meanwhile, life passes them by. Reality is not ideal, so no one's expectations should be. When is the last time you orchestrated a trip to the grocery store to perfection? (For the record I never have) You ever have to back track to an aisle for something you forgot? The deli line too long? The register break down? Are they out of seedless grapes? You forget to put something on the list? You forget the list? So what makes you think the perfect date on the calendar will make your goals any more attainable?

I understand the notion that a new year signifies a starting over, a new beginning. But for that matter, so does the 1st of any month. Why not resolve to change on March 1st? Or hey, how about a Sunday? It's a new week right? Oh, I know, we have several weeks a month and 52 on the year, they aren't special enough and who counts weeks anyway? Heck, you don't turn a page on the calendar to see what those silly kittens are up to each week. You have to wait until the month is over to see a new snapshot of those adorable little fur balls so no, a week isn't significant enough.

If it's a unique and symbolic date you require to begin your metamorphosis then why not make it today? There's no day that is more unique than the one you are in right now and frankly, today is the only day that exists. It's the only day you have a chance to control. You can conjure up images of the perfect day and visualize everything you are going to do when it gets here but with all due respect to Mr. Rogers, no one's life ever changed in the Land of Make-Believe.

If you're serious, then toss out your smokes. Cut coupons. Kill two birds with one stone and cut your cable TV service. Put down the fat-free Oreos. Get off the couch. Sweat. (If simply getting off the couch makes you sweat, then seek help)

If you are still hung up on the whole calendar thing, open it up right now and check for today's date. Now count how many times it appears from January 1st until now. Is that significant enough for you?

(If you found today's date more than once then it's time to replace your defective calendar. While you're at it, you may want to stop at the library and apologize too. She was only doing her job.)

[UPDATE] Lurg has made an appearance and has helped me realize I totally missed the bigger point I was trying to convey. Resolutions are inherently great, ONLY if you mean them. There needs to be sincerity and you need to be accountable. Don't make a resolution because it's the thing to do or if you're in a fleeting moment of motivation. Don't 'intend' to do it, plan to do it and act.

Take the small changes as wins, not as partial failures. You wanted to lose 50lbs, but only dropped 20? Great! You dropped 20! Now keep it up, but reflect on what you've done and how you can improve. Learn from the success and move forward. Getting side-tracked does not equal failure, quitting when it gets tough or never really trying is. I know, I've been there.

34" for my 34th

As you battle the shopping malls and outlet stores for the perfect gift or hot new toy this holiday season I want you try something new.

As you trudge along, narrowly dodging strollers, pushy perfume peddlers and the endless barrage of bags pulling shoppers in and out of stores (or is it the other way around?), you will inevitably witness a traditional holiday scene that would make The Grinch cringe. A young mother or father with disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes and chocolate milk stained pants trying to reel in their red-faced, tantrum throwing child like a fish at the end of a line. "I want it! I want it NOW!" the darling little cherub will screech. You gotta hand it to 'Mom', she's yelling as softly as she can through a clenched jaw while launching hurried apologies to strangers as she and her demon spawn bump and juke amongst the throng of disgusted and annoyed shoppers such as yourself. It eventually ends with the classic threat 'I guess Santa's not coming to our house this year' but only after she grabs hold of the arm of Junior's puffy winter coat that he deftly slips free of and darts away. Ding, ding, ding! Round Two….


When you witness this scene, I don't want you to be one of those disgusted and judgmental shoppers that sneers as they walk by. I'm also not asking you to help either. Chances are junior has a hard head or a mean left hook and you don't need the aggravation of going home and laying down with a bag of frozen peas between your legs for the rest of the day. Especially since you haven't picked out an obligation... er, I mean present, for Aunt Bertha yet.


What I want you to do is think about how different you are from that child that knows what they want but they refuse to wait for it, or worse, work for it. The idea IS for the kids to 'earn' their gifts through good behavior and good deeds right? You may not throw a tantrum over it or be intimidated by Santa's tattling little elves, but you know you don't want to wait. You want to lose 10-20lbs and you want it gone yesterday. You know you should eat better but the BK drive-through is more convenient than packing a lunch. Discipline and hard-work are often replaced with instant-gratification and easy-to-use gimmicks.


If you can be guaranteed that you will get what you want by busting out of your comfort zone, trying new things and working hard, but it will take months or even years to reach your goals, would you take the challenge? Or, if you are offered a quick and easy solution that may or may not work and the positive effects are not likely to remain long-term, would you take that instead?


I turned 34 on Dec 15th and I have given myself one of the best birthday presents I could receive. I didn't run to Best Buy to get it or find it on sale. I've been working at it for 6 months. It's a commitment to a more active and healthier lifestyle. It's still a work in progress and I have plenty that discourages me from time to time, even today, but when I think back to where it started I can't ignore the pride I feel for what I have accomplished since my first 'intro' class at Dynamic Strength and Conditioning on June 5th, 2009. I intend to re-gift similar achievements to myself every year from here on out.

June 5th 2009:

204lbs
Size 36 pants (loose style, but far from loose… elastic waist and drawstrings were my friends)
Only 2 notches left on my belt before it's too small.
Max Pullups - 1 (sort of)
Max Pushups - 20-25 with bad form
KB Swings - What's a kettlebell?
Max Box Jump - 12"


July 6th 2009 (60 day Challenge begins…):
200lbs
Waist** - 41"
Size 36 pants (loose style) 3 notches left on the belt… the trend begins…
Max Pullups - 1
Max Pushups - 12 with good form
KB Swings - 12kg
Max Box Jump - 18"
**(measured at the belly button so that my love handles get included)

Sept 5th 2009:
194 lbs
Waist - 39 3/4"
Size 36 pants (loose style and feeling it) 4 notches left on the belt
Max Pullups - 3
Max Pushups - 20 with good form
KB Swings - 16kg
Max Box Jump - 36"!!

December 15th 2009:
184 lbs
Waist - 37 1/2"
Size 34 pants (standard fit… wow I needed new jeans! Added bonus… the wife keeps checking out my butt) No notches left on the belt, good thing Christmas is coming.
Max Pullups - 7
Max Pushups - 30
KB Swings - 20-24kg (depends on the type of workout)
Max Box Jump - 42"

Someone asked me the other day if I think I can maintain this weight. My immediate reply without much thought - "I'm not even done. I could probably drop another 10lbs without changing anything I'm doing." Despite their suggestion that I should just be happy where I am at now and insistence that I don't need to lose anymore weight I came to a realization. I'm not trying to lose weight anymore. It's just happening. Although I find it helpful to look at the weight and body measurements as a way to quantify the physical changes I no longer set goals based on such numbers. Sure I'll still check them from time to time, but I won't be controlled by them. It's counter productive to allow yourself to be both encouraged and discouraged by the number on the scale. My response this time was simple (although if you know me, I babble, so I'll just give you the short version) - "I'm not losing weight, I'm creating opportunities to do extraordinary things."


Your achievements provide you with far more satisfaction and motivation to continue to make the right choices and experience things you otherwise wouldn't have. I am not striving for an ideal weight or a waist size (but 34" pants for my 34th is still pretty cool), I'm striving to have the energy and courage to be a stronger and healthier version of me. Someone that isn't afraid to compete, to fail or to conquer a feat I would never have considered before.


Of course, none of this means anything if you don't share those experiences with those closest to you. You hear plenty of the excuses about lacking time to exercise or to make healthier meals/snacks but it seems to me that when you create that time up front, you soon rediscover time, or rather good times, that you 'lost' by changing your priorities.


A few weeks ago we woke up to our first snow storm. The kids were buzzing about the house making plans to help Daddy shovel the driveway (aka 'spread the snow where Daddy already shoveled'), make a snow man, have a snow ball fight, go sledding, drink hot chocolate, go back out for more sledding, make a snow man family etc etc. My coffee was barely done brewing when I was dragged into the cold to chaperon their antics. I distinctly recall last year when I would talk the kids out of staying outside longer than I needed to so I could avoid sledding down the puny hill (more of a bump really) at the side of our house. Mostly because I knew they'd want my help getting back up and I wasn't up for pulling them in the sled, especially after breaking my back hauling away the heavy white stuff. But that wasn't going to happen on this day. With the driveway cleared in record time, I was pushing them down the hill and running back up with all 80-90lbs of the two of them in tow behind me. The snow wasn't sticky or deep enough to build a quality snow dude, but you would have thought there was a blizzard outside the way we were chucking snow at other. For once, I outlasted them. There's one of those 'good times' creeping up again.

I plan to take a similar photo with me and the grandkids one day…

So what am I gonna get myself for my 35th? Well, I expect my pushups and pullups will increase, I'll be able to jump higher and I'll deflate the personal flotation device that sits above my belt line some more. Somewhere along the way I'll try a 5k, maybe dust off my mountain bike, take up snow shoeing and start training in martial arts again. But the ultimate goal? The ultimate goal is a lifetime of memories of adventures with my wife and our kids.

SPECIAL THANKS: It's never easy to go on a journey alone, plus it's never as fun. My wife, Lynne, has been my biggest supporter through everything. She gets the kids to school on her own when I am up and out to the gym before most in the house are awake, she makes sure my gym bag has a towel in it every night, she knows what I want at the store and always make sure it's stocked in our fridge. (She even got me a power wheel for my birthday!) But most importantly, she listens to my rambling, she's exicted for my achievements and she makes it clear her love for me does not waver whether I am 204 or 184. Thanks, Babe! I love you too!

But where would all the cows go?

Have you ever been told you HAVE to do something by someone that lacks the authority to make you do it? It spikes the hairs on your neck, clenches your teeth and yanks your inner 'Hulk' right out of you.

Do you recall slouching on the sofa as your parents gave you yet another sermon on the virtues of a clean room? By age 7 you tuned it out because you were able to recite their script yourself. By age 8 you understood why the grown-ups on Charlie Brown specials were so incoherent. As much as we cling to it, 'death by lecture' doesn't seem to be an effective persuasion tact, let alone an impetus for change.

The occasionally clever commercial or billboard aside, these methods seem to be used most extensively by groups or individuals that have adopted a 'cause'. Brow beating and condescension evoke hostility more than they do understanding or constructive dialogue. (I have not proven this scientifically but I have a theory that the 'higher the horse', the more 'woh woh woh' we hear from the rider.) Unsolicited lectures simply breed boredom. Heck, even the facts don't matter if they aren't used properly. One can be armed with statistics and facts galore and it does little to persuade as there's always evidence and anecdotes to the contrary.

This article illustrates the inherent trouble with statistics when trying to make the case for a certain way of life. It's about a vegan that argues that the impact of his Hummer SUV on the environment is offset by the fact that he is a vegan. He argues that one does not truly care about the environment unless they are vegan. His reasoning is that the carbon emissions of the livestock industries far outweigh that of his Hummer and other gas guzzling transportation. (While conveniently ignoring the drain on natural resources caused by his 4wheeled midlife crisis) You can read the article yourself and see that the author has gone to great lengths to find evidence and statistics that both support and debunk the claims of this polluting herbivore quite fairly. But if you take into account that 90% of all statistics are just made up anyway (think about that one), it is increasingly difficult to discover the truth. Not to mention I am still left pondering what would happen if we cut out the livestock industries. Where would all those cows go?

As much as some may not want to admit it, the first question that comes to many people's minds when posed with new information and a subsequent call to action is, 'How does this effect me?' I'm sure there are plenty of furrowed brows and 'not me' retorts out there but there is nothing to be ashamed of. It's basic survival instincts. 'How does this apply to me, should I be concerned and if so, how concerned?' The trick is to tap into this instinct and show people what's in it for them and not their great-great-great-grandchildren, not the South African Swallow and not a generalization such as 'mankind'.

If you have 10minutes watch this video below about Rocco the Cowboy whose life was saved by Dr. Oz and his crazy vegan voodoo. I know, I know… Dr. what?? I asked myself the same thing. He's apparently one of those Oprah endorsed phenomenons that has his own TV show now. (And if you can't trust Oprah who can you trust? Just look at Dr. Phil…)

Rocco was shown how his poor eating habits were killing him. He was challenged to temporarily try eating a vegan diet. Not because it would help the environment, not because it saves the dairy cows. He was asked to do this as a way to eliminate saturated fats and unhealthy, processed foods from his diet to show him how what he puts into body is killing him. What's in it for him? His life.

Now this is a way to send a message. Simple cause and effect. No theories, no studies, no ambiguity, no contradictions, no slogans, no lectures. Anyone can tell you to do something, or tell you why you should try. But perhaps it would be most effective to quit trying to prove oneself right, and start daring others to prove you wrong.

Who needs a 12 step program when it only takes one?

Hello, my name is Brett and I am Tragically UN-fit. It's been 10min 34 seconds since my last slice of pizza. (Now everyone join in, 'Hi, Brett') Despite my minor transgression, it's been about 5months since pizza was a staple of my diet. June '09 my life changed (although at the time I did not know how profoundly) when I met Kevin and Michele at Dynamic Strength and Conditioning and I happened upon the Legend of Lurg. Since then I have lost weight, gained muscle, gained confidence, motivation, discovered new talents and re-discovered old ones.

Some of you may be a little disoriented as you may have come here looking for a blog about the wild and crazy world of Cyclocross racing. Others may know me from Dynamic SC and may be wondering what the baby-faced, marshmallowy man-child has to say about fitness that's of interest to you. Perhaps this is a 'what not to do' blog? Well, sort of. If anything, I am like many of you that are trying to make a positive change in your health and lifestyle. You've tried diets, I have tried diets. You've gone to a gym religiously for weeks or months at a time, only to let a vacation, illness, laziness, frustration or boredom de-rail your efforts. I have done the same. You used to be in great shape, you used to be active, you could do some amazing things when you were younger. Same here. You know you could do better than pizza and french fries for dinner, but you're just not sure what else is as easy or as tasty. Well, I'm not that pathetic so you got me on that one... jk. Simple and tasty was my only dietary requirement for too long.

Essentially I am you, or many of you anyway. I am sick of failed diets. I am done forcing a boring and ineffective workout into a day that's already filled with the obligations of a father of three, a husband and a full-time desk job. Being healthy and active is truly a lifestyle and not just another task to cram into your bloated calendar. I'm learning, failing and progressing all at the same time. The improvements I have seen I could not have imagined 5 months ago when I first trudged up the stairs to Dynamic SC wondering to myself if those 4 flights WERE the workout. I am starting to do some amazing things again. I am on my way to becoming Tragically Fit.

Truth be told, I don't know what I am doing half the time. I am trying to figure it out as I go and I am not only leaning on the trainers at Dynamic SC, but the other people that are busting their ass right along with me. I see people sweating and grunting and pushing themselves right next to me. The weight they lift and the reps they complete don't matter to me. It's the effort. It's that look of death on their face during a 20second rest period that turns to a broad smile after the final bell rings 4 rounds later. I am fueled by the energy they emanate and I am inspired by their stories. The 'Legion of the Tragically Fit' has MANY stories. First-responders, marathon and ultra-runners, cyclists, martial artists and average joes/janes that want to reverse the trends of their family tree. I witness their achievements, I admire their dedication and I envy their passion.

I am looking for that same passion inside of me, I am trying to make the right choices. At the most basic level, you choose what you put into your body and choose what you do with it. But before you decide what you do, you need to choose if you will be successful. You don't achieve the results you want by simply showing up at the gym, or switching to the 100 calorie bags of Cheetos. You need to make the choice for success before every task ahead of you. That's step one.

I am currently reading a book titled 'The Spiritual Journey of Joseph L. Greenstein - The Mighty Atom'. As a sickly 14 year old boy he began to learn the principles of physical culture under the tutelage of the Champion Volanko. Volanko said to him, 'Before you begin a task, you must first succeed up here. (Pointing to his head) Mind and Spirit... then action. Like a bullet fired from a gun, once it begins, it is already done.' Volanko then pointed out an ant carrying a burden many times his own size. When Joseph, not yet known as 'The Mighty Atom', asked him how he does it so easily, Volanko simply said, 'He's an insect. He doesn't know he can't.'

So after all my rambling you are probably still asking the same question, why you, Brett? Because, like you, I am trying to find out how to change my life. I am going to share what I learn, introduce you to the people that I meet along the way and hopefully relay their stories in a way that inspires and entertains you. I may pose more questions than answers but hopefully Lurg steps in from time to time to enlighten us.

If that answer is still a little long-winded for your tastes, then I'll simply say this, 'I'm just trying to be an ant. Aren't you?'