Healthy is Hard

Being healthy is hard......

Finding time to exercise is hard.

Choosing broccoli over fries is hard.

Passing up a cupcake is hard.

Getting to bed early enough is hard.

Skipping a Saturday night of drinks with friends is hard.

Owning a cat is hard.

Training for a competition is hard.

Avoiding the Doctor is hard.

Being out of shape makes things hard.

Dealing with the shame of choosing fries over broccoli is hard.

Eating a cupcake, then resisting the urge to take a nap is hard.

Getting through the day with only 4 hours of sleep is hard.

Surviving a Sunday morning hangover is hard.

Not having a cat is hard.

Losing a competition is hard.

Paying medical bills is hard.

Being unhealthy is hard......

Don't Be Afraid to Climb

Rock Climber One goes climbing very frequently. He never misses a day. It is part of his daily routine to pack his climbing kit, and ascend to the same spot, 200 feet above ground level. He has never attempted to go higher.

Climber Two goes climbing every once in a while. More like once a week. Each time he climbs, he sets a goal to go 10 feet higher than he did last time. 

Who will have more success as a climber? 

Climber Two understands that he has already climbed to 100 feet. He has now moved on to hitting 110 feet. Even though he doesn't climb as frequently, his time climbing is better spent than Climber One, who is just getting good at climbing to 200 feet.

This example relates directly to training (and just about any other thing in life for that matter). If you want to get good at something, you can’t afford to be stagnant. Each attempt needs to challenge you more than your last one. 

Push further than what you are currently comfortable with every day.

Part 2: Joey and Zoey Go To Work

If you missed Part 1, catch up here:

Joey and Zoey go to School

After winter break….

Joey returned to classes and continued through college.

Zoey found work waitressing at Rod’s Bar and Grill. 

On road to graduating, Joey wrote papers that were type-able.

In order for Zoey to pay rent, she had to be like-able.

Joey sat through lectures and discussions that were debate-able.

With customers, Zoey was relatable.

Joey took tests that were pretty challenging.

Zoey was known to be very understanding. 

Joey could could speak fluent Chinese. He helped his roommate pass Calculus. He even knew how to hack into Netflix for free streaming. But he didn't know how to cook, so his Dad sent money for him to eat with. He didn’t know how to do his laundry, so every other weekend, he took it home for his Mom to do. 

The fanciest math trick Zoey knew was the Pythagorean Theorem. She could only name 4 U.S. Presidents. She didnt right good neither. After high school, her parents cut her off. With little recourses, Zoey was forced to be self-sufficient.

After graduating, Joey accepted a job with an online Search Engine service with headquarters 20 minutes from campus. 

At the same time, Zoey got her 15th tattoo.

To continue later…

Joey and Zoey Go To School

In high school, Joey got good grades.

Zoey went to raves.

Joey became class president.

Zoey was rarely present.

Joey graduated as Valedictorian.

Zoey hardly advanced on. She was overly-occupied with her boyfriend, a Singaporean.

Joey earned a scholarship to the state University. Zoey registered the day before classes began at their hometown Community College. 

Joey took detailed notes during his Computer Engineering courses. He spent hours studying and writing code most nights. Zoey only daydreamed and doodled on her notebooks during her requisite math and science classes. 

Joey thought college was fantastic.

Zoey was unenthusiastic.

After semester one, Joey prevailed, Zoey bailed.

To continue later…

Snow Day

Anticipation. Expectancy. Excitement.

Late last week, Joe Winters anticipated a snowstorm to hit us Monday night. I began expecting the Meteorologist to be accurate with his claim. His prediction excited me.

But much to my dismay, the storm only scraped us on its way North of here. The mid 30 degree temps left us stranded in nothing more than an arctic swampland of slush. 

Even though a day-long nap and a lunch visit to the Pizza Ranch Buffet was the last thing I needed, a Snow Day would have been fun today - just like they have always been…and everything about them exciting.

When you were a kid, how exhilarating was it to have school cancelled due to weather? You likely experienced the same anticipation, expectancy, and excitement as I did over the last several days. You would check the scroll at the bottom of the local news station every 15 minutes until your school appeared as CLOSED.

If working out provided the same amount of excitement as an anticipated Snow Day, the world would be much healthier and in-shapier. 

Remarkably, exercising can be as exciting. But the excitement to exercise isn’t as distinct and as easily attainable as the excitement of missing a day of work or school. You will need to create your own excitement. Finding something that excites you about working out makes going to the gym easier.

Get excited about the opportunity to hit a new PR. 

Get excited to observe the physical changes happening in your body.

Get excited to exhibit your new workout gear. 

Get excited to be able to out-lift the guy doing 40-rep knee extensions at light speed, whose hygiene has been better, and displays dust-colored wool socks sticking out of his crusty And1’s.

Hyping yourself up to workout doesn't sound as desirable as dozing in and out of Vanderpump Rules episodes all of a snowy afternoon. But a Snow Day only lasts one day. Gains can last a lifetime - if they excite you enough. 

Don't Be A Loser: My Take on 'The Biggest Loser'

What’s my take on NBC’s ‘The Biggest Loser’? The TV show that on day one, throws out-of-shape, obese contestants on a treadmill and sets the speed to 6.0? The show that requires 300+lb. individuals to do box jumps for 5 hours straight? The show that with each new season, makes the network millions of dollars off the backs of overweight participants trying their best not to humiliate themselves? What do I think of The Biggest Loser? 

It’s great. 

It changes lives.

This opinion doesn't align with many fitness professionals that argue the show is “Too dangerous” and “Unrealistic” and “Not the way I would train someone in that shape”.

Even if you or I wouldn’t train the severely overweight the way they are trained on the show, it is not our place to question it or say the coaches are doing it wrong. Everyone gets to the top of the hill in their own way. Many times it’s different from your way.

Too many people are quick to say that there’s no way contestants will be able to sustain the type of exercise and diet regimen that is prescribed on the show once they leave. The good news is that the burden is on them, not you, to sustain it. Either they will and continue healthier living; or they won’t and they’ll get fat again. And either way, you will still live the same. 

Kim Kardashian was not the first to break the internet. A few seasons back, one participant came out for her final weigh-in looking like this….

Social Media was littered with posts claiming how unhealthy it was for her to lose that much weight. Shut up. If you lost over 150lbs. you would be ecstatic! I’d guess her to be healthier on the right than she is on the left, even if she does suffer from an eating disorder you assume her to have.

At this point I’ll give in and admit that I disagree with things I see taking place on the show. My problem is in the immense amount of hate toward the show. Every season, contestants’ lives are changed for the better. Every season, thousands of viewers are inspired from home. The show promotes exercising and living healthier. This is what makes The Biggest Loser great overall. 

Don’t be a loser. Don’t hate on The Biggest Loser. Besides, It’s looking like I'm going to have to send my cat there pretty soon.

5 Types of People You'll Find in the Gym and on the Road

At the gym and on the road. Both of these popular locations can contain irritating people. Here are 5 types of people I have encountered at the gym, and their on-road equivalents. 

#1

Gym User: Person blocking the drinking fountain by reading the above fountain sign after they get a drink.

Road User: Person in front of you that won’t go right on red.

In both cases, the person not paying attention in front of you is holding you back from getting where you gotta go.

#2

Gym User: Person that is afraid to use anything other than machines.

Road User: Person that never exceeds 20mph in the snow

Being overly cautious can cause you to lose your gainz, and can create an accident, respectively.

#3

Gym User: Person spending an inordinate amount of time talking to the front desk attendant.

Road User: Person who texts while driving.

This person may only be trying to earn a new friend, or to appear as being cool and popular, but is actually annoying and should pick a better time to chat.

#4

Gym User: Person that sets up, begins working out, and crowds your area.

Road User: Cyclist on the road.

There are better places to work out, and to ride a bike, respectively. And quit running through stop signs.

#5

Gym User: Unsolicited advice giver. 

Road User: Person who pulls out in front of you, then travels 10mph slower than you want to go. 

Even if your advice is helpful, I didn't ask for your input. It’s almost as unimpressive as you cutting me off.

Saturday Night Binge

Only two things have kept me off Netflix this afternoon - the Patriots’ game, and the writing of this blog post. Over the last eight hours, I have done little more than get pissed off, watching ‘Making a Murderer’. If you aren't engrossed along with me, my guess is you have either…

1. already watched it
2. decided you will watch it soon
3. done the same with a different TV series

Viewing in bulk presents the following problems - you don’t get a damn thing done, your legs fall asleep from too much sitting, and you begin to incorrectly identify yourself as an expert in the subject matter. Of course, the convenience of getting to finish each episode commercial-free, and the immediately available next episode, obviously eclipse the aforementioned problems. The ultimate effect is that you are a satisfied viewer.

Unlike binge watching, binge exercising lacks positive effects. If you work out for ten days in a row, then proceed to skip the gym for the next ten, you won’t see progress. Yo-yo exercising is close to as ineffective (for health benefits) as not exercising at all. You've lost 12 pounds over the last 15 days - and that’s great. But if you fail to continue your efforts, you will certainly re-gain those 12, plus more.

In order to reap the benefits of working out, one must adhere to a long term plan. Consistency is the most important factor.

Steven Avery spent 18 years in prison as an innocent man. You can manage bettering your health with consistent exercise for a year. 

Matador

While at the refrigerator each morning and night, I am charged by 2 angry horned beasts. Out-numbered and without a red flag, my only protection is the red solo cup I intend to fill with water. The sound of the ice dispenser kicking on is their signal to begin the bum rush. Within seconds, the cats skate to my feet wanting a piece of the pie. I push the lever to release the prize. Once the avalanche of ice cascades to the floor, they kick the cubes across the kitchen to underneath the table. The legs of the dining room furniture create a life-sized pinball machine. After a minute of swatting, the game is over and won when they begin licking the half melted ice cubes. 

I heard (somewhere) that ice is bad for cats. I don't know whether or not this is actually true, but if it is, don’t be upset with me. Refer to my profile and remember that my posts are based on experience and not science. My experience is that these cats enjoy getting their ice.

I am not going to over analyze whether or not I should give them a cold one. That is a waste of time. Over analyzing saps happiness and leads to un-productivity. 

Are you guilty of over analyzing your decisions? 

If you're browsing on nike.com and you can't stop clicking back to the newest Nike Free’s, ignore the $150 price tag and click “buy”. Otherwise you’ll be back online to buy them next week anyway.

If it’s only Tuesday, the second day of your new diet, and the only way you see yourself getting through the day is by hitting the Pizza Ranch buffet at 6:30pm, then go. Otherwise you’ll find yourself waiting in line for cheese sticks Wednesday night.

If you enjoy a double shot of black-market Jack3d to power your training sessions, go ahead and have 3 scoops. Otherwise you’ll have a s****y workout.

If you can’t go to sleep without watching TV, watch it. Otherwise you’ll still be awake at 1am, pissed off, and decide to turn on Bravo anyway.

If you're considering buying $100 worth of tickets for the $1.3 billion winning jackpot, buy them. Even though you won’t win, imagine the excitement the wishful thinking will provide.

Is the price really worth it? 

Should I really sabotage my diet? 

Should I cut back on my caffeine intake? 

Should I watch less TV at night? 

How likely am I to ever win the Lottery? 

While these are responsible questions to ask, the correct answer is usually not the one you want to hear. But going with the answer you do want to hear won’t kill you, and what it will do is satisfy an urge. You can deal with the (not so horrible) repercussions later. Spend less time analyzing what you should do and do what you want to do instead. You'll be happier.

Should I quit giving my sharp-eared cats ice? Hell no. They like it.

Don't Kill the Host

I woke up at 5:45am this morning to the sound of crying babies. I un-glued myself from the mattress, slowly struggled myself to a stand, and with an outstretched arm was able to locate the nearest structure. The cries continued but became more distant as I slid along the wall. The noises were leading me out of the bedroom. I continued to follow through the door and around the corner. My knees were too stiff to do anything more than Penguin-waddle down the stairs. When I reached the bottom, the sounds guided me across the living room. My feet slugged behind me, matting down the very carpet I slid them through. My eyes began to crack open only after my bare feet hit the frosty kitchen tile floor, but what officially woke me was the violent retreat of my hand away from the light switch, after the first shock of the day. As the darkness withered away and my vision became less blurry, I was able to focus in on the source of the whining. At my feet sat 2 cats - one Panther, one Lion. They were hungry and needed fed. This is when I began drawing the comparison between our beloved pets and the very bodies we live inside.

Though my cats aren’t the typical “babies” that first come to mind, they depend on me the same way a newborn human would - 100%.

If it weren't for me feeding them, they would eventually starve to death.

If one of them got sick and I neglected taking them to the vet, eventually their illness would kill them. 

If I didn’t step in each time the over-grown Panther was mauling the Lion Cub, Simba might get eaten.

The kitties cannot survive on their own. They depend on me in the same way the host human body depends on the human tenant.

A pancreas cannot stop a person from drinking a 2 liter of soda, yet it will be overworked if the person sips it.

A pair of lungs cannot stop a person from smoking a cigarette, yet toxins will coat their insides if the person puffs it.

A heart cannot force a person to get to the gym, yet it will become weaker if the person continues to avoid it.

You play the biggest role in the longevity of both your pets and your body. With improper care, all subjects could be gone sooner than expected. I encourage us all to make better decisions and develop better habits that ultimately determine our health and well being.

My Favorite Way to Blow Out Your Back

Christmas Night, 2015 (a Friday)…

At the local Cinema 12 in Daytona, Florida, I enjoyed a movie with my family to end our Christmas vacation. It was difficult for me to fully appreciate Will Smith’s performance in the film we watched. The movie showed NFL players losing their mind once their playing career had ended, and how it affected their lives. I was close to losing my mind, but not as a result of a brain injury. All I could think about was how my lower back felt like it was on the verge of disintegrating into a pile of dust.

4 days ago it was Monday…

My spine closely resembled the shape of a candy cane as I sat against the wall, waiting for our flight to board. At the time, this was the most comfortable position I had any interest in holding. We boarded the plane, flew, and landed. As I stood to my feet after 2.5 hours in the air, my back felt stiffer than an overcooked Christmas ham.

Tuesday…

My back felt more crumbly than pumpkin pie crust as I stood up to head away from the vacation house to get some lunch. I had been laying around all morning. After eating some sandwiches we returned to the house, and I continued being lazy as I awaited supper. I was starting to feel more sloppy than a gift wrapped by a 4 year old.

Wednesday: the day that involved the most activity…

After sitting around all morning, we ventured out of the house and headed toward Daytona Beach to eat lunch. After eating, we took a walk along the beachside boardwalk. After visiting a few shops and sitting at a bar long enough to discover that they didn’t serve margaritas (bye), we stopped to look out over the water. As I leaned against the handrails, I noticed my back feeling as brittle as a peppermint patty. 

Thursday…

My back was more tangled than Santa’s beard and more rounded than his belly, as I jammed myself into the corner of the couch. Part of the family toured the Daytona Speedway. I turned down the offer because by now I lacked the confidence to wander away from the living room without going for a spill.

Friday…

In recognition of Christmas Day, there was little to do in the city of Daytona. Other than our trip to the movie theatre, the only thing to report for this day was my back feeling more stale than biting into a Christmas cookie on Valentine’s Day. 

Saturday…

I am back in the air, sitting on my returning flight as I write this. Since waking up at 5am, my back has been throbbing worse than frostbitten hands.

The condition of my back has been slightly dramatized in this entry (as well as the activities of the trip), but I hope you understand my point. Sitting is truly the new smoking. As someone who spends 85%+ of my waking hours on my feet, I never experience back pain. Spending less time being sedentary and following an exercise program (that contains heavy lifting and total body stimulation) is the best way to prevent and combat against body aches and injury. This is contrary to what many would probably think. 

The next time you are feeling sore or achey….before you take the generic approach of resting or avoiding activity, consider this post. Building strength and moving around will make you feel better and help restore function to problem areas. 

2016 Comin' In Hot

What's your New Year's Resolution for this coming year?

Or do you have several New Year's Resolutions?

Or maybe you are one of those people that have your life together and don't set resolutions....

"If I want to make a change in my life, I don't need to wait until a specific date to start, I just make a change."

That's called not having fun. 

To have fun, every once in a while you should....make food choices poor enough to cause mild depression....don't workout for 1 to 15 days in a row....refuse to be responsible with your decision making....wonder how you're going to climb out of the bottomless pit of misery you were Sparta-Kicked into....decide that your best bet is to wait for a specific future date to get things back on track, and in the meantime continue to let loose and be careless. When things are going this bad, you can't just up and stop on the spot....you need time to prepare for the abrupt lifestyle changes that are creepin' up.

I'm the master of getting it back together on Monday. Most weekends I end up abusing my diet to the point that I refuse to do anything more than go from the bed to the couch. When Monday comes around, it's time to once again slap myself in the face with the consumption of bland food and the attempt to train the same way I did last week. It's always a struggle but the pattern always continues.

I prefer to make resolutions on this micro level, but for those of you choosing a macro-based approach, what better time of year to put a good plan into action than New Year's Day (forgot about new year's day parties) January 2nd? It is the ultimate reset button. The day of the year literally starts back at 1 and to me, it seems perfectly acceptable to associate new habits with the brand new year....just like I do with each new week. 

As long as we balance out the periods of gluttony and inactivity, with periods of disciplined eating and hard work in the gym, you and I will both be fine and happy. 

Are you on the weekly or annual plan?