Exercise Is For Life

When I exercise I feel great and I know I'm better for it.  My stress levels are less, I've been sleeping better and I would say that my energy level is stronger.  Exercise has also been of great benefit in clearing out the external negativity that constantly seems to want to feed my mind.  With all these pros, ask yourself, why do I lose interest in working out so fast?  Why do we fall back into old habits so easily?  What is it about those people who have been able to stick to it and be a success?

Let's face it, exercise, especially if you haven't done it for a long time because of a sedentary and lazy lifestyle, is very daunting.  It's darn right hard work and very challenging.  Some of the benefits I've experienced are not instantly gained right at the start of a new program.  In fact, at first, my workouts left me very sore and very tired!  I experienced shortness of breath, my joints hurt, my muscles ached for days, I felt drained and at times wondered why even bother, we all die anyway right?  There were times when I could barely finish even half of the workouts in the beginning.  It was a real struggle!  I'd put the P90X DVD disk into the player and pace the floor delaying the inevitable decision to push the play button.  I didn't see results immediately, because the truth is nobody does.  It takes time to get over the hump of pain. The rewards for those who persevere far exceed the pain that must precede the victory!  It took me time to see the results and benefits of eating healthy and working out.  It took a little time before I really began to accept and actually enjoy the workouts.  But just know that eventually, you will too, so don't give up, stick to it, and as Tony Horton says, just "do your best and forget the rest!" 

Remember my friends that EFFORT is a solo performance that only you can perform.  No else can do this for you. Someone may inspire you and you may feel motivated to make a decision, but it is entirely up to you to succeed at your goals.  Believe in yourself and trust WHY you are doing this.  It's not a 90 day program, a 180 day program or a 360 day destination.  It may very well start out that way, but then your vision changes and you begin to see a much bigger picture, a picture for a healthier lifestyle that doesn't end when the the weight loss or the muscle gain is reached.  In the beginning, setting some smart goals is very important.  What do you want to accomplish and why?  How are you going to get there?  When do you want to achieve your goal by?  P90X, or for that matter any exercise program that you will stick to, is a valuable tool to accomplishing your dreams.

Many professionals recommend a personal fitness trainer to assist you on your fitness journey.  May I recommend Tony Horton as he's been there for me the entire time, both through the extreme home fitness program P90X and through the website Team Beachbody.  There's no way I could afford a personal trainer all the time, but Tony Horton at the age of 52, seen to the right, helps you with the basics as a beginner, pushing you toward a striver level and then to an extreme warrior athlete!  Look where I was when I started out in February of this year and how far I've come since then!  Wouldn't you agree that it's an incredible transformation?  Wouldn't you like to experience it for yourself and why everyone who has gone through this is so excited about what life now has to offer!  You don't need a gym membership.  You don't need to feel embarrassed showing up to a fitness center when your home and a few simple and basic tools is all you'll need.  Just show up at home and start to make this a daily habit.

Remember, you want to exercise and you want to feel good.  You want to have an enjoyable experience and one that is positive.  I want to tell you how positive and encouraging Tony Horton is, but you will know for yourself after he inspires you to do better than you have ever done before.  Get involved with others through online support groups.  Again, you do not need a gym or club membership, you just need to decide, commit and succeed!  Yes, it is a struggle, but it's a predictable outcome based on the success of so many individuals before you.  The path to health and fitness has many side roads, many pitfalls, many valleys and peaks that will ultimately lead to your success.  Effort is a solo performance that only you can perform.  Exercise is for life and it's bright future is in your hands!

Big Fat Fiasco

What is good science and bad science? What is open minded and closed minded thinking? How do you recognize a cognitive bias toward long held views or beliefs when presented with better information and a fuller consideration? Are we willing to consider the possibility that certain claims are no longer valid? When it comes to our health and fitness, there are so many differing views, studies, research, explanations and scientific claims. It all seems so confusing. Have we been fed a load of bologna?

We've all heard, read and seen in the news the countless stories of an obesity epidemic in North America and people dying from heart disease. Everywhere I go now I am shocked at just how many people are so large! Not just large, but ginormous! Having been there once myself, it's now something I more conscious of. The film FAT HEAD reveals that nearly everything we've been told about obesity and healthy eating is wrong. Former health writer Tom Naughton serves up some startling facts in this no nonsense film. In the following YouTube segments of a speech by Tom Naughton, he explains the Big Fat Fiasco.

So get yourself comfortable and prepare to be stunned by what you're about to watch and learn as many of the myths of obesity and healthy eating are shredded like fat on a treadmill!





Big Fat Fiasco pt. 1







Big Fat Fiasco pt. 2







Big Fat Fiasco pt. 3







Big Fat Fiasco pt. 4







Big Fat Fiasco pt. 5

So I ask again, what is good science and what is bad science? What is open minded and closed minded thinking? How do you recognize a cognitive bias toward a pattern, long held views or beliefs when presented with better information and a fuller consideration? Are we willing to consider the possibility that certain claims are no longer valid?  Benjamin Franklin said it best, “For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.”

Films can have a strong and immediate impact, but there's no substitute for reading.  READ PEOPLE, PLEASE READ.  I hope you'll take the time to carefully read through the many posts I've included in my blog.  They contain a wealth of education that will hopefully inspire you to pursue a healthier lifestyle. 

It's never too late to start changing bad habits, habits that can shave years off your life and impact the quality of your life. So, if you want the straight dope on fueling your body with nutritious food and what to avoid, I'm here to help and it won't cost you a penny for the free advice based on my own experience and what has worked for me. I hope you'll follow my blog and provide me with some feedback on my posts. I'll be catering good choices that include both dietary and lifestyle changes. So if you could use a boost to your engine, buckle up for the ride of your life and let's get started!

My Story, My Opportunity, My Journey, My Choice, My Time, My Life

What keeps me pressing forward?  What’s my purpose?  Do I want a like minded community, meeting new people and making new friends?  Do I do this to compete, for athleticism, to improve my quality of life, to have fun?  Do I want to look better and have more self esteem and confidence?  Is my purpose to gain more out of life, to have more energy, a stronger mind and body?  What is your purpose and what is your reason?   In the next few minutes, I share with you my story, my opportunity, my journey, my choice, my time and my life. 

I was out of shape and I felt bad about myself.  So why then was I so out of shape?  Here are some of the excuses I played over and over like bad reruns:  Too tired after work, I’m always too busy, there aren’t enough hours in the day, I can’t get to the gym, why should I work out when my family and friends don’t, I’m not in that bad of shape, I’ll have to spend money to buy new clothes, and my list went on and on.  What’s your excuse?   I had many excuses and this is the body it got me! ----------->



You don’t have to choose to make bad choices over and over again at breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Be a little open minded here and willing to try new things and you’ll soon discover how easy it gets to make healthy choices.  My results did not happen by tearing up a few moves from a muscle magazine.  It happened by using a system that told me exactly what to do, everyday for 90 days.  That’s MY P90X!  It seriously challenged me, but with the challenge came an amazing transformation.   My hope is that what I've achieved and this blog will inspire you to find your purpose, your reason.

I’ve gotten into the best shape of my life simply by working out at home!  I did it in 90 days and now I’m consistent with my fitness and health!  The coined phrase that practice makes perfect is true when combined with variety, which is the spice of life.  When you realize how quickly you can transform your body in your own home, with very little gear, you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to make the time.  Time flies when you start to see rapid results like I did in 90 days, in 180 days and so on, so I simply keep on pushing play.  My life will never be the same again! <-------- I hardly recognize myself

Let me give you a glimpse into my life as I write candidly here and share with you the reason for my wanting to make a major change.  Before P90X I took life one day at a time, on the couch, watching TV, in front of the computer living in virtual reality games, being plain old lazy.  I had no interest in outside sports, no gym activity and a very sedentary lifestyle.  I tried a couple of times to get inspired and motivated to change my bad habits, but kept making excuses and going back to the lazy routine.  It was easier.  I didn’t like the hard workouts.  I felt alone without any real support or encouragement.  I didn’t have a lot of hope.  It just didn’t seem like I could climb out of that rut on my own and I didn’t know who I could turn to for help.  So I found comfort in what I ate and drank.  It just didn’t feel like my health mattered anymore to me.  My quality of life was deteriorating.  I’d get up in the morning tired, go to work and struggle to feel energized to make it through the day, come home to pass out on the couch and rely on my wife and children to pick up my slack.  I was sacrificing for things in life that really didn’t matter, when all along what was most important was right at home, my family.  In short, I was going nowhere fast and the tracks of life were running out!  I was at a tipping point.   Do I sacrifice about one hour of my time per day or do I sacrifice what I care about most?  The choice was pretty clear.

"Do or do not, there is no try" as Yoda explained to a non-believing Luke Skywalker in the epic movie Star Wars when Luke was attempting to lift a massive object.  Our mind is indeed a very powerful force.  Our thoughts and words unleash the power of our mind into our actions.  I have been through the phase of TRY and I most certainly failed time and time again.  Trying anticipates failure.  By changing the words, we change our mindset and although there is still the chance of failure, we don’t program ourselves for it.  Instead when I say I will DO this, it focuses on success!   DECIDE, COMMIT, SUCCEED. That’s the mantra of the P90X Fitness Program and it has become my motto.  I was ready to change my life.  So I dug in and I trusted the routine and nutrition guide and went for it!  The journey starts with that first step, one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!  Imagine how different the world would be if we each took that first step to ending the fat trend.  

My reason for changing is simple, I had a choice to make.  You have a choice too.  Were you expecting a more complicated answer? How do you choose what to be or not to be?  Do you want to be better than before?  Who do you surround yourself with? How long do your better choices last?  I had to decide whether to continue to be a slacker or finally get my act together. I’m not getting any younger.  No one else could do this for me.  I had to make the choice to stop making it about me all the time and be an example to people in my life who need a role model, a father and a dad.  I would no longer allow these external forces and my own weak mindset to control my life.  At the age of 48 some might call this a mid-life crisis.  I call it a miracle and am grateful for the gifts and time that I have in my life.  How we use these to help each other is the true measure of our success.

 

Be the change you want to see in the world.  Take that step today.  If you need help, please ask.  I’m not in this for the contests.  I’m not in this to sell you something you don’t need.  I’m not here to recruit you for any business opportunity.  This is simply my way of starting to give back instead of continually taking from everyone else.  I would like you to have what I’ve gained.  I made the switch and life is returning with vitality, with greater confidence, self-esteem, energy, love and new friends.  I’ve gained so much more than what I lost.  I’m so very grateful to my family and friends who have been a huge support for me.  Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be today without P90X and the nutrition guidance I gained from my personal trainer Tony Horton.  He got me out of my comfort zone and helped me to get real with life instead of living in a virtual reality. 

I promise if you make a decision and make that commitment, it can happen for you too!  Give yourself a gift, you deserve it!  It will transform every aspect of your life, from the way you think about fitness to the way you think about your health and what you eat.  If you too will commit to exercising and eating healthy, you too can go confidently in the direction of your dreams and really live the life you’ve imagined!

Significant Dietary and Lifestyle Changes

Since February 1st, 2011 I have embarked on a journey of health and wellness.   Today I'd like to very briefly share the kind of lifestyle and dietary changes I made and the significant impact it's had on me.

For the past four and a half months I have gone from being an obese individual to a healthy weight.  People who have not seen me in several months are amazed at the transformation.  I am amazed myself.  The question they all predictably ask is, "how did you do it?"  The answer is surprisingly common knowledge, but not commonly practiced. and when it is practiced, it is a struggle for most to maintain the practice.  Even though many people are aware of this knowledge, they fail to take those corrective actions in their life.  I know because I was one of those people who ignored the facts and statistics and didn't know who or where to turn to for help because I really didn't think or believe that I had a problem.

 
We all need food to survive.  Food is instinctively a necessity to maintain and support life.  The moment we are born, we instinctively eat.  Nutrition to a newborn is critical for growth and development.  It should come as no surprise then that nutrition is continuously needed to maintain growth and development of the human body.  Without nutrition, the body begins to show signs and symptoms of weakness and failure.  The body can only withstand so much abuse before it starts to misfire and shutdown.

Eventually I reached the point in my life at the age of 48 where I began to misfire. Thankfully my body wasn't so far gone that it was shutting down.  A 47 inch belly, a 46 inch chest and hips were the result of years of bad habits and a mostly sedentary lifestyle.  Among the bad habits was a dietary plan, not really a plan, but a diet that consisted pretty much of whatever flavors and pleasures appealed to my taste buds and filled what seemed like a bottomless pit in my stomach.  I loved to eat red meat.  I loved to eat fatty foods, french fry's, greasy burgers, milk shakes, sausages, and the list goes on!  I'd come home from a full day of work and want to watch TV or play video games while filling up on pop and chips. When we would go out for dinner, I'd binge at buffet's eating as much as possible to the point where I would literally have to loosen the belt a notch to take the pressure off the belly!  Full to the stomach but still a hunger that went unsatisfied. 

The so-called magic pill does not exist!  There is no magic remedy.  Starvation does not fuel your body with the nutrition it needs.  Over feeding your body with less than nutritious food does not fuel your body to prevent it from misfiring and shutting down.  You reap what you sow!  Bad fuel in equals no power out.  Good fuel in equals high performance.  If you keep on doing what you've been doing, you'll keep on getting the results you've been getting.  Only will a significant dietary and lifestyle change bring results for growth and development.  So at the age of 48, my mind and my heart where ready to decide and commit to such a change.  The rest you could say is history, but history is written in the past and I am writing my future, so this is to my success and lifelong journey with health and wellness!

At the recommendation of a coworker, I was introduced to a training program called P90X.  The periodizational training changes with three training blocks over the course of 90 days and does not require a gym or club membership or any specialized equipment.  The strategy of P90X helped me to stay focused as I exercised right at home in my living room.  Here is the mother of all workouts called Plyometrics, or jump training!

I am now into my second round and 19th week of P90X and I feel great!  My belly has gone down to 36 inches and both my chest and hips are down to 40 inches.  I've lost a total of 57 pounds todate!

No magic pills, no magic cures, no special blend of herbs or spices.  By eating less red meat and more fruits and vegetables together with rigorous daily exercise I have been able to restore my body to peak performance!  No misfires and have significantly reduced my chances of a premature shutdown.  If you want the straight dope on fueling your body with nutritious food and what to avoid, I'm here to help and it won't cost you a penny for the free advice based on my own experience and what has worked for me.  I hope you'll follow my blog and provide me with some feedback on my posts.  I'll be catering good choices that include both dietary and lifestyle changes.  So if you could use a boost to your engine, buckle up for the ride of your life and let's get started!