Every time I need a good laugh, I always turn to a book that contains thousands of stupid things people have said. It never fails as a pick me up.
There is a special sports section that always gets me, and I've read it at least fifty times.
Today's gem was, "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I amphibious." Those words were spoken by former North Carolina basketball star Charles Shackleford.
Or the anonymous tourist who asked a lifeguard, "Which beach is closest to the water?"
How about this one, asked of a travel planner. "If you go to a restaurant in Idaho...and you don't wan't any kind of potato with your meal, will they get upset and ask you to leave?"
Former Washington, D.C., mayor Marion Berry has some jewels. The first is,"What we have here is an egregious miscarriagement of taxitude."
"The contagious people of Washington have stood firm against diversity during this long period of inclement weather."
I miss old Marion. There isn't anybody as unintentionally funny as he used to be.
The title of today's piece was something Yogi Berra said about Steve McQueen.
Everybody needs a little help shedding the blues at times. This book has always worked for me.
So has calling a friend who always makes me laugh, or getting out one of the old classicly funny movies.
There are comedy channels on radio, and on television.
Then there is the King...Larry the Cable Guy.
He's funny...I don't care who you are.
I watched a biography of Larry the Cable Guy a few weeks back. He may just be the hardest working man in show business. He wasn't an overnight sensation. He put in ten years on the road before he caught a big break, and then put in another three years before stardom came calling.
Now he's the number one act in America, hauling in $500,000 a night.
He doesn't have to dress up either. He just goes to a tractor supply store, buys some cheap shirts, and rips off the sleeves.
So there isn't any reason to go around like an old sourpuss. Find a simple cure, like I did, and like scores of other people.
The more you laugh, the longer you live.
Til next time...
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Fat Loss....explained
I found a great analogy about fat loss that I wanted to share with you.
Following is a pretty good explanation of the visual representation of fat loss that was emailed to me recently (And attributed originally to a "Bob White"). Hope you enjoy it..
Let’s assume you go out and buy two rolls of paper towels, each with 112 paper towels on it. You put one aside, and keep it for future reference (your “before” picture). The other one represents you (I’ll call your paper towel “Ed”). The core represents the lean Ed. The towels represent the fat that is covering the lean Ed.
For sake of argument, let’s say that Ed wants to lose 28 pounds of fat, so (112/28) each sheet represents a quarter-pound of fat lost.
Let’s also assume that Ed loses his fat equally during each day of the program.
Each day during the first week, you tear a sheet off of Ed, representing the fat he has lost for the day. Next, you put Ed next to the full roll (“Big Ed”) for comparison.
No noticeable difference! Even at the end of the week!
"This can’t be working for me! This program sucks!
"But, you continue to follow your fat loss program. At the end of weeks two and three, you continue to compare Ed to Big Ed, and still notice very little difference.But Ed is determined! He continues to work hard!
Three more weeks go by, the sheets peeling off day after day, before Ed gets up the courage to stand next to Big Ed again.
Now there’s a big difference!
By the end of the program (112 days), Ed is down to his lean dream, or somewhere near it. Big Ed is still - well, big.
The lesson to be learned is that fat, like paper towels, comes off in sheets. When you are heavy, you are big around. And when you are big around, that fat is spread over a MUCH larger area – just like that outside towel sheet. The closer you get to the lean you, the more each lost pound of fat shows, because it is spread over a smaller area.
While the outside sheet may only cover one layer of the roll, the inside sheet may go around 4 times. That last sheet looks like it gives you four times the results of the first sheet, but in reality, the results are the same – your perception is just different! And you’ll never see the inside, if you aren’t patient while the outside is coming off!ted to share.
Til next time....
Following is a pretty good explanation of the visual representation of fat loss that was emailed to me recently (And attributed originally to a "Bob White"). Hope you enjoy it..
Let’s assume you go out and buy two rolls of paper towels, each with 112 paper towels on it. You put one aside, and keep it for future reference (your “before” picture). The other one represents you (I’ll call your paper towel “Ed”). The core represents the lean Ed. The towels represent the fat that is covering the lean Ed.
For sake of argument, let’s say that Ed wants to lose 28 pounds of fat, so (112/28) each sheet represents a quarter-pound of fat lost.
Let’s also assume that Ed loses his fat equally during each day of the program.
Each day during the first week, you tear a sheet off of Ed, representing the fat he has lost for the day. Next, you put Ed next to the full roll (“Big Ed”) for comparison.
No noticeable difference! Even at the end of the week!
"This can’t be working for me! This program sucks!
"But, you continue to follow your fat loss program. At the end of weeks two and three, you continue to compare Ed to Big Ed, and still notice very little difference.But Ed is determined! He continues to work hard!
Three more weeks go by, the sheets peeling off day after day, before Ed gets up the courage to stand next to Big Ed again.
Now there’s a big difference!
By the end of the program (112 days), Ed is down to his lean dream, or somewhere near it. Big Ed is still - well, big.
The lesson to be learned is that fat, like paper towels, comes off in sheets. When you are heavy, you are big around. And when you are big around, that fat is spread over a MUCH larger area – just like that outside towel sheet. The closer you get to the lean you, the more each lost pound of fat shows, because it is spread over a smaller area.
While the outside sheet may only cover one layer of the roll, the inside sheet may go around 4 times. That last sheet looks like it gives you four times the results of the first sheet, but in reality, the results are the same – your perception is just different! And you’ll never see the inside, if you aren’t patient while the outside is coming off!ted to share.
Til next time....
Sunday, April 13, 2008
My BIGGEST diet and exericse mistake you can make....
This is something you already know, but you forget sometimes.
So I'll remind you. (This is one of those sort of preachy posts, sorry. They happen sometimes).
But here's the deal: In order to succeed at any worth while long-term health goal (exercise, diet, stress reduction, whatever) you have to Give up on Being Perfect.
Duh, right? But we all keep forgetting this all the time.
The Pursuit of Perfection, and the all-or-nothing thinking that follows naturally from this delusional quest, is one of the two most lethal motivational mistakes you can make. (The other is Not Actually Giving a Crap--this is what happens when you embark on a self-improvement program because someone else thinks it's a good idea. They may be right! Still, it ain't gonna work).
But unless you come to grips with your perfectionism early and often, you're doomed. You may start off making great progress but you won't be able to maintain it for more than a few weeks or months.
Why not?
Because long-term success in any endeavor is about Mastering the Self-Improvement Process, not about how many calories you ate or how many miles you ran or how many dollars you earned or how many words you wrote on a particular day. You can have a "perfect" record for months, but if you're not learning how to cope with the imperfect days, the first few that come along can derail you completely.
It's a simple idea (that you've heard a bunch of times before) but the implications of this are really powerful. It means that for the long haul, it doesn't matter if you ran a marathon today or stayed in bed with the flu. Whether you ate 1500 calories or 5,000 calories.
What matters is that you did what you needed to do to Stay On Track.
Staying On Track is the most important thing. Over time, if you Stay on Track, there will be good days and bad days but the good days will eventually predominate. I still maintain and defend your right to think that healthy living is a pain in the ass. But the longer you keep doing it? The less of a pain it is. It will probably never, however, be completely easy and fun. You will always be tempted to Slack. Thus you need to know how to Stay on Track for the rest of your life.
For Life! Yea, I know it blows but it is really important.
So what are some of the essential components of Staying on Track?
You will find yourself lying to yourself if your goals are lofty and become inviolable (that's not a word is it? - well maybe) rules in your own mind. You will "forget" to write things down; you will fudge and cheat and you will be psychologically Off Track no matter how well you are actually doing. You will frequently feel disappointed in yourself even when you are objectively doing good things. You won't praise yourself for your good days because they're ALL supposed to be good days. You will feel easily discouraged and tempted to just go off - no, jump off the wagon in a Big Way, because it's just too hard to be good. And you won't learn how to minimize problem behaviors if you're not admitting to them or accepting them as natural and inevitable and part of the process. Blah blah blah, you get the idea.
Enough Theory? Here is a practical example!
This is an Actual Conversation that occurred in my brain several days ago.
Self: I know it's getting to be time for the gym but I don't think I'll go today. I hate the gym.
Self's Conscience: Just go.
Self: But I don't wannnnna. I go to the gym plenty. Shit, I live in a gym everyday...Leave me alone.
Self's Conscience: You're due for aerobics today. A long one, remember you said? And you're way way overdue for weights. You haven't done them since Monday. You can't skip out again.
Self: F*ck off. Go away.
Self: Are you gone?
Self: Good.
(A minute or so later)
Self's Conscience: OK, now it's really time to go. Your caffeine will wear off.
Self: Shut up!
Self's Conscience: You'll be so happy once you're done.
Self: But I'll be so MISERABLE while I'm doing it! I'll go for a bike ride later. Scram!
(A few more minutes later)
Self's Conscience: So here's an idea.
Self: WTF? I said go away!
Self's Conscience: Suppose you just go to the gym and do a little of everything. A really quick aerobics. Only half your weights.
Self: But I'm supposed to do a long aerobics! And what about the other half of the weights? I can't do just part of a workout!
Self's Conscience: It's better than no workout. C'mon. Think of it as "fun sized." An "express" trip to the gym.
Self: You've been reading my blog! That's really sneaky. But hmmm, "fun sized"... that does sound oddly less miserable that a regular workout...
Epilogue:And so dear readers, I indeed went to the gym - did only half a workout. (Some days when I bargain like this I go on do what I would normally do anyway, but this time, I really didn't feel like it.) I gave myself Full Credit Anyway and felt very happy and pleased with myself. I returned to the gym two days later, because I was Still On Track! And that time, I did every damn thing on the list and lived Happily Ever After. At least so far.)
Til next time.....
So I'll remind you. (This is one of those sort of preachy posts, sorry. They happen sometimes).
But here's the deal: In order to succeed at any worth while long-term health goal (exercise, diet, stress reduction, whatever) you have to Give up on Being Perfect.
Duh, right? But we all keep forgetting this all the time.
The Pursuit of Perfection, and the all-or-nothing thinking that follows naturally from this delusional quest, is one of the two most lethal motivational mistakes you can make. (The other is Not Actually Giving a Crap--this is what happens when you embark on a self-improvement program because someone else thinks it's a good idea. They may be right! Still, it ain't gonna work).
But unless you come to grips with your perfectionism early and often, you're doomed. You may start off making great progress but you won't be able to maintain it for more than a few weeks or months.
Why not?
Because long-term success in any endeavor is about Mastering the Self-Improvement Process, not about how many calories you ate or how many miles you ran or how many dollars you earned or how many words you wrote on a particular day. You can have a "perfect" record for months, but if you're not learning how to cope with the imperfect days, the first few that come along can derail you completely.
It's a simple idea (that you've heard a bunch of times before) but the implications of this are really powerful. It means that for the long haul, it doesn't matter if you ran a marathon today or stayed in bed with the flu. Whether you ate 1500 calories or 5,000 calories.
What matters is that you did what you needed to do to Stay On Track.
Staying On Track is the most important thing. Over time, if you Stay on Track, there will be good days and bad days but the good days will eventually predominate. I still maintain and defend your right to think that healthy living is a pain in the ass. But the longer you keep doing it? The less of a pain it is. It will probably never, however, be completely easy and fun. You will always be tempted to Slack. Thus you need to know how to Stay on Track for the rest of your life.
For Life! Yea, I know it blows but it is really important.
So what are some of the essential components of Staying on Track?
- Staying Accountable and being Honest with yourself.
- Acknowledging your Achievements and not just taking them for granted.
- Trying your best but refusing to get all Punitive and Self-Hating when you inevitably screw up.
- And so Not Quitting in self-disgust because you screwed up.
- Then Starting Over if you do happen to quit in self-disgust despite your crabby self telling you Not To.
- Setting Realistic goals and making positive changes Gradually and Steadily.
- Accepting that while "All" may be nice, "Some" is better than "None" when it comes to good behavior.
- Analyzing the Triggers for bad behavior and planning to Avoid them or Minimize their Impact in the future.
- There are Lots more but I'm getting Really Bored of doing this list.
You will find yourself lying to yourself if your goals are lofty and become inviolable (that's not a word is it? - well maybe) rules in your own mind. You will "forget" to write things down; you will fudge and cheat and you will be psychologically Off Track no matter how well you are actually doing. You will frequently feel disappointed in yourself even when you are objectively doing good things. You won't praise yourself for your good days because they're ALL supposed to be good days. You will feel easily discouraged and tempted to just go off - no, jump off the wagon in a Big Way, because it's just too hard to be good. And you won't learn how to minimize problem behaviors if you're not admitting to them or accepting them as natural and inevitable and part of the process. Blah blah blah, you get the idea.
Enough Theory? Here is a practical example!
This is an Actual Conversation that occurred in my brain several days ago.
Self: I know it's getting to be time for the gym but I don't think I'll go today. I hate the gym.
Self's Conscience: Just go.
Self: But I don't wannnnna. I go to the gym plenty. Shit, I live in a gym everyday...Leave me alone.
Self's Conscience: You're due for aerobics today. A long one, remember you said? And you're way way overdue for weights. You haven't done them since Monday. You can't skip out again.
Self: F*ck off. Go away.
Self: Are you gone?
Self: Good.
(A minute or so later)
Self's Conscience: OK, now it's really time to go. Your caffeine will wear off.
Self: Shut up!
Self's Conscience: You'll be so happy once you're done.
Self: But I'll be so MISERABLE while I'm doing it! I'll go for a bike ride later. Scram!
(A few more minutes later)
Self's Conscience: So here's an idea.
Self: WTF? I said go away!
Self's Conscience: Suppose you just go to the gym and do a little of everything. A really quick aerobics. Only half your weights.
Self: But I'm supposed to do a long aerobics! And what about the other half of the weights? I can't do just part of a workout!
Self's Conscience: It's better than no workout. C'mon. Think of it as "fun sized." An "express" trip to the gym.
Self: You've been reading my blog! That's really sneaky. But hmmm, "fun sized"... that does sound oddly less miserable that a regular workout...
Epilogue:And so dear readers, I indeed went to the gym - did only half a workout. (Some days when I bargain like this I go on do what I would normally do anyway, but this time, I really didn't feel like it.) I gave myself Full Credit Anyway and felt very happy and pleased with myself. I returned to the gym two days later, because I was Still On Track! And that time, I did every damn thing on the list and lived Happily Ever After. At least so far.)
Til next time.....
Thursday, April 10, 2008
More on the NCAA's
Champion's have a certain mindset....
I'll explain what I mean.
If you really - (I mean REALLY) listen to the athletes and coaches during interviews - espcially around the "BIG" game or during championship runs, you'll become almost psychic about who will and won't win.
This past Sunday I watched the Stanford women's basketball team whoop up on Connecticut. Then I watched Tennessee eke by LSU. Afterward I figured Stanford would win their first NCAA women's basketball title.
Afterall, they had averaged 90 points in their last two games, while Tennessee didn't even break 50 points against LSU. Not only that, Stanford was red hot in the semi-finals while the Lady Vols looked like they came out of a freezer.
Stanford was going to win it all, I thought.... No doubt about it. But then I heard the post game interviews with Candice Wiggins of Stanford and Candace Parker of Tennessee. As soon as I heard what each player said, I changed my mind. Pay close attention and you'll immediately know why I reversed my thinking.
When Stanford star Candice Wiggins was interviewed after winning the semi-final round, she was thrilled to make it to the finals. That alone was a dream fulfilled. She did not speak a single word about winning the NCAA title. Tennessee's Candace Parker, however, said that "anything short of an NCAA championship would constitute a failure."
Very different goals, don't you think?
The specifics of your goals play a major role in how you perform. Two nights ago I did an "energy read" of the teams in the men's finals when Memphis was up by nine points. Even with two minutes left, upon gazing at the emotion coming off the players, I believed Kansas would pull it out.
They did.
Last night I did the same sort of reading when Stanford was down by a couple points and had the rest of the game to turn it around.
"They haven't got a prayer," I said to my son. "Tennessee is on a mission."
Tennessee's defense took the high-powered eight-cylinder Stanford offense and reduced it to two cylinders. Wiggins, normally smiling and cheerful in the midst of a big game, didn't look too happy. Parker, on the other hand, had a Cheshire cat grin most of the night. This "look" by the way, is one of the hallmarks of the truly great "Super Human" performers. Even in the midst of battle, elite athletes often look like they're having a blast. When they're in the zone, all physical and mental resistance is gone. Often you'll be in awe of how cool, calm and collected they are.
Those who do not perform at the highest level rarely look truly comfortable in their own skin. They don't know the peace of mind that comes with being on the journey toward a pre-determined objective. Instead, they're hoping that the attainment of the goal will bring them happiness.
It won't.
It can't.
It never does.
People wonder why champions tend to win over and over again. This is the 8th NCAA women's basketball title for Tennessee coach Pat Summit, who is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA hoops history - and that includes both men and women coaches.
The answer lies in how you define your goals. You'd think this would be a no-brainer - but the truth is you see this mistake being made all the time, even at the highest levels of competition.
All you need to do to pick a winner, most of the time, is listen to the interviews of players right after they make it into the Super Bowl, World Series or NCAA finals.
The eventual losing team has players who say their goal was to get to the finals. The winning team shows their excitement about making it to the big one - but they make it known that WINNING the championship is the main goal. Getting there is simply a stepping stone.
The greatest battles in sports take place when both teams in the finals have the same goal.
Keep this in mind as you travel through your day. What do you want to create today. Focus on it and make it happen.
Til next time....
I'll explain what I mean.
If you really - (I mean REALLY) listen to the athletes and coaches during interviews - espcially around the "BIG" game or during championship runs, you'll become almost psychic about who will and won't win.
This past Sunday I watched the Stanford women's basketball team whoop up on Connecticut. Then I watched Tennessee eke by LSU. Afterward I figured Stanford would win their first NCAA women's basketball title.
Afterall, they had averaged 90 points in their last two games, while Tennessee didn't even break 50 points against LSU. Not only that, Stanford was red hot in the semi-finals while the Lady Vols looked like they came out of a freezer.
Stanford was going to win it all, I thought.... No doubt about it. But then I heard the post game interviews with Candice Wiggins of Stanford and Candace Parker of Tennessee. As soon as I heard what each player said, I changed my mind. Pay close attention and you'll immediately know why I reversed my thinking.
When Stanford star Candice Wiggins was interviewed after winning the semi-final round, she was thrilled to make it to the finals. That alone was a dream fulfilled. She did not speak a single word about winning the NCAA title. Tennessee's Candace Parker, however, said that "anything short of an NCAA championship would constitute a failure."
Very different goals, don't you think?
The specifics of your goals play a major role in how you perform. Two nights ago I did an "energy read" of the teams in the men's finals when Memphis was up by nine points. Even with two minutes left, upon gazing at the emotion coming off the players, I believed Kansas would pull it out.
They did.
Last night I did the same sort of reading when Stanford was down by a couple points and had the rest of the game to turn it around.
"They haven't got a prayer," I said to my son. "Tennessee is on a mission."
Tennessee's defense took the high-powered eight-cylinder Stanford offense and reduced it to two cylinders. Wiggins, normally smiling and cheerful in the midst of a big game, didn't look too happy. Parker, on the other hand, had a Cheshire cat grin most of the night. This "look" by the way, is one of the hallmarks of the truly great "Super Human" performers. Even in the midst of battle, elite athletes often look like they're having a blast. When they're in the zone, all physical and mental resistance is gone. Often you'll be in awe of how cool, calm and collected they are.
Those who do not perform at the highest level rarely look truly comfortable in their own skin. They don't know the peace of mind that comes with being on the journey toward a pre-determined objective. Instead, they're hoping that the attainment of the goal will bring them happiness.
It won't.
It can't.
It never does.
People wonder why champions tend to win over and over again. This is the 8th NCAA women's basketball title for Tennessee coach Pat Summit, who is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA hoops history - and that includes both men and women coaches.
The answer lies in how you define your goals. You'd think this would be a no-brainer - but the truth is you see this mistake being made all the time, even at the highest levels of competition.
All you need to do to pick a winner, most of the time, is listen to the interviews of players right after they make it into the Super Bowl, World Series or NCAA finals.
The eventual losing team has players who say their goal was to get to the finals. The winning team shows their excitement about making it to the big one - but they make it known that WINNING the championship is the main goal. Getting there is simply a stepping stone.
The greatest battles in sports take place when both teams in the finals have the same goal.
Keep this in mind as you travel through your day. What do you want to create today. Focus on it and make it happen.
Til next time....
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Expect a celebration..
Ooops I actually wrote this a few days ago and didn't post it. Hope you enjoy.
It’s the end of the college basketball season, so I took the weekend off and watched a couple Final Four games with my son. I think the last time I watched the Final Four was when Coach Wooden was leading UCLA with multiple championships - that seems like it was about 30 years ago – so this was a definite deviation from the norm.
It turned out to be a wise choice – mostly because of what I watched on Saturday night when Kansas tore #1 ranked North Carolina apart.
Yet, it wasn't the athlete’s performance that I will remember the most. It was what Bill Self, the Kansas coach, said to his players before they took the court.
He told them they were playing a very good team - but they were also a very good team.
He told them it would be a long game, so they needed to go out there and have fun, stay relaxed and keep their focus.
Yes, in the heat of battle, he told them to remove the resistance by being relaxed.
Oh, if the average person could understand the value of this. Far too many people think the key to overcoming difficulties and surmounting obstacles is to frown, complain and flex.
Not so.
It's to keep moving forward - but in a spirit of calm and relaxation expecting all will go well.
Coach Self ended his pre-game talk with a quote from Vince Lombardi - on expectations. He told the team that they would get what they expected.
Then he paused before delivering a line I will never forget:
"I expect a BIG CELEBRATION in this locker room in about two and a half hours."
Coach Self did not talk about winning. He did not talk about beating the other team. ALL he talked about was "expecting a big celebration."
He began with the end in mind.
And the end was NOT winning - it was the joy and excitement to be felt AFTER winning.
Coach Self gave the team a vision that aroused their emotions and focused them on what they really wanted - the FEELING of victory - the FEELING of having given their best.
Kansas led 38-10 at one point in the first half. A 28-point lead on the nation's number one team!
In the second half their lead was chopped considerably as the Tar Heels fought valiantly. But after North Carolina fought so hard to catch up, they had nothing left and Kansas flew past them again - winning by 18 points.
As you go through your day, ask yourself this question, "What do you expect to be celebrating about at the end of today."
Begin with the end in mind and watch the end come to you in record time.
Til next time....
It’s the end of the college basketball season, so I took the weekend off and watched a couple Final Four games with my son. I think the last time I watched the Final Four was when Coach Wooden was leading UCLA with multiple championships - that seems like it was about 30 years ago – so this was a definite deviation from the norm.
It turned out to be a wise choice – mostly because of what I watched on Saturday night when Kansas tore #1 ranked North Carolina apart.
Yet, it wasn't the athlete’s performance that I will remember the most. It was what Bill Self, the Kansas coach, said to his players before they took the court.
He told them they were playing a very good team - but they were also a very good team.
He told them it would be a long game, so they needed to go out there and have fun, stay relaxed and keep their focus.
Yes, in the heat of battle, he told them to remove the resistance by being relaxed.
Oh, if the average person could understand the value of this. Far too many people think the key to overcoming difficulties and surmounting obstacles is to frown, complain and flex.
Not so.
It's to keep moving forward - but in a spirit of calm and relaxation expecting all will go well.
Coach Self ended his pre-game talk with a quote from Vince Lombardi - on expectations. He told the team that they would get what they expected.
Then he paused before delivering a line I will never forget:
"I expect a BIG CELEBRATION in this locker room in about two and a half hours."
Coach Self did not talk about winning. He did not talk about beating the other team. ALL he talked about was "expecting a big celebration."
He began with the end in mind.
And the end was NOT winning - it was the joy and excitement to be felt AFTER winning.
Coach Self gave the team a vision that aroused their emotions and focused them on what they really wanted - the FEELING of victory - the FEELING of having given their best.
Kansas led 38-10 at one point in the first half. A 28-point lead on the nation's number one team!
In the second half their lead was chopped considerably as the Tar Heels fought valiantly. But after North Carolina fought so hard to catch up, they had nothing left and Kansas flew past them again - winning by 18 points.
As you go through your day, ask yourself this question, "What do you expect to be celebrating about at the end of today."
Begin with the end in mind and watch the end come to you in record time.
Til next time....
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Question...
At one time or another, and in one way or another, we have all asked ourselves these questions. "Why am I here? What, if anything, am I supposed to be doing? Is there a purpose I am supposed to fulfill?"
Until we arrive at answers to such questions, our life seems to hold little or no meaning. Once we ask, we often wonder why we didn't pursue the answer much sooner.
Life without meaning, or purpose, is somewhat like the analogy my high school history teacher used when encouraging our class to set goals. I can still picture him standing in front of the room holding a piece of white chalk, saying, "Without a goal, you're like a boat without a rudder or an anchor, just being bounced around any which way at the mercy of the wind.
We laughed and mimicked him outside of class, but that pathetic boat he had drawn on the blackboard depicted most of us back then. Unfortunately, that boat at the mercy of the wind represented a number of us years later. Those of us who were lucky, grew tired of being bounced around, and asked.
What do I want life to be?
Finally, you listen to your heart. You realize that it is your passion and love that directs you to your purpose in life. Interestingly, it has nothing to do with making the most money, what others expect from you, or what is fashionable and popular. It has nothing to do with the majority of what was written on our walls by otherwise well-meaning parents, teachers, ministers, counselors, and the like. Long forgotten writings deeply buried in our unconscious mind that now and again break loose just often enough to sabotage our happiness and success. That can, if allowed, prevent us from fulfilling our life purpose.
The good in finding your purpose is that once you begin doing, begin living, begin fulfilling it--everything you need begins to appear in your life.
Purpose makes your life easier. It flows. You are in control. You no longer get caught up in life. One that tugs and pulls you this way, then another.
It is by following your heart, your passion and love, that allows the ills of life--the worries, fears--to disappear and be replaced with joy, happiness, and satisfaction.
Yes, making changes can be a scary experience. It is far easier to stay within your comfort zone, no matter how badly you dislike where you are. However, it is never too late to find your purpose and begin taking the steps to live it. Begin by incorporating pieces of your passion into your life. Take little steps and add to them. Listen to the voice within. Soon, you will be fulfilling your life's purpose.
Life is too short to feel sorry for yourself, to sit and do nothing. If you haven't already done so, ask the question.
Have a great week
Til next time...
Until we arrive at answers to such questions, our life seems to hold little or no meaning. Once we ask, we often wonder why we didn't pursue the answer much sooner.
Life without meaning, or purpose, is somewhat like the analogy my high school history teacher used when encouraging our class to set goals. I can still picture him standing in front of the room holding a piece of white chalk, saying, "Without a goal, you're like a boat without a rudder or an anchor, just being bounced around any which way at the mercy of the wind.
We laughed and mimicked him outside of class, but that pathetic boat he had drawn on the blackboard depicted most of us back then. Unfortunately, that boat at the mercy of the wind represented a number of us years later. Those of us who were lucky, grew tired of being bounced around, and asked.
What do I want life to be?
Finally, you listen to your heart. You realize that it is your passion and love that directs you to your purpose in life. Interestingly, it has nothing to do with making the most money, what others expect from you, or what is fashionable and popular. It has nothing to do with the majority of what was written on our walls by otherwise well-meaning parents, teachers, ministers, counselors, and the like. Long forgotten writings deeply buried in our unconscious mind that now and again break loose just often enough to sabotage our happiness and success. That can, if allowed, prevent us from fulfilling our life purpose.
The good in finding your purpose is that once you begin doing, begin living, begin fulfilling it--everything you need begins to appear in your life.
Purpose makes your life easier. It flows. You are in control. You no longer get caught up in life. One that tugs and pulls you this way, then another.
It is by following your heart, your passion and love, that allows the ills of life--the worries, fears--to disappear and be replaced with joy, happiness, and satisfaction.
Yes, making changes can be a scary experience. It is far easier to stay within your comfort zone, no matter how badly you dislike where you are. However, it is never too late to find your purpose and begin taking the steps to live it. Begin by incorporating pieces of your passion into your life. Take little steps and add to them. Listen to the voice within. Soon, you will be fulfilling your life's purpose.
Life is too short to feel sorry for yourself, to sit and do nothing. If you haven't already done so, ask the question.
Have a great week
Til next time...
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Hey, you just have to look...
When I initially work with people I just watch how they move, sit or stand.
Following is a list of things you can look for next time you are in the gym. Or it can be a cruel party game. Either way, it can help you determine where you need work to be a better you.
1) If your arms move forward when you squat, then your chest and latissimus dorsi (major back muscle) are tight. This will lead to neck and shoulder ailments.
2) Knees move out - then your hips and lower back will have to compensate for the weaknesses in your inner thigh. Therefore your low back and hamstrings will be extremely tight.
3) Knees cave in - then your outer thighs are weak and your risk of knee injury greatly increases.
4) Upper body moves greatly forward - your calves are extremely tight, this may sound odd but if your calves are tight then your ankle mobility is probably limited so your upper body has to compensate during the squat. This will greatly affect your ability to produce power during activities.
5) Low back arches excessively - your hip flexors (front of hips) are tight and your abs are weak. This will cause you to shorten your stride and move at a slower less efficient pace when walking or running.
6) Feet turn out - Your peroneals (outer calf) are tight, this will reduce your ability to produce force when running or jumping.
When people move, their bodies give you some telltale signs that help determine what muscles are out of wack or weak and which others are over compensating.
There is a fella way smarter than I by the name of Gray Cook. He has a PhD in Physical Therapy out of the university of Miami's School of Medicine and wrote a book about 3 years ago called Athletic Body in Balance. He is one of the nicest and smartest guys you'll ever know about this physical fitness/orthopedic stuff - especially for a Ph-duh... I digress, anyway one of the best ways to find out what is going on with someone is by watching them do a squat, with their arms overhead. Looks hard huh...it is.
Following is a list of things you can look for next time you are in the gym. Or it can be a cruel party game. Either way, it can help you determine where you need work to be a better you.
1) If your arms move forward when you squat, then your chest and latissimus dorsi (major back muscle) are tight. This will lead to neck and shoulder ailments.
2) Knees move out - then your hips and lower back will have to compensate for the weaknesses in your inner thigh. Therefore your low back and hamstrings will be extremely tight.
3) Knees cave in - then your outer thighs are weak and your risk of knee injury greatly increases.
4) Upper body moves greatly forward - your calves are extremely tight, this may sound odd but if your calves are tight then your ankle mobility is probably limited so your upper body has to compensate during the squat. This will greatly affect your ability to produce power during activities.
5) Low back arches excessively - your hip flexors (front of hips) are tight and your abs are weak. This will cause you to shorten your stride and move at a slower less efficient pace when walking or running.
6) Feet turn out - Your peroneals (outer calf) are tight, this will reduce your ability to produce force when running or jumping.
I hope this helps you determine what you need to work on in the gym.... I'll be watching.
Til next time....
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Where did it go?!
In an ongoing effort to motivate everyone to take action, myself especially -- here is an interesting tidbit…. Monday marked the 25% point of the year. Sorry - it's not an April fools joke.
The entire first quarter of 2008 has already passed- we are now three months into 2008.
How are those New Year's Resolutions looking?
Are you on track with those New Years Resolutions?
Are you on track with your goals?
If you wanted to lose 20lbs this year - are you down 5lbs already?
If your goal was to do 250 workouts - have you completed 62 ?
IF you wanted to make $10,000 more this year -- are you on track?
It's amazing how time passes so quickly. I guess the lesson here is don't waste a single second.
If your goal is fat loss - start today
If your goal is muscle building - start today
If your goal is (insert anything here) - start TODAY !
25% of this year is gone forever.
Will you make changes TODAY or will another 25% pass, then another 25% -- and before you know it -- it's 2009.....
I meet a lot of people in my job, and get a lot of questions
I'll talk to people who track every single macronutrient that passes their lips, and have tried just about every program out there. When I ask them how things are going -- they'll tell me that it's great, or that the program is working well.
However, very few people actually measure and take stock of their efforts. If you are following a plan to lose fat - are you actually losing fat? And I mean at a rate that is acceptable for your efforts? Or are you blindly following a plan that doesn't work, and essentially ignoring that?I know where my progress towards my goals stand because I measure it.
When I had some medical issues about a year and one half ago - enduring test after test the medical team took measurements of temperature, blood pressure and blood samples every 4 hours. That was a pain...but very telling.
When we implement a marketing campaign at The Center -- we track the results. We know for example how many direct mail pieces we send out, the cost of each mailing, how many inquiries we get, how many people we attract because of those efforts. It is still a work in progress but we can measuere how effective the plan is, and whether the return we are seeing is worth the investment.
In my current position I need to see that $X invested, we receive a return of $Y. This is important as I am trying to expanded our programs by 50% this year and are in the middle of a complete remake of the various departments I head up.
We need to know where our enrollment stands, how many members and nonmembers are involved in the programs. It it necessiary that I am able to track- our new members, renewals etc and when our busiest times are – we have put systems in place so that everything can be measured and tracked so we can continue to grow and serve our membership and users.
If you remember "SMART" goal setting -- one of the keys is 'M' - Measurable. Measure your results.As we enter the second quarter of 2008, it's time to take stock of your efforts. Has your current return been worth the investment?
Again -- 25% of this year is gone forever.
Will you make changes TODAY or will another 25% pass, then another 25% -- and before you know it -- it's 2009.....
Don't waste a single second. Start TODAY.
Where will you be at the 50% point - July 1st ? That's 13 weeks away. Will you be 13 weeks leaner- will your business demonstrate 13 weeks further growth - will you be 13 weeks closer to your goals?
The time is going to pass either way - why not make the most of it.
Til next time…
The entire first quarter of 2008 has already passed- we are now three months into 2008.
How are those New Year's Resolutions looking?
Are you on track with those New Years Resolutions?
Are you on track with your goals?
If you wanted to lose 20lbs this year - are you down 5lbs already?
If your goal was to do 250 workouts - have you completed 62 ?
IF you wanted to make $10,000 more this year -- are you on track?
It's amazing how time passes so quickly. I guess the lesson here is don't waste a single second.
If your goal is fat loss - start today
If your goal is muscle building - start today
If your goal is (insert anything here) - start TODAY !
25% of this year is gone forever.
Will you make changes TODAY or will another 25% pass, then another 25% -- and before you know it -- it's 2009.....
I meet a lot of people in my job, and get a lot of questions
I'll talk to people who track every single macronutrient that passes their lips, and have tried just about every program out there. When I ask them how things are going -- they'll tell me that it's great, or that the program is working well.
However, very few people actually measure and take stock of their efforts. If you are following a plan to lose fat - are you actually losing fat? And I mean at a rate that is acceptable for your efforts? Or are you blindly following a plan that doesn't work, and essentially ignoring that?I know where my progress towards my goals stand because I measure it.
When I had some medical issues about a year and one half ago - enduring test after test the medical team took measurements of temperature, blood pressure and blood samples every 4 hours. That was a pain...but very telling.
When we implement a marketing campaign at The Center -- we track the results. We know for example how many direct mail pieces we send out, the cost of each mailing, how many inquiries we get, how many people we attract because of those efforts. It is still a work in progress but we can measuere how effective the plan is, and whether the return we are seeing is worth the investment.
In my current position I need to see that $X invested, we receive a return of $Y. This is important as I am trying to expanded our programs by 50% this year and are in the middle of a complete remake of the various departments I head up.
We need to know where our enrollment stands, how many members and nonmembers are involved in the programs. It it necessiary that I am able to track- our new members, renewals etc and when our busiest times are – we have put systems in place so that everything can be measured and tracked so we can continue to grow and serve our membership and users.
If you remember "SMART" goal setting -- one of the keys is 'M' - Measurable. Measure your results.As we enter the second quarter of 2008, it's time to take stock of your efforts. Has your current return been worth the investment?
Again -- 25% of this year is gone forever.
Will you make changes TODAY or will another 25% pass, then another 25% -- and before you know it -- it's 2009.....
Don't waste a single second. Start TODAY.
Where will you be at the 50% point - July 1st ? That's 13 weeks away. Will you be 13 weeks leaner- will your business demonstrate 13 weeks further growth - will you be 13 weeks closer to your goals?
The time is going to pass either way - why not make the most of it.
Til next time…
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