Resolutioners.

Ah, January. The month of new beginnings, of new hopes, and of newly expanded waist lines. The month of the resolution.

Millions of people will have paid for a shiny new gym membership at the beginning of this month and I'm willing to bet that about 80% of those aren't using it anymore as of this writing. This article isn't about them though, it's about you; the remaining 20% who actually decided to make a change in their lives. 

Whether you resolve to run more, lift weights, change your diet, or just be more active in general, congratulations. You've made it about a month, which is a significant hump to get over with a new routine. Yeah, I know it hurts but stick with it. Your mirror (as well as some random people you've never met) will thank you later. 

Sticking with that whole "sticking with it" thing, get your expectations in line. You're not going to go from Jason Alexander to Daniel Craig in a week or month (or...generic fat lady to Jessica Beil for the ladies, as I obviously fear their scorn). 

Drastic changes lead to drastic crashes and relapses. The goal of your resolution should not be to go hard until you reach Goal X. Find small, but realistic, changes in the way you conduct your life and your workouts. Over time, those small changes add up. You'll find it much more manageable over a longer period of time this way, promise. Small habits over time tend to stick around. 

In tackling a new level of physical activity, structure and discipline are your best friends. Too much, too soon and you risk injury and burn out and then your back to square one (or: hating being healthy). Keep things relatively easy at the beginning and increase in small doses at a time. This is supposed to be a lifestyle change, remember?

Finally, ask questions. Talk to people. Learn about your body and how it will react to new stresses. There are entire communities dedicated to this. Find them and learn from them. We're not all assholes, I promise. 

Keep up the good work and the rewards will follow.

Even more so you don't have to hear my responses to failed resolution excuses!!

"But I don't have time!!"

Make some. No one is going to give you any more of it. 

"But I can't find healthy food!!"

Bullshit. You're not looking hard enough. I haven't seen a barren produce section in my life. 

"But the gym is too intimidating!"

Ok, I'll give you this one. There's no law that says workouts must be conducted in a gym. Got ten square feet and a jump rope? Go nuts. 
.
"But I'll NEVER look like him/her!!"

Unless you're their biological twin, you're absolutely spot on. You'll look like you, but better and healthier. You'll be motivation for a future resolutioner. Wouldn't that be a nifty goal?

Only you can follow through. 

Til next time,

Cheers!

Tumble.

Sometimes you just want to get outside. You want to get outside so bad that nothing will stop you. Wind? Meh. Cold? Whatever. Sixty-five degree water? I'm tough. Overhead waves and washing machine surf? Poseidon's got nothing on me.

Deciding to brave those particular conditions on a paddleboard and without a wetsuit is at best foolhardy and at worst a recipe for hypothermia.

Wading into the waves, it didn't seem all that bad; a little cold but whatever. I'm standing on the board so I'm relatively safe. Getting past the first break of sloppy 2-3 foot closers was a little difficult but nothing was going to stop Ryan and me from getting out the bigger swells that lied ahead.

When the first overhead roller hits your board in just the wrong way and sends you flailing into the surf; that's when the enveloping chill of the winter waters permeates every inch of your uninsulated body. Shock. Adrenaline. A hint of panic.

Then the next one hits. Same feeling. The same shock.

We get back on our boards and try our best to make our egos and pride overpower the surf. The ocean doesn't care. It's having fun sending us flying back into the water. After 10 or 15 minutes we wave our white flags and try to ride whatever we can on our knees for the one hundred fifty yard journey back to shore, dry clothes and hot drinks.

It was worth a shot and we'll be back another day when the Atlantic is feeling more forgiving. In the meantime we'll choose our battles better be better prepared. We were just happy to be outside doing something.

This cough I've developed needs to go the hell away by then.

Cheers!

Habit

A half second of thoughts from Mile 4 traversing beautiful Lake Maitland on a foggy and flat Saturday morning...




Get your grip.
Square the blade.
Extend the arms.
Twist forward.
Get it vertical.
Reach, dammit, reach.
Catch quiet.
Lean in.
Exhale.
Power down.
Drive the paddle.
Blade to the feet.
Don't pass the heels.
Power off.
Break the wrist.
Twist the blade clean.
Glide forward.
Get upright.
Feather to the front.
Breathe in.
Do it again.
Do it better.
Do it til you're done.




We all talk to ourselves in the middle of long training sessions. What do you say to yourself?
Cheers!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Winter Park, FL