Talking about Fitness and Health
Recently I have this burning desire to write about fitness and health. And weight loss. And self esteem and motivation. And computers and the Internet. And maybe even a little on fashion and finance. I enjoy all these popular topics but fitness is especially interesting to me.
With every passing year I get more and more enjoyment out of being in shape. I can honestly say that I feel better working out several times per week. I also like eating healthfully. I feel stronger, more energetic and more confident. Eating a healthy diet is super easy. If you do not look forward to your workouts then you need to pick a different activity. I like to make up my own exercises. For example, instead of pull-ups I do "Beam Ups".
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Anyhoo...so I made a goal earlier this month: Get off my butt and write an article about one of these topics and publish it in my blog. Then I thought, why not put some real effort forward? The final goal I set was one article per week for the next four weeks. That translates into four articles until Sunday, April 1st. Yes, I'm behind schedule, but not out of the game.± So here goes...
What to write about? What do people want out of life today? We all have things we want to achieve in the near future. I am not sure where to start so I will share one of my current personal goals: 14 ¼" inch arms. Yep, I want a bigger, buffer body. I made a specific goal in January to grow the muscle in my arms. Specifically I want to go from 13 ¾" to 14 ¼" arms by November of this year. If you are looking to get into shape, either by gaining muscle mass or losing weight, then I hope you will relate to my goal of changing the way my body looks.
Health and physical fitness has got to be among the most popular topics of modern society. It is impossible to go one day without hearing someone talk about their diet or exercise program. Lately I have wanted to ask “why and what?”. Why do we want to change our bodies and what are we doing about it? That is what I will write about. I am always willing to give people eating and exercise advice. I am going to document using some of my methods, on me, here in blog. It will be interesting to see how much I can change my body while being on record about what I am doing. It will also be interesting to if anyone notices a difference in how I look. Doh!
I asked myself today, why do I really want bigger arms? It is a very simple question. But I wanted to dig deeper. What are my specific reasons for wanting to have a more muscular body? How do I feel about my body now? I must know the answers before starting. (In fact, I needed to know the answers in January.) The answers are necessary in order to understand my motivation. Knowing my motivation for bigger muscles helps me to build a strategy and set goals.
Other Me: Why do you want bigger arms Cameron?
Me: To be more attractive.
Other Me: Why do you want to be more attractive, you already look great.
Me: Aww shucks :) Well I guess sometimes I feel like some girls think I am scrawny.
Other Me: Newsflash, no matter how muscled you get, some girls will never find you attractive.
Me: Ouch! OK, I also want to feel more confident at work and in play.
Ask yourself the tough follow up questions. Why do you want whatever it is you want? Is it really that important? If you do not obtain it over the next whatever months or years, how will your life be different? Will you be any worse off? (For extra credit, write down your thoughts and then let a close friend read them.)
I guess my point is there are a lot of things we would like to do. But if we are honest with ourselves, there are only so many hours in the day. We have to make choices about what activities and goals are most important. I believe that wherever you are in life today -- your health, your career, your relationships -- is all a direct result of the choices you have made up until today. There is a difference between what we think about and what we actually do.
I did not restart my exercise routine until the middle of 2005. Could I have chosen to start in 2003 when I moved back to Arizona? Sure. Would I have bigger arms today? You betcha. That fact is though, I did not. I worked on my web sites, I switched jobs, I ate lots of Pizza and drank soda and beer. I did a lot of activities other than eating healthfully and exercising five days per week. Moreover, I do not completely regret working on my web sites, or washing down lots of NYPD Pizza with Corona Light. Just because our priorities change does not mean we are bad people. We are always doing the best we can. Besides, who doesn't love good pizza and beer! But I digress...
Where was I? Oh yes, I was trying to say that permanent fitness gains require lifestyle changes. In order to change you must be super motivated and want to change for the right reasons. Once you have both of these then you are way ahead of your peers.
Since January I have increased my arm size to 14 ⅛". Though I have not been able to maintain this measurement--I slipped by to 14" a week later--I am way ahead of schedule. I will likely adjust upward my final goal. Finally, lest you think I forgot to answer the "what", I will be discussing my diet and exercise program in a separate post.
± What can I say, I got off to a slow start. My
Breakfast Shake article was my first post and this is my second. There is still time for me to hit my goal.