Fitness, sort of

These are my thoughts. I'm not a doctor nor do I play one (except when I was a little kid, but that's for another time). I'm not Anthony Robbins or Steven Covey. So take this writing for what you will. I have a lot to say on this subject; if you read it all you should get a sticker.

I was most definitely an athlete in high school; not a jock, but an athlete. Soccer in the fall, baseball in the spring and summer. I did well; I enjoyed sport. Then I went to college where I majored in ordering really greasy food at 1am followed closely by an extensive period of sleep. This was a recipe for disaster as I - and many of my college mates - would readily attest. And it was during college I entered into my rollercoaster period, venturing through intermittent lapses of shapliness and roundness.

Oh man how I loved the food; and doesn't it always seem that the best tasting food is the worst physically? Right, anything with bacon is great. A pat of butter on any food elevates it immensely. Now I was fortunate too in that I never really got out of control. Though I was clearly out of shape I was able to pull it back in if I really worked at it. In this way, I've always counted myself lucky. But regardless, it continued to be a see-saw phenomenon. Periods of fitness followed by generally longer periods of blah.

About a year ago (this was probably 2001) I finally awakened. Not in the sense that I was born again; but rather in the sense that I began to evaluate what was important to me. And those things included feeling good about myself, sticking around for those I cared about - and those who cared about me. Maybe having kids some day, though I need to master plants and small rodents first. What really happened, though, is that I had a fundamental shift in how I approached life.

So I re-evaluated and made being fit important. I think it was always important in an intellectual sense. But 'thinking' it was important was clearly not working. I had to translate that to action. So I began. Slowly, but consistently. Running and strength training. Four times a week, then five and sometimes six. I remember doing my first three mile run, thinking how pleased with myself I was. Read the marathon stuff and you'll see where I'm at now.

Strength training was the same way; I remember starting on the incline bench doing three sets of ten with 25 pound dumbells. Now I do three sets of ten with sixty pounders. It is an amazing feeling.

But that's how it was for me. Little steps that, over time, really became something huge. And now I love it. I feel as if something is missing if I can't do it for more than a day. I make time. Which, as an aside, is my favorite excuse. The 'I just don't have time for it.' It just doesn't cut the mustard (and I really dislike mustard). If it's important then you make time. Just like anything else in one's life. How many 'Survivor' junkies are out there? Somehow watching the hour each week fits into an apparently hectic schedule. You make time. Get up earlier in the day; go to bed later in the day. Don't take a nap. Do some exercises during your lunch break. Whatever you have to do. Like Nike says, 'Just Do It.' I agree.

Exercise is not sufficient. For me, changing my diet and my eating habits was crucial. Perhaps my biggest challenge was changing how much I ate in one sitting. Buffets, formerly my dearest friends, were now my enemies. I drastically reduced my per meal intake which proved to be important. Equally important, though, is that I changed what I ate. The most significant reduction was fat grams; I also cut down on the carbs - not huge, just a reduction. I increased my intake of fresh veggies; and I learned how to cook all this stuff so that it tastes good witout using lots of the traditional things cooks use to make food appealing.

But I do not starve myself. I eat. And when I splurge you best step aside. But these things are in moderation. And when combined with consistent exercise, it all balances. I started this escapade weighing in around 210 pounds and am down to 180. I fluctuate a bit, but that's about my average weight.

My goal was never to become a toothpick; I simply don't have the build. I wanted to get healthy. And I feel that I've accomplished this; but like many other sweet things in life, being healthy is a process, not an end in and of itself. And so I work on this every day. It's become a part of me and a part of how I live my life. I want to stick around and enjoy things. Being healthy doesn't necessarily mean skinny. It means eating right and being active. That's different for everyone. I didn't use the 'zone' thing or the 'atkins' thing or jump on the South Beach bandwagon, though I've read a lot about them. I did what was right for me which I learned through trial and error.

Almost done , I swear. Here's what worked - and still works - for me:

:: Exercise. OK, not much insight here. But consider this. It's not just about cardio stuff. Strength training is really important. This doesn't mean you need to start raising pythons in your arms. Just balance the two types of exercise. Maybe 30 minutes of each. Running is good, but hard on the body. Try the elliptical or the stair climber; good workout, no pounding.

:: Vary your exercise. Don't do the same thing over and over; your body will get bored. You'll get bored. If you run, change your routes. Maybe one day do the bike and one day do the elliptical. Do hills one day and sprints the next. Regardless, change is good.

:: Set goals. SO important. Not huge goals. I'm not Atlas here. But goals you can achieve. And when you achieve them set more goals. The first running goal I ever had was the marathon. It wasn't until I actually had this goal that my running really began to take shape and develop. Such a great difference. Now my goal is an ultramarathon. More on this in the near future.

:: Eat right. Fresh veggies; skim milk; less sugar. Healthy stuff can taste good, it just takes a little getting used to. Cook for yourself and keep food as whole as possible. The more processed your food is the less healthy.

:: Chill out on the carbs. Hey carbs are great if you use them. If you don't use them they turn to sugar which eventually turns to fat which is eventually stored etc etc. So much good food has carbs - and lots of them. Just watch your intake and burn them when you can. Also consider eating carbs earlier in the day (breakfast and lunch) and maybe skip them at dinner. This way your body can use this fuel throughout the day and you won't sleep on them overnight. Also, if you're seriously into cardio work then you'll need carbs - just make sure they are the good kinds and not from Wonderbread.

:: Chill out on the fat grams. I lowered this drastically. No cheese on my sandwhiches (or mayo for that matter). Very little butter, oils etc. Again, just watch your intake. Some fat is good (i.e. olive oil, nuts etc) but not three big-macs worth.

:: Re-prioritize things. Health is not just about doing things and being active and eating bean sprouts. It requiries, in my opinion, a long lasting, mental commitment. Being healthy should be important for everyone. I understand that eating really crappy food tastes great and feels good. But you know what....running 20 miles feels completely amazing. No food can replace that.

:: Focus on the long term. If you're goal is to get fit by this weekend I've got some news for you. Cognitively, think long term; consider a fundamental change in your attitude towards health. Any financial investor worth his or her salt will tell you the same thing about money. If you're trying to get rich by tomorrow then think again.

Now...I'm not trying to sell inspirational tapes nor am I looking for a pat on the back. But damn, I feel good. This health thing can really impact one's entire life. I have more energy; my clothes fit better. I like the fact that I can pick up and run 12 miles. That's some cool stuff. Get on the bus.