Back To My Inspirations

Awhile ago I wrote about the people who inspire me to train harder and better. Mostly because of the effort they put forth and the amazing gains they have achieved. While I tend to think of a handful of things when I workout, I'm fortunate to know Mia. Her whole enitre family trains with us, either through CrossFit Philly or through Spear Jiu Jitsu Academy. Five family members!

Mia has done 6 pull ups, and I bet she can do more, she goes to jiu-jitsu 2-3 times a week, not to mention she's involved in quite a few other activities. Mia and her whole family make me smile when they walk in the door. They are all very dedicated for their own reasons.

It's really great to have such a family oriented community training with us. And I'm really proud that both Mia and her older brother Beau, recieved promotions in jiu jitsu this past weekend.

Picking On Me

No worries, I'm not about to start complaining that someone was giving me a hard time or any of that kind of crap. Today, I'm the one picking on me.

If I miss a workout, it's my fault. If I eat bad, it's my fault. Long story short, I hold the key to my health. Now of course some things are completely out of my control, like my genetics and the weather. The rest I can handle, or rather, the rest I need to handle. I can't make excuses for my short comings, if they're my fault. If I can't do something right now then I have to admit I can't do it, and either figure out a way to get it done, or move on.

Looking back on what I should have/could have/would have done is just a waste of time. Looking forward and planning what I will do and when I'll do it, well that's the reason to get it done during the day. I'm the biggest procrastinator I know, always have been, probably always will be, but if I don't complete the task by the time I need it completed then I can't blame anyone but me.

Choosing between what's fun and what needs to be done. If I had my choice I'd play around in the gym all day, make extravagent and healthy foods, nap, and then do whatever moved me for the rest of the night. All play and no work, doesn't get you very far, some work needs to be completed, but that doesn't mean work can't be fun, which it often is!

All these things are a continuous circle, they all feed off of each other, and it's all up to me. If I want a better life, I have to workout, eat well, make good choices or at least learn from my mistakes, and remember to have fun and get work done.

You lead your own life, what you do takes you there.

"Pick up a bee from kindness, and learn the limitations of kindness." -Sufi Proverb

Appearances

'One of the greatest places to just sit back and relax, night or day, Jupiter, FL'


It's said that "the happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have."

Ever since I can remember I've had a dream home pictured in my head. It's on a cliff that overlooks the water, and waves crash on the rocks below with a constant rolling sound of ocean water. The windows are big and are always open because the wind is causing the sheer white curtains to blow around in a very unrythmic yet gentle and chaotic pattern. That's just the beginning, the details go on, however the most important part is that I see myself calm, relaxed, and peaceful.

I have no idea how big my dream home is, in fact although I have a very vivid picture painted in my head, I've only ever seen two rooms, so maybe that's all the bigger it is. But if it makes me that happy in my head, two rooms is all I'll need.

What's the point of having dreams and visions if you aren't healthy enough to enjoy them? Too many people gleam in the presence of their new foreign sports car, or pass photos through email of the house they just purchased on the beach, or gossip wildly about their one month vacation to The Greek Isles, yet their health is poor and their lifestyle below par. Bragging rights only get you so far, because if you're too overweight to comfortably fit in your new foreign sports car, or too lazy to appreciate the outdoor climate of your new beach house, or too physically out of shape to sight see along the Mediterranean, then what are you bragging about?

Despite the picture that I have painted in my head, I'd rather have my health. To me that means being able to enjoy everyday life, eating well, working out, and inspiring others to do the same. Extravagances mean nothing in the end if you can't even play with your kids because of how you chose to lead your life. Health and fitness is in our own hands, and we're not only responsible for ours, but for the next generation's as well.


"Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain." -Unknown

Driven by Power

When you have the chance to step back and look at things from a distance it's easier to analyze where you are and what you need to do to change things. Too often we're so set in our ways that we forget to pay attention to what is actually going on around us, make sure our life is in check, and ensure that the things that are important to us are not neglected (family, friends, training, our own quality of life).

It sometimes only takes watching a movie, or reading a book, maybe going on vacation, but whatever it is we need to make sure we do it, so we don't have a distorted view of how things really are, but rather a truthfully painted picture that goes far into the horizon. The present moment is obviously important, but the future guides us. Without knowing what you want out of a situation or a time in your life it's hard and near impossible to make your life lead up to the outcome you want.

Let the sun always shine on you.

All this mess about the 1000 kettlebell swings.

Try it... Don't try it?

1000 swings with the 24kg kettlebell is a lot of swings. (Nice work Tracy) I started out with 500 in 20 minutes, I'll increase that as I go along, but it's taxing on the grip. I must admit my heart rate barely made it to 145 and I try to get it up to 175-180 once or twice a week during conditioning workouts. From this standpoint I was disappointed. I did notice that I started to tense up in my lower back, same problems as before after injury. Still working with my chiropractor, and have seen some very good feedback.

I think I can pull it off in under 40 minutes.


"Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can plan weird; that's easy. What's hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity." -Charles Mingus