The fitness lifestyle has always intrigued me. At the age of 15, I got my first taste, and it as around 2 years later I got to start lifting in gym class. I finally had a weightlifting class, and our teacher/football coach is (and was) a beast. A man of mythical proportions. When I saw him and his presence, and how that presence demanded respect, I knew that’s what I wanted. Flash forward 10+ years and I’m still striving to achieve more.
The Lifestyle
This period of time has allowed me to go through the many different phases of maturity. The key is to learn from those mistakes and re-establish your goals each year. Setup mini goals to continue to accomplish and live the fitness lifestyle. I had a high school girlfriend that I decided would take priority over fitness. Then, came college and drinking. After that things began to balance out and I was living the true lifestyle. However, two of life’s great moments seemed to get me off course. I would not consider these mistakes, but they did allow me to stray. Marriage and our firstborn. I would NEVER take back that time to trade it for anything different because I love my son and my wife. However, I do wish I had maintained the course rather than becoming complacent.
Overcoming Obstacles
What do you do when you are faced with obstacles? Do you stay the course? If so, why? Those are questions that need to be answered. It is very easy when you do not have established goals to end up off track. Slowly, but surely, you will end up like me in the forever bulking stage. Which means you do gain muscle but you never trim away the fat. Set goals and establish timelines. Be able to overcome different obstacles by establishing longer term goals. Do I want to get married? Do I want kids? Will I live near a gym? These may seem odd and may seem crazy if your girlfriend ever gets ahold of them. However, they are keys to success. You need to plan things accordingly to make sure that you can maintain.
If you want to get married, be sure that your future bride CLEARLY understands exactly what you do daily. If you go on vacation, she needs to know a gym needs to be close by or you will surely lose it. You can eat out once per week, but that is all. Bringing home taco’s is a nice gesture, however it causes you to stray. If you own a home, be sure you are near a gym, or have a nice home gym setup. Otherwise, that 15-30 minute drive to the gym (plus the return time home) can get tedious and tiring on you and your significant other. Same with children. Are you comfortable leaving your child home for an hour or two after work (or leave early to workout before work) and sacrificing that time with your child? Plan, and plan often.
Learn As You Progress
Things can get really easy or really difficult. You may have a plan and you may get off course. The key is to constantly update your progress and learn from it. How can you get better? What can you do to make life easier for you and those around you? These things will make life much less stressful. As you progress toward your goals, continue to re-assess to make sure you stay the course.
Why does this seem like a lecture on planning? Without planning, it is easy to become complacent. Know where you want to be in 5 to 10 years with your life and your body. Without this it is far too easy to become complacent. You cannot earn back time. All you have is the road ahead. Whatever you have behind you is already paved. Plan accordingly, plan often, and be consistent.
