Tuesday, February 7, 2012

What's Really Keeping You From Getting Fit Right Now?

  Here are some excuses and my responses.

     Gym Membership (don't have one): Put money aside for this important monthly payment.  Your fitness is your life.  Warning: You might have to cut out two family trips to fast food restaurants to pay for this.
     Bored with your workout videos: Get one on Netflix or borrow a DVD from a friend.  Everyone wants to share their old workout videos.   Jane Fonda in Spandex anyone?
     Kid needs me all the time: Sorry Dr. Laura.  I don't agree with you on this one. Find a gym with a nursery.  They will be fine. So they get to play in a pink-eye pit or watch Sponge Bob on the television.  Strengthen those muscles and look at adults who are doing the same thing.  Your offspring will learn from your example about the importance of being fit.  Plus there is nothing like endorphins to help get along with others (cough... your children... cough cough).
     Too many things to do: People, you have to change your priorities.  Let the dishes go for a couple of more hours.  Ask your spouse to throw the laundry in or vacuum and then do the same for them when they need to work out.  If he/she won't do that for you then you better start working out because there are issues in your relationship (I'm just saying........).
     "What do you mean I don't work out?  I'm on the same trail as you, Sadie darling."  Yep I see you out there walking slowly with your friends thinking you are working out with that coffee mocha-fatte in hand.  Walk faster.  Get more mileage under your belt.  Meet at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and end there for a victory skinny latte after your *fast* walk.  (If you are injured, I'm not talking to you so don't get all riled up....)
     And dammit!  Walk that dog of yours. You know who you are!  Poor dog wants to eat me as I run past your house because they haven't been on a walk in days or weeks because you think your 'burb backyard is spacious enough for this beast.  Your yard is not big enough. These are animals that need to roam because the Call of the Wild is real (Jack London was extremely canine aware.  It is FREE for the  Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/Call-Wild-ebook/dp/B002RKSZCG.) Walk your Canis domesticus, please, even if it is just up and down the street.  I'm scared they are going to jump the fence, gnaw on my legs, and suck the gel out of my Gu packs for dessert.



       For your viewing pleasure... a little workout to "...bounce, bounce, bounce..." to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu7c9H6ngLI


Find your moxie and live your life.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Why Do You Run?

     Sitting in Sbux at the well-used table by the barista's bar, I sipped the Venti Skinny Mocha and flipped the pages in a fitness magazine that I picked up at the Surf City Half Marathon post race exposition.  "Why Do You Run?" in bold font was printed on the cover with a red-headed woman staring out at me.
     There were the pedestrian answers, "I run because I like to eat," or "I run because I like the jewelry."  Others run because they feel strong, want to be alone or outdoors, or faster than, "...guys twice my size." Some went full Descartes with, "I run therefore I am." It has not taken much time for me to answer this question today.
     Kierkegaardian/Nietzschian existentialism (though let's not get into the argument of existence or non-existence of god) formulates the basis for running.  I am an individual who embraces life passionately. I am responsible for keeping my muscles firing, strengthening the marrow in my bones, and developing skills.  Running, along with so many other things I do (learning languages, cooking and tasting fine foods and wine, watching tv with the family, yoga, RAGNAR, traveling, golf, teaching, reading, meeting new people, loving) gives my life meaning despite obstacles of fear, angst, hate, doubt, alienation, absurdity (see Kierkegaard's absurdism), placed in front of us.
     I run because it is something that I value and it brings meaning to my life.  Plus, had Nietzsche been around for Shorter or Prefontaine when he said the following, "All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking,"  he might have included running in his quotation, too.