Fitness for the Future

When I think of these big dudes throwing weights around, pitching trees end over end, and hurling stones in the air I can't help but think that I'm lacking...desperately. I'd love to think that I look something like the silhouetted man to the right, but I know I look more like the one below it.

Comparisons happen all the time. when we're at the gym, when we're shopping at the mall, on the field...everywhere. If we let the voices inside our heads get to us then WE WILL ALWAYS LOSE. Whether we are a 13-year old girl, a 60+ woman or a pushing-40 man we will never be good enough if we compare ourselves to the next person.

Honestly, I have to say that this has always been hard for me. With my larger frame I wasn't the quickest on the basketball court. I wasn't the tallest or best shooter. But I had heart. Our parents tell us that this is what matters when we're young, but we're too YOUNG to understand that. Now I know that heart, passion, and focus can account for a lot in life. Is it easy? Heck no. But if you've got the heart and focus for it...IT WILL COME.

The reality is our perception of what fitness is needs to change. We're not hopping on the treadmill because someone told us to do it. We shouldn't be pumping iron to look like the next guy. We do these things to be a better version of ourselves. Recently on Facebook I saw this great image that now sits on our fridge.
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For us to continue a life of being fit, it doesn't matter where we start. It matters that we're in the midst of it. I have a goal--a destination, if you will. That's to compete in the MN Scottish Fest Highland Games in 2015. But fitness for me isn't just about next summer. It's about today and what I do for it. If I take a day off from lifting, I remind myself the muscles a break to recover. If I go cardio-crazy for a day, it's because I am trying to be better than I used to be. No comparisons--except to my former self. Friends, I hope you will see your fitness not as a comparison to others, but as a move toward your future.
May you always seek to be well.

The Barnabas Team

Early this morning I did something I have never done. I participated in a 7k road race. No, I didn't run in it. I volunteered as a "cheerer" with a group from our church for the Get Lucky 7k race. When I got to thinking about it, I said we ought to call ourselves "The Barnabas Team".
    
Barnabas, from the the Bible, was known as an encourager. In the book of Acts (4:36), we're told his name even means "Son of Encouragement". Throughout the New Testament, Barnabas is seen financially supporting the ministry of the apostles (Acts 4); was one of the first to support Saul following his conversion (Acts 9); and is an early missionary to other cities (Acts 11 and following). Barnabas encouraged, cheered on, and support those on the front-lines of the ministry work. He too participated, but his chief was to encourage.

So as we cheered, yelled supporting comments, blew our noise-makers, clapped hands, waved pom poms and gave high fives in the below-30 degree temps to the 11,000+ runners along the river in Minneapolis I truly felt like a Barnabas. Much of what these folks were doing I couldn't do. I don't run anymore. With a torn meniscus and cartilage loss in both knees I could only really stand on the sidelines and encourage them on.

When thinking about being an encourager for others in the midst of a difficult weight loss journey, or on a tough road race I believe its important that you use the right words and meet people where they are on the journey. Some of the racers today desperately needed our Barnabas team. We were at the 3.5 mile mark of the total 4.3 miles. You could see that many had hit the wall. Some were fighting through, but all were on the road making it happen. Letting people know that they are "doing great" "Keeping a great pace" or whatever worked for our group. We also were able to let them know that the light at the end of the tunnel was coming. Right after where we stood the road went downhill for a bit and then flattened out toward the finish line. They had less than a mile to go. For some folks, the knowledge that they were almost done was worth it for us. The smiles on their faces, the lightened steps, even the cheers we got back from some of the racers was amazing.

So, on this journey I want to thank my own Barnabas team. My wife and kiddos, those at the church who promise to be there to watch my first Highland Games, and of course my trainer, JR. Without great cheerleaders in your corner the race can be extra long and you may even have the desire to quit. With folks like Barnabas, though, it doesn't seem so bad and reminds you that you CAN do what you set your mind to do.  So thanks to my own Barnabas Team!

Throwing Stones

As this journey continues, I thought it would be good to give readers a bit of an education on the events that take place in a typical highland games competition. Through my reading and looking at different games on the web I have discovered that not all games offer each event. So when I say "typical" that's what I mean. There are a total of 9 different events that can take place in the heavy weights of the Highland Games.
They are:
Braemar Stone put (20
-26 lbs)
Open Stone put (16-22 lbs)
Weights for Distance (both 28 lbs & 56 lbs)
Hammer Throw (for distance--16 & 22 lbs)
Caber Toss (100-180 lbs, 15-22 feet tall)
Tossing the Sheaf (16-22 lbs for height)
Weight for Height (56 lbs)

Of course, the highlight event for many on-lookers is the Caber Toss, there is much more involved throughout the games. Typically the competitor competes in each event. The winner is the person with the top accumulative scores. (So it is possible to win one event and not win the entire thing, although as I've seen if you can get a top score on the Caber Toss, you're pretty golden).

The origin from each of these events harkens back to the days of the Scottish Warriors fighting the English with anything and everything they had. Stones? Check. Big @$$ weights? Check. Trees? Check. Long hammers? Check. check. check. The dudes who could chuck the weights the furthest and the highest were rewarded the opportunity to kick some English butt first. So today we throw tough weights around not just for fun, but also for history. And who doesn't like history if you get to wear a kilt and drink a pint after?

So the first events we look at are the Stone throws. Not unlike the shot put in the track and field events, the lighter stone (truly a stone folks--like go out in your backyard--if its thawed out--and pick up a freakin' rock and toss it) typically weighs around 16-22 lbs. There is a board in the front of the throwing space (called a Trig) which you aren't supposed to cross over. The movements can be varied, but with the lighter stone (called the Open Stone) you are allowed to spin or glide your way up to the trig for extra momentum. With the larger stone (called the Braemar stone-20-26 lbs) you simply keep your feet still (until release) and chuck it as far as you can.

The motions and movements required for these particular events are much different than the others in that you are staying mostly stationary. It's all about explosion, moving your hips, and some serious muscle to throw those babies a LONG way. I'm excited about these two events because in junior high I learned how to throw the shot put and liked it. So I can't wait until the 50 inches of snow we've had this winter finally melts and I can find a couple stones to start chucking around. I may even go somewhere to pick a couple up...just to have something to practice with.

Well, that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed the reading and until next time,

See ya on the field...

A Body in Motion Stays in Motion...

I don't know how many times I've heard fitness gurus use this phrase in talking to couch potatoes like myself. Of course they are talking about physics (something I don't understand and really don't care to understand). A body in motion stays in motion and a body in rest stays in rest. Its pretty simple.
      As a former couch potato, I didn't understand what the big deal was. So what? I like rest. I don't mind moving from one couch to the other and then to the recliner. I'm moving positions aren't I? Guess not.
      Well after getting back into the gym at the beginning of the year I can say that I'm starting to understand what all the hype was about. It is so much easier to stay moving (going to the gym, walking, running--which I don't do, lifting, etc.) when you first get going. and when you're carrying this kind of weight it is tough to get it moving. That's why I started easy at first. I've done the hit the gym hard for 7 days and never look back (until the ankle tweaks or the knee gives out). It never worked. So this time I decided to change it up. For the first few weeks I just went 2-3 times. No guilt about not going more than that. I was beginning to get the body in motion so that meant...baby steps. Baby steps...right Bob? Baby steps out the door. Baby steps into the gym. Baby steps on the rat wheel (treadmill). It was all about baby steps.
       Then last week hit. For some reason the reason this big body liked the feeling of working out. I am feeling stronger (benched 140 today for the first time since....uh....college) and the elliptical is my new best friend. Actually, it's second to my trainer, J.R. Bonus. (sounds like a cool big-dude name, doesn't it?) JR is a former professional (FAKE) wrestler but still in pretty good shape for his age...which is like ancient. Anyway, suffice it to say that this body has gotten into motion really well. The knees are holding up, and while I know there will be setbacks, I'm sure that this body will stay in motion much more than stay at rest.
       So to go along with the blog today, we offer a Health Tip of the Day courtesy of JR Bonus. JR's Health Tip of the Day is: Get off the couch!
     Thanks for all the support friends!
See ya on the field...