A programming Zen

Milestones.

Age? 1, 13, 16, 18, 21, 25, 40, 50, 60...all having a reason to celebrate the next 'chapter' in our lives. First birthday, teenager, drivers license, lottery tickets, shots, car rental, 'over the hill', and the 10+ thereafter are all milestones.

Firsts? communion, acceptance letter, job, apartment, pet.

Training? A new personal record, weight loss on the scale, new pair of pants you have been dying to fit into, new body fat percentage, decrease pain and injury.

All milestones in life.

What do these all have in common? A milestone is a part of your personal journey, goals, motivation and concepts.

What does this have to do with fitness...hear me out.

Sure, its easy to say you're 'going to the gym.' I can go to the gym all day...hang out...lift things up and put things down. But what am I really doing? Too often to I hear from people and see people with this exact concept. Start with some bicep curls to make me feel good--then hit up the 'ab' machine to start my 6 pack, maybe end with some recumbent bike. Sounds about right. If I'm really feeling good I'll throw in some tricep exercises. Sounds like a day. 2 hours later...a protein cocktail down the hatch...you must be exhausted.

If this sounds like your workout or if you have done something similar, I would insert apology here for being so blunt, but you have no idea what you are doing. I was once told by a friend on how upfront I was to him about his love life...well take me as I am, I'll tell you like it is. Ab machines are out, bicep curls with a mouth piece are useless, and the recumbent bike on a level 1, RPM's at 150 will help you with joint mobility and not so much with fat loss. Moving on?

Its time for a plan. Its time for new exercises and time to hit your milestones with power.

Create a plan of action.

1. Write out three goals you would like to accomplish in 3 months.

2. Read new fitness articles (I don't care what it is, just start reading)

3. Look for nutritional information (the good, bad, and the ugly)

4. Ask for help, stop being shy. Most fitness experts are willing to help and will respond to your e mails!

Its possible to hit your milestones and goals and feel great. It starts with you and gaining knowledge and ends with success.

Create a plan, execute it, learn from it, achieve, believe.

From the Inside

I have been motivated to create a new goal for myself every month this year. During the month of march I have not given up, I have taken a new approach to my goal. Although this one is not a physical project, it is a project that is about being me. Too often did I find myself wanting to compete, change my body, look a certain way, perform a certain way to please others. The drive was starting to be found on the outside rather than the inside. Outside of me was goal oriented, the inside was crumbling. So I have made march about the goal of being ME.

How often is it about you? How often do you pick something during your day that solely focuses on your needs for yourself?

We sometimes have other people doing this for us, but we forget an important aspect of digging inside instead of outside and helping ourselves.

I see this with many of my clients who are beautiful mothers, athletes, parents, business owners, and hard workers. They put other people before them. My job to them, I always start my training sessions by saying "This time, this hour of training that we spend together is about YOU. Its about your work, your body, your mindset, your goals."

I post this picture of Joe Pa during a strength and conditioning practice at Penn State, 2011 because it shows just this. At a ripe age of 84, he is still showing who he is, his passion, his efforts, and his love. Its for the game. That last 10 minutes of gassers at the end of practice is for the team, for the coaches, for the glory, but starts within YOU. Others will see this, become inspired and the efforts continue.

Forget about what the 'outside' wants or wants to see. Dig deep and find it from the inside. Be who you are, rely on that to help you overcome our obstacles. Create new challenges for yourself; and know that every month it can be something that works on you from within to shine without.

Be it. dream it. believe it.

-K-Fed.