Maybe Your Why is Big Enough

Invariably, when you read personal development books or listen to self help tapes (or Mp3s! You young people and your kryptonite-like technology...) the author will get to a part about finding your Why. Why you want to change your life. What's the big reason? Is it life changing? Is it so big you'll lay awake at night consumed by it?

They make you think that it has to be in neon flashing lights, in an insanely garish font about the size of a building, right there guiding you like a lighthouse! This is my WHY!!!

But recently I've had an epiphany of sorts. Maybe your why doesn't have to be all that huge. Maybe your why can be this small tiny little thing that's always in the back of your head. An itch you have to touch. Its not life changing, at least at the moment. Maybe your why just has to be a start. Maybe it can be something like why.

I'm going to let you in on a secret. That tiny why was me. That little thing was why I started on my fitness journey. It's what has led me to lose over 50 pounds and, as of this writing go from a 44" waist to a 35" waist. It's what's let me to be passionate about inspiring and helping others believe that "they can." And it was a tiny, even ridiculous, why. And I can remember it like it was yesterday, even though it's been over 6 years now. Ready?

I got sick and tired of having to pull my man-boob out of the way to look at the iPod on my belt.

That's it. That was the entire reason I started my fitness journey.

Man-boob. iPod. Belt.

That's all.

So my thinking is this. If you have a grand idea, a huge why, that's fantastic. Change your life. Reverse the young deaths of males in your family. Beat diabetes. Don't be obese any longer. Healthy cholesterol. Cure your depression. Be there to walk your daughter down the aisle. Incredible. You can do it. I believe that.

But maybe all you need to start is a tiny little why. Walk up the stairs without huffing and puffing. Fit into those pants. Go on that roller coaster ride.

Just something small. Something small that changes your life. That will change the life of others. That serves to eventually give you a new direction. A little, tiny, insignificant why that leads to massive change.

What was it for me? Funny you should ask.

Man-boob. iPod. Belt.

The "I Can't" Crowd

I’m finding, as I find my own fitness, and as I get older, I have very little patience with the “I can’t” and ‘woe is me” school of thought. I suppose it’s because I think everyone should have the same attitude I had when I had my health issues – “This is terrible, I’m a freak, what’s going to happen to me, why me, this is awful, why me, why me, why me?” I had my pity party…then I got over myself, realized this is the hand I was dealt, let’s go. But not everyone does that, and that’s their bag. But it is aggravating.

Case in point: on one of the groups I belong to for people who had or are going to have the surgeries I had, there was a post from someone basically complaining that they had gained around 50 pounds since their operation and nothing they tried could get the weight to come off. They described how they ate like a bird and couldn’t lose weight. They talked about how they only really ate a handful of fruit and maybe some nuts, hardly anything at all and couldn’t understand why they were still, well…fat.

Right away I say they’re not eating enough. Sometimes you have to eat more to weigh less, you know. But I was at work and couldn’t answer right away. Others stepped up and explained a few things and made suggestions. Apparently, several people are having success with the paleo diet and here is where things went south for me.

The person answers, “Oh I’ve looked into that and have a bunch of cookbooks for it but it’s too expensive and too much of a lifestyle change.”

And that simple statement told me everything I needed to know. No matter what advice or ideas I could give, it’s not their time to change yet. They haven’t reached that point…what Anthony Robbins says is the “No More, Not Another Day, Not Another Second” point where they’ll be ready and do what’s necessary to change.

And…there’s nothing I can do about that. Will I abandon or stop trying to advise and help? Of course not. Will I continue to be an inspiration to people? Of course. (Although, truth be told, I am still uncomfortable with that. To me, as I’ve stated, it’s just the hand I was dealt. But if I can be, I will be.) It’s a hard thing for us fitness people to understand that sometimes the only thing we can do is wait.

I’ve got the answer to a lot of stuff but until and unless someone is ready to hear it…I can’t do anything about that. They’ll continue to “I Can’t” their way through until they either hit that point or realize the “I Can” side of the street looks a lot better.

And that’s up to them.

I Remember Why Insanity is called Insanity

I decided to do the Insanity workout again about a month ago, just before the 2014 Beachbody Coach Summit, so I could build up my stamina and endurance to keep up with those young whipper-snappers in the group workouts. It worked! I'm 54, felt 24, unfortunately I feel so good I think I still look 24, which explains the odd looks from the hot, young, fit, Beachbody ladies. (I'm sure they were wondering why is this guy as old as my dad talking to me like that!?!)

When I returned I decided to just keep on trucking and finish a round of Insanity. It's only 4 more weeks after all. Yes...4 more weeks of the MAX workouts. Each about an hour long. Each a sweatfest. Each trying to kill me.

I'm only a couple of days in and have burned a total of over 1900 calories. It's amazing to me that one can burn that many calories simply by being on their knees in their garage workout space, in a pool of their own sweat, repeating over and over, "I can't breathe!" Did I mention I'm 54?

Well...I'm in it now. I often say there's no quit in me. I realize that, while I may never be able to finish one of the workouts in its totality with out pausing it, watching the DVD with a "you want me to do what now who?" expression on my face, and stopping to get more water, at the end of this month I'll probably be in much better shape than I was at the beginning. And that consistency will pay off.

But I swear when I see Shaun T in person, I'm gonna smack him in the head!