Personal fitness - it's at least worth $40.23

I have, ashamedly, been in a season of life where personal fitness has not been a priority. I think about it every day - whether I'm motivated by close friends who maintain a healthy lifestyle...or worse when I feel sluggish, tired, or like a lump of mashed potatoes (you remember the bland, chunky kind you used to get in grade school cafeteria?!).

I've tried "dieting." Doesn't really work. I've done "starting that daily workout routine next Monday" bit - doesn't really work. True - I do need to watch what I eat and make more disciplined choices in terms of food. However, I do think diets are not the answer - at least in the short term. If your eating habits have been like mine since November 2003 (yeah, that's when I started full-time touring), I've found that it's almost impossible to immediately couple a stringent diet with a newly found enthusiasm for working out. The shelf life of that routine for me lasts about 10 days on average. 

There are some people who can do it. My good friend Troy pretty much flipped the switch, immediately got into a routine, and participated in and finished a Triathlon recently. I am SUPER impressed by what he and his brother are doing. Check out their blog by clicking HERE. I'm not speculating it was easy for Troy. I know for a fact that he too has gone in and out of various diets and methods in the past. He is, however, very athletic - which obviously helps. I have not been so gifted! I like sports and have played them almost all of my life. My biggest problem is that I have not ever tuned my body or my lifestyle to be "athletic." Being a drummer, I completely buy into the importance of muscle memory. While I can play an occasional game of tennis or football and have fun - it's just that...very occasional. 

Furthermore the biggest hurdle is MENTAL. Like Troy, I've just got to flip that switch. Today I decided to at least start that process. My neighborhood commons turned one of our two tennis courts into a half-court basketball area with a sweet new goal (pic - left). Since I technically helped pay for it - I figured "why not use it?!" So I went to Target and purchased a Spalding NBA Street basketball and 2 inflating needles for $15.23. 

Oh, the other $25.00 was for a new access key to our pool and court areas - I

accidentally left the old one in my previously owned, totaled, and probably now sold off into a million pieces '99 Subaru Forester L (pic of the day it died). 

Unlike my friends the Brothers Collins - I am NOT a baller. In fact, if I'm on the court and see a group of 15-16 y/o punks who CAN ball heading my way, I will quickly start walking (or dribbling) the other way! But rather than trying to keep a schedule of rigorous workouts and downing powders or cardboard-ish Healthy Choices - moderation will be my lifestyle. I think if I can eat in moderation and at least do one physical activity per day (like shooting hoops, jogging, doing crunches or push-ups, swimming laps, etc.) for at least 4-6 weeks straight I will start to begin kicking up the dust on that path to health.  Then, once my body has at least started to get in tune, I can consider looking at FINE tuning with dieting and workout schedules. This is at least what I think - am I crazy?

So here's some personal goals for this initial period: 1) Discipline: food choices and daily activities (eat in moderation & cut out excessive breads & sweets), 2) Flexibility: I'm a stiff white boy - I want to learn how to stretch effectively and begin to loosen those tight muscles, 3) Weight: I'd like to lose 5-10 pounds in this initial period - why not?!

The 4-6 week period could last longer - thinking that I don't want to put parameters, limits, or a box around this. I wan to push myself, of course, but this time I want to try the gradual process. I don't know what the next level for me "looks" or "feels" like, but I'll know when I'm there and will be ready for the next step. Stay tuned to [ k-Blog ] - I'll keep you posted!