Lessons On The Run

Why am I so passionate about fitness? Well for me it started during my days at Apple Computer Inc. I was a national account rep covering the state of Tennessee. My days consisted of driving, meetings, and an unlimited expense account to take clients out to eat. It did not take long for my weight to start to creep up the scale. I went from 170 to over 210 in a matter of months thanks to Outback bloomin onions and late night Krispy Kreme runs. Here are a couple of pics to show you what I looked like.

Needless to say, I was eating well! From time to time I noticed a tightness in my shoulders and across my chest. I thought it was just from being behind the steering wheel of a car multiple hours a day, but after a while it got my attention enough to go to the doctor’s office for a visit. He did a basic physical with all of the fun little tests they do. When I came back for the results his words kind of stunned me. He said I was a walking heart attack. My blood pressure was up, my cholesterol off the charts, my weight approaching the obese category. His diagnosis was that all of this coupled with the stress of a very busy life was going to cost me everything. That doctor scared me. I am sure that was exactly what he intended to do. He talked about my wife not having a husband, my kids not having a dad, never seeing my children get married, never holding any grandchildren in my arms. He said I was in real danger of missing it all unless I got took control of my health.

That was a wake-up call for me and I took it very serious. Over the next six months, I dropped 40 pounds by eating a low fat diet and working out every day. I brought all of the scary medical numbers into the normal range. The tightness in the chest went away. I made a decision to never go back to that unhealthy place. It was the least I could do for my wife, my kids, the people I served at work and at church, and for myself. It took some courage and a strong act of the will, but it was worth all of the time, pain, and sweat.

I tell you my story to encourage you in your own struggle for health and fitness. Do it for yourself but more importantly do it for those you love. Change your diet, get up and get moving, set some goals, and get yourself healthy and fit. You are worth the effort and your loved ones deserve you at your best. Do not listen to those who want to tell you that “you are fine” in the unhealthy state you are living in. One of the biggest problems in our country today with our health is that we are not being honest about our overweight, out of shape epidemic. We comfort one another by growing larger together! Start a revolution in your family. Even if you are the only one to get started, GO! I promise it will be worth every drop of sweat and every denial of your sugary desires.

Remember that every day you are either taking a step forward or a step backward. There is no neutral in this life! Take a step or two today in the right direction. You, and the ones you love will be glad you did!

Tomorrow, I want to talk about some tips for the fitness journey that have worked for me and may just help you achieve your healthy goals.

gotta run,

steve

I have been a member of my gym for the last thirteen years, and it has changed quite a bit. In 1998 it was a small gym where you knew the routines of most people, you knew that the majority were there to actually workout, and you rarely had a crowd to deal with except for January and February. Today my gym looks more like a sweaty Walmart and is as much a place for socializing as it is staying fit. With all of these changes it appears that no one has taken the time to explain a few basic gym manners. Let me share a few that hopefully will help you the next time you head for a workout.

1. Leave the texting and phone conversations for someone else. The gym is a place to workout, not to catch up on texting, emails, or phone calls.

2. Rotate on and off machines. If you are going to do 10 sets on a machine, do a couple, rotate off, and then come back. Give others a chance to get their sets in while you hit another machine. If you need it that long, buy one!

3. Don’t watch 5 minutes of tv while sitting on a machine between sets. These people drive me crazy! They do a set, watch ESPN for 5 minutes, and then do another set. In the meantime 2-3 people could have used the machine.

4. Wipe down equipment after you use it. Do we really even have to say this?

5. NEVER hold equipment by leaving your gear on a machine while you run hit some reps somewhere else. You are not that important and unless your name is Gold and it really is your gym, take your turn like everyone else.

6. If you are going to talk to someone while you are on a treadmill, keep the volume down. I truly believe that some people have their vocal volume control connected to their pulse rate. The harder they workout, the louder they get.

7. Don’t grunt every time you lift a weight. Okay, you want all of us to know how strong you are when what you are telling us is how insecure you are.

There you go! Seven things to think about next time you go to the gym.

gotta run,

steve

Do you build walls around yourself to guard against temptation? If not, it may be one of the best strategies to avoid the fight that temptation brings. Let me explain.

Boundaries are lines drawn in your life that you simply do not cross. They keep you away from trouble and they keep you in check. Let me show you with some of my fitness boundaries.

Weight – Does not get over 180 and does not get below 165

Running – Does not get below 20 miles per week and does not get above 40 miles per week

Time in gym – Does not get below 5 hours per week and does not get above 10 hours per week.

I like to have minimum and maximum boundaries when it comes to my fitness because I want to guard against the temptation to slack off and the temptation to over indulge as well.

Here are some other areas where you may need to guard yourself by having some boundaries.

Personal Time With God

Relationships With The Opposite Sex

How You Spend Your Money

Any Other Area In Your Life Where You Find Temptation Getting The Best Of You.

Boundaries are your friend. They put an imaginary “electric fence” around you and remind you that temptation lies just outside the border of that fence. Many of us see how close we can get to trouble without partaking. Boundaries allow us the freedom to not worry about ever getting to the place where trouble lurks.

Put a boundary or two in your life today! I’ll bet it helps you stay on track and keeps you further away from the enemy.

gotta run,

steve

A few days ago, I spoke at an event here at Shandon for married couples. The topic for the evening was “Harnessing Hungry”, and it was about dealing with the temptations that come before us. These temptations have the potential to derail  us from the best that God intends. I want to spend the majority of this week dealing more with this topic, that can ruin not only a good run but also many other things in our lives that are much more precious.

As I try to stay fit, many temptations come my way that seek to take my eyes off the goal. Most of these are not bad things in themselves, they are simply alternatives to the disciplined life I am trying to live. Some of these are specific temptations, but others are just subtle feelings that seek to pull me away from my intended path. Among them are…

1. Busy calendar

2. Feeling tired

3. Snacks and candy around the office and at home

4. A lunch offer

5. Feeling satisfied and apathetic

There are many more but each of these have a way of distracting me from my fitness mission. Here are some of the things I think you have to remember about temptations. One, they are usually not bad things. None of the distractions listed above are particularly harmful or unique. They just get in the way of where I want to go. Two, most of these are really easy to resist or engage. Most temptations are not particularly strong in their pull. Saying no or yes to them is surprisingly simple. Finally, many temptations hold very little harm if you have an occasional slip, but if that slip becomes a habit, you can find yourself in a terrible place. One sugary doughnut or missed run is not going to harm anyone, but if one becomes a half a dozen or a missed run becomes a missed week of runs, watch out!

This week I want you to identify two temptations that derail you from a goal you are trying to achieve. Write them down somewhere. Next, write down what giving into these temptations is costing you. Last, write down an alternative action you will take this week when the temptation comes your way.  Now, just stick to the plan this week.  Remember, it is really not that hard to say no to a temptation, but you need a plan of escape.

Let’s take some first steps toward triumph over temptation this week.

gotta run,

steve

Here is a question for all of you who are married or who plan to get married one day. Are you maritally fit?

Are you taking the time to discipline yourself to be the best possible spouse you can be? Here are some diagnostic questions to ask yourself.

1. What physical/emotional/spiritual trait are you working on right now that will make you a better partner in your marriage?

2. What is a character flaw that you need to remove from your life in order to be the spouse you are called to be?

3. When was the last time you honestly asked your spouse where you could improve as a partner? (And honestly wanted them to answer)

4. What book have you read in the last year that helped you become a better spouse?

5. In the last month, how have you sacrificed yourself to extravagantly meet your spouse’s needs/desires? Do you even know your spouse’s needs and desires?

The Bible tells us we are to “run the race as if to win”. This means that we are to do whatever we need to do in the form of discipline and training to be the best we can be in all things, and that includes our marriage. Living a discipline free, me first, this is who I am kind of life may be easier, but it is sure not running to win.

The Word also tells us to “walk in love”. It does not say to fall in love or seek to be loved. It conveys that we are to be active in loving. We have a responsibility to become a better lover of our spouse, and that requires constant, grace affirming evaluation and improvement. The only way to continually have a better marriage is to continually work at being a better spouse.

Why wouldn’t you want to work at being the best of the best as a spouse? If you are not yet married, why wouldn’t you be preparing yourself to be the best if God calls you into that role? Why settle for mediocrity when excellence is right around the marriage fitness corner?

One more word from the Word. We are told as followers of Christ to do ALL THINGS as unto the Lord. How are you stacking up in your marriage in this regard? If you are not where you want to be take heart. All great changes start with an initial step!

gotta run,

steve