Let Them Eat Cake (03-23-09)
Back in the latter part of the eighteenth century, France was ruled by Louis XVI and his wife, an Austrian import, named Marie Antoinette. Let us just say that she was not well received by the populace, who already just about had it with the aristocracy and the monarchy in particular. And the arrival of a foreign model fresh off the assembly line didn’t make matters any better. Marie was extravagant almost beyond belief and the press of that era painted her with words that even the media of today would balk at when talking about a public figure, as difficult as that might be to believe. France was in a pretty bad situation financially and Marie was the cause of it all, or at least that is what they made her out to be. She was even dubbed with the sobriquet of “Madame Deficit.”
There were widespread famines and shortages throughout the reign of her husband, Louis and things were not looking good. It is reported that one day, upon being informed that the populace was suffering greatly due to the shortage of bread, she replied with the now famous phrase, “Then let them eat cake.”
Now, it is questionable as to whether or not she actually said such a thing, but from the very beginning of his reign, Louis was painted as incompetent and somewhat naïve. Adding Marie to the mix, with her excesses just made it easier for the average citizen to believe when the country was in turmoil, recession and on the brink of revolution.
Fast forward to the twenty first century. You, yes you, are Marie Antoinette. I know, I know, most of you just aren’t pretty enough, but some of the gals are. Hopefully, in the current economy, you are a little more reserved in your spending. When it’s someone else’s money, it is somehow easier to be extravagant. Now, unlike the real Marie, you have a desire to satisfy the populace and yourself at the same time. And, again, unlike her, you may be regretting the excesses of a winter of food and frolic. With the warmer weather coming, you will be ready for wearing less clothing and exposing a little more flesh. You will be rummaging through the closets and drawers to pull out those bathing suits, short sleeved tops and shorts. And, when you go out among the crowd, what will your subjects, your public, be expected to feast upon? Will you present them with a meal that is gross and unpalatable? Will that extra flesh be a little more than they can handle? Or, will you give them something more pleasing to the palate, and a little easier on the eyes? It’s time to put in the extra effort; to get to work. Marie neglected her job and lost her head over it. Will you? Oh, make no mistake, you can be arrogant and say “let them eat cake.” But, will it be pound cake or beefcake?
___________________
Copyright 2004-2009 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
# 252 – Peripheral Vision
Peripheral Vision (03-16-09)
If you have ever been to an optometrist, one of the tests that will be given for your eyes is to check your peripheral vision. The test will gauge how far outside of your normal central area of vision you are able to see. For lack of better words, it checks your side vision or those fringe areas where you are just able to see light or motion, but not necessarily distinct images.
Peripheral vision can be a wonderful thing and even a lifesaver. It helps you to duck out of the way of that wayward baseball coming at you almost from behind that you hadn’t expected. It helps you to avoid that car coming out of the side street as you are about to step off the curb. Hell, it even gives you a heads up on that mischievous friend of yours who is making his move to dump that beer on your head. Quite simply, peripheral vision allows us to keep tabs on the world around us while we are focusing on the world in front of us.
Recently, I went to a concert with a group of friends. It was loads of fun with plenty of music and laughter. But, as I was sitting there, taking it all in, I couldn’t help but notice the eerie glow of the many screens from cell phones and other electronic devices in the crowd seated in the rows in front of me. And that glow was not intermittent. For some, it was constant throughout the three hours of entertainment. One hoped at some point that the batteries would give out, but that was not to be. And, while there was no phone use allowed, in the sense of having phones ring during the concert, there was plenty of activity taking place. There was the ongoing checking for important messages by people who did not look in the least to me like brain surgeons waiting for that report on their patient. There was the constant text messaging, no doubt telling friends what a great concert this was, all the while they were so engrossed in their phone that they were actually experiencing as much of the concert as the friend on the other end of that text message. And, there was the ever-popular web browsing, I can only conjecture, to entertain themselves while they were, uh, being entertained.
All of these people, in a very real sense, were using peripheral vision. They had surrendered their eyesight for the events in front of them and were devoting the lion’s share of their attention to the fringe areas of their lives. In the same sense, just in noticing them, I was guilty of that peripheral vision, too, even though they were pretty hard to ignore.
It happens, more than we would like to admit, that we get caught up in the peripherals of our lives or in the peripherals of our training and forget what the hell we are really out to accomplish. We get so involved in picking the perfect program, the right shoes, the best moisture wicking gear. We obsess about micronutrients and macronutrients and percentages of proteins, carbs and fats that we eat. We try to get that perfect mix loaded on the iPod, or look constantly for that magic piece of equipment that will complete our training arsenal. And in all of this, sometimes we forget that the real purpose of what we do is to lift the damned weight and get stronger, run the damned course and get faster and eat the damned food and get healthier. We let our peripheral vision direct our actions and literally close our eyes to the goal right in front of us as we try to perfect the fringe areas of our training. If you are one of those people using your peripheral vision more than you need to, and I am as guilty as the next guy, then it’s time to look ahead. The only thing you want to use peripheral vision for is to stay out in front of that other guy coming up from behind, because he is the you of yesterday, and you don’t want him catching up while you’re not paying attention.
___________________
Copyright 2004-2009 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
If you have ever been to an optometrist, one of the tests that will be given for your eyes is to check your peripheral vision. The test will gauge how far outside of your normal central area of vision you are able to see. For lack of better words, it checks your side vision or those fringe areas where you are just able to see light or motion, but not necessarily distinct images.
Peripheral vision can be a wonderful thing and even a lifesaver. It helps you to duck out of the way of that wayward baseball coming at you almost from behind that you hadn’t expected. It helps you to avoid that car coming out of the side street as you are about to step off the curb. Hell, it even gives you a heads up on that mischievous friend of yours who is making his move to dump that beer on your head. Quite simply, peripheral vision allows us to keep tabs on the world around us while we are focusing on the world in front of us.
Recently, I went to a concert with a group of friends. It was loads of fun with plenty of music and laughter. But, as I was sitting there, taking it all in, I couldn’t help but notice the eerie glow of the many screens from cell phones and other electronic devices in the crowd seated in the rows in front of me. And that glow was not intermittent. For some, it was constant throughout the three hours of entertainment. One hoped at some point that the batteries would give out, but that was not to be. And, while there was no phone use allowed, in the sense of having phones ring during the concert, there was plenty of activity taking place. There was the ongoing checking for important messages by people who did not look in the least to me like brain surgeons waiting for that report on their patient. There was the constant text messaging, no doubt telling friends what a great concert this was, all the while they were so engrossed in their phone that they were actually experiencing as much of the concert as the friend on the other end of that text message. And, there was the ever-popular web browsing, I can only conjecture, to entertain themselves while they were, uh, being entertained.
All of these people, in a very real sense, were using peripheral vision. They had surrendered their eyesight for the events in front of them and were devoting the lion’s share of their attention to the fringe areas of their lives. In the same sense, just in noticing them, I was guilty of that peripheral vision, too, even though they were pretty hard to ignore.
It happens, more than we would like to admit, that we get caught up in the peripherals of our lives or in the peripherals of our training and forget what the hell we are really out to accomplish. We get so involved in picking the perfect program, the right shoes, the best moisture wicking gear. We obsess about micronutrients and macronutrients and percentages of proteins, carbs and fats that we eat. We try to get that perfect mix loaded on the iPod, or look constantly for that magic piece of equipment that will complete our training arsenal. And in all of this, sometimes we forget that the real purpose of what we do is to lift the damned weight and get stronger, run the damned course and get faster and eat the damned food and get healthier. We let our peripheral vision direct our actions and literally close our eyes to the goal right in front of us as we try to perfect the fringe areas of our training. If you are one of those people using your peripheral vision more than you need to, and I am as guilty as the next guy, then it’s time to look ahead. The only thing you want to use peripheral vision for is to stay out in front of that other guy coming up from behind, because he is the you of yesterday, and you don’t want him catching up while you’re not paying attention.
___________________
Copyright 2004-2009 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Monday, March 9, 2009
# 251 – Daylight Slaving Time
Daylight Slaving Time (03-09-09)
Well I hope all of you are recovering from that loss of a single hour of sleep over the weekend. That loss, like some universal jet lag, is the scapegoat for any number of issues in our lives from missing church on Sunday to missing a workout the following Wednesday. We have, of course, just entered into that controversial time of year governed by Daylight Saving Time. (Note that there is no “s” after the word “saving.”) I say controversial, because you will probably find as many people in favor of it as you will those who would just prefer that we stop giving Father Time an annual goose.
While the idea has been attributed to, or one might say blamed on, any number of people, including good old Ben Franklin, the annual adjustment, much like the work of some temporal chiropractor, was the doing of one William Willet an English builder and sportsman. Bill, you see, took a morning ride on his horse each day and was simply appalled at the number of his fellow countrymen who were still sleeping away the daylight hours. He was also an avid golfer and got very much put out when he had to put away the clubs at dusk. He came up with the idea and lobbied for it until his death in 1915. It was not implemented during his lifetime, but the idea struck a chord with the Germans in 1916 and the music made its way to the United States by 1918 when it was adopted. Adopted is a good word, because it was much like a wayward stepchild, loved by some and summarily ignored by others.
Of course, in 1918, the process involved nothing more than moving the hands of the mantel clock in the living room ahead one hour and perhaps grandpa adjusting his pocket watch. Today, the greater part of a day can be spent adjusting everything from clocks, to microwave ovens, video recorders, telephone message machines, GPS units, the stove, the refrigerator, the coffee maker, and that new digital toilet you just had to have for the bathroom.
Initially used as a way to cut power usage for a newly electrified nation, its purpose has changed much over the years and has come full circle to return to Willet’s original idea of providing some extra daylight for afternoon and evening activities. In our modern world, often those activities have little to do with the outdoors, in the sense that Willet had in mind. If you own a home, for instance, that extra hour is just something that can be used to clear another item off the “honey do” list. As spring approaches there are weeds to be pulled, mulch to be spread, windows to be washed, screens to be installed, shutters to be painted, and decks to be scrubbed. In short, it’s Daylight Slaving Time.
Now, even with all the work ahead of me, I actually look forward to the extra daylight and generally take on and get into the “get ‘er done” mode of operation and I am sure a lot of you do too. What I would like to suggest, however, is that we all put a little hold on Daylight Slaving Time once in awhile, by taking the opportunity, if only once or twice a week, to use that extra daylight to do something that good old Mr. Willet had in mind for us. After all, there are trails to be hiked, roads to be biked, tracks to be run, hills to be climbed, games to be played and bodies to be challenged.
___________________
Copyright 2004-2009 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Well I hope all of you are recovering from that loss of a single hour of sleep over the weekend. That loss, like some universal jet lag, is the scapegoat for any number of issues in our lives from missing church on Sunday to missing a workout the following Wednesday. We have, of course, just entered into that controversial time of year governed by Daylight Saving Time. (Note that there is no “s” after the word “saving.”) I say controversial, because you will probably find as many people in favor of it as you will those who would just prefer that we stop giving Father Time an annual goose.
While the idea has been attributed to, or one might say blamed on, any number of people, including good old Ben Franklin, the annual adjustment, much like the work of some temporal chiropractor, was the doing of one William Willet an English builder and sportsman. Bill, you see, took a morning ride on his horse each day and was simply appalled at the number of his fellow countrymen who were still sleeping away the daylight hours. He was also an avid golfer and got very much put out when he had to put away the clubs at dusk. He came up with the idea and lobbied for it until his death in 1915. It was not implemented during his lifetime, but the idea struck a chord with the Germans in 1916 and the music made its way to the United States by 1918 when it was adopted. Adopted is a good word, because it was much like a wayward stepchild, loved by some and summarily ignored by others.
Of course, in 1918, the process involved nothing more than moving the hands of the mantel clock in the living room ahead one hour and perhaps grandpa adjusting his pocket watch. Today, the greater part of a day can be spent adjusting everything from clocks, to microwave ovens, video recorders, telephone message machines, GPS units, the stove, the refrigerator, the coffee maker, and that new digital toilet you just had to have for the bathroom.
Initially used as a way to cut power usage for a newly electrified nation, its purpose has changed much over the years and has come full circle to return to Willet’s original idea of providing some extra daylight for afternoon and evening activities. In our modern world, often those activities have little to do with the outdoors, in the sense that Willet had in mind. If you own a home, for instance, that extra hour is just something that can be used to clear another item off the “honey do” list. As spring approaches there are weeds to be pulled, mulch to be spread, windows to be washed, screens to be installed, shutters to be painted, and decks to be scrubbed. In short, it’s Daylight Slaving Time.
Now, even with all the work ahead of me, I actually look forward to the extra daylight and generally take on and get into the “get ‘er done” mode of operation and I am sure a lot of you do too. What I would like to suggest, however, is that we all put a little hold on Daylight Slaving Time once in awhile, by taking the opportunity, if only once or twice a week, to use that extra daylight to do something that good old Mr. Willet had in mind for us. After all, there are trails to be hiked, roads to be biked, tracks to be run, hills to be climbed, games to be played and bodies to be challenged.
___________________
Copyright 2004-2009 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Complete Maher's Monday Morning Motivators
To date I have written 255 Monday Morning Motivators. Until I can organize and post them here, you can view the entire set at http://www.jpfitness.com/
They are in a sticky post at the top of the Training forum.
Keep watching this blog for updates and additional material.
Thanks to Jonathan Fass for the mention and link to this blog.
They are in a sticky post at the top of the Training forum.
Keep watching this blog for updates and additional material.
Thanks to Jonathan Fass for the mention and link to this blog.
Monday, November 17, 2008
# 237 The Need to be Stupid
Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 237
The Need to be Stupid (11-17-08)
Have you ever watched one of those shows on television where a series of videos are aired of people doing things that only morons or complete jackasses would attempt? You know the ones. A couple of guys decide to imitate a wrestling show they saw and one guy body slams the other down on a table with the intention of breaking it, only to find that the human body is slightly more breakable than a table, especially when said table is real and not a prop.
I happened across one this weekend of a group of college kids at a party who set shot glasses of vodka on fire and then attempted to drink them. This, by the way, is supposed to be the new craze at frat parties. One guy caught his clothes on fire and suffered serious burns on his leg. Another fired the shot into his mouth and missed setting the side of his face on fire and belching a three-foot plume of flame at his companion revelers while running to the bathroom to extinguish his bright idea. He, too, suffered some burns, but both survived. It is rather disturbing to think that these guys actually had the intelligence to gain entrance to any college or university, and even more disturbing to realize that here, in all their flaming glory, were our future doctors, lawyers and engineers.
Well, I had to sit back and have a good laugh, because in my own way this past week, I was doing something stupid. No I was not body-slamming friends into tables, although there are a few people I can readily think of that I wouldn’t mind trying that with. And, no I was not performing a Joan of Arc on myself with a flaming shot of vodka. Hey, I’m no saint. What I was doing was deadlifting. Yes, deadlifting. . . and deadlifting . . . and deadlifting. I started out on Monday and by Sunday I had deadlifted a 225 pound weight an even 700 times. Now, if that isn’t stupid, I don’t know what is. And, what is more insane is that I am not even close to being finished. You see, I joined this challenge to see how long it would take to lift a million pounds. As friends will tell you, I am pretty conservative and not one to throw caution to the wind. In this case however, my curiosity and my ego were prodded and poked to the point of no return and I wondered if I could even make a dent in the goal.
When I look back on my brief lifting career, it could have seemed pretty stupid for a 52 year old guy to suddenly decide to start lifting weights. What the hell was I thinking? There are easier and less stressful ways to lose a few pounds or get back into shape, but I threw myself into it wholeheartedly. And where did it get me? Here I am 8 years later, on the cusp of turning 60, and doing something stupid again. By my calculations, I’ve already lifted a good-sized locomotive, albeit a piece at a time. With that in mind, I cannot find it within me to quit, regardless of how stupid it might seem.
I wonder how many things we take for granted today were the result of someone just going ahead and doing something stupid. Hell, while not major accomplishments, the Guiness Book of Records is full of people who found the need to do something stupid, to beat the other stupid guy who did the stupid thing before they got the stupid idea to beat his stupid record. And when they beat it, I can bet you they didn’t feel stupid at all.
I’m going to try to be careful. I am going to try to keep as much common sense about this challenge as I can. But, I am also going to try to finish, even if I don’t make it to one million first. Why? Because no matter how knowledgeable we may be; no matter how intelligent we fancy ourselves to be; no matter how much pride we take in our good sense, every so often, life presents us with an opportunity, an opportunity that we cannot ignore. At that point, we need to become ignorant of all that we know. We need to throw common sense out the window. We need to let that inner voice be heard telling us to go for it. And we need to be stupid.
____________________
Copyright 2004-2008 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
The Need to be Stupid (11-17-08)
Have you ever watched one of those shows on television where a series of videos are aired of people doing things that only morons or complete jackasses would attempt? You know the ones. A couple of guys decide to imitate a wrestling show they saw and one guy body slams the other down on a table with the intention of breaking it, only to find that the human body is slightly more breakable than a table, especially when said table is real and not a prop.
I happened across one this weekend of a group of college kids at a party who set shot glasses of vodka on fire and then attempted to drink them. This, by the way, is supposed to be the new craze at frat parties. One guy caught his clothes on fire and suffered serious burns on his leg. Another fired the shot into his mouth and missed setting the side of his face on fire and belching a three-foot plume of flame at his companion revelers while running to the bathroom to extinguish his bright idea. He, too, suffered some burns, but both survived. It is rather disturbing to think that these guys actually had the intelligence to gain entrance to any college or university, and even more disturbing to realize that here, in all their flaming glory, were our future doctors, lawyers and engineers.
Well, I had to sit back and have a good laugh, because in my own way this past week, I was doing something stupid. No I was not body-slamming friends into tables, although there are a few people I can readily think of that I wouldn’t mind trying that with. And, no I was not performing a Joan of Arc on myself with a flaming shot of vodka. Hey, I’m no saint. What I was doing was deadlifting. Yes, deadlifting. . . and deadlifting . . . and deadlifting. I started out on Monday and by Sunday I had deadlifted a 225 pound weight an even 700 times. Now, if that isn’t stupid, I don’t know what is. And, what is more insane is that I am not even close to being finished. You see, I joined this challenge to see how long it would take to lift a million pounds. As friends will tell you, I am pretty conservative and not one to throw caution to the wind. In this case however, my curiosity and my ego were prodded and poked to the point of no return and I wondered if I could even make a dent in the goal.
When I look back on my brief lifting career, it could have seemed pretty stupid for a 52 year old guy to suddenly decide to start lifting weights. What the hell was I thinking? There are easier and less stressful ways to lose a few pounds or get back into shape, but I threw myself into it wholeheartedly. And where did it get me? Here I am 8 years later, on the cusp of turning 60, and doing something stupid again. By my calculations, I’ve already lifted a good-sized locomotive, albeit a piece at a time. With that in mind, I cannot find it within me to quit, regardless of how stupid it might seem.
I wonder how many things we take for granted today were the result of someone just going ahead and doing something stupid. Hell, while not major accomplishments, the Guiness Book of Records is full of people who found the need to do something stupid, to beat the other stupid guy who did the stupid thing before they got the stupid idea to beat his stupid record. And when they beat it, I can bet you they didn’t feel stupid at all.
I’m going to try to be careful. I am going to try to keep as much common sense about this challenge as I can. But, I am also going to try to finish, even if I don’t make it to one million first. Why? Because no matter how knowledgeable we may be; no matter how intelligent we fancy ourselves to be; no matter how much pride we take in our good sense, every so often, life presents us with an opportunity, an opportunity that we cannot ignore. At that point, we need to become ignorant of all that we know. We need to throw common sense out the window. We need to let that inner voice be heard telling us to go for it. And we need to be stupid.
____________________
Copyright 2004-2008 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Hit the Road
Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 236 – Hit the Road
Hit the Road (11-10-08)
A friend, who knows my passion for fitness, sent me an funny list of questions and answers that brought a few smiles to my face because I truly get the impression that some people actually think this way. Let me give you just one example. The first question asks, “Is exercise good for you?” The amusing answer is “Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer. That's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.” I got a good laugh out of that one, because I know people who rationalize their inactivity in just such terms.
Now, it may not be the idea about the finite number of heartbeats, but it is a familiar anthem and I am sure you have heard one or all of the variations. Suffice it to say that some people see anything that raises their heart rate, promotes a bout of heavy breathing or causes them to break a sweat as detrimental to their health and wellbeing. After all, these things are not normal occurrences in their lives and must surely take a toll.
The amusing, if twisted, rationale of comparing the body to an automobile is actually closer to the mark than you might think. For example, what if I own a car and use it for short hops to the store, never take it out on the highway, and fill it with cheap gasoline. And, because I use it so infrequently, I rarely take it in for an oil change or a tune-up, or any regular maintenance. This sucker is going to last me forever, right?
On the other hand, what if my car is used for highway driving, and I take it out on the road a few times a year for a long trip. I keep it filled with a good recommended grade of gasoline, change the oil frequently, as well as getting regular tune-ups and maintenance. There is a better than good chance that this baby is going to last just as long, if not longer. And, you know what? I have actually gone somewhere with it.
Like the first ever-so-cautious car owner, some people are content with using their body at the basic minimum. A few short trips a day, perhaps to the refrigerator, keep it parked on the sofa, and don’t exert it. At the same time, they may ignore giving that body the right grade of fuel with poor nutrition. And, of course, there is no maintenance plan for keeping muscles, bones, joints and heart in good working order.
I think I much rather prefer to treat my body like that second car owner and get out on the road and make a few long trips. I like to rev the engine once in a while and watch the tachometer needle climb a bit. I will give my body some decent fuel and provide regular maintenance to make sure I am in good working order and will stay that way for a long time to come. And, what’s more, I will have actually taken it somewhere, beyond what I thought was possible.
So if someone ever poses the question about why you work out or asks if exercise is good for you, why not just tell them to hit the road.
____________________
Copyright 2004-2008 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Hit the Road (11-10-08)
A friend, who knows my passion for fitness, sent me an funny list of questions and answers that brought a few smiles to my face because I truly get the impression that some people actually think this way. Let me give you just one example. The first question asks, “Is exercise good for you?” The amusing answer is “Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer. That's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.” I got a good laugh out of that one, because I know people who rationalize their inactivity in just such terms.
Now, it may not be the idea about the finite number of heartbeats, but it is a familiar anthem and I am sure you have heard one or all of the variations. Suffice it to say that some people see anything that raises their heart rate, promotes a bout of heavy breathing or causes them to break a sweat as detrimental to their health and wellbeing. After all, these things are not normal occurrences in their lives and must surely take a toll.
The amusing, if twisted, rationale of comparing the body to an automobile is actually closer to the mark than you might think. For example, what if I own a car and use it for short hops to the store, never take it out on the highway, and fill it with cheap gasoline. And, because I use it so infrequently, I rarely take it in for an oil change or a tune-up, or any regular maintenance. This sucker is going to last me forever, right?
On the other hand, what if my car is used for highway driving, and I take it out on the road a few times a year for a long trip. I keep it filled with a good recommended grade of gasoline, change the oil frequently, as well as getting regular tune-ups and maintenance. There is a better than good chance that this baby is going to last just as long, if not longer. And, you know what? I have actually gone somewhere with it.
Like the first ever-so-cautious car owner, some people are content with using their body at the basic minimum. A few short trips a day, perhaps to the refrigerator, keep it parked on the sofa, and don’t exert it. At the same time, they may ignore giving that body the right grade of fuel with poor nutrition. And, of course, there is no maintenance plan for keeping muscles, bones, joints and heart in good working order.
I think I much rather prefer to treat my body like that second car owner and get out on the road and make a few long trips. I like to rev the engine once in a while and watch the tachometer needle climb a bit. I will give my body some decent fuel and provide regular maintenance to make sure I am in good working order and will stay that way for a long time to come. And, what’s more, I will have actually taken it somewhere, beyond what I thought was possible.
So if someone ever poses the question about why you work out or asks if exercise is good for you, why not just tell them to hit the road.
____________________
Copyright 2004-2008 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Season of Excess
Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 235 – The Season of Excess
The Season of Excess (11-03-08)
Over the past weekend and with a simple step on the scale this morning, I am reminded that we have entered what I like to call “The Season of Excess.” Yes, excess, as in too much, more than what is needed, indulgence, intemperance, or just plain gluttony. A good example, on a broad scale, might be the presidential election campaign. I don’t think there is a person I have talked to or corresponded with, regardless of their political stance, who is not just plain sick and tired of the campaign and cannot wait until it’s over. It has been a long and grueling feed at the trough of posturing for both sides. I am reminded of a little joke I once heard that it is so appropriate, that elections are held in November in the United States, since it is the month of Thanksgiving and voters elect the next group of turkeys.
On a more personal level and bringing the idea of this season of excess closer to home, it seems as though with the end of summer and the change of seasons a lot of our healthy eating and fit living habits tend to take a hike. Yes, they take a hike, but we don’t. In the summer months, the outdoors seems to bring out the best in us. There are so many activities and we seem to be just a bit more conscious of our physiques, what with the lighter and more revealing clothing we wear. As autumn approaches, the calendar presents us with so many opportunities to ditch all the work and effort we have put in during the warm weather. First comes Oktoberfest, prompting us to indulge in our favorite brews. Then Halloween, my personal challenge, where we are tempted with more empty carbohydrates than the most clever of wizards could ever conjure. There is something inherently evil about a peanut, covered in chocolate and topped off with a candy shell. Closely following on its heels is Thanksgiving Day where family and friends gather in love and comradeship to see who has to loosen their belt first before the football game comes on. Then Christmas sneaks up on us and we find ourselves neck deep in cookies, candy, eggnog, cheese balls, and goodies of all kinds. It seems the only thing we don’t eat is the damned fruitcake. I don’t think I have ever actually seen anyone consume fruitcake. It’s always there, but never gone. We finish off the season with more excess as we ring in the New Year with enough liquor to put a salty sailor to shame and literally brining many of us to our knees in homage to the porcelain god that sits stoically in the bathroom. And, after all is said and done, we resolve never to do it again and to get in shape in the coming year, until, of course, the next Season of Excess.
There may not be much that you can do about the holidays. They are what they are and I love each and every one of them. The Season of Excess is one of my favorite times of the year. But, with that said, I think I will try to also turn it into a different season, by keeping up with my workouts, by trying as much as possible to eat and drink in moderation, by making wise choices while reveling in the company of friends and family. It is possible, dare I say, to change The Season of Excess into The Season of Success. Well, at least I am going to give it a try. How about you?
The Season of Excess (11-03-08)
Over the past weekend and with a simple step on the scale this morning, I am reminded that we have entered what I like to call “The Season of Excess.” Yes, excess, as in too much, more than what is needed, indulgence, intemperance, or just plain gluttony. A good example, on a broad scale, might be the presidential election campaign. I don’t think there is a person I have talked to or corresponded with, regardless of their political stance, who is not just plain sick and tired of the campaign and cannot wait until it’s over. It has been a long and grueling feed at the trough of posturing for both sides. I am reminded of a little joke I once heard that it is so appropriate, that elections are held in November in the United States, since it is the month of Thanksgiving and voters elect the next group of turkeys.
On a more personal level and bringing the idea of this season of excess closer to home, it seems as though with the end of summer and the change of seasons a lot of our healthy eating and fit living habits tend to take a hike. Yes, they take a hike, but we don’t. In the summer months, the outdoors seems to bring out the best in us. There are so many activities and we seem to be just a bit more conscious of our physiques, what with the lighter and more revealing clothing we wear. As autumn approaches, the calendar presents us with so many opportunities to ditch all the work and effort we have put in during the warm weather. First comes Oktoberfest, prompting us to indulge in our favorite brews. Then Halloween, my personal challenge, where we are tempted with more empty carbohydrates than the most clever of wizards could ever conjure. There is something inherently evil about a peanut, covered in chocolate and topped off with a candy shell. Closely following on its heels is Thanksgiving Day where family and friends gather in love and comradeship to see who has to loosen their belt first before the football game comes on. Then Christmas sneaks up on us and we find ourselves neck deep in cookies, candy, eggnog, cheese balls, and goodies of all kinds. It seems the only thing we don’t eat is the damned fruitcake. I don’t think I have ever actually seen anyone consume fruitcake. It’s always there, but never gone. We finish off the season with more excess as we ring in the New Year with enough liquor to put a salty sailor to shame and literally brining many of us to our knees in homage to the porcelain god that sits stoically in the bathroom. And, after all is said and done, we resolve never to do it again and to get in shape in the coming year, until, of course, the next Season of Excess.
There may not be much that you can do about the holidays. They are what they are and I love each and every one of them. The Season of Excess is one of my favorite times of the year. But, with that said, I think I will try to also turn it into a different season, by keeping up with my workouts, by trying as much as possible to eat and drink in moderation, by making wise choices while reveling in the company of friends and family. It is possible, dare I say, to change The Season of Excess into The Season of Success. Well, at least I am going to give it a try. How about you?
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