Upping my Intensity

calories burned after 30 min on elliptical

In my thirties, especially between 30 and 35, I'd been in my prime. Lean, muscular, and active both in the gym and outside of it. Some time between 30 and 40 that came to an end; I ate more out of stress or rushed need than for providing myself something delicious and fulfilling. I'd become dissatisfied with my life, but it wasn't until I gave up my "old life" and returned to school at age 39 that I started taking positive steps to correct this. However, being a college student in his 40s with a family to support did not eleviate my stress or cause me to think more of my physical health... I had to get my education and find a new job.

I did graduate, and I did secure a job (a discussion best left for another post), but I did not do very well on the healthy lifestyle. I spent the first year after graduation struggling with my new vocation, and building community and some semblance of a social life beyond being a university employee. I was not completely remiss during all this... I had my gym membership and used it sporatically... my wife and I have adjusted our eating habits; though we've found that portion control and conscious eating to be a challenge -- still, we made progress.

I've never been one to succumb to the intense fitness routines and extreme diets so many people use to achieve rapid results. I know that if I don't maintain that rigor, if I approach my change as a temporary thing to achieve a short term goal, then after I've achieved that goal I will return to my prior habits with the same long term results.

3sets x 10reps
hammer curls & shoulder press

So I've always taken a "moderate" approach to my exercising. If it isn't something I can maintain for the long term I wasn't going to do it. However, that moderate commitment has had only "moderate" success. It has certainly kept me from becoming "unfit", but it has not allowed me to maintain a lean, strong, healthy body to the level I would prefer (yes, I do set my standards rather high). So, today, inspired by what a friend does as her "usual workout" (and she looks amazing; hi Kari), I realized that if I want to meet my own standards of physical health then I will need to live the lifestyle that will result in it. It isn't a matter of "everything in moderation" (for the 2nd part is "even moderation") but that I don't want to look back on my life and just be a "moderate success" or have done "okay." I want to look back and say, "hell yeah!" I don't want to spend the next 40+ years feeling like I haven't lived a life as well as my parents did. I want to be able to say I lived as well (and even better), in health, in happiness, and in accomplishment as my parents. I believe it would be a travesty if I could not build upon the excellent foundation they laid for my life.

So, today, I have chosen to "up the intensity" of my life. At the gym, in my career, and in my personal life I will "do it better." When I turned 40, I looked at myself and wondered "what have I done with my life?" When I turn 50, I want to look back and say "I've done a hell of a lot!" Yeah, that means I'll be sore physically, ache mentally, and may become exhausted emotionally at times -- but I won't be bored or disappointed!