Planning for Change

It's 06:00 on the morning of the rest of my life. I am filled with more hope than I've allowed myself to feel in a long time. I am excited for the short term and long term future. I know that if I hope to achieve my business goals for '08 and beyond, I must start preparing for it. If I am going to continue to challenge myself, I must be ready and able to stand the tests. A strong body, a sound mind and good organizational "habits" are the ingredients to a secret sauce of success. Knowing this accomplishes nothing! Doing what's needed to make it so is the difference between success and failure. It's about the doing.

I've written about 4 blogs this weekend that never got posted. There are many things going on in my world these days. Too many opportunities; too many limitations; too many desires; too many hopes! I say too many only because I have become overwhelmed with the many influences on my life right now.

While omitting the details of the magazine in this post, I'll just say that it is doing better than I could have ever dreamed and is growing faster than anyone could have imagined. People have embraced our little magazine and are not only using it, but calling in to sponsor and support it. There are many planned changes for SOKY, but I no longer post the details of the company plans for strategic reasons.

Personal changes are HUGE! As the 6^th issue of the magazine hits the newsstands, I glance over my shoulder and see the many changes that I have gone through. Transitioning from web to print, getting more involved in social and community events and even changes in my own computer skill sets... the past 8 months have been filled with some of the most life altering and significant changes of my life.

Interesting observance; the changes I forced upon myself have also revealed some painful truths about some people around me. There are a few who I thought I could trust; a couple I thought I could count on; some that showed exactly what they were made of and it was not good. Another interesting observation about some people's character is that some cannot see, much less admit when or how they have wronged another. People can be so selfish that they ignore the pain they caused others and worse, blame those they have hurt in their own effort to justify their actions. I suppose it is simple human nature, at least for the criminally insane. LOL This goes back to my parables about the foundry and how the crucible of challenge will expose flaws, weakness and failure. Only the good metal can become a useful tool, the rest is discarded as it should be.

Back to changes.

Starting this morning, I begin the journey from fat to phat! (adj. Slang., meaning Excellent; first-rate: phat fashion; a phat rapper.) I will be ordering my Macintosh computer and transitioning completely from the PC to Mac! These two planned changes are significant and more complex than they may appear. The fitness aspect includes a complete change in diet and activity, not simply a visit to the gym or dojo, the change is one that will last the rest of my life and includes eating better, living better, weight lifting, calisthenics, yoga, Tai Chi, Kung Fu and many miles running the "bad weight" off. The transformation from a PC guy to a Mac daddy is very significant in that I will be discarding more than 20 years of experience on the PC, 12 years of experience developing websites and challenging myself to learn new and better ways to accomplish my goals and dreams.

I have some definite plans for 2008 as far as the growth of my businesses. They will be achieved. For now however, I'm improving my personal health and expanding my skills. I want to be better prepared for the changes and challenges intentionally planned for next year. With the thought of new businesses, many more staff members, more assets and liabilities, and yes, more risk, I want to be balanced and sound. I want to be ready for the many challenges ahead by preparing my mind, body and soul. I believe the new fitness plan will be an important part of my preparedness, as well the simple act of achieving these personal goals.

Yes... I took some pictures of my fat self yesterday. I'm almost too embarrassed to share them. Perhaps I'll wait until I have a better version as my physique improves. I can't believe how I've let myself go. As I've written before, I will concentrate on my waist. By shooting for a goal to reduce my waist from 40" to less than 34", I will also achieve my other goals for strength, stamina and appearance.

Oh, there is another personal change that I have "tried" in the past. This change is becoming more and more essential to organize the many aspects of my complicated existence. It is one that I am implementing right this moment and will continue permanently. It is the simple habit of taking time to think through the coming day and week. I have many roles to fill and even more tasks that must be accomplished every day. Now that my life is about thinking months ahead as a monthly magazine publisher, I have to consider many things far in advance. I must find a way to do this without losing focus on the here and now. I've actually gone to training on how to use a day planner, it's time to tap that old knowledge once again to get better organized and productive.

I have lots of plans and intend to do many things. My dreams include many things from technological developments to building and construction of an exciting area attraction. I know that plans change and some things are lost due to circumstance or fate, but the dreams I hold are what inspire me to make the needed adjustments in my life. I feel confident that no matter what the coming years hold for me, getting back into shape, learning new skills and getting back in the habit of organizing my life will improve my life here and now and prepare me for the ups and downs of life.

It starts here, it start now! (Literally as I have to post this and go to Sifu Sam's)

Fitness: Day One, again

Well I did it! I said I would and I did! I "decided" to restart my Kung Fu training today and boy am I glad I did! I woke up late, had to get my stuff from the office and had all sorts of "reasons" not to go including the fact I was late... but I went anyway.

Sifu Sam's methods are based on tradition and technique, but also power, strength and diversity. I missed the first part of the class which was yoga, but had a little Tai Chi, Kung Fu technique, strength training and weapons training. About an hour into the class, I could not lift my arms; I was sweating profusely; and I could not get enough water. I was worn slap out!

I mentioned to Sifu that I was going to the gym tomorrow morning and he advised against it. The fact I can't lift the weight of my arms already seems to confirm his counsel. I believe I will "allow my glucose levels to return to normal" as Sam advised, but also give my muscles a chance to heal. I don't want to overdo it in the first week.

That said, I am more aware of what I'm eating already! I've already consumed more than 1/2 gallon of water, some fruit and have boiled some eggs for snacking. I remember the last time I got into shape that it takes a good amount of attention to what I'm eating when I'm training.

The plan.........

• Eat better!
• Work out more often.
• Increase strength, stamina, and flexibility.
• Convert my fat weight to muscle weight.

Some goals:

• 1.5 Miles (2.4 Kilometers) in 10 minutes or less
• 6 Miles (9.7 Kilometers)  in 40 minutes or less
• More than 60 pushups in 60 seconds
• More than 60 sit-ups in 60 seconds

--- There are some other calisthenics that I will add later. Body weight exercises such as Hindu Squats that I intend to integrate.

Weight lifting goals will also be added after I get a good baseline of my current ability.

I don't know that I need to gain any weight, but I would like to reduce the body fat and increase muscle. The last time I was actively working out, I actually had to stop because I was gaining muscle so quickly that it caused me to be out of limits for military height/weight standard. That is no longer a problem so I can gain as much as I like. I weighed myself this weekend and I'm right at 240 lbs (168 8 kilos). I will have Carrie take come measurement tonight and will post them (and a photo) later.

So there you have it!! The difference between "trying" and "deciding" is clear. A decision results in action.

Change by Choice

Back to basics: I've joined a gym. Yep, I signed up yesterday at Bowling Green Athletic Club. This place is exactly what I've been wanting for so long. The club hours are outstanding, they have lots of equipment and it's right in the middle of town between the Kung Fu school and my office. 

5 years ago, I looked in the mirror and was horrified to realize that I had become "white, wide and weak." I had spent the previous 6 years hunch over a keyboard in a dark corner of my basement creating a small web development company. The only exercise I would get would be going upstairs to use the lavatory or to get more coffee. I was "white" because I never went outside. I was "wide" because I put on weight. I was "week" because I was not using my muscles. I changed it then, I will change it again. 

I made a change back then that not only changed my entire appearance, it also improved my productivity. It seems odd that taking 2-3 hours off in the middle of the day would actually increase productivity, but it did. There are many reasons why but basically, getting into shape through running outdoors and weight training improved my mind as well as my body. It also gave me time to think through challenges and also provided incentive to get stuff done so I could go to the gym. 

I am much more busy now as a publisher than I was back then, but I've known for a while that I need to lose weight and improve my overall health. 5 years ago I went from barely able to jog a quarter mile without resting to jogging 6.7 miles without stopping. I went from nearly 40" in the waist to 34". I built my chest, arms and core muscles and felt great. I could SEE the changes in the mirror, I could feel the changes in my strength and stamina and there was a tangible change in my entire life. 

I let it go. I got lazy; made excuses; found "reasons" why I couldn't work out and as result I don't fit into my clothes, tire easily and feel terrible. I've had two illnesses in the past three months which is so odd that my sons have even questioned my overall health. This "white, wide and weak" condition has returned. I don't think my waist has ever been this big, I tire easily and I just don't feel good anymore. 

So here we go! I signed up yesterday though my membership doesn't begin until September 5^th. I will use the time between then and now to go through my old gym stuff and create my plans and charts as before. Last time I used a book called BodyRX as a foundation, this time it will be different because I will be integrating Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Kickboxing into the routine. I will also be using some Special Forces body weight calisthenics for core strength and endurance. 

Time management... that's going to be the key. I've got to manage my time in a manner that allows me to go to the gym every day at a certain time. It's about discipline, commitment and follow through. I've been very disappointed in myself for not having the will and strength to make a true commitment. This is not another "try" this is a do. It will happen. 

If you're interested in the progress, check back here for updates. I may start a new blog or section of my personal website to share my journey. I will be taking measurements this week as well as pictures. This is going to be fun. 

A new term I learned yesterday applies... Fit Happens!