» Fitness
By Vince on July 4, 2011
Please remember I’m not a personal trainer but I have helped many people along the path. Always check with your physician before starting any exercise regimen and seek help if something does not feel right.
This can be a touchy subject for many, simply because we don’t want to acknowledge that we are in any way, shape or form unfit.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is basically: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) (previously known as dysmorphophobia[1] is sometimes referred to as body dysmorphia or dysmorphic syndrome[2]) is a somatoform disorder in which the affected person is excessively concerned about and preoccupied by a perceived defect in his or her physical features ie. body image. (See Wiki link below for full page)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder
I believe that we all suffer from this to certain extents. We look in the mirror and either see all our faults magnified beyond what they actually are… or the reverse…we don’t see the problems or problem areas as magnified as we, maybe, should.
I know I’ll catch a lot flak for saying the above, but I do not exclude myself from this either.
With the way globalization (look it up) currently is, we can get what we want from anywhere on the planet, literally overnight, if you are willing to pay for it. We tend to live in a “I gotta have it now!” society, the “Instant Gratification” culture. Everyone does it to one extent or another.
Whatever happened to “saving up” for something you want, like when you were a kid? Earning it? Nothing is ever as worthy as something you have earned for yourself. You own it then. This requires a bit of will power, a little self-discipline, that’s all.
And that includes eating habits. Yes, it is a habit. You have been programed since birth to eat at a certain time of day. Part of it is common sense; you NEED to eat in order to stay alive.
Does it have to be the proverbial “three squares a day”? No. Portion yourself out. In fact it is better to spread the meals out to 6 smaller meals throughout the day rather than the 3 medium to large meals a day. Don’t take my word for it, look it up yourself.
The same goes for working out. Both martial art wise as in fitness wise. If it were easy everyone would have a ripped body and be in great shape or be Bruce Lee. In this respect, as in dieting, there are no short cuts. “I gotta have it now!” doesn’t work here. Not even plastic surgery can do that. Nope can’t “Overnight” that! Even if you work out martially, you still need to do regular “gym type” workouts. Simply to work specific muscle groups.
Nike’s great propaganda slogan, “Just do it!” is actually exactly the way to “do it”. I admit, I have let myself go at times. Not a good thing to do as it gets harder to get results the older you get.
I like beer. It is indeed a habit I need to watch because it goes straight to my waist and/or “sniper pad” as I’ve heard it called. So I needed to do something about it.
I’d been in cross country way back when in high school. Even then no one had ever “taught” me how to run. Yes, there is a trick or tricks to it, even something so simple that we’ve done since just after we learned how to walk has tried and true methods for doing it right.
It took a former pro football player buddy who went into personal training to teach me the correct way to run. Once I knew that, I owned it and could reproduce it again. Admittedly it takes work to get to any level but that’s why you “Just do it!”!
Don’t think about it more than you have to; lay out your running gear the night before, wake up, put it on and GO. If you don’t like running, the gym then or whatever form of workout you like.
Not motivated? Again, don’t think about it. Just do it. Believe me, if I can get off my ass and do it, so can you. Just remember to take it slow…at first. You are going to hurt, you are going to be stiff. Whatever exercise you choose, do stretch before AND after.
After you’ve been at it awhile, your motivation might flag. That’s ok, it happens. Treat yourself well, do a lighter workout, pick an exercise in particular and cut out of that particular exercise or do one set less.
The truth is the older we get, the more our muscle mass deteriorates and only exercise will keep it from going completely away. You owe it to yourself and your family to be healthy.
Stop smoking. A terrible addiction, which kills millions. It’s talked about in this way all the time because it does kill and addict. Fact. It’s not “cool”, it’s not economical and it stinks. The strongest man I ever knew both physically and mentally, my Father, was caught by this addiction. In the end it killed him way before his time. It is an addiction and he could not break it.
So eat healthy and work out.