Today...

Okay, so we've established that today is the best day to move forward, toward what Bruce Lee referred to as "self-actualization."  In a nutshell, this means determining what you are meant to be, as a genuine and authentic being, and striving to express that as your reality.  I don't know about you, but I'm not wasting another day.

For me, part of this process requires conquering the demons of poor self-image and inadequacy that have plagued me since I was 8-years-old, and that led to the image I was taught to hold of myself--essentially, that of being an overweight nerd--finally, ultimately manifesting as my physical reality.  Let that sink in for a moment.  When I was 8, the idea was first planted in my mind that I was overweight and kinda nerdy.  This wasn't really the case, but years of receiving the same message, over and over again, caused the gnarled roots of this misconception to take hold deep within my psyche.  It wasn't true, but I came to believe it nonetheless, and eventually that belief took on a life of its own and became true.

Perception is reality.  For good or for ill, chances are that you will live up to your own expectations.

Despite years of on-again-off-again fitness training and martial arts practice, plus multiple degrees and certifications in the fields of medicine and health promotion, I am now, at the age of 36, a sorta-muscular-but-fat guy whose back and knees hurt and who gets winded too easily.  As for the nerd part... well, yeah, but I've learned to be proud on that score.

In the interest of full disclosure and for the sake of future comparison, I'm going to list some vital stats here:

Height:  5 feet, 11.5 inches
Weight:  240 pounds
Physique Type:  Mesomorph/endomorph ("Dean Cain" type)

My goals at this time are simple:  to maintain or slightly increase my lean muscle mass, while decreasing my total bodyweight to 200 pounds, by my 37th birthday (August 10th, 2013).

My methods, likewise, shall be very simple, straightforward, and old-school.  To wit...

       Monday - Wednesday - Friday:
              A.M. -- Pushups and Chinups (before work)
              P.M. -- Shoulders and Arms dumbbell routine (during lunch break)

       Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday:
              A.M. -- Walk/Jog 45+ minutes
              P.M. -- Legs (bodyweight squats, lunges, etc.) and Core (crunches, planks, bridging, etc., and of course, the "Superman")

       Other (ad lib):
              Extra walking, free stretching, heavybag work, martial training, etc.

       Nutrition:
              Three or four small-to-moderate, balanced meals daily, limiting grains to no more than 2 or 3 servings (preferably oatmeal or another whole grain), and emphasizing plenty of lean, high-quality protein, lots of veggies, some fruit and nuts, and a bit of dairy.  Drink lots of fresh water.  Supplement wisely (multivitamin, fish oil, CoQ-10, plus extra vitamins C, E, and D3).

Note that I'm not providing any great detail here.  There are two reasons for this:  1.) I've been doing this for so long now that I know how to get the most out of each session by keeping the particulars (movements, resistance, reps, sets, etc.) intuitive.  2.) Everybody is different, and I don't want people to read this blog and decide that the exact regimen that works for me will work equally well for them.  For example, I have naturally thick, strong legs, and don't want to add any more bulk to them; for this reason, I utilize efficient bodyweight exercises in conjunction with running to keep them hard and strong, without adding unwanted mass.  If your legs are skinny and weak, you would probably do well to use free weights to build them up.  Everyone's mileage varies.  Explore and experiment to find what works best for you.  Consistent effort is the key.

And so begins the first day of the rest of my (and your) life...

Someday...

"someday": 1 (adverb) at an indefinite time in the future. 2 (noun) the favorite day of the WEAK.

Okay, so I made up the second definition. A clever little play on words. It's true though, isn't it? How many times have you heard people preface a goal with the word "someday?" How many times have you done the same? I know I have, more times than I can count.

"Someday, I'll get into shape."

"Someday, I'll start eating better."

"Someday, I'll stick with an exercise plan."

"Someday, I'll start saving for retirement... write a book... paint a picture... learn to play a guitar... tell so-and-so something or other..."

"Someday, I'll start a blog."

Trouble is, someday never happens, in the same way that it is never tomorrow or yesterday. It is only ever Today, it is only ever Now, and we will never have more life ahead of us than we do at this very moment.

Someday is the favorite day of the weak, but today is the favorite day of the strong.

I have finally asked myself, "What's my favorite day?" and I have finally answered, "Today."

Ask yourself the same question, and stay tuned, true believers. I'll show ya.