The Chronologically Blessed

[wildross]

Btw, could you define some of the acronyms for me?

 

What she said.. WMAT?  CMC?

[cline]

WMAT = world's most awesome trainer. He's a lovely guy. I had drinks w him last week.

CMC = civilian military combine. Did both Brooklyn and Poconos.

More tomorrow but I don't have a keyboard right now and I'm laying down bc kneed in the ribs and all... Lol

[sharong]

Old lady needs to go to bed, but so happy to find a group of OGs to hang out with.  Moar stories tomorrow.  

[cline]

I've lurked on your threads before, but didn't know your fitness story. Cool to hear how you got here. I read your posts when I need motivation, when I'm in one of my " yea, but it's easy for them to do it their just like 20 yrs old" and then  I read how you totally kick butt at all your workouts and don't give up and I decide to work harder.

 

I hear people lurk on my threads and my response is always "why?".  Not sure I have much to offer. 

 

It's not easy for most people in their 20's and if you really read the forums, it's not easy for most of the people.  If it is, they are lying.  I strongly suspect the major reason people are always changing up their fitness goals and chasing after the latest thing is because it got hard.  Somewhere along the way, it became a grind, the weights weren't piling up, the pullups got harder, and miles felt longer.  So instead of working toward that goal - which is HARD - find a new goal.  Flavor of the week. 

 

What I know is this:  relentless, honest pursuit of your goals (assuming your goals are pure and you are training purely) is hard.  It is the only way to succeed.  It's not glamorous... but then again... if you are training purely, you are not training for others to sit in awe.  If you are relentlessly, purely dedicated to your goals, you won't quit.  You find a way to do it and you stick to it.  No matter what.  You find peace and accomplishment in the pursuit.  In the grind. This is true in all aspects of our lives.  Our lives are filled with the results of choices we make.  We can choose the honest, humble pursuit of goals or we can choose to skip days, stay in bed, or to find a new goal. 

 

So on days you feel like giving up, you look inside.  If you really want to give up, ask why?  Maybe the goals were wrong?  Maybe they weren't pure?  Maybe I was doing something for all the wrong reasons?  OR you might say, "nope, I don't want to give up... there is value in the pursuit". 

 

Cline, when I say I want to be like you, I don't want to BE you. ..i want to have my story evolve Like yours!

WIth this neck thing going on, I find myself battling great AGAIN... and i do not want to be governed or controlled by fear!

I'll never do muy thai... but I would love to learn self defense, Israeli style! But I need to get for and strong. .. which IS my first self defense! Don't know that I'll choose to do rucks...but the mud runs and such look like fun challenges to me. Same criteria!

From talking to you, I know if I take steps forward, and put the effort into it, I can do anything, no matter the number on my born on date!

Btw, could you define some of the acronyms for me?

<3

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

All people's stories evolve similarly.  I have age on my side, an introspective nature that is wise and not full of navel gazing, a humility that allows me to understand my life and my goals, and an ability to understand that I am the master of my fate.  I make choices every day as to how I approach things, what I want to do, how I greet the day.... even how I respond to the mundane.  I make sure my choices maximize my return. 

 

my story is no different than anyone else's.  We all battle things all the time.  I don't post too publically about my battles. 

 

When I was a much younger yogi, I was asked by my teacher to run her studio for just over a month while she went on a pilgrimage.  I taught most of the classes, cleaned the studio, signed up students, paid people, etc.  When she was back, she encouraged me to become a yoga instructor.  The other students honestly and joyously encouraged me.  It was pure encouragement, not ego pumping.  "No," I said, "I am content to be a student."  And I was truly, happily, blissfully content.  I loved my yoga practice.  I had goals for my practice.  The only way to get there is to be a student.   Sometimes, it's just understanding our choices.  Everyday... choices.

 

Last night we experienced those amazing, beautiful, humbling summer storms.  You know the kind where you are awakened by the loudest thunder you've ever heard, lighting that is surely hitting the street out front, and the domesticated critters scrambling to hide in silly places.  THAT kind of storm. 

 

And we were lying in bed with that sleepy storm chat you have with your life partner musing on the amazing power of the storm, the nearness of the storm, the receeding of the storm, the surprise in the new storm coming.... we chose to not be angry, irritated, or grumpy.  We didn't choose to be scared or frightened.  We chose to not complain.

 

And when the alarm went off this morning, after some missed sleep, we greeted the day with joy and happiness.  A moment of "wow I'm tired" was followed by "guess it's an extra cup of coffee day!" and on we went.  We will both train tonight.  We could choose tired as an excuse to not train but then what would that mean with respect to goals?

 

A series of choices.....

[wildross]

I was thinking of this in another aspect this morning.  I see people do the 5x5 type workouts for a few months, then "the newbie gains are done" and they switch to some other workout regimen, then switch again and again.  Usually to one of the "scientific" plans with %'s of your max, etc.  After 3+ years, I'm still doing 5x5ish type stuff and still seeing gains.   Guess I don't get bored easily...

[Elastigirl]

I 

 

I hear people lurk on my threads and my response is always "why?".  Not sure I have much to offer. 

 

It's not easy for most people in their 20's and if you really read the forums, it's not easy for most of the people.  If it is, they are lying.  I strongly suspect the major reason people are always changing up their fitness goals and chasing after the latest thing is because it got hard.  Somewhere along the way, it became a grind, the weights weren't piling up, the pullups got harder, and miles felt longer.  So instead of working toward that goal - which is HARD - find a new goal.  Flavor of the week. 

 

What I know is this:  relentless, honest pursuit of your goals (assuming your goals are pure and you are training purely) is hard.  It is the only way to succeed.  It's not glamorous... but then again... if you are training purely, you are not training for others to sit in awe.  If you are relentlessly, purely dedicated to your goals, you won't quit.  You find a way to do it and you stick to it.  No matter what.  You find peace and accomplishment in the pursuit.  In the grind. This is true in all aspects of our lives.  Our lives are filled with the results of choices we make.  We can choose the honest, humble pursuit of goals or we can choose to skip days, stay in bed, or to find a new goal. 

 

So on days you feel like giving up, you look inside.  If you really want to give up, ask why?  Maybe the goals were wrong?  Maybe they weren't pure?  Maybe I was doing something for all the wrong reasons?  OR you might say, "nope, I don't want to give up... there is value in the pursuit". 

 

 

All people's stories evolve similarly.  I have age on my side, an introspective nature that is wise and not full of navel gazing, a humility that allows me to understand my life and my goals, and an ability to understand that I am the master of my fate.  I make choices every day as to how I approach things, what I want to do, how I greet the day.... even how I respond to the mundane.  I make sure my choices maximize my return. 

 

my story is no different than anyone else's.  We all battle things all the time.  I don't post too publically about my battles. 

 

When I was a much younger yogi, I was asked by my teacher to run her studio for just over a month while she went on a pilgrimage.  I taught most of the classes, cleaned the studio, signed up students, paid people, etc.  When she was back, she encouraged me to become a yoga instructor.  The other students honestly and joyously encouraged me.  It was pure encouragement, not ego pumping.  "No," I said, "I am content to be a student."  And I was truly, happily, blissfully content.  I loved my yoga practice.  I had goals for my practice.  The only way to get there is to be a student.   Sometimes, it's just understanding our choices.  Everyday... choices.

 

Last night we experienced those amazing, beautiful, humbling summer storms.  You know the kind where you are awakened by the loudest thunder you've ever heard, lighting that is surely hitting the street out front, and the domesticated critters scrambling to hide in silly places.  THAT kind of storm. 

 

And we were lying in bed with that sleepy storm chat you have with your life partner musing on the amazing power of the storm, the nearness of the storm, the receeding of the storm, the surprise in the new storm coming.... we chose to not be angry, irritated, or grumpy.  We didn't choose to be scared or frightened.  We chose to not complain.

 

And when the alarm went off this morning, after some missed sleep, we greeted the day with joy and happiness.  A moment of "wow I'm tired" was followed by "guess it's an extra cup of coffee day!" and on we went.  We will both train tonight.  We could choose tired as an excuse to not train but then what would that mean with respect to goals?

 

A series of choices.....

I think when I feel like giving up, or at least not trying as hard it is when I am buying into the lie that is should be easy. Which is another reason I check on your thread, and others like you, because you keep working. And then I remember that like you said  their is pleasure in working hard and in striving toward your goals. 

 

SIde note: I should say hello and post on your thread when I read it, but it goes so fast that by the time I read something you wrote, there are 3 more pages of posts, and my post would be on the topic 5 pages old  

[cline]

I was thinking of this in another aspect this morning.  I see people do the 5x5 type workouts for a few months, then "the newbie gains are done" and they switch to some other workout regimen, then switch again and again.  Usually to one of the "scientific" plans with %'s of your max, etc.  After 3+ years, I'm still doing 5x5ish type stuff and still seeing gains.   Guess I don't get bored easily...

 

Yeah this is COMMON and it's easier to switch and say "now I am a long distance bike rider even though yesterday I was a powerlifter".  It's easier b/c it means we don't have to commit to something, we don't really have to work on something, and when the going gets tough or the going gets tedious or boring, you just move on.  Ahhhh... like marriage, right my friend?  (says one long time married person to another long time married person). 

 

If you really have a goal, you work non-stop toward that goal.  Sometimes goals change.  That's fair.  But singular focused commitment yields success. 

 

I went right to a scientific program.  I got a guy.  A guy who was trained for success, knows success, trains successful athletes, and is surround by some of the best coaches out there. 

 

 

I think when I feel like giving up, or at least not trying as hard it is when I am buying into the lie that is should be easy. Which is another reason I check on your thread, and others like you, because you keep working. And then I remember that like you said  their is pleasure in working hard and in striving toward your goals. 

 

SIde note: I should say hello and post on your thread when I read it, but it goes so fast that by the time I read something you wrote, there are 3 more pages of posts, and my post would be on the topic 5 pages old  

 

Stuff ain't easy.  I'm pretty sure I don't want anything I can come by easily.  There's a Taco Bell across the street from my work.  Easy lunch.  Pretty sure I don't want it (haven't had it in 20 years, so don't know for sure, but pretty sure).  Pretty sure I did want the tasty, fresh, my choice salad I walked to get.  Not easy. 

 

It's also about knowing yourself.  I've never been a bandwagon rider.  Ever.  Was talking with spousal unit about that last night.  Man... I did my own stuff my whole life.  I found all my fitness interests on my own.  Yoga wasn't cool or hip yet when I was doing it (shit....lululemon could only be found in Canada when I was doing it - I'd never even heard of it). 

 

If you follow what you think is cool, what you think makes you look cool, you realize you are constantly working to secure your image amongst others and everything will become hard over and over again... or boring... or less glamorous, etc. "Others" are fickle.  If you follow what you think is cool and let others influence you, you become disilliusioned quickly. 

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Ok, I will come back and read these cool stories in more detail. 

 

Right now, I'm asking veterans to try out my class chooser prototype:  http://facstaff.uww.edu/johnsobz/classchooser4.html

 

Nothing wrong with Nuala's - I just had an idea and wanted to try a different approach.  Once I get the program's advice right, I'll make the interface pretty. 

[Elastigirl]

Ok, I will come back and read these cool stories in more detail. 

 

Right now, I'm asking veterans to try out my class chooser prototype:  http://facstaff.uww.edu/johnsobz/classchooser4.html

 

Nothing wrong with Nuala's - I just had an idea and wanted to try a different approach.  Once I get the program's advice right, I'll make the interface pretty. 

Worked well. Fun, like the questions. 

[Villikissa]

Hey, I just wanted to stop in and say hi, even though I've already joined another - actually, two other - accountability groups before I saw this one! But I'm another "chronologically blessed" NF member, though from the looks of it I'm actually a few years younger than most of you! 51, for the record, though I think that's the first time I've publicly admitted to my age in maybe four years. I don't even do well at thinking about my age - it doesn't really suit my mental image of myself, so my brain sort of does a divide-by-zero error when I try to think of myself as being over 50. Anyway, it's nice to see that I'm not the only one here who's not in their 20s!
 
Also, I just had to comment on the following...
 

We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to piss us off... especially from a tattooed, multiple pierced smartass who can't make change without the cash register telling them how much.

 

...that it is actually quite possible to be over 50 and be a tattooed, multiply pierced smartass. Trust me on this.

[Villikissa]

Right now, I'm asking veterans to try out my class chooser prototype:  http://facstaff.uww.edu/johnsobz/classchooser4.html

 

Just tried it - that was a fun approach! It said I could be either a ranger or adventurer, which is pretty much the two classes I was torn between already, so I guess it was pretty accurate.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

@Villikissa - love the Catwoman quote!! 

[ShadowLion]

Cline quotes...

 

I love my goals. I grind out my program. I know where I'm going and how to get there. The progress this last year has been amazing.

...

Those who train purely and with humility make progress. It is my daily motto. Oh, and have fun. The grind is purely fun.

 

 

Getting the wind knocked out of you by a knee to the ribs makes you feel old. The fact that you got taken out by a strongass 26 year old who weighs about 190-195 and stands 6'2" and fights and coaches MMA for a living makes you feel like you are 26... because you showed up and took the knee.

 

 

What I know is this:  relentless, honest pursuit of your goals (assuming your goals are pure and you are training purely) is hard.  It is the only way to succeed.  It's not glamorous... but then again... if you are training purely, you are not training for others to sit in awe.  If you are relentlessly, purely dedicated to your goals, you won't quit.  You find a way to do it and you stick to it.  No matter what.  You find peace and accomplishment in the pursuit.  In the grind. This is true in all aspects of our lives.

Last night we experienced those amazing, beautiful, humbling summer storms.  You know the kind where you are awakened by the loudest thunder you've ever heard, lighting that is surely hitting the street out front, and the domesticated critters scrambling to hide in silly places.  THAT kind of storm. 

 

And we were lying in bed with that sleepy storm chat you have with your life partner musing on the amazing power of the storm, the nearness of the storm, the receeding of the storm, the surprise in the new storm coming.... we chose to not be angry, irritated, or grumpy.  We didn't choose to be scared or frightened.  We chose to not complain.

 

And when the alarm went off this morning, after some missed sleep, we greeted the day with joy and happiness.  A moment of "wow I'm tired" was followed by "guess it's an extra cup of coffee day!" and on we went.  We will both train tonight.  We could choose tired as an excuse to not train but then what would that mean with respect to goals?

 

A series of choices.....

 

 

^^^ These are just some of the reasons I follow/lurk...

 

Things that I know to be true, but the sorts of reminders in the midst of the grind that help me keep my perspective straight and to keep going when the body and/or mind is complaining.

 

 

Change each "was" to "is" in the following Cline quote and... You've got a description of Cline!

 

"Who the hell was this woman? She was STRONG! She was big and strong and amazing. Not typical..."

 

"Who the hell is this woman? She is STRONG! She is big and strong and amazing. Not typical..."

 

[ShadowLion]

Ok, I will come back and read these cool stories in more detail. 

 

Right now, I'm asking veterans to try out my class chooser prototype:  http://facstaff.uww.edu/johnsobz/classchooser4.html

 

Nothing wrong with Nuala's - I just had an idea and wanted to try a different approach.  Once I get the program's advice right, I'll make the interface pretty. 

 

Ranger. Even if I change one answer to try and fool it...it comes back Ranger or ______. I can run but I cannot hide...

[ShadowLion]

Hey, I just wanted to stop in and say hi, even though I've already joined another - actually, two other - accountability groups before I saw this one! But I'm another "chronologically blessed" NF member, though from the looks of it I'm actually a few years younger than most of you! 51, for the record, though I think that's the first time I've publicly admitted to my age in maybe four years. I don't even do well at thinking about my age - it doesn't really suit my mental image of myself, so my brain sort of does a divide-by-zero error when I try to think of myself as being over 50. Anyway, it's nice to see that I'm not the only one here who's not in their 20s!

 

Also, I just had to comment on the following...

 

 

...that it is actually quite possible to be over 50 and be a tattooed, multiply pierced smartass. Trust me on this.

 

Heh heh. Me, too.

 

Hmmm. The Catwoman quote gives me an idea...

[sharong]

Wow.  You guys are a prolific bunch of writers. I usually am, but am currently in a low-carb Mexican food coma compounded by ~6 hours sleep last night.  I got it all perfect in my mind, then forgot it when I sat to write.

 

I should give full disclosure right up front.  I have *never* been athletic - ever.  Even when I was in the military, I did just enough to get by.  It may have started with my mother's childhood ban on me running because I was "uncoordinated."  Yes, I was banned from running. Couple that with pale skin and living in south Texas makes for not much opportunity to go outside and play. . . . but, enough about my lack of love as a child. 

 

So, anyhoo, I'm so glad I found NF and the open, welcoming community you good folks have worked hard to create.  I don't believe I've ever felt so welcomed and encouraged.

 

I mentioned on my Challenge log that, in the decades it took me to gain 50-ish pounds, it only took a calorie surplus of roughly 50 calories per day to create that  gain.  Soooo, I'm not expecting any overnight miracles here.  What I *am* expecting is to gain mastery over this corpulent corpus.  

 

My food habits are not as bad as some, worse than others.  It's a daily battle to slay the sugar demons and avoid the drive thru pitfalls.  I've locked down a decent breakfast and bulk-cooked healthy lunches. Dinner can be a wild card depending on how tired and/or prepared I am to cook, but I have experimented in packing a mini-lunch of meat & veg to have as a late afternoon snack so I don't make really bad choices on the way home from work.  I've done it twice now with good results.  Will keep on it and see how it goes.  

 

Ohhhhh, the exercise.  How to make it feel good when it hurts so bad? That's where my biggest problem lies.  

 

As a primarily sedentary creature, I find that surrounding myself with accountability buddies and all around positive vibes in re: exertion are what help me keep going.  The six-week challenges are a wonderful way to motivate slugs like me who are secretly uber-competitive.  Ask me to do something of my own free will and I will quickly find something more interesting to do, like watch grass grow.  Give me an external motivator and I'm all over it.  So, I am extrinsically motivated rather than intrinsically.  At least I know that much about myself.  So, I need to become a Challenge Ho!!  

 

Regardless, I'm glad to be here, and glad to be among kindred souls looking to improve themselves.  

[sharong]

"Get off of my lawn!!!!"

Um, I've said that. . . recently.  

[Elastigirl]

Wow.  You guys are a prolific bunch of writers. I usually am, but am currently in a low-carb Mexican food coma compounded by ~6 hours sleep last night.  I got it all perfect in my mind, then forgot it when I sat to write.

 

I should give full disclosure right up front.  I have *never* been athletic - ever.  Even when I was in the military, I did just enough to get by.  It may have started with my mother's childhood ban on me running because I was "uncoordinated."  Yes, I was banned from running. Couple that with pale skin and living in south Texas makes for not much opportunity to go outside and play. . . . but, enough about my lack of love as a child. 

 

So, anyhoo, I'm so glad I found NF and the open, welcoming community you good folks have worked hard to create.  I don't believe I've ever felt so welcomed and encouraged.

 

I mentioned on my Challenge log that, in the decades it took me to gain 50-ish pounds, it only took a calorie surplus of roughly 50 calories per day to create that  gain.  Soooo, I'm not expecting any overnight miracles here.  What I *am* expecting is to gain mastery over this corpulent corpus.  

 

My food habits are not as bad as some, worse than others.  It's a daily battle to slay the sugar demons and avoid the drive thru pitfalls.  I've locked down a decent breakfast and bulk-cooked healthy lunches. Dinner can be a wild card depending on how tired and/or prepared I am to cook, but I have experimented in packing a mini-lunch of meat & veg to have as a late afternoon snack so I don't make really bad choices on the way home from work.  I've done it twice now with good results.  Will keep on it and see how it goes.  

 

Ohhhhh, the exercise.  How to make it feel good when it hurts so bad? That's where my biggest problem lies.  

 

As a primarily sedentary creature, I find that surrounding myself with accountability buddies and all around positive vibes in re: exertion are what help me keep going.  The six-week challenges are a wonderful way to motivate slugs like me who are secretly uber-competitive.  Ask me to do something of my own free will and I will quickly find something more interesting to do, like watch grass grow.  Give me an external motivator and I'm all over it.  So, I am extrinsically motivated rather than intrinsically.  At least I know that much about myself.  So, I need to become a Challenge Ho!!  

 

Regardless, I'm glad to be here, and glad to be among kindred souls looking to improve themselves.  

hey there, welcome! I have never been athletic either. Which is why I'm having fun now that I can actually do some stuff.Realizing that I am not a total klutz after all  

[GrammyMary]

You guys are a fresh breath of air.  October begins the year in which I will still be 50-something.  Honest to god I don't know how I lived to be this, uh, experienced because it's had absolutely nothing with how I took care of myself.  I have had urges in the past to exercise but I usually sat down and waited for them to go away.  While I'm an excellent cook I've been cooking really crappy food and feeding it to the people I love most because it tastes good. In the last 10 years I've lost and found the same 15 pounds at least 3 times. My neck and knees make noises now and I have developed skin between my elbow and armpit that doesn't appear to be attached to anything in particular.  I heard one of the young whippersnappers at work talk about this Paleo diet, and while doing about the only thing I can do on the internet (research) I stumbled upon this site.   What a revelation  A diet and exercise site that didn't want a boatload of my retirement money, who didn't want to sell me something and talked about health in terms of body and spirit, well, long story short, I'm here. I'm  totally out of my league with the computer skills, hence the boring signature since I don't know how to link or upload or make cool graphics, but by gum, I am here and I just completed my first day of my first challenge and I nearly did 3 real pushups before I had to get back on my knees to do 7 more, but I did them! Now I have found a room of contemporaries who remember being the original remote controls (Dad to Mary:  Get up and turn it to channel 5).  Life is good and getting better everyday

[wildross]

Well you certainly have a way with words!

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[Beaucastle]

GrammyMary, You and I have been in the same places.  Until this year I kept recycling the same 15lbs.  I've lost just about 35 now and took up classes at a local dojo, started C25K program and completed 5k races (3 of them so far), and I'm flirting with the idea of pushups...  still not sure about them.. evil creatures that they are.   Welcome, we're glad you are here.

 

So what sort of taunt (challenge) motivates you?  I have a whole bucket full.   *wink*

[wildross]

Hey, I just wanted to stop in and say hi, even though I've already joined another - actually, two other - accountability groups before I saw this one! But I'm another "chronologically blessed" NF member, though from the looks of it I'm actually a few years younger than most of you! 51, for the record, though I think that's the first time I've publicly admitted to my age in maybe four years. I don't even do well at thinking about my age - it doesn't really suit my mental image of myself, so my brain sort of does a divide-by-zero error when I try to think of myself as being over 50. Anyway, it's nice to see that I'm not the only one here who's not in their 20s!

 

I definitely feel this.  Since I've shaved my head for over 7 years now, I'm neither bald nor grey (actually both) and the Lord blessed me with a baby face, people constantly peg me in the early 40's.  But honestly, I don't even feel that old.  The only age related physical issue I have is my eye sight.  I've got no line bi/tri focals and have for probably 5 years.  But can't get used to them.  If I need to see something small, I just take a picture with my camera phone and zoom in on it.  Technology for the win!!

[wildross]

 

Cline quotes...

 

 

 

 

 

^^^ These are just some of the reasons I follow/lurk...

 

Things that I know to be true, but the sorts of reminders in the midst of the grind that help me keep my perspective straight and to keep going when the body and/or mind is complaining.

 

 

Change each "was" to "is" in the following Cline quote and... You've got a description of Cline!

 

"Who the hell was this woman? She was STRONG! She was big and strong and amazing. Not typical..."

 

"Who the hell is this woman? She is STRONG! She is big and strong and amazing. Not typical..."

 

 

Cline's not "big".  Strong and mean tough, yes, but not big.

[wildross]

So what sort of taunt (challenge) motivates you?  I have a whole bucket full.   *wink*

My favorite (since I lift heavy) is when someone comes up to me at the gym and says "I'm too old to lift heavy stuff"...and they are a decade younger than me.

[ShadowLion]

Cline's not "big".  Strong and mean tough, yes, but not big.

 

Ah, I guess she just looms large in my imagination - you've met her, I have not.  How about this: "Who the hell is this woman? She is STRONG! She is big of spirit and strong and amazing. Not typical..."

 

She doesn't strike me as "mean," (you're just being funny now) but I guess we wouldn't want to test that assumption, not with all those Muay Thai skills she has!