Physical Condition

Recently, I have decided to try and get into better shape.  I have always looked the part thanks to good genetics, but it's something that everyone goes through in their life - can I work hard at my age and really change my body?  I am motivated by a few things - I want to be an example to my family, and I want to impress my wife.  She doesn't really know how important that it is to me for her to continue liking the way I look.  I guess it may seem a bit ridiculous given my whole take on love and what it truly means, but I guess that is the physical aspect that I put upon myself in our relationship. 

There are two really tough aspects to making this whole body conditioning thing work.  First, it is the unending availability of bad food.  I try and make myself eat right and avoid the wrong things - thank goodness my will power is stronger than most!  It is just the maintaining that is always tough.  I hope that my wife and I can grow into our new love for healthy food choices - thank you bountiful baskets!!  The second factor that makes my effort tougher is that everyone seems to think that I don't need to do all the working out.  Most people look at me and assume that everything is fine and sometimes resent me for talking about my efforts and the weight I may lose.  It's not terribly motivating when people resent and talk down your successes. 

The good thing about this endeavor is going to be the availability of time, which tends to be most everybody's biggest hurdle.  As a teacher, time is definitely not an issue during the summer.  Mornings are going to be the easiest times, as the kids are still either in bed or working through their morning stupor.  : )  The evenings and Jodi's days off will be set aside for the longer aerobic activity.  I have to get out to run.  Jodi can do the whole treadmill thing, but I need the variety offered by the outdoors.  It's nice to have a general goal, but it is also nice to alter your plan as you go if you feel like it. 

I wish I had someone else to work with on this endeavor, but my friends tend to work out differently - long distance training and no real strength training.  I guess I need to ask before I make assumptions, and perhaps I will, but that evil 'time thing' will probably be the impossible hurdle to get over.  Oh well, nothing like a little intrinsic motivation. 

This post is not for sharing all over - those who find it can read it, but I'm not making it readily available through all the social media sites.  I may or may not chronicle a few successes (or failures) as I go.  By the way...yesterday I ran 6.3 miles (with a 20 minute stop over at the Marlias for water at the 3 mile mark).  I have never run that far in my life...so, mini-success!!