In today's time of struggle and world strife, I ask you the question listed here. Are you in it to win it? What I mean by this is are you viewing life only for this day or are you able to step back and see the entire picture. All to often I view my clientele struggling to see the big picture. It is easy for us human beings to find routine and comfortable patterns in our daily behaviors but this is not always a good thing. If you have read one of my favorite books by the author Dr. Spencer Johson, "Who Moved My Cheese?" High highly recommend that you do. You will find yourself fitting somewhere within this easy to read book as it portrays the reasons why some people will change and can find happiness while others refuse to change and therefore become stuck and remain unhappy.
With our economic struggles and related issues that come with it, we must step back and realize those things that mean more to us than ever before. We can either choose to change our focus or we can choose to live in this current moment and panic while feeling the information of fear that surrounds us. Don't get me wrong, I truly believe we are living in tough times, but I do believe history has taught us that this is only a point in time and that the future will get better, if we move with it that is.
Ask yourself what you value most in life. Seriously do this and make a list of your answers. Did you do this? If not, do so now. List the top four to six values you have in your head right now. Was the first one your 401k savings account? I am guessing not the case. Was the second on your list your house? Third your car? Fourth your boat? You probably see where I am going with this. We value things in life most like health, family, friends, spiritual beliefs, free time and so forth. So I ask you, where do you spend most of your time and resource regarding the things on your list? As of late, many who I have been in contact with are struggling with the endless negative reports we are bombarded with via the media which surrounds us. I advise my friends, family and clientele to turn it off or to better yet take time to decipher what is true and what is just negative chatter about nothing. It is not easy action to take for it can be quite difficult to turn off the television, computer screen or blackberry if you will. These things are deeply engrained within us. We are creatures of habit and sometimes those habits are not helpful or good.
My point is if we truly value our health, family, friends, free time etc. Now is a great time to refocus upon those things. As a health professional, managing stress with physical activity is worth its time in gold. Spending time with family members and developing stronger relationships with your loved ones is priceless too. Even sharing a little talk time with friends you have not communicated with for awhile you may find uplifting and energizing. Now would be a great time to do this for they too probably could use a boost. After all the holiday season is approaching soon!
The bottom line is this. We have a life to live. We have many choices to make each day we have life. Be more keen with your personal vision and where you spend time in it. Remove yourself from the every day endless hum drum filled with negative chatter and spend more time and energy seeing the big picture. Odds are you will become a happier person and will enjoy the time you have much more than if you stay with the current focus you have today.
Do your best and remember that you have one life, one body and it is your choice to live the life you choose!
Troy D. Eichers "Coach T"
www.trainingbytroy.net
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Season's of Change!
Hello and Happy November!
As you turn back the clocks and begin this new month, I hope that you find yourself prepared for the winter months ahead. Be it that I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I know that I have obstacles ahead regarding my own training program in my attempt to maintain my level of fitness and wellness. Many of you know what I am talking about. The days are now shorter, the temperatures lower and soon there will be white precipitation falling from the skies. In addition to this, we have a very elongated holiday season that brings with it negative health tendencies of making poor nutritional choices and sitting for endless hours watching weekend after weekend of football. OK, maybe this does not fit you but as I look around this is the case for many.
We in the Midwest love our spring, summer and fall seasons but most of us would rather due without winter. The long commutes, back breaking shoveling of snow, school closings, salt on our cars, well you get the picture. It is part of the year and for some of us, we just fail to put in a plan to prepare for this. On top of this, it is this time of year that seasonal mood affective disorder increases and where levels of activity drop too. Don't get me wrong, I love the seasonal foods that come out at this time of year, but I too have to put in a plan to stay the course.
So, what is my point you may ask. My point is that you should take some time to develop a plan to deal with the duress that comes with the up and coming winter season. Put in place a proactive plan that allows for the longer commutes, school cancellations, holiday parties, snow removal, fattening food offerings from your friends and family. You can do this by putting into play time set aside for going to the gym to attend a workout class, hiking, walking, shoveling, sledding. You can write out your goals for how you would like to choose certain foods and how you will prepare yourself ahead of time before heading to the holiday's parties that will be offering up vast amounts of food and alcohol. On that note, don't forget to have a designated driver or safe ride arranged for you. Thought I would add that too. Plans like these are designed to keep you healthy and happier too for that matter.
If you fail to this road and wonder aimlessly through another winter. I would probably bet that you like many others will be starting off 2009 with a new diet and fitness plan. You will probably also step on the scale and approach the mirror with the words....."how the heck did I gain this many pounds?" Well, how about taking a proactive approach and not becoming one of those people. After all, what did it take for you to attain your fitness goals in 2008? Get a head start and make the most of the next four months. You will be happy that you did.
After all, it would be hard to hibernate for the next four months and not take part in the Midwest winter of 2008!
I wish you the best and hope that you too are healthy, happy and well.
Coach T
One Life, One Body, Your Choice
www.trainingbytroy.net
As you turn back the clocks and begin this new month, I hope that you find yourself prepared for the winter months ahead. Be it that I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I know that I have obstacles ahead regarding my own training program in my attempt to maintain my level of fitness and wellness. Many of you know what I am talking about. The days are now shorter, the temperatures lower and soon there will be white precipitation falling from the skies. In addition to this, we have a very elongated holiday season that brings with it negative health tendencies of making poor nutritional choices and sitting for endless hours watching weekend after weekend of football. OK, maybe this does not fit you but as I look around this is the case for many.
We in the Midwest love our spring, summer and fall seasons but most of us would rather due without winter. The long commutes, back breaking shoveling of snow, school closings, salt on our cars, well you get the picture. It is part of the year and for some of us, we just fail to put in a plan to prepare for this. On top of this, it is this time of year that seasonal mood affective disorder increases and where levels of activity drop too. Don't get me wrong, I love the seasonal foods that come out at this time of year, but I too have to put in a plan to stay the course.
So, what is my point you may ask. My point is that you should take some time to develop a plan to deal with the duress that comes with the up and coming winter season. Put in place a proactive plan that allows for the longer commutes, school cancellations, holiday parties, snow removal, fattening food offerings from your friends and family. You can do this by putting into play time set aside for going to the gym to attend a workout class, hiking, walking, shoveling, sledding. You can write out your goals for how you would like to choose certain foods and how you will prepare yourself ahead of time before heading to the holiday's parties that will be offering up vast amounts of food and alcohol. On that note, don't forget to have a designated driver or safe ride arranged for you. Thought I would add that too. Plans like these are designed to keep you healthy and happier too for that matter.
If you fail to this road and wonder aimlessly through another winter. I would probably bet that you like many others will be starting off 2009 with a new diet and fitness plan. You will probably also step on the scale and approach the mirror with the words....."how the heck did I gain this many pounds?" Well, how about taking a proactive approach and not becoming one of those people. After all, what did it take for you to attain your fitness goals in 2008? Get a head start and make the most of the next four months. You will be happy that you did.
After all, it would be hard to hibernate for the next four months and not take part in the Midwest winter of 2008!
I wish you the best and hope that you too are healthy, happy and well.
Coach T
One Life, One Body, Your Choice
www.trainingbytroy.net
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