Winter has pitched a fast ball to the Eastern United States with the Blizzard of 2016. Several inches and some areas even feet of snow. This predicament can lead to some serious injuries of pulled muscles, strained backs or worse. Here are a few tips to consider when shoveling the snow.

We all have heard the well-known Aesop’s Fable of the Tortoise and Hare. In this story we see the obviously faster rabbit being matched up to notoriously slow tortoise in comparison, however as the story unwinds the careless inconsistent behavior of hare  lead to his own demise. While in turn the consist steadfast behavior of the tortoise paid off in the end.

If we are honest with with ourselves, all of us (including myself) want to be the Hare, live the carefree “Eat, drink & be merry” lifestyle. In reality the consistent tortoise lifestyle is more rewarding when we reach the finish line. The same is in fitness there is no shortcuts to “six-pack abs”! As much as we rub the magic lamp wishing to find the right portion or swallow the special pill, there is no way around following a consistent lifestyle.

Consistent lifestyle is the three “C’s” Triad: Control, Contract & Consistency.

Control is Safety.

Contract is contraction of the muscle being exercised.

Consistency is habit of exercise WITH proper nutrition.

The TRIAD of the Three “C’s” is a sure-thing of reaching your fitness goal.

 

I’m too old.

I’m too fat.

I’m too “Fill in the Blank“!!

Being more fit over forty is quite achievable!!! IF you want it to be!!

“IF” is the Keyword.

In my opinion, improvement is ALWAYS an option. If we have breath in our lunges then we can improve ourselves.

I had a conversation with a 40+ year old gentleman whose trials and decisions led him to a point in his life of weight an excess of 300 pounds on a 5′-8″ frame. He began telling me :

“My doctor told me to exercise more to lose weight so my back and my knees would quit hurting so much.” he began sharing while parking his walking canes between us on the bench.

“When I walk a lot and exercise it makes my knees and back hurt more! What can I do? I’m doomed either way.” Shaking a scowled face toward me.

“What do you think?” he asked in a semi-rhetorical demeanor.

We discussed he food choices which is 80 % percent of the battle.

He realized after we spoke that He did not need to hit the gym in triathlon training. He needed the Mindset first!!  Scriptures tell us that “Where there is no vision, the people perish:” _Proverbs 29:18A.

So he realized that he could do little steps that can grow. He could more his arms, straighten his legs such as a assisted leg extension one at a time. Once he had a vision to make it happen. He is able to go forward and conquer.  NEVER Give up!