The Hard Routine 2011

By request, THE HARD ROUTINE is back in 2011. We ran the same fitness, health, and wellness campaign back in Fall 2009 and 2010, during the same two months. We'll be back at it this year too!

• What is The Hard Routine? In a nutshell: It's a two-month campaign that jump starts positive behaviors in the areas of physical fitness and diet/nutrition. This is an online group that you commit to. There is no set program. YOU set the rules based on YOUR goals and needs. YOU sign a contract with yourself. I send out periodic email updates, some of which include YOUR testimony if you wish to share with the group. (Some of the stories are really inspirational!) Your email address and name remains private (except to me).
• Basics: So here is what OUR Hard Routine is all about. Pick some clearly defined behavior and habit changes within both DIET and ACTIVITY categories. Some of the changes will be to add certain foods and activities, and some changes will be to abstain from certain ones. It's completely up to YOU to make those rules and guidelines. I will be here to make some suggestions and help you articulate to YOURSELF what your rules might look like be based on your current lifestyle and body type.
• Why a formalized campaign? Because doing this by yourself is a real bitch. Doing this alongside a spouse, coworkers, friends, or family creates a postive support network to make healthier decisions TOGETHER for the two months. "Hey Joe, you want pizza?""No, how about grilled chicken instead." "Yeah, you're right....sounds better." Even if your support group is merely online or through emails, it holds you more accountable than going at it alone. Shared hardships.
• Why a specific two-month session? Because goal-oriented training and conditioning must be related to a TIME or an end date. There is a light at the end of this tunnel, and it is December 1st! On December 1st, we each can re-evaluate what went good and where we need improvement. We can probably all make difficult decisions regarding food and activity for two months....right? Is this crash diet? Keep reading....
• Should I keep a journal? Absolutely!! Keeping tabs on your food and your activity holds one more accountable. It can be as detailed as you are willing to make it...but keep it realistic. If weighing your food on a kitchen scale is your plan, that's a big commitment. Maybe tallying calories is even too much. Also, keep a log of your workouts. It keeps us all honest, and tracks progress too.
• Who participates? Well last year we had folks from ALL walks of life. The largest group by far was police officers. But we had grandmothers, housewives, military members, corporate businessmen, and everything in between. Health and wellness knows no bounds.

How did this start? I read an article called The Hard Routine by Jason Dougherty. Some of his points are as follows:

1. Recognize that there is a benefit to not getting everything you want.
2. Understand that mental toughness is born of adversity; that it will atrophy if not constantly engaged; and that it carries over to everything you do.
3. Objectively scrutinize one or a handful of things in your life that you think you need but could actually do without.
4. Deny yourself those exact things for a specified period of time.

I took his points to heart and suggested to some friends that we try some "hard living" for a few months. It turned into The Hard Routine 2009. We had a group of nearly 120 participants. Last year, we ran it again with the same great results.

THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• What are the physical workouts? You decide. They are whatever you want them to be. For some of you, you are already doing some terrific exercise sessions. For others, you need to get off the couch. I can point you in the right direction. Some of you might start out by walking 30 minutes each day. Others might commit to a more strenuous workout program. I don't recommend joining a gym for this! Let's begin slowly if you are relatively inactive now.
• I need workout ideas. We have plenty of ideas based on YOUR goals and needs. Maybe you need strength workouts. Maybe you need cardio workouts. Maybe you need a beginner workout that is easy to follow. Maybe you have access to a gym or health club, or maybe you need to do the workouts at home. I will help you along based on what your physical needs are, as well as what equipment you have access to. Maybe the Prison Workouts (without kettlebell and with kettlebell) are a good start?? For some, walking a certain number of hours or miles each week is a great beginning.
• I have no idea where to start regarding workouts. I'll help you. Just ask. Don't let that keep you from participating. No one is too far out of shape to begin. Sitting on the couch is a one way street...getting fatter and more out of shape!
• I'm a woman and don't want to get bulky muscles. Many women are under a wrong impression that weight training produces bulky muscles. That is false. Women need weight training moreso than men. It would take a tremendous amount of serious weightlifting and protein supplements to get bulky. Likewise, the words "toned" or "toning" exercises are also false. There are only two ways to get so-called "toned." You must gain muscle, and lose the fat that surrounds those muscles. Weightlifting for women is a virtual MUST.
• I have a big butt/tummy/thighs. What should I do? Well, first off, there is a rumor that situps or ab workouts will flatten a flabby tummy. That is called "spot reduction." It's the thought that the ThighMaster gives you thinner thighs. It too is false. To get thinner thighs, you must lose the fat that has settled there. We each have a genetically predetermined place that our fat settles. For me, it's the "spare tire." For many women, it's "grandma arms" or "thunder thighs." If you attempt to target those specific areas, you will find it discouraging...it doesn't work. Never has....never will.

THE FUEL

• What is the diet? We each have different eating downfalls. For me, it's ice cream and baked potatoes. Healthy eating choices are critical to making body changes. The diet is what you make it. For me, I'm avoiding alcohol, ice cream, sweets, and chocolate all together. I am limiting starches such as pasta, pizza, and potatoes to only a few meals per week. I will also limit bread and fried food intake. I am also making efforts to add leafy vegetables and nuts every day. But those are MY rules. You need to come up with your own! I'll help you. Last year, one of our participants said "NO" to all fried foods. He was really surprised to see how much of restaurant food is fried, especially appetizers!
• This sounds like "crash dieting." Well it is, in a way. Strict dietary rules aren't a way to live your life forever, and certainly not love your life. However, after a couple of months of structured living, maybe keeping a moderate lifestyle will be easier for a bit longer. I'm only asking for two months!

If this is something you'd like to join, please email me at louis.hayes@comcast.net to be added to the email list (blind carbon copy). There will be plenty of email updates once October 1st hits. Until then, check back often! And check some of the posts from last season's campaign here.

Lastly, there is a Facebook "event" created for the campaign. Invite others to participate and share in your hardship this Fall.

Conspiracy Against Extremists. Part 5.

Parts 1-4, click here.

Extremism should not and cannot be painted with a broad brush as wrong. Expert witnesses are extremists. Professional and Olympic athletes are extremists. Valedictorians are extremists. To simply say, "Extremism is evil," is ignorant. Extremists find themselves at the pinnacle of ability, knowledge, and ethics. They are committed to causes, and strive for the best.

Certain terms ring sour with extremists:

• Good enough.
• Lukewarm.
• "C" student.
• Acceptable.
• Mediocre.
• Ordinary.
• White bread.
• Expected.
• Mainstream.
• Middle of the road.
• Average.
• Bland.
• Going through the motions.

These phrases are filled with feelings that find a home under the bell curve's bulge....nothing particularly special. To the extremist, they invoke gray, passionless emotions.

Modern health clubs are filled with folks who are passionless about their workout programs. They merely go through the motions of a daily or weekly routine. They accept marginal results...in both mirror and performance. But it is relatively painless. Few missed goals. After all, one must actually HAVE a goal before one can fail reaching it. There is a certain comfort level in "not failing." So to make sure one does not fail, one only needs to not set a standard.

Failing is painful.

Or is it? I find more pain in not having goals. I find more pain at not competing. I find more pain in not having a chance to succeed. Failing to me means I gave it all I had in a risky effort, but came up short. Failing means I have to try harder next time. Commit to a new course. Visualize myself being the champion. The Extremist.

So who promotes this Conspiracy Against Extremists? The populous. The cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. It's everywhere we look. From labor unions to little league baseball, participants are rewarded for doing a lukewarm performance. Low standards are set as a rock-bottom baseline. Do less....get more. Why would a little league team strive for the championship game if all players of all teams get trophies regardless of standing? Why do labor union workers do the bare-bones least they have to? Because there is little reward for doing any better.

Why do health clubs promote lack-luster fitness programs? Because clients are willing to come back as long as they don't feel the physical pains of true effort or the discouragement of missed goals. They come back with their money, each week, each month. They do the same thing over and over again with little results. They become the bulge in the bell curve. And they somehow gather others to their world of missed opportunities and dull abilities.

Our system is broken. Few reach down to find a hearty desire to actually excel at something. If you really look out there, there is little competition to fight. Most are stuck in some comfortable existence that has barely a faint glimmer of reaching where extremists strive to be. If you want to be the best at something, it's not really all that far out there. The competition is lazy and unmotivated....unfocused and ignorant....unwilling to commit and quits when stumbles. They are no match for Extremists.

What I want is this:

A climate that encourages goal-setting, painful physical efforts, ethical competition, and a thirst for knowledge, populated by those who know a good cause...and strive to be a champion for it! I want all people to take risks at something important in life. Real risks. By setting some goal so lofty you might not actually reach it. Not at first attempt.

I want people to claim a stake in their own success. Not sitting back expecting some fair distribution of prizes or rewards. I want people to take a bite out of failure and chew on it until a new plan, a fresh path, a renewed vision of success is crystal clear.

I want everyone to experience the grandeur emotions that accompany successes and victories and pitfalls and failures I have been blessed with. Not everyone was born to parents who told their young, impressionable, naive children that they could do anything they wanted to in life. Not all children believed their parents. I did.

I hold firmly that just MAYBE I can be that motivator to some of you to set that goal. Just maybe I can be that friend that stands at your side watching you realize a dream. Just maybe I can shake your hand or hug you when you are bursting with that joy of winning out over adversity. Maybe I can be that voice that first calls you an Extremist....

Conspiracy Against Extremists. Part 4.

PHOTO: Our great friends Brian M and Bobby K during the 2009 Thunder Rolls 24-hr adventure race. Based on their shadows, I'd guess this was taken in about the 12th or 13th hour. These guys are jacks-of-all-trades!

NOTE: This post will offend many of you. But do not mistake this warning as an apology, for I make none here. I am not sorry for any ill feeling this may give you as a reader. Also, do not confuse my challenges as claims that I am an expert or elitist. For I am neither. But do not confuse my self-admitted shortcomings as lack of effort to reach those levels. For I make no qualms I try hard. Very hard. Just understand I know why you might become upset. Now read on....

Re-examine the Bell Curve. As a reader of this blog I make some assumptions. Our bell curve for this discussion revolves around physical fitness. Here are some of the general delineations along our curve:

• Serious Injury / Illness / Medical Condition
• Sedentary / No fitness program / Unhealthy
• Active / Walker / Jogger
• Casual-to-serious health club attendee
• Competitor / Goal-driven participant
• Elite athlete ... AKA Extremist.

This of course is a theoretical model of complete and integrated physical fitness. There are obviously many standards of what constitutes physical fitness. But since this is MY post, we're using MY standard: the Jack-of-All-Trades Standard. This approach to fitness demands competence and proficiency within as many domains as possible. I will put to bed attacks on this model. First off, this model does NOT apply to proficiency or elitism in any ONE domain. A world champion marathoner will NOT be aligned as Elite Athlete at the far extreme of fitness on THIS model. Nor will the world's top StrongMan. The person found at the extreme of fitness in THIS model is a theoretical ideal perfect athlete with limitless skills, abilities, proficiencies, and strengths. This person does not exist, except in the minds of Extremists.

I know there are many Trinity Training Group readers who excel in their one field of fitness...maybe long distance running, or biking, or triathlons, or powerlifting. I do not care how great you are in ONE or a few disciplines. You are probably not fit in MY model.

I won't discuss the bell curve's one extreme of a sedentary lifestyle. We all can agree this is unhealthy. The bell curve's middle bulge is filled with health club attendees. These people participate in a wide spectrum of activities: weightlifting, cardio machines, yoga, boot camp, swimming, circuit training, running, and biking. And of course they participate with varying levels of commitment, intensity, and proficiency. Casual participants find themselves with Feel Good Workouts. The more serious people challenge themselves with goal-oriented performance-based sessions.

Take the next step up from that. There are those who follow fairly well-balanced programs. They might participate in several of the above activities. Their balance and integration is closer to well-rounded fitness than a champion in any one single event or domain. But there are still limitations to the abilities of these participants.

Now let's venture into the far corner of the curve. Here we find some serious athletes. If we compare them to a popular CrossFit model, they are: strong, with stamina, with high cardio-respiratory capacity, fast, powerful, flexible, accurate, coordinated, agile, balanced. They have high work output over both short and long time durations. There are few (if any) chinks in their armor. They are Jacks-of-All-Trades.

But again, I point to this this Conspiracy Against Extremists. This time the extremists are functional fitness enthusiasts. There is a guerrilla war going on against the functional fitness movement. Among mainstream health clubs, fitness magazines, nationally certified personal trainers, and many fitness equipment manufacturers these Extremists are seen as a threat. The threat is to the pocketbooks and livelihoods of those relying on the masses under the bell curve's bulge...a bulge of lukewarm knowledge, participation, and commitment.

This war is being waged through a variety of tactics. First off, they attack with pointed remarks about the dangers and risks of injury. That mudslinging alone is enough to steer many away. Then the attackers discuss how intense the workouts are...but in a way that dissuades so many potential functionalists from actually joining....as if the functional workouts are so discomforting, stressful, and demanding that no one would subject their bodies to the torture. There are claims that functional fitness programs are "too good to be true." Lastly, tactics include explanations that one must be fit even in order to begin such an "advanced" routine.

Imagine this: any person could buy or make some fitness equipment for what many gyms might charge for a year's membership. The same person could go online to a few FREE websites and get better instruction and ENCOURAGEMENT than at their gym or from a coach they pay MONEY to! They can complete the workouts in a fraction of the time required under current practice. And the workouts produce quantifiable results in the way of body composition and physical performance. This does sound a bit like the Holy Grail. It sounds so much like a "scam" that when I discuss functionalism to others, I have to be very careful to not sound like a shyster with some smoke-and-mirror show.

There is a mold that has been cast. It was developed by many scientists, coaches, educators, and businessmen. Many of them have financial interests. Some have reputations to uphold. Some have fragile egos. (Some of them have been mature and confident enough to realize that change and advancement is good....and functionalism is the present and future of physical fitness models. It is constantly changing and adapting to what works. It is not based on equipment, or qualifications, or money. BUT do not confuse this. There is much money to be made from the functional fitness industry as well!!) The mold I speak of above has encouraged this bulge of mediocrity. The bell curve's majority consists of Feel Good Workouts and the status quo. Breaking the mold might lead to the ruin of traditional health clubs, personal trainers, and certain fitness equipment makers. So to save the "system," there is a conspiracy against the changes advancing other athletes towards the corner of elitism.

What the old mold does is foster an environment where it's OK to be mediocre. It's acceptable to merely go through the motions. The leaders encourage you to believe what you are doing is better than nothing at all (which is true!). The slick leaders unfairly hold up images of magazine cover models, promising their widget will lead you to that body. They tell you what you WANT to hear, not what you NEED to hear...and what you want to hear is that everything you are doing is OK, is good enough, doesn't hurt, and is the path to your dream body. The same leaders describe these Extremists with unflattering terms: unqualified, uneducated, closed-minded, intolerable, arrogant, ultra-competitive. And I have to nod and say, "Yes, I'm all those things." But I'm working on it....

I find it quite amusing how many opponents of functional fitness have bad-mouthed the movement, and then began to tweak their own programs in ways that are very similar to functionalism. Hmmm. To me it sounds like some of these trainers and leaders have had to spout out against the extremists just long enough to secretly join them without losing financial interests or their followers/buyers/members. I applaud trainers who have been exposed to functionalism and made the switch in the drop of a hat. There is something courageous and mature in admitting that what one had been doing was actually far from the most effective techniques and strategies...but now sees the light. Doesn't it seem obvious that others lacking confidence and security will avoid making those admissions of fault or that there is a better mousetrap now?

If you are sick of moderate fitness, marginal results, and inferior motivation look to functional fitness models as the cure. The corner of Extremists has many participants from all walks of life: old, young, fat, skinny, men, women, athletes, office workers. You name it.

Do not buy into this physical fitness Conspiracy Against Extremists. It's a war being waged by ignorant, self-inflating, weak, money-squandering leaders who fear embarrassment and losing financial position. These far superior fitness programs I preach of are rooted in terms of idealism and goals rather than misconception and popularity.

It is lonely and challenging at the corner of the bell curve. But it is rewarding. Many in the masses will tempt you away from functionality and your search for elitism, towards their bulge of mediocrity. Do not take their bait.

To be continued...

NOTE: For more on this check out this post on Athletic Skill Levels, with a link to CrossFit Seattle's chart on what constitutes their view of "elitism."

Wellness Campaign - Fall 2009

Beginning October 1st, 2009, we will be in what has been referred to as THE HARD ROUTINE. This is a two-month fitness, health, and wellness campaign to help jump start some positive habits before the holiday season.

Begin with this, taken from an article called The Hard Routine by Jason Dougherty:

1. Recognize that there is a benefit to not getting everything you want.
2. Understand that mental toughness is born of adversity; that it will atrophy if not constantly engaged; and that it carries over to everything you do.
3. Objectively scrutinize one or a handful of things in your life that you think you need but could actually do without.
4. Deny yourself those exact things for a specified period of time.

So here is what OUR Hard Routine is all about. Pick some clearly defined behavior and habit changes within both DIET and ACTIVITY categories. Some of the changes will be to add certain foods and activities, and some changes will be to abstain from certain ones. It's completely up to YOU to make those "rules" and guidelines. I will be here to help you articulate to YOURSELF what your rules might look like be based on your current lifestyle and body type.

• Why a formalized campaign? Because doing this by yourself is a real bitch. Doing this alongside a spouse, coworkers, friends, or family creates a postive support network to make healthier decisions TOGETHER for the two months. "Hey Joe, you want pizza?" "No, how about grilled chicken instead." "Yeah, you're right....sounds better." Even if your support group is merely online or through emails, it holds you more accountable than going at it alone.
• 
  
• Why a specific two-month session? Because goal-oriented training and conditioning must be related to a TIME or an end date. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is December 1st! On December 1st, we each can re-evaluate what went good and where we need improvement. We can probably all make difficult decisions regarding food and activity for two months....right?
• 
  
• What are the physical workouts? They are whatever you want them to be. For some of you, you are already doing some terrific exercise sessions. For others, you need to get off the couch. Yet, for others, some changes in your boring or ineffective training must be made to produce results. Some of you believe the elliptical machine is a path to fitness. You are wrong. It may be a start, but it is VERY ineffective at producing results. It mostly wastes your time. Let's do things right!
• 
  
• I need workout ideas. Maybe you need strength workouts. Maybe you need cardio workouts. Maybe you need a beginner workout that is easy to follow. Maybe you have access to a gym or health club, or maybe you need to do the workouts at home. I will help you along based on what your physical needs are, as well as what equipment you have access to. Maybe the Prison Workouts (without kettlebell and with kettlebell) are a good start??
• 
  
• I have no idea where to start regarding workouts. I'll help you. Just ask. Don't let that keep you from participating. No one is too far out of shape to begin. Sitting on the couch is a one way street...getting fatter and more out of shape!
• 
  
• I'm a woman and don't want to get bulky muscles. Many women are under a wrong impression that weight training produces bulky muscles. That is false. Women need weight training moreso than men. It would take a tremendous amount of serious weightlifting and protein supplements to get bulky. Likewise, the words "toned" or "toning" exercises are also false. There are only two ways to get so-called "toned." You must gain muscle, and lose the fat that surrounds those muscles. Weightlifting for women is a virtual MUST.
• 
  
• I have a big butt/tummy/thighs. What should I do? Well, first off, there is a rumor that situps or ab workouts will flatten a flabby tummy. That is called "spot reduction." It's the thought that the ThighMaster gives you thinner thighs. It too is false. To get thinner thighs, you must lose the fat that has settled there. We each have a genetically predetermined place that our fat settles. For me, it's the "spare tire." For many women, it's "grandma arms" or "thunder thighs." If you attempt to workout those specific areas, you will find it discouraging...it doesn't work. Never has....never will.
• 
  
• What is the diet? We each have different eating downfalls. For me, it's ice cream and baked potatoes. Healthy eating choices are critical to making body changes. The diet is what you make it. For me, I'm avoiding alcohol, ice cream, sweets, and chocolate all together. I am limiting starches such as pasta, pizza, and potatoes to only a few meals per week. I will also limit bread and fried food intake. I am also making efforts to add leafy vegetables and nuts every day. But those are MY rules. You need to come up with your own! I'll help you.
• 
  
• Should I keep a journal? Absolutely!! Keeping tabs on your food and your activity holds one more accountable. It can be as detailed as you are willing to make it...but keep it realistic. If weighing your food on a kitchen scale is your plan, that's a big commitment. Maybe tallying calories is even too much. I find it really hard to write in "large McDonald's chocolate shake" on my food journal. I find it harder to write down 1160 calories!!! Also, keep a log of your workouts. It keeps us all honest, and tracks progress too.
• 
  
• This sounds challenging. No kidding! If it were easy, everyone would look like the cover model. Make the commitment to be healthy. It's for two months.....

Check back often to see what else is new. Click on the Wellness Campaign label in the right column to see posts regarding this two-month session. I will be accepting email addresses to be added to a HARD ROUTINE email list. Just post a comment to this post to be added. Or email me at louis.hayes@comcast.net

Conspiracy Against Extremists. Part 3.

Links to Part 1 and Part 2.

So what lessons had I learned through my few examples:

• Avoiding meat (beef, chicken, and pork) during Lent season. Two lessons here. The first one was the obvious religious view on Lenten sacrifices. The second was how vegetarians are viewed. I eat meat. Lots of it. And I know firsthand how vegetarians are viewed by meat-eaters. Vegetarians are seen as extremists. And so are those who follow some religious custom of avoiding meat. OK, so the Pope gave Catholics a "rule" to follow, trying to stimulate the fishing industry a few hundred years ago. So what? I don't give up meat because I detest eating animals, or because of some Catholic guilt. But to those who don't get to hear my own personal reasoning, I'm one of those extremists: liberal vegetarian or guilt-ridden blind-following Catholic.
• 
  
• Avoiding alcohol while training for a marathon. If you didn't hear me the first time, I like beer. But at parties and gatherings for the better part of 14 months, I didn't drink alcohol (well except for that one shot at Grandma Jay's funeral). What I could not believe or understand was how over-the-top my friends were at trying to get me to drink at these parties. What difference did it make to them? Why did they care if I wasn't drinking with them?
• 
  
• Not having a television for 2 months. One would have thought that unplugging a television was equal to unplugging from society. Few could comprehend what life was like without TV for that long. No one could converse with me about some weekly drama TV show that was on the previous night. Or some gossip show. Or worse yet...a reality show. I wasn't able to participate in those conversations....so what else could we possibly talk about?
• 
  
• Sleeping on the floor for 2 years. Luxury is often confused with necessity. (Link to Luxury Versus Survival post series.) I confuse them myself from time to time. But this bed-versus-floor issue was actually quite fun for me to talk about. I called my challengers the "Princess and the Pea." Why on earth would a grown man with a job and house sleep on the floor? The jokes about me being a hillbilly or crazed survivalist rang with a shade of truth about how others felt about the issue.
• 
  
• Competing in strenuous physical contests. Few understand the reasons why competitors volunteer and pay money to partake in physically demanding contests. Marathons. Triathlons. Adventure races. CrossFit challenges. StrongMan events. SWAT competitions. Some argue the risks of injury or medical complications. But to those who participate, the risk is small compared to the reward. But unless one participates, it's hard to explain in mere words what the reward even is. To many who are not physically active, the participants in strenuous and/or endurance events are over-the-top.
• Leading a church youth group. Religion is taboo. That's what society is being programmed to think. By whom? I'm not exactly sure. But there are strict rules about prayer in school and teaching restrictions about evolution versus Creation. Somewhere along the way, separation of church and state has turned simply to severing church from common society all together. So now, the movement has created a climate that mutes those with a strong committed faith. It's as if those believers are forced to explain themselves as to why they believe....because there are so many other reasons and laws that they shouldn't go public with their views. There tends to be a "sweet spot" with religion: one can go to church on Sundays, but don't dare get more involved than that. And absolutely do NOT talk about it with others.

So that's how I found myself on the proverbial map of Extremism. I have been seen as the tree-hugging "vegetarian," the on-the-wagon party-pooper, the anti-technology recluse, the floor-sleeping survivalist, the fitness-focused ultra-competitor, and the evangelizing preacherman. Each of these titles comes complete with a deeply held stigma. The above stereotypes are quite common in our society. And we blindly hold to many of them with much passion as we do ignorance.

Much of me enjoys debate and discussion. I eagerly engage others in challenging diatribes about the topics listed above. Part of me takes pride with going against the grain....sometimes because it's how I truly feel about something....and admittedly sometimes just to do it for attention (and hopeful debate!!). But I've learned to stick with my beliefs and passions no matter what the cost. That cost rears itself in different ways, but almost always with a side dish of exclusion or isolation from some sect of society. Often that sect is the majority.

Each of these aspects of life has a Bell Curve. A certain number of any population has a great percentage within the middle portion. Obviously fewer and fewer people find themselves with company as s/he gravitates toward the extremes. It's lonely at the extremes. There aren't as many folks who share the same level of commitment or take such a strong stance at those bookends. No matter how "right" or ideal the bookend might be, the bell curve theory holds true. Strength in numbers under the curve at the middle-of-the-road provides protection. Protection from ridicule, from being isolated, from being outcast. Join those in the safe middle and you are guaranteed acceptance. Society tells us to conform. Consider the cookie-cutter appearances and behaviors of high school students. They wear the same clothes, style their hair the same, and do the same things. The bell curve theory is very applicable to impressionable high school students who form their opinions and decisions based on acceptance by the masses.

There are many parts of our lives when we find ourselves in that middle ground. Sometimes the topic at hand is just not important to us to take a stand at one of those extreme bookends. Maybe it's out of ignorance. Maybe it doesn't affect us directly. Maybe it's one of those "battles not worth fighting." And I whole-heartedly agree that we as individuals can not and should not take an extreme stand on every aspect of life. It's the equivalent of spreading ourselves too thin.

Instead, I encourage everyone to find those SELECT segments in life where you are willing to fight that battle. Take those risks because the reward is so great. Or the lesson is worth it. Or because it's right. Sometimes taking a stand or jumping in with both feel is the right thing to do.

If you are one of those who consistently align yourself with that middle-of-the-road group, I question you: Do you not care about it? Are you not confident in your choice? Do you do it because you are ignorant or un-educated to the topics? Have you not found a group of friends or compatriots who are like-minded? Are you thriving for acceptance within that group in the middle? Are you fearful of being excluded? Do you doubt your worthiness? Do you not have the energy to explain yourself to others who disagree? Are you afraid of being unfairly lumped together with those at the FAR extreme...who might be "wrong?" Will you be coined as overly-opinionated or blind? Is the standard to live up to too high for you?

What I am NOT asking is to be different merely for the sake of being different. I am not saying we should all buck the system. Rather, analyze some aspects of life important to our character and our existence. Living a life consistently in the middle of the bell curve is boring and lukewarm.

Take a stand knowing that sometimes being an Extremist is the right thing to do.

Part 4 to discuss physical fitness. Finally.

Conspiracy Against Extremists. Part 2.

Click here for Part 1.

I had never considered myself an extremist. Afterall, the term Extremist comes with some serious images of over-the-top, unreasonable, and intolerant people. Those are not any views I want next to my name. However, in the past few years, I've had some great experiences by being that guy who is the Extremist. These are:

• Avoiding meat (beef, chicken, and pork) during Lent season
• Avoiding alcohol while training for a marathon
• Not having a television for 2 months
• Sleeping on the floor for 2 years
• Competing in strenuous physical contests
• Leading a church youth group

The lessons have been through my hearing and seeing the responses of those who learned of my so-called extremist actions.

• Avoiding meat (beef, chicken, and pork) during Lent season. For the past three Christian Lent seasons I have "given up" meat. Not on Fridays like I had been raised, but for the entire duration. For me, it's a time of shared hardship and a challenging lesson in self-discipline. It's rough, constantly searching out new ways to consume healthy protein: eggs, beans, lentils, nuts. The self-restraint is a daily reminder of the sacrifices made for me by others. Yet, when co-workers or friends realize my Lenten promise of avoiding meat, I'm met with confusion. First off, most people admit they would not be able to last the weeks of the season without meat. They ask in disbelief, "What do you eat then?" or, "Is that healthy?" Many challenge my intent with, "Do you really think it's wrong to eat meat during Lent?" However, for three years my answer remains the same: No it's not wrong. No, I'm not doing this out of guilt. I've consciously picked things in my life that are a serious challenge to avoid. It's a valuable lesson in self-denial. And I generally refrain from blowing them away by telling them I also avoid sweets and alcohol too. ;)
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• Avoiding alcohol while training for a marathon. In August of 2001 I decided to run the 2002 Chicago Marathon. I realized quite early that I'd have to make some serious lifestyle changes to reach that goal of finishing a 26.2 mile running race. I like beer...and I don't like diet beer. In other words, I drink beer that has lots of calories. Additionally, I discovered an 18-week training program....a program that would require lots of hours per week running. Well if one does the math, one quickly figures out that August 2001 and October 2002 are separated by more than 18 weeks. My strategy was 2-pronged: lose some fatty weight and beginning running more miles per week in prep for the training program. So I made the simple rule of quit drinking alcohol. It kept me out of bars late at night (which allowed me to wake up early and run). It cut my caloric intake. And it saved me a LOT of money! But more importantly, avoiding alcohol constantly reminded me of this commitment to run a marathon!!! Every time I was tempted with a drink, I would recall that promise I made to myself. In essence, whenever I thought about beer....I thought about crossing the 26.2 mile finish line.
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• Not having a television for 2 months. During some home renovations, I had to unplug and move our television and stereo system. With only one TV, we lost access to local programming, cable, and DVD. (I admit: I don't watch that much TV anyways.) So for these 8-9 weeks, I read more, wrote more, and found myself at more peace than when I watched TV. Dinner conversation wasn't distracted by a TV in the next room over. I felt as though my mind was "engaged" in thought to a higher level than during times when I watched TV. Yet when others discovered that our only TV was unplugged they looked at us in disbelief. "You don't even watch the news?" they'd say as if the media outputs of the car radio or newspaper couldn't fill the void.
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• Sleeping on the floor for 2 years. When I moved out of my parents' home, I luckily was lent a bed from a friend who needed a place to store his. Well as quickly as luck came, it left. He eventually needed that bed. I was left with an inflatable mattress, with the intent on buying a bed soon. Well that week of the Aerobed turned into six years. That inflatable went flat one week and left me without anything but a 1" foam egg crate pad. So I slept on the floor, with the intent on buying a bed soon (again). Well that week of sleeping on the floor turned into two years. I learned a lot about luxury those two years. Most importantly, I discovered how so many of my friends and family saw a bed as such a necessity. No one (and I mean NO ONE) could imagine themselves without their comfy mattress every night. To me it wasn't that big of a deal. I had been sleeping soundly.
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• Competing in strenuous physical contests. Adventure races suck. And they suck for hours at a time. The preparation is intense. Logistical strategies of eating, hydrating, navigating, clothing, packing, and carrying equipment. The physical training of long mountain bike rides, trail running, and paddling canoes or kayaks. Avoiding or mitigating injury. I love adventure racing! What I most enjoy is pushing my body and MIND to limits never experienced before. I have very fond memories of some of those most excruciating and painful moments in various races: cramping muscles, dehydration, malnourishment, and mild hallucination. Adventure racers thrive during these conditions. (I'm actually very sad this exact moment writing this. My racing partners are out in Iowa competing this minute, and I had to back out. I so want to be with them!...sharing the suck.) There is bond among racers from competing teams like few sports or endurance events.
• Leading a church youth group. This was probably the most educating experience. I led a church youth group for a few years. During that time, I was introduced to a new sort of feeling: isolation. When others learned of my position, I was met with a variety of responses. I was most surprised by how many friends or associates viewed my participation as being a hard-nosed religious fanatic. I could tell by the quick way the topic of conversation was changed. Or the expression on one's face. Or stumbling over words, not quite sure how to talk to a "minister." Or how I was introduced to a new group of people. Or the questions people asked of me. I found myself lumped together with a sect that comes with a negative image in today's modern American culture: overly closed-minded religious zealot.

The above are a few examples of how I determined that this Conspiracy Against Extremists exists. Chew on some of the above stories for now. I'll get into their implications within extremism in the next Part 3.

Conspiracy Against Extremists. Part 1

Reader beware: EXTREMIST AHEAD.

Modern American culture hosts a conspiracy against extremism. The conspiracy is fed by a burning fear of being isolated. It's fertilized by a longing to be accepted. It's a movement that's blindly joined by those who are weak.

Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit. - Benjamin Disraeli, former British PM

The simple nature of being "extreme" is touted as being overboard or unreasonable. The negative connotation of extremism clouds any educated argument. Extremists of all ways of life are quickly bound together with groups such as al-Qaeda, Branched Dividians, and armed militias. Not a fair shake. Many of you first read the title of this post "Conspiracy Against Extremists" and some preconceived imagine popped into your mind. Right?

An arising question may have been: How exactly does this relate to physical fitness, performance, and elitism? First, let me lay some serious groundwork with regards to extremism, social acceptance, human tendencies, and myths and connotations.

Two obvious sects ripe for extremism are politics and religion. Social "law" goes as far as keeping dinner or cocktail conversation away from such topics. One really has to wonder why. Afterall, those are the two topics I most enjoy discussing! But most folks don't want to lose friendships, business contacts, or family ties due to an argument where neither side has a decent chance of changing the other's stance. (I'll take that risk!!)

Let's first look at politics. Most people have been brought up in a family or environment that favors one American major political party over the other. (With the uprising of more influential groups, we have less of a bipartisan system than in the past.) Rarely does a happy family sprout from parents with opposing political views. There are certain views, beliefs, values, and philosophies in strong contention with each other. With contention comes argument. And disagreement requires knowledge to debate. However, most Americans don't possess enough political knowledge to enter into a civil, logical idea-contest. Or they get swayed by a savvy lecturer who knows how to sell his/her point to the uncommitted and uninformed. This weakness breeds a tendency to "ride the middle." Polls indicate 25% of Americans as "independent" when it comes to political affiliation. I'm not sure it stems from ignorance, or the reluctance from aligning themselves with a side. Now there are far-left Democrats, moderate Democrats, moderate Republicans, and far-right Republicans....with all shades in between. Is this fear of alignment a fear to be falsely grouped among the far left or right....and therefore a desire to be labeled indecisive rather than labeled an extremist??

With regards to religion, let's first examine Islam. Depending on the statistics, numbers vary greatly. I'll adopt one set of numbers to make a point here. Ten percent of Muslims are solid believers. They live by all the rules of the religion. Eighty percent go with the flow, and are more practitioners out of upbringing, convenience, and ritual. Only 1-2% are categorized as violent jihadists (though I've seen stats as high as 7%). There are obviously varying degrees of all Muslim believers, some categorized as extremists.

Now within Judeo-Christians, I'd contend the numbers are similar. While I don't see the frequency or volume of violent Judeo-Christian movements (as with Islam), there are undoubtedly those who do use violence as a tactic, claiming action in the name of God. Many Christians find themselves along the spectrum between strong, faithful, testifying believers all the way down to I-go-to-church-on-Easter. If one aligns him/herself with a group of fervent and committed believers, s/he risks being labeled with those extremist titles of Jesus Freak or Bible-thumper. "Maybe it's better to be temperate than to risk those titles," is a moderate approach.

Abortion. We've got Pro-Lifers and Pro-Choicers. At one extreme, there are protesters who pray in front of clinics that perform the procedures. At the other, activists who fight for late-term abortions. One end harbors "baby murderers" and the other holds intolerant and chastising idealists.

Gun Control. Another hot bed for debate. Gun owners cling to the Second Amendment, but are cited as militia men, paranoid protectors, and the reason for violent crime in America. Gun control advocates are either sissies or overly-idealist legislators.

Turn the page to alcohol consumption. Abstainers sit at one pole denouncing alcohol as a poison to body and mind. Regular drinkers on the other hand proudly raise a glass to any day ending in "Y." Talk out against booze, and you get called a teetotaler. Frequently partake in the bottle, and you're a drunk, lush, or booze-hound. This is NOT a unique situation where one bookend is considered wrong by most all. Most cultures see drunkenness as an evil (or wrong). But why do the majority of people also see the same negative connotation applied to complete abstainers? Why is moderation seen as better than complete abstinence?

The topics surrounding sex is filled with potentials for extremes. If you're an abstainer, put on the chastity belt. But sleep around, and you're a slut. The same goes for pornography. Certain risks go with speaking out against it (Goody Two-Shoes?)...and the Internet and technology has produced yet more media opportunities to churn out porn addicts. Again, the safe route is to side with a certain public-acceptable amount of promiscuity, and tax the porn industry. Much like in the case with alcohol consumption, less risky to put oneself in the middle. Aligning with an extreme here is a recipe for isolating yourself against the rest.

What has been bred is a climate rejecting polar affiliation. The safe route is to be moderate. Not too hot, and not too cold. Be temperate. Be tolerant of everyone. Don't upset the apple cart. Don't cause waves. In short...be mediocre. Ride the middle of the road. This is not only an acceptance of mediocrity, it's a factory pumping it out en masse. Some of the above dissected topics have poles that are outright wrong on all moral compasses. Drunkenness. Lewdness. Violence. The others aren't as clear cut. Well, let me rephrase that....the others aren't as agreed upon.

I must make some concessions here. Some topics under politics will battle forever. Gun control. Social Reform. Abortion. The poles are so antagonistic. The middle ground is held by those:

1. Confused by the issues at hand.
2. Ignorant to the facts or stances being contested.
3. Refuse to align themselves with a side for fear of being associated with the most extreme in that group.

There are extremists attached to each of those movements. The arguments and debates and protests are heated on both sides. And this is not the forum to discuss them any further. Done.

However, I will discuss some of the other topics. Consumables and participation events. As I've alluded to above, some of the above topics have varying degrees of what it means to be moderate. One one end, there are some topics that have varying degrees of consumption and participation. Two previously identified topics are alcohol and sex (which at times aren't as separate as may seem). At one end, there is drunkenness and lewdness. Both of these "extremes" have been labeled by most all societies as wrong. Public society has however found some middle ground where one finds acceptance. But, why is there such a negative connotation towards the opposite bookend of sexual and alcoholic abstinence or avoidance? Critics against these extremes claim intolerance, prejudice, or obsessiveness. I understand the dissenting overtone of overindulgence in these realms, but why such an unyielding toward avoidance??

We can go on and on with these consumables and participation events: vegans, vegetarians, Amish/technology, pornography, food portion consumption, sexual activity, modern medications, religious devoutness, celebration of holidays, sports team/athlete fanaticism, alcohol, illegal street drugs, television watching, tobacco. The list can go on and on. And many of these topics find an extremes of overindulgence/participation versus avoidance/abstinence. Most all of the extremes of overindulgence bring a negative image: too much tobacco, too much alcohol, too much sex, too much chocolate, too much watching TV. But I question yet again....why is there so much negativity associated with the opposite extreme? What inherent danger goes with not having sex, not drinking booze, not watching TV, not caring about the local sports team, not eating meat??

Society has found it much easier to promote moderation than it has in accepting or tolerating avoidance groups altogether. Moderation has been deemed a virtue, but avoidance is punished with monikers....some nicknames are worse for abstainers than for those who over-indulge in the same consumables!!

These following personal stories of mine shed some light on the Conspiracy Against Extremism. Between now and when I complete Part 2, maybe I'll even think of some more examples of how this Conspiracy Against Extremism can be painted into a clear picture. These are real life stories that I have lived throughout the past few years:

• Avoiding meat (beef, chicken, and pork) during Lent season
• Avoiding alcohol while training for a marathon
• Not having a television for 2 months
• Sleeping on the floor for 2 years
• Competing in strenuous physical contests
• Leading a church youth group

Part 2 will elaborate on the above case studies that make some points about how society perceives those who find themselves bunched with extremists. And Part 3 will get into how this all fits into physical fitness.

For now, I leave you with the above foundation upon which I will build my case for a Conspiracy Against Extremism.

SO1 David Goggins USN

Funny how two friends of mine (neither knows the other) both told me about David Goggins...with two weeks.  David's story can be found at NavyAthletes.com.

This makes me want to throw on my racing pack and go for a run. How about you?

Luxury versus Survival (Part 4)

Emotional and spiritual issues:

Emotional

The entitlement attitude paves the road for a reliance on a luxurious lifestyle. The more one gets (or provides for him/herself), the more one “needs” to get along. When one subscribes to a “because I want it” approach, rationale begins to leak away. A dependence on certain lavish items gives birth to an inability to adapt to anything less than extravagant.

Recall the childhood tale about the princess and the pea. She could feel the feel the single pea under one of the mattresses in her stack. The princess could not sleep with that one seemingly simple annoyance. She would NEVER “survive” a night spent on the couch or the floor. This princess’s adaptation to nothing but the most comfortable luxury severely limits her ability to endure the slightest hardship. While the tale of the pea under the mattress stack is unrealistic, the same moral is told time and time again in a modern way: needing that specific coffee shop’s specialty drink, requiring a certain type of bed pillow, being a picky eater. To less of a degree each of these must-haves increases the disparity between daily customs and true bare-bones needs.

Here's a very recent tale of a rookie endurance runner: This past Labor Day holiday weekend, I ran a half marathon. Despite being in the best physical shape of my life, I promised a brand new runner I would run with her. I abandoned hopes to run a personal record (PR) to be with someone I knew would appreciate my company during the most grueling physical task in her life to date. Before beginning her training program, she had never run even 5 miles! And in less than 5 months, she was well on her way to running the full mileage. She hurdled injury and setbacks to complete more than a few 10-milers along the way....but never topped that. Race day came on Monday. In mile 9, the pain in her legs was reaching the threshold of what was tolerable. A few tears were shed, but she confidently said she would never quit. She made a promise to herself five months ago that she would finish a half marathon. She spent endless hours training. And today was that opportunity to realize that goal!!! Her emotional courage and strength contributed more to her performance than her physical training....she could have endured ANY challenge with that spirit she brought to the start line. She "gutted" it out. What a fantastic experience FOR ME to witness such a rare testament of emotional powers at work.

During hard times, quitting is always an option. Giving up or dodging the issues can be path of least resistance. However, either of these choices is rarely the right answer. That sense of guilt residing within the quitter is proof. Those with emotional strength are the ones who listen to the voices that say, "I will get through this," "I will survive," and "I will win."

So, analyze these two cases: the Princess and the Pea and the rookie endurance runner. Who has given herself the practice to deal with hardship? Who has gifted herself with luxury to the point of acclimating herself to comfort? Who has experienced the confidence to overcome challenges after completing a difficult one? Who has contended with that temptation to quit and give up in the face of pain and discomfort?

We return to that hopper of randomly-chosen life challenges, and pick one. Who do you gamble on? The princess or the runner? I know where my money is....I ran next to her for an emotional 13 miles this weekend.

Luxury versus Survival (Part 3)

Now look at some mental issues:

Mental

Two bare-bones modern mental tasks are reading and writing. Even in these two arenas, the path of least resistance tends to be taken. Instead of educational books and articles, the most popular reading materials have become daily and weekly publications profiling the scandalous lives of celebrities. This is an unhealthy practice that entertains purely for pleasure. Reading for nourishment is seen as boring and technical. Not only does reading filth rob one of time to read something more productive, but it also pollutes the mind. Reading trash is not neutral...it is NEGATIVE!! An opportunity to learn something that could help down the road has been wasted!! Even most self-help books are about "feeling good," not BEING good...another example of how society says it's okay to be mediocre. Why? Because it's too damn hard to be good.

The historic art of letter writing has deteriorated into sloppy emails and instant messaging. Educational television shows have taken a backseat to mindless reality shows focusing on the undignified lives of others. There is a consensus that educational, worthwhile television shows are boring and call for thought. They require the watcher to actually involve themselves into the show instead of merely being entertained. Oh my!

One survival skill losing the battle to technology is navigation. Whether called orienteering, compass-reading, or LandNav, the skill is fading into the shadows of GPS units. The technology of GPS is a wonder. It gives real-time feedback, course-plotting, and exacting pinpointing of position. However, it is so relied upon, motorists feel "lost" without it. A motorist or hiker no longer has to determine North, South, East, or West....that is until the batteries die out. Then panic sets in. The luxury has been taken away. And without the skills of a navigator, one finds himself truly LOST.

The above photo is of two Sloppy Hogs during a day-long adventure race. The photographer captured the pinpoint focus of the racer....chin up and looking ahead as if finding another waypoint in the distance (the embodiment of a great navigator...confidently resolved to his current position and concentrating on the horizon). Adventure racing demands participants be in peak endurance shape, but also be competent at orienteering skills. A team of Olympic-caliber athletes will crumble if they cannot navigate themselves through the unmarked course or find the hidden checkpoints. Conversely, a moderately physically fit team with elite compass and map skills can make up ground with little effort. Adventure racing is a great survival challenge because it demands MENTAL fortitude as well as physical fitness.

This is a skill is rarely taught outside Boy Scouts or the military. Not many outside the "survivalist" movement can read a topographical map, match terrain features, strike an azimuth, determine position by resection, or plot a course. With the mass availability of GPS, these skills are dying. This is a perfect example of how maintaining the mental skills of LandNav are critical to survival....not only in the back-country of Nowhere USA, but navigating through the urbanized cities of today. Folks who KNOW the ins and outs of the antiquated compass and map system understand the math and geometry behind it. It's hard to argue against having these all-to-neglected abilities. Are the skills necessary to modern life? If there was a randomly-chosen life challenge or hardship, who is more attractive to have as a partner? The navigator, or the guy who can't even fold the map?

Reliance on GPS can be lumped together with an over-dependence on calculators, palm computers, and spellcheckers. The technology is fast and convenient, but allows most users to forget the basic skills hidden inside the circuitry. What would one do without them? Could one solve the problem WITHOUT the technology?

Luxury versus Survival (Part 2)

Examine the bookends:

LUXURY
Extravagance
Impulsiveness
Comfort
Pickiness
Indulgence
Pampering
Spoiling
Entitlement
Blue-Blood
Rigidity
Bourgeois
Permissiveness

SURVIVAL
Self-denial
Restraint
Discipline
Moderation
Frugality
Restriction
Deprivation
Endurance
Hunter-Gatherer
Tolerance
Resilience
Adaptation

This is not a charge against all things comfortable. It is about practicing the all too neglected ways of the survivalist…in body, mind, and spirit....physical, mental, emotional. This is a return to those simple little childhood lessons. First, physical:

Physical

Of course most people see surviving as sustaining life during an extreme hardship. There are tales of shipwreck, avalanche, and disaster “survivors.” But the same term can be used to describe a marathon or triathlon performance….”I barely survived the race. It was grueling.” Enduring volunteered physical hardship is the most common sort of survival for most Americans. Multi-day hikes and mountain climbing are two such events. Survival can also be seen as something much less dramatic, such as being able to live an active life as an elder or withstand sickness, illness, and injury.

Physical fitness is another avenue of survival. If the challenge to life so happens to be a physical one, who is ready? The one who has conditioned his/her body on a regular basis in the gym or on the track? Or the one who prefers to sleep in late? Physical survival hinges on an ability to perform and endure. Joking about drinking beer or smoking cigarettes rather than lifting weights or running is a testament to how popular culture is split on how important physical fitness is to life. Again, the path of least resistance seeps in. No pain, No survival!

Imagine that only three generations ago inside the United States, it was commonplace for coal-fired home furnaces and boilers, and air conditioning was but a pipe dream. People simply adapted to their environment. This is not the case today. It’s not even an option to buy an automobile without air conditioning! If someone’s home or apartment doesn’t have cooled air in the summer, they are immediately pitied and labeled as destitute. For most, the perfect indoor climate is only a thermostat adjustment away. During a day or week when the air conditioning or heating goes out, who is more able to withstand the variances? The one who as been accustomed to absolute comfort, or the one who has been doing without already?

Does anyone think World War II veterans ever imagined the day when people would buy bottled water? Or pay $5 for a cup of fancy coffee? These modern trends are turning Americans into snobs, turning their heads at any food or drink that is not up to the lofty standards set by contemporary culture. At the dinner table, absent are the meals of meat, starch, vegetables, and bread, replaced by what tastes best. Dinners now consist of hydrating or reheating packaged and preprocessed foods. The modern family dinner is the perfect example of how wants (tastes) have triumphed over needs (nutritional requirements). Does anyone think a WWII veteran would ever expect something “purer” than tap water? Of course not. Yet current culture constantly witnesses its members turn up their noses at water that comes out of a sink faucet rather than a sealed plastic bottle. This snobbishness is cultivating a weakness….inability to drink water that has the slightest taste or odor.

Lastly, our modern culture has been charged with being over-medicated... being prescribed drugs for any and all ailments and sicknesses. Gone are the days of chicken soup and a good night's rest. It seems that medicine has surfaced as the first and only remedy for even the slightest of physical (and now mental and emotional) issues. This over-medication has been identified as a cause of weakened immune systems...creating an even bigger problem than before.

These are just some of physical aspects of how fitness and nutrition have been altered in recent generations. It’s plain to see that modern luxuries are weakening the survivability of the human race. Hardship is more difficult to endure when the disparity among daily routine and the disaster is such a leap!

Luxury versus Survival (Part 1)

At one end of the spectrum, there are folks who shower themselves with all the luxuries of life. At the other end live those who practice an existence focused around survival. Most people, if asked, would identify themselves somewhere in the middle of these polar opposites. Unfortunately, many who see themselves as disciplined with a life of moderation tend to fade with the tide into that gluttonous world of empty impulsiveness.

Age old truths still run strong. Basic fundamentals learned in childhood must be reinforced. At young ages, children learn some simple lessons:

-Life is not fair. Good is not always rewarded; bad is not always punished.
-The difference between Wants and Needs is not a black-and-white distinction.
-There’s not always someone next to you holding your hand.
-The path of least resistance rarely takes you to your destination.

Parents of every generation want their children to live better lives than they themselves did. While on the surface that’s a sentiment of selflessness, that slippery slope might be a path to spoil. Children need to hear “No.” The best gifts to ensure “the better life” are not tangible items. They are instead a proper skill set, attitude, mindset, and education on how to appreciate life’s fortunes and how to overcome its obstacles and challenges. Children showered with modern luxuries are cheated out of some of these basic truths, and robbed of opportunities to overcome stress and hardship.

“Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him to fish, he eats for a lifetime.”

The man who is gifted a fish will go hungry tomorrow. On the flip side, being forced to learn how to contend with his hunger by learning to help himself allows him to survive! We can change the above excerpt to fit into today’s culture. Not many people fish for food anymore. Making dinner and desserts from scratch is dying alongside a previous generation. Now of course in modern culture it’s not reasonable to ignore some basic fundamental comforts such as running water or canned foods. Overindulgence in extravagance breeds long term impotence.

Reliance on luxuries breeds weakness and inadaptability. Likewise, practicing survival skills and living a life of reasonable self-denial increases one’s chances of enduring hardships.

So, are you luxuriously surviving? Or surviving luxury? Stick with this series.

Repost: Renaissance Men (and Women)

Sorry for the lack of recent postings. I'm diligently writing a series of posts that's taking a bit longer than I had originally estimated. This is a slightly-editted repost of the very first post on the Trinity Training Group. It fits quite well with the current series I've been working on about the antagonistic views of Luxury and Survival. Without giving ourselves the opportunities to learn and better ourselves, there will be no advancement. If we settle for our current physical fitness levels, is it good enough for the challenges that suddenly arise? Who among us has the willpower or determination to continue to educate ourselves beyond the classroom? Is the only time we think of religion or spirituality on Sundays or when we need help? It is a constant "fertilizing" of our bodies that allows us to reach full potential.

It takes a special commitment to begin down the Road to Renassaince. It requires a decision to exercise, read, write, pray, inspect, discuss, practice, think, learn, focus, share, and examine. And with all this extra duty, one must begin to rid life of unnecessary excesses and wasteful habits. Limited are the days of watching mindless TV, gossip, sleeping, gambing, sport drinking, and whining. It's been a rough road...difficult to ignore the temptations of luxury, the easy life, and being entertained. And just as hard to keep up with all the positive practices!

Check back often. I hope to have a part or two up within the next few days. Lou

A rebirth of personal excellence here in 2008? Sounds somewhat odd, doesn't it? We live in an age of dodging obstacles and taking the paths of least resistance. The most popular current self-help resources are those that inflict the least personal pain...diets with no hunger, workouts with no soreness, and religion with no guilt. But going back to Eurpoe a half-millenia ago, quite the opposite was occurring. The Renaissance was in full swing. It was a cultural shift that brought us advances in art, science, and religion. Scholars and artists led the charge to be the best they could be as whatever cost.

We at Trinity Training Group are asking the same today...a "personal Renaissance." When we enrich our Minds, Bodies, and Spirits, we see great benefits. Imagine a day with time spent equally in a gym, a library, and a church. That sort of well-rounded attitude is what pushes the human experience to new levels. Mental and emotional healths tend to be overlooked these days, with a focus instead on only physical wellness. But even physical strength and stamina cannot reach full potential without proper effort spent in spiritual and mental exercises. This blog will address different ways to challenge the Mind, the Body, and the Spirit. We make Renaissance men and women!!

“In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had five hundred years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.” -Orson Welles

The Hard Routine

Courtesy of CrossFit Delaware Valley's website, here is the CrossFit Journal article entitled "The Hard Routine."

Fights Will Go on for as Long as They Have To is a website by Daniel Morchat. Here is Daniel's main post on the Hard Routine.

Please read these articles, as they are the foundations of some thoughts I'll post throughout the next week. And of course, think about the design of your own "hard routine."