Sparks part II

In a post in January, I asked the question, What makes you tick?; What is your spark?

I'm back to that question again. This morning, I was reminded that some people will never achieve their goals and dreams because they aren't willing to put forth an effort. It is just a flash bang. In other words they hit something hard for a few weeks or a month then....QUIT.

There are too many people sayin', 'Some day I'm gonna..[fill in the blank]..'

This drives me up the wall. It inspires me to come up with a goal and achieve it. It drove me to join the Marine Corps more than 18 years ago. I couldn't stand sitting on the prairie listening to all of the people talk about doing this and that. Many of those people are still sitting on the prairie. Some of them with regret because they probably been doing the exact same thing for the past 18 years. It drove me to finish my bachelors degree, begin graduate school and to become a trainer.

At work, I offer some good training advice to people on a daily basis. Some take it for a day. Most often, I get a big smile (*$%# eatn' grin). They are basically telling me where to go. My patients is gone and the free well of advice and free training has dried up! Why?

Frankly, it is a waste of my time and energy! You can only help people that are willing to receive help. Now I understand sales. If you hear no enough, pretty soon someone is going to really ruin your day and say yes. But this ain't about sales, it is about helping someone that needs help and won't accept.

Facts:
Self improvement is difficult.
Training is difficult.
My friends, look around, life is difficult.

What you need to do is grab it by the horns and take control.

It is 8 weeks until Thanksgiving. Set a goal. Work towards it. It is that simple. It doesn't have to be a difficult goal. Set a goal to walk around the block every day for the next 8 weeks. Heck you will have walked about 12 miles in that time! This is more than many do on a daily basis. Just pick something and do it.

Get off the Couch!

Here are my goals:
Well, I've decided that I will actually do the Secret Service Snatch Test (SSST) during the Thanksgiving weekend. Why haven't I done it yet? Good question. I just haven't felt the need to try, it is that simple. Since I haven't done this test before, I will shoot for 200 even. I actually suspect that I will do 220+ snatches in the 10 min time limit.

The stipulations of the test are outlined in Pavel's Enter the Kettlebell. There is a link on the sidebar. Last week, Pavel mentioned, the act of preparing for this test will result in improved strength, stamina and weightloss. ---- Yes, it is that easy!

Nutrition:
A few weeks ago I cleaned up my diet. No garbage. The result 10 lbs; I've lost 15 since mid-Aug. The plan is to continue to keep it clean and see what happens. I have a few numbers in my mind that I would roughly like to see but that isn't the point of the goal. CLEAN DIET that's all.

That sucks because I really like cake, ice cream, donuts, brownies and cookies!

More Motivation

Yeah....It is on!

1 Month until RKC level II

Training:
Z - I felt really old until this 10 min...


with 16K no rests
Clean/squat/press 1 set of 1,2,3,4,5 ladder
Snatch: 10l,r,20l,r,30l,r
Swing: 50/50
TGU: 5l,5r

Motivation

Sparks

Regardless of the good intentions and goals you may have, sometimes it takes a little spark to ignite the kindling and really get things going. You know exactly who you are. You want to drop 10 - 15 lbs., run a 5k, or even a marathon. Perhaps you want to learn to play an instrument like the guitar. Maybe your goal is as simple as getting up to watch the sun rise every morning.

I have some goals too. This year I would like to complete a randonneur series of 200k, 300k, 400k and 600k and become a Super Randonneur. This will lead to other goals. I would like to press the BullDog for reps. I would like to do Pistols with the Bull Dog. I haven't set a time limit for these two goals yet but the next 2 years sounds good. I'm working towards doing 20 pull ups (been stuck on 17 for more than a year). Before I can accomplish most of these goals, I have to work on just moving my body correctly. There are others but I'm not sharing!

I'm not entirely certain but I believe everyone says, "SOME DAY I'M GONNA...(fill in your goal here)." Does the shoe fit?

Heck, I'm human too. Sometimes I get distracted by the couch. I like to sit on it, eat ice cream and watch the tube. I have to be working towards something all the time. Last year I set some lofty goals and I achieved some. Others? Well, I failed but I made progress and I still work towards them. I realized that the time frame for some of my goals should be more flexible because things do happen in life. Oh, I think this is called perseverance.

Wynton Marsalis playing Sparks

About the required spark? Well, the spark can come from anywhere and at any time. Today, my spark came during lunch. I looked out the window at the pull up bars. There was someone out there doing my thing. He was lifting kettlebells and doing pull ups. HMMM, I should be out there with him. Working towards my goals.

Tonight I picked up some kettlebells and got to work. Time to make some money!
Z
pull up 5x5, 2x10
Swing: 32K - 1x10l,10r, 1x30
Clean and Press: 32K - 5x5
Front Squat 24K: 5x5
Bear push ups: 2x10

Notes: Press - I don't remember doing this. Perhaps a PR! It would be really weird because I haven't really worked on this in months. I will attribute it to the bear push ups I've been working on this year.

What is your spark?
What makes you tick?
Just go do it and quit talking and dreaming!

Excuses?

Everyone has an excuse for not doing something they should. You know something crazy is coming when it begins with, "Well you see...."

David Whitley shared this video from Alwyn Cosgrove's blog. I thought it fitting for this blog about Getting Off the Couch!






I would like to take it a step further and post this music video by Afroman. I think this song is hilarious! This is not censored, use caution. This dude was gonna do all kinds of stuff but... you will have to listen.



Note: I don't condone this type of illegal activity.

The Hardest Thing to DO

Picture is a ship sitting in the Chesapeake Bay on Christmas day.

After opening gifts on Christmas morning, I went for a ramble around the beach areas. It turned out to be a beautiful morning but I kept watching the weather looking, hoping it would get warm. I think part of me wanted an excuse to sit inside on the couch for a few more hours.

The past 4 months has been difficult to get going. I want to do things, I know the benefit and I understand the pitfalls of resting an extra day here and there. If the motivation isn't there nothing will occur. The reasons for doing what ever you do need to be clear so that you can do the consistently. Do you have a goal? Do you have a need? Do you have desire?

I find that once I am on the bike or have done the first couple sets of kettlebells or weights, I am ready to go and don't want to stop until I have met or exceeded the days planned goals. This is regardless of the difficulty of the event.

I should say that I hate everything until I am doing it. It's always been that way. This goes for all training in Marine Corps too. MCMAP (martial arts), rifle range (too early), pistol range, NBC, schools or even getting out of bed in the morning. Don't misunderstand what I've said. Once immersed in an event, I am ALL about it and it is the most important thing happening. It is fun and I want to do more.

Bottom line, go out and have FUN in your activities!

Ride:
25mi

Do it because it sucks!

Here is part of an interview with David Goggins after an Ultra Triathalon. These are inspiring words and fit the blog's purpose nicely:

Curious as to how the implacable warrior had dealt with the long miles in triathlon's three disciplines, a tri journo asked again what his most painful moments had been. Goggins smiled and the proud Navy SEAL code came out in his answer. "I told you on day one, if it hurt, I'd never tell you," said Goggins. When asked how he had liked his first triathlon, Goggins reiterated more of his core philosophy: "I don't enjoy swimming. I don't enjoy biking. And I do not like running. I did Ultraman because it sucks. That's why I do it. If I liked it, I wouldn't do it. That is what makes us the human beings that we are. If you sat around and watched TV and watched people climb Mt. Everest - don't watch! Do it yourself."