We’ve rolled into the new year and I bet a lot of your new year resolutions include something about getting in better shape or living a healthier lifestyle, I know mine does. But how come every year it seems like most of us fail to meet these goals we’ve set for ourselves? Perhaps the goals we set are too far out there? Maybe setting difficult or seemingly impossible goals will help. I read about these monks in Japan who are some of the best but unknown endurance runners in the world. These monks run a marathon that is 8 years long and equivalent to the distance around the equator.
The first three years the monk will run approximately 18 miles a day along narrow paths in the mountains in nothing more than a pair if straw sandals and a robe (sorry, no state of the art running shoes or other gear). He must do this up and down trek along the mountains paths for 100 straight days during each of the three years. He starts at 1:30 in the morning each day and he needs to return by 9:00 AM because he is not excused from his regular daily chores which he also must complete each day.
In years four and five, the monk will travel the same narrow mountain path in the early morning hours, but increase the time to 200 straight days no matter what the weather – come rain, come snow, even come hurricanes.
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I came by this inspirational story from 20/20 about a guy who used to weight 630 pounds but was able to lose it all with the help of a friend. Unlike other dramatic weigh-loss stories with plenty of tears, sweat and dedication, this story also talks about nurturing and healing an obese man’s broken spirit and lack of confidence.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4029716&page=1
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Every January 1st or Monday morning, millions of Americans try a new diet or lifestyle regime. One half of all women and one quarter of all men are currently on a diet. But many fail. Why? They have a plan and they have the structure all written out, but life just happens and they fall, it is hard to pick it back up. Tragedy strikes all of us; how do we handle it and how can we avoid mishaps in the future?
This article is dedicated to those who struggle. It focuses on how to change behavior and how to avoid the typical obstacles that many people face when they try to change a sedentary lifestyle of poor nutrition to a more active and healthy one. It is not so hard. If you follow the ABCs of fitness that many educators use when they are assessing the academic and behavioral needs of their students, you can also succeed.
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Over the weekend I went to the gym with my middle-aged mother to do a little sweatin’. I hopped on the treadmill for a 25 minute jog and when I got off covered in sweat and with an aching shin, I heard, “that’s all you can do??” from Mom. She then proceeded to tell me that I need to be on that treadmill for at least 40 minutes before I start burning any real fat or making a difference. She started giving me tips, in a motherly tone, on how I can slow down the treadmill a bit if my legs are getting sore and no matter what I should train my body and mind to go the full 40 minutes. Just like a son who moans and finds excuses about cleaning up his room, I blamed it on my weak shins and boredom. My parents’ lifestyle has changed quite a bit ever since they sold their business a few years ago. They’re now a couple of gym rats that know more about staying in shape than I do. Maybe I need to take some lessons from them, or maybe my mom should stop making pig feet for dinner. Oh well, at least they’re making the most out of their LifeTime membership.
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