In 2013 I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disorder that chewed a hole in my cerebellum, atrophied various muscles, impaired my vision, balance, coordination and consequently stole my ability to run. I have dedicated the summer of 2018 to regaining my strength, coordination, balance, and relearning how to run. I am participating in a 5k run on September 23rd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is my training journal. This is my attempt to grow physically strong again.

Write on. Fight on.

Time:

12:25 pm- 1:36 pm

Conditions:

Indoor

Training Maxim:

No hurry. No pause.

Training Performed:

• Chest press 3 sets, 10 reps each set – 100 lbs
• Shoulder press 3 sets, 10 reps each set-90 lbs
• Inverted row 3 sets, 10 reps each set- 70 lbs
• Leg extensions 3 sets, 10 reps each set- 60 lbs
• Hamstring curl 3 sets, 10 reps each set- 50 lbs. right leg, 40 lbs. left leg
• Leg press 3 sets, 10 reps each set- 160 lbs.
• 100 abdominal crunches

Quote I’m Thinking About Today:

“Often it isn’t the mountains ahead that wear you out, it’s the little pebble in your shoe.” ~ Muhammad Ali

Reflection:

When I tell people about my diet and training the response is often, “I wish I could do that.”

For years, as I pounded cheeseburgers and relied on medication to make me  “feel good”, I wished I could get healthy. But all I did was watch friends run marathons, endure Tough Mudders, spend weekends hiking and wish.

I wished I could do the physical things others were doing.

The more I wished, the weaker, more unsatisfied I became.

But “I wish…” is emotionally empty. “I wish…” only increases our dissatisfaction.

I attribute my change partly to my rheumatologist bluntly explaining to me that the daily amount of prescription drugs I consume will take 10 years off my life.

10 years.

10 years of playing with grandchildren. 10 years of holding my wife’s hand. 10 years of family dinners and birthdays. 10 years. A decade of life that I want to live.

There is no magic to this self-improvement mission I am on. I simply decided that I wanted those 10 years and commit myself to healing and health.

Like Tony Robbins has taught for years, if we want to make real improvements, in any area of our life, we have to be courageously willing to replace “I wish…” with “I must…”.

If your refrigerator is empty, you don’t stand with the door open saying, “One day I wish to go food shopping.” You say, ” Okay, I must go food shipping.”

“I must…” raises the stakes. “I must…” creates immediacy and urgency.

 One I must puts more charge in your life then all the I wishes ever will.