I decided to give a friend a call to chat while driving to the gym. I started off by saying that I didn’t feel like exercising. The followed up with the foul mood they were in. Before long, the conversation turn into a complaint festival. It’s not hard to find people that will feed into your negativity. We all have it. Still, I was headed to they gym, so I figured at the least I would get in a sub par work out. I figured some exercise is better than none.

I was dreading the thought of exercising. I had visions of turning my car around and heading back home. I wanted to just go to bed and worry about not working out later. As I pulled up to the gym, I noticed a familiar vehicle. It belonged to a mentor of mine who is a fitness guru. God must have know that I needed the extra push this morning. The first thing he said was “What’s up slim! Man you have lost a lot of weight!” Being the human I am, that immediately changed my mood. To myself I was like “yeah, I’m really going to work out today!”

After putting in about 1.5 miles, I came back inside and started my routine for the day. I was shown a few finer point of some of the exercises I was doing that made them much more challenging. Call me crazy, but a part of me likes the pain and discomfort that comes along with being challenged in the weight room. I guess the more appropriate thought would be that I like conquering the pain and discomfort. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.

After three rounds of a strenuous workout, the bad mood I started my day with turned into an appreciation for the challenge. I am so glad I did not turn that car around and listen to the voice in me that was telling me to give up. I battle against this demon on a weekly basis. I don’t know if it will ever leave. What I do know is that the stronger I become, the better equipped I am to deal with things. I always hear that coal must first undergo pressure in order to turn into a diamond. I know that the success I am looking for exists. In fact, it lives inside of me. I will remain constant in my efforts and I will not give up on becoming the person I am supposed to be.

Dreams Mean Work!

Before I go in on anyone, I’ll throw myself into the conversation as my example. Talk of losing weight is a popular subject around most people. Many enjoy being a part of the conversation. I know I did. There are many around who would enjoy my conversation about wanting to lose weight. Let’s face it. The majority of us could stand to do a lot better when it comes to our own health and wellness. I am no different. However, when I take a hard look at things, I realize that I have been sabotaging my own progress.

Les Brown, world-renowned motivation speaker once said that the problem with becoming a millionaire wasn’t actually making that much money. The problem was believing that someone like him could actually become a millionaire! That one hit me right between the eyes. Along with my journey to living a healthier life, I have dreams of being financially independent. I dream about it at night. I dream about it when I’m wide awake during the day. It has begun to consume me. Just as the effort to lose weight has begun to move to another level.

However, just like Les Brown, my mind sometimes wanders into places that I rarely ever care to speak on. In my videos you see the positive side of things. I am generally up beat and looking to add a little motivation for others. Sadly though, without night, there would be no day…without our downs, there would be no ups…..The most human side of me has to fight everyday to keep the dark side of my consciousness from becoming my dominant thought. Once you spend a few week at getting back in shape, it becomes easier to battle against the “dark-side” when your body is in a more fit condition. The negative thoughts don’t come as automatic responses. Instead, the first thought once I get up is “alright, time to go exercise!” I am so very thankful that I am again back at this place. Just as there is light, there is “darkness” that lives in me. Yet without it, I would have nothing to fight against. It keeps me sharp and aware that if I begin to fall off, I am making room for that part of me to take over. I know what that looks like and I don’t like it.

I am finally at a place where people are seeing the weight come off of me. It’s always a great thing to hear people comment on you losing weight without them being prompted to. It is a sign that things are going well. I am going to have to push myself a little harder as I go along. I don’t want my body to get comfortable doing the same thing over and over again. At some point, it will level off and the weight loss will become stagnant. To ward that off, I make it a point to switch up my routine on almost a daily basis. Exercising the same muscles in a different way “confuses” the body, thus not allowing it to become complacent and settle in to what you have it doing. It keeps things fresh and challenging enough for your mind to maintain its focus as well. I will continue to add different things to the fold and figure out what exactly works best. After all, I am a work in progress!

Dreams mean work,

Lou Riley

Blog: http://www.lourileylive.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lourileylive

Last week I did 5 miles as well, but the terrain was much more flat.  This week, I raised the bar a bit by taking on a few more hills.  It was definitely a challenge, but I ran the hills instead of walking them.  This definitely makes me realize how much of an impact the work I do during the weekdays  has been.  My body has definitely gotten stronger.

In addition, the weight loss has become more visible to me.  That’s one of the reason’s I wanted to do a video blog about this journey.   I had lost weight before, however, I didn’t keep a record of my progress, nor were there any photos or videos that I could go back to and visibly compare my progress.  That won’t happen this time around!

Thank you for spending a little of your time with me.  As always, remember:

Dreams Mean Work!

Today’s Run Route:

Lately though, I have been noticing a change in not only how I feel, but in my physical appearance. This happens a lot when I am lifting weights and looking in the mirror. It’s almost as if I can see what lives underneath the weigth I’ve put on. That’s a great thing because it gives me hope that I will one day get there.

One of the biggest changes I have make to my diet was to reduce the amount of sugars I take in. The best way for me was to drink more water. Juices and other beverages have been my biggest source of sugars. By removing them, I notice how the cravings I once had for certain foods. Without going into the science of this occurrence, I know that I have been able to restore a sense of balance in my body. Cravings , in many occasioins, are a sign of inbalance Restore your balance and reduce your cravings!

Dreams mean work!

I knew that when I started this journey, I would need to add weight lifting to my regimen. I consulted with a mentor of mine who said he had something to show me. Little did I know that he was speaking about Resistance Training Bands. The bands offer a unique, highly mobile. low impact way to build strength. The key is proper technique and rapid movements. That was the way to burn fat and increase muscle tone. Since I have no plans of ever competing again physically, there is no need other than vanity to show I can bench press 300+ pounds (yes I can still bench press 300+ lbs!) So I became curious about using the bands.

I must say that I have been extremely happy with them. I can workout in a gym, at a park, in my driveway, in the swimming pool-it doesn’t matter! This simple, yet genius “machines” have made all the difference in my return. You may have even seen T.O. (Terrell Owens) using them in the swimming pool during an episode of his reality show. I figure if T.O. looks like that and uses the resistance bands, then there must be something more to them than meets the eye.

In fact, you will find resistance training bands at any major college sports program around the country. Some for rehab purposes, and other for speed and agility training. I’m probably waaayyy ahead of the fitness curve here, but my the way my body feels now is proof enough for me and in time, the way I look will serve as proof enough for you.

I also notice others with weight issues who come to the gym to work out. I watch them struggle with free weights. Many times, their body isn’t strong enough as of yet to make that jump. Their technique is an issue as well. I know from experience that when the body isn’t strong enough to handle a movement, it begins to compensate. It has become easy for me to watch others exercise and tell who is hurting another part of their body by lifting with the improper technique or just flat out trying to lift too much weight. I don’t say much due the lack of a relationship. One day though, I look forward to holding a few classes to teach others the things I am now learning. Resistance Training Bands will definitely be a large part of that.

Dreams Mean Work