A Shameless Plug

Isagenix is the Real Deal!

I've dropped a few hints that this post was coming. At least I hoped it would, based on results from my 30 Day Cleanse with Isagenix. WARNING: This post will morph into a commercial. So bail out now if you are expecting more. I will get deeper in the next post. 

Still here? Good!

A run on the Notre Dame campus

I don't spend a lot of time on the scale. For me, my belt size and the way pants fit are better signals of where I am. That said, today I hit my college playing weight. I just happened to step on the scale at the gym and it pegged the weight listed in my senior year program. I figured my weight was down because I had just bought pants (TJ Maxx - yes I'm that cheap) that were smaller than what I've worn since I can remember. The best part is that I stepped off the scale and hit a leg workout that is a more intense routine than any I've done for the past 25 years. I'm also as strong or stronger in every lift than I've been in decades! That really sounds self-aggrandizing, and I'm sorry for that. But I'm trying to make a point... I WILL BE FITTER AT 50 THAN I HAVE BEEN SINCE JUST AFTER COLLEGE!

Maybe I should make another point... YOU CAN BE TOO!!!

I really began my renewed commitment to fitness at the first of the year. Though I had completed a trail marathon a couple years ago and continued to workout, I was big... blocky... again, a friend called me a "halter horse." (Nate, I still don't know what that means!) 

As the magic Five-Oh loomed closer, I began to look for a 30 day cleanse/detox. My goal was to kick-start my system and cut some fat while not losing energy for workouts (and life!). I found a winner. I'm a little over two weeks into the 30 Day Cleanse and have seen very noticeable results. 

When I began Isagenix, I told a couple people that I am, by nature, a walking, talking evangelist for things I believe in... my faith, Golden Retrievers, GENESYS - the company I'm part of, Market Pantry brand over the big names (come on Target shoppers), and on it goes. Whatever it is, if I believe in it, everyone knows... I guess you might call me a preacher?!

Needless to say, I'm beginning to feel that way about these products. So here's the sales pitch: Do you want to change the way you look and feel... and very possibly, change your life? It will take work, but it's doable. It won't be easy, but it's simple. Fitness is a life-long lifestyle - not just a 30 day blitzkrieg. But I know a great place to start. And I George Zimmer "Guarantee it" you will see results.

If you are interested in Isagenix, shoot me a FB message or email.

Shooters Shoot!

My son plays basketball. Many of yours do too. I've always told him, "Sink your butt and play defense, make good passes and set your teammates up for success. If you do that you will always have a spot on the floor and your team will love you." He is an unselfish player; maybe to a fault! Sometimes the best thing for the team is for him to shoot. He's a good shooter. As a dad, I love to see his three-pointers hit the bottom of the net, or see him pump-fake, go left, spin right and under for a reverse layup... (sorry, got a little carried away). Sometimes his unselfishness can actually hurt the team. Unselfishness probably isn't the right word, because its antithesis, selfishness almost always hurts a team.

My point is, and I say this to him often... SHOOTERS SHOOT! 

So why bring this up in a post about motivation? I asked a good friend to give me feedback on this blog. Being new to Facebook, Instagram and fairly new to Linkedin, I'm wary of how often I post. I asked him to to give me his take on content, relevance and frequency. His immediate question was, "Why are you writing? I really need to know that so I have the right perspective to offer feedback." Wow, great question... especially during this period that I'm talking motivation!

Fortunately, I am fairly in touch with my motives and had an answer.

#1 Writers Write... just as shooters shoot, singers sing and accountants, well, count. We must all operate in our sweet spot to live out our purpose and to truly be the loving change-agents that God designed us to be. (Stepped into the deep end for a second!) I've preached hundreds of sermons and written hundreds of articles over the years. Somehow in the changes of life, and frankly, in the midst of uncertainty (more later, as we get to know one another), I stopped shooting! As part of my Fit50! I needed to start shooting again. So whether anyone ever reads these posts or not, I'll write because Writers write. 

#2 I think I have something to say. I shouldn't pass off to a teammate if I have the best shot on any given trip down the court. Ultimately, you will be the judge of whether I have something to say or not... I take that back! I am the judge of that. You will choose it's relevance for you.

#3 I want to make a difference. The concept of this blog began as a challenge to myself to be more fit at age 50 than I have been since my days of wearing a football helmet. I've been through some major life changes and have kept my head down trying to plod along. I suddenly looked up and realized that I was staring a significant life milestone in the face... actually, it was leering at me. So Fit50! quickly morphed into much more for me. I'm sure you hear it in the tone. At times the content will be purely about fitness; and even a sales pitch. But more than that, it's about taking control of life (under divine control). Fit50! is about being more of who I am designed to be. Yes, I'm way around the track of life at this point, but I'm planning one hell of a kick to the finish! I hope in my posts, you might find encouragement, challenge, comfort, and every once in a while you'll feel preached to (sorry, old habits die hard).

More on motivation to come. So... START SHOOTING!

For now...
D

Moron (More On) Motivation

(I don't mean the title to be negative... it began as a typo, and I loved it!)

Way back when I played football – a full lifetime ago – I loved a good motivational Win one for the Gipper speech.  A coach would usually pull some Rocky quotes and, in full hyperbole, reference brotherhood, regret and glory just prior to the team hitting the field with adrenaline coursing. In the pre-game locker room there was screaming, banging heads, vomiting (yep), shoulder pad punching and more; all in an effort to motivate and get motivated. I played quarterback, so I tried not to get too hyped, but it was impossible not to get caught up in the emotion and fire of the moment. But here’s something I learned: The greatest motivational speech ever uttered is good right up to the point you get punched in the mouth! Suddenly it’s no longer about what someone said, how hyped you are/were, or the five pregame Redbulls. There comes a point, where something inside has to force you to punch your fists into the dirt and push yourself up; to shake out the cobwebs and head back to the huddle. At those moments you don’t recall the speech or even who the Gipper or (sacrilege) who Rocky was. There comes a point, and always prior to true success, when motivation migrates from the external to the internal.

I remember a coach once yelling at me, “Don’t think!” My reaction? “I’m the quarterback, I’m supposed to think.” He barked, “You see Ricky over there? If I told him to run through that wall, he’d just duck his head and try to knock it down.” I thought, “That sucks for Ricky! But if you give a compelling reason; if you can give me a ‘WHY’ that I believe in, I’ll take a shot at the wall.” He didn't and I didn't.

So what’s Moron Motivation? It’s trusting that someone else’s motives and drive will be enough to gas us up.  I've known motivation junkies. They quote Covey and Ziglar, Maxwell and Robbins - all great stuff, but not enough. They hit the field with adrenaline screaming, “Drago!” and they are soon carried off after being blindsided by a blitzing backer. Forgive the mixed movie/sport metaphor, but you will get blindsided… and the backers are blitzing! (BTW, if you don’t get the “Drago” reference, shame on you… and rent Rocky IV!).

OK, I have a dilemma…  I have five different directions I want to go with these concepts, and lots of applications I want to make. But I can already feel that you’re leaning toward looking at Instagram. So I’m going to leave it right here for now. This one is way incomplete, so more to come!

For now…

D

"F"eel in the Blank!?

Don't get offended, but we're talking "f" words...

I don't know if you heard it. I did. The calendar rolled around to September. Usually that just means Fall and football - two really good "f" words. Let's think of some more... friends, finger-foods, foosball... (well, that got weak quickly!). Now that it is September the reality has come... the Big "F"ive-0h! I almost think there should be some sinister B-movie music in the background.

OK, I admit it, I'm turning 50. It's going to happen whether I acknowledge it or not. So why not embrace it? Besides, you are only as _______ as you feel. Right? The great thing is I get to choose how to fill in that blank. (Foreshadowing: there's a twist on the way). More specifically, I get to fill in my blank. You get to fill in yours. And I don't just mean the age thing. Let's try some fill in the blanks. How about you are only as old as you feel? Too easy. You're only as happy as you feel... You're only as blessed as you feel... You're only as pretty/handsome (hot for the younger crowd) as you feel... You're only as wealthy as you feel... You're only as loved as you feel (wow!). 

From a strictly literal standpoint, it may not be true; until we consider the feel part of the equation. There is a lot in that little "f" word. It embodies much more than feelings. It exposes how we experience what is in the blank - it is the living-out. It is the opposite of denial and flies way past acceptance. I'm talking about an embrace of what's in the blank.

So really the key is not in filling in the blank. The magic is in how we "f"eel about it - how we choose to experience it and live it out. Here's the twist: we have little control over what is in the blank. Our power is in our response; it is in our attitude. Think about it. You are incredibly blessed, but you may live whole days or even weeks, choosing to ignore the blessings you are given, choosing instead to "f"eel like the world is against you. Thus, you are only as blessed as you "f"eel.

Example: On the 23rd of this month I'll turn 50 no matter what (and no, that's not a ploy for presents - but text me and I'll give you my address for cards!). I can't control it. I can't stop it. I can't do anything about it. As a matter of fact at this point it beats the alternative of not turning 50. I might as well embrace it. I've chosen how I "f"eel about it. That's where Fit50! came from in the first place. We could continue with examples, but I think you get the point - and this post is running a little long.

So "F"eel in your blanks...

Oh, and the bad background music I should be hearing? I'm hearing the theme music to Gladiator (or Braveheart - what man doesn't want to be a Warrior-Poet?!).

For now...
D

Random...

Random #1: Motivation motivates motivation which motivates motivation...

Got it? 

My friend - a true brother - emailed me yesterday. The little I've written so far sparked something in him. His note ignited me. It's funny how motivation works. Motivation has to be (become) internal, but motivation is best fostered in community. With his permission, I'll write about his journey in the future. The short version is that he has changed his life over the past year or so. He motivates me. As a matter of fact, I find motivation in different ways from all the people I call my brothers and my sisters, and from my family. Each of us is incredible in ways that we may not even be fully in touch with. Often those around us see it before we do. 

A long time ago I heard that we all have balcony people and basement people in our lives. Balcony people lift us up. Basement people pull us down. I've been blessed with some incredible balcony people. I want to BE a balcony person

Random cool: Who knew to check EST?

I flew in to Chicago Midway yesterday with plenty of time to spare to make the couple hour drive to South Bend to make the USC v. Iowa State soccer game (first of Notre Dame tourney). As I drove across the south side of Chicago (which by the way is the baddest part of town... and if you go down there, you better just beware of a man named Leroy Brown... - now spend the next 20 minutes trying to get that out of your head!). Sorry, needless to say, I was checking the door locks, and in the words of every football coach I had and the legendary Ron Burgandy, I had my head on a swivel!

I stopped about 30 minutes outside of South Bend to fire off two final work emails. About 4:05pm (game time was 5pm) I received a text from Caroline, "Rain delay." Then the epiphany... Oh crap, South Bend, IN is EST! I came all this way and I'm going to miss the first half. Fast forward past the next 30 miles at 90 mph and ripping into the Notre Dame soccer stadium parking lot. I walked up just in time to hear over the PA - and with Touchdown Jesus fully in view to my left - "...and in goal for the Trojans... Senior from Lee's Summit, MO... Caroline Stanley." 

Two reasons I mention this. First, It's just pretty damn cool. I don't think God brought a storm on all of South Bend just so I could get to a game in time. That would be arrogant and silly. But what I do know is there was a storm in South Bend AND I got to the game on time! Second; One of my Fit50! resolutions; when faced with two options, 1) Stay and be comfortable, or 2) Go... I want to GO! Nothing is accomplished without the "GO." I think more will come of this concept in future posts. 

Enough for now... 

D

Tools

Again, no shirtless selfies in the bathroom mirror, but I do have a goal of getting down a waist size or two. A friend used to call me a "halter horse." When I was growing up that would mean that I wore the husky sized Tough Skin Jeans. Remember those (over 45 crowd)? Knees quadruple reinforced to prevent wear - and bending? I'm convinced my poor running form while playing football was the result of my years in Tough Skins!

Sorry for the digression. I am incorporating a product line called Isagenix for the nutritional part of my Fit50. More about Isagenix later (especially if I see the benefits - which I believe I already am!).

I'm also using the Youversion app on my phone to meditate on the verse of the day. I don't think I need to extol the validity or relevance of the Bible... It has always been and will continue to be the basis of truth upon which I desire to build my life and character (and often fail).

Relationships: I'm new to social media, although I'm a communicator at heart. I've already connected, and reconnected with many people since I began on Facebook about a month or so ago. So, here I am now journaling for all (who care) to see.

I also have financial goals, parenting goals, self-actualization goals, etc. that I'm not quite ready to articulate. More as the journey unfolds. Remember, YOUR DIRECTION DETERMINES YOUR DESTINATION!

And yes... I am aware that I'm kind of putting myself out there. I've never had a problem with being vulnerable. Vulnerability is ok; it's actually freeing. My bigger concern is irrelevance. I am not arrogant enough to believe that anyone will be drawn to what I write - to my journey; but if in some small way it brings comfort, a kick in the butt, or anything else positive to anyone who reads (all three of you), then that's more than I can hope for.

For now...
D

Fit50!

50... 

It's just a number. It feels like a big number though. Certainly it can't be my age. I feel 40... even 30; at least until I look in the mirror. So if I have to BE 50, I am going to be Fit50! The concept first came to me when I was laying out some personal goals as part of our annual evaluations at GENESYS, the incredible company of which I am part. 

It began as a desire to be more fit at 50 than in my forties. Fitness has always been a part of who I am, but I wanted to be truly fit when I hit the bit Five-Oh. Then I realized that there is more to it. It's not just about bench press and body composition. What about the other areas of my life? How can Fit50 apply in my relationships? How about spiritually, emotionally, vocationally, and every other -ally? 

So I'm taking a personal challenge... issued by me and accepted by me. Fit50 is about lifestyle. At the risk of breaking into a wannabe Youtube motivational video, Fit50 is about becoming more WHO I've always wanted to be. (It's never too late, right?)  

This will be my forum for some random thoughts and purposeful contemplations along the way. 

So here we go... Fit50! Let's see what may come...

Probably as close to a gym selfie as I'll get!