by Dan | Feb 28, 2016 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
We all need encouragement for things in our life at some time or another, and who better than to receive this from than your own family. We are missing Molly and Jeff in here, but the rest came along when Steve and I did the Disney Goofy. After all encouragement means “the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.” We all need it to keep going with our goals, especially our exercise goals.
When Steve could not run his first marathon at Fargo because of issues with his heart, he was there to support and encourage me. I ran it because I had been trying to help him participate in his first marathon. I still don’t know who was more disappointed, Steve because he could not run, or me because I could run, but without Steve! But we had each others back, and Steve was able to start running again, so we could do Disney together! He never gave up!
We all have challenges along the way that make it tough for us to keep going, or to stay motivated. Rely on your family and friends to help keep you going. They need help too! We can all be there for each, and in the process, have some fun, and create memories to last a lifetime!
Our run club may be small, but we are a close knit group. Here is a shot of the originals, completing a half or full marathon at Fargo. We all hung around to cheer each other on, and then got to show off our medals together. We create even tighter bonds amongst each other, and those friendships go a long way. Here Jill and Paula celebrate after the SF half marathon.
We may all be runners, but we are also friends. We care about each other, and the running has only created stronger bonds of friendship. Bonds of encouragement for each other! This can carry on to not only running but other forms of exercise. Here in our Fun Fit class Rich and I are encouraging Susan as she is completing her lifting routine.
Susan used to be one of my nurses, but now is one of my exercises “partners” in this class. We can still dish out things to each other, but bottom line, we are pushing each other as well, and challenging not only ourselves, but each other. It always helps working out with a group. I have also gotten to know Rich really well in this class, and we both work our butt off, and push each other. The motivation is higher when we are both there, not in a competitive kind of way, but to help encourage each other to keep going…to not quit, and especially to not quit on ourselves!
When it comes to exercise, I have stated this in numerous posts in the past. The perseverance, determination, drive, attitude…all of it gets better by encouragement! This last quote I think sums it up very well!
Enjoy Success in Life, and encourage others, and they will encourage you! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3075
by Dan | Feb 21, 2016 | Exercise, Family, Heart Health, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Persistence! That quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something, even though it is difficult or opposed by other people. For me, it shows in my consecutive exercise day streak. The hard part is convincing everybody else to get moving, and making an attempt also. The following quote by one of our former Presidents, Calvin Coolidge, hits it right on!
Persistence and Determination–what a combination! “Press on”, or as the ad for Nike states, “Just do it!”. Both have deep meaning and can solve a lot of our problems. Never give in—especially to our own minds! What it takes to be a success in life is Persistence!
How true this is! Simple, but true! Sarah and I went hiking out in Colorado, and the mountains can be a challenge. But, if you are persistent, you open the door to many more sites, and have a deeper appreciation for all of the things in life, especially the little things!
More important, I get to spend time with someone who is my world! How much more of a success in life can this be?
Next time that thought enters your head telling you that you can’t exercise, or come up with some other excuse to not do it, refuse to quit! It is much easier to step back and go at things at a slower pace then to quit altogether, only later to restart again, and face those struggles all over again as well. Exercise is one of my passions, and I believe in this with all of my heart. Hopefully, it is also doing my heart some good as well. But the ride along the way has been wonderful! Bottom line–Persistence! Believing in a cause, and being distracted by nothing! JUST KEEP GOING!
Keep moving everybody! Persistence is the Key!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day#: 3068
by Dan | Feb 14, 2016 | Exercise, Family, Goals, Heart Health, Motivation, Wellness/Health
Desire: a strong feeling of wanting to crave something, or wishing for something to happen. Or maybe even just wishing for something to be better, or even appreciating what you already have!
It can mean a lot of different things for different people, but bottom line, we want something, or to hold on to something, more than anything else. We DESIRE it! We appreciate it! We work for it, or it is something worth working for! What is that desire for you? What is it you don’t have, but want? A relationship? A healthier life? A happier life? Are you willing to work for it? How bad do you want it?
I desire to spend time with my family, and my wife. It does not get any better when we have the same interests, and exercise is one of those interests. It brings us closer than many other things in our life. We have been able to travel and explore more things, and more places, because of it. Together! We have gotten to experience life more fully. In the process, we have become healthier, so that hopefully we will have even more time to spend together, and explore more things. A desire to spend time together, and be happy. Is that not the desire of everybody? To be happy in our lives? Are we willing to work for it, and work through many obstacles and challenges that come along the way?
If it is important to you, then it is important to work for. Nothing in life can be taken for granted. One day we have it, and another day we may not. Appreciate it all while you can!
Nobody ever said it would be easy. If it was easy, then you would not appreciate it when you do earn it, or work for it. There will always be “bumps” along the way, and challenges.
On this Valentines Day, appreciate even more those are close to you, and important to you. Especially with your spouse, or significant other. 2 hearts really can become one…one to share everything with, explore with, and work those challenges in life…TOGETHER! Just like 25 years ago, when Sarah and I were married…we new already then, as our wedding announcement shows…2 hearts were to become one! Forever and for always! Never lose that DESIRE in your life!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3061
by Dan | Feb 7, 2016 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
We all have that urge to want to attain a goal, whatever that goal may be. The goal we want can be as individual as the individual themselves. We push ourselves, and sometimes need someone to push us as well. But, for all of us, we have to dig deep within ourselves to find what that drive may be. What is that urge we desire for a goal we want to attain? What is it that will push us toward that level of discomfort, and fear of the unknown? It is different for all of us, and the answer can be as unique as the individual. It does help though when you are with a group, or a partner, to help motivate that drive.
We need to show our determination, and to keep reviewing our goals, vision, and then ultimately to execute, in order to create that drive.
We need to push ourselves past that comfort zone. I hear all of the time “I don’t have time”, “I just can’t get motivated”, “I could never do that”. We all have those doubts, including me. Even with my consecutive streak of exercise days, there are times when I just don’t feel like working out. I have to continue to dig deep inside myself as well, and keep looking back at my goals, understanding my vision, in order to keep that drive going. It is no different for me…but I have figured out that drive. You need to also. And you can. Enjoy what you do, and if you don’t, then you need to find out what it is that will make you happy, or enjoy things more.
Figure out what it is going to take for you to create that drive! And above all else, REMEMBER: anything short of this is just another excuse.
Leave your excuses at the front door when you are heading out to go workout. Focus! Push that Drive! Find that Drive! Remember, you are in the “driver’s seat”!
I have now talked about Determination, Drive, and next week will be on Desire! You need all 3 to be successful at achieving your goals. Whatever those goals may be. Without it, it will just turn into another excuse, and more tired where you feel unhappy, unmotivated, and depressed.
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3054
by Dan | Jan 31, 2016 | Etc.
I hear all of the time different reasons for not exercising: I don’t have enough time; I can’t find anything I like; It is too hard; I am too sore. Bottom line: we have a lot of decisions to make, and they may not always be easy. My reasons center around my family, and in particular my kids. I want to spend time with them, be around for them, watch how they succeed in life. My decisions become much easier when this becomes the center of my plan.
How do I do it? How do I chose? Where do I start? Make your list of goals, and not really what you want to accomplish exercise wise, but the reasons you want to exercise for. I want to lose weight. I want to enjoy certain foods more. I want to attend my child’s wedding! I want to see my kids grow up. I want to see my grandchildren, and spend time with them, and for them to know me! Once you do this, the list of goals becomes easier to list, and achieve. Every day is a chance to get better!
There are days that are tougher, and you wonder why you are exercising. But, every day, when I am done, and I feel better, I know why I did it. At that time, you get a burst of energy to last the day. The biggest reason though is I have accomplished another day of being here, spending time with my family, and just enjoying life!
Get excited about life! Make it a success! Give yourself reasons why you can. If you are tired of starting over, then stop giving up in the first place! Keep one foot moving in front of the other.
You may not always have the right decisions every time, but then again, we learn from our mistakes!
Still confused on how to go about it? I would be surprised if you weren’t! Make that list! Keep reviewing your goals! Then, when you feel like quitting, go back to this list, and start thinking about why you wanted to get started in the first place! Take your time. After all, they are your goals and decisions!
You may feel like rolling the dice at times, but really, if you make your list of goals, and reflecting on your decisions of why you should start, or keep going, there is no “maybe” or “no”. Only “yes”! Earn your body! Earn your life! More importantly, enjoy your life! Enjoy your Success in Life! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3047
