Throw Your Weight Around

I have a great friend at the gym named Paul. He is one of those older guys who wears what I like to call "hot cotton," 100% classic comfort, fruit of the loom or Hanes. You can tell he's been at it for a long time and although he's still strong, you know there was a time where he was benching well over 300 lbs. and squatting big weight. Because of his healthy habits, he's in his 60's and full of energy and enthusiasm. He often lifts with his wife of 30+ years. Paul and I have had many conversations on Saturday mornings between sets, discussing God, family and country. There is one thing I've heard Paul say over and over that has stuck with me:

"It kills me that so few men will ever experience what if feels like to be strong."

It kills me too and I have to be honest with you, I just don't get it. I cannot understand a man that doesn't want to push himself towards strength, power, confidence and clarity. I started lifting weights at the YMCA in Tillamook, Oregon at about 12 yrs. old. I would ride my bike to get there and do basic push and pull exercises. I just wanted to be like the heroes of my childhood: Michael Jordan, Walter Payton and Howie Long. In those days, Sports Illustrated used to ship VHS documentaries to your house as a part of your subscription. The two that had the biggest impact on me were Michael Jordan: Come Fly With Me and a football feature titled Crunch Course. I watched those VHS until they wouldn't play anymore...over and over and over, I had them memorized! The images I saw were of my heroes lifting weights and running hills so that's what I did as a youngster and thats what I'm still doing today.

As a 42 year old father of 5, I work out almost every day for multiple reasons:

1. Men are supposed to be strong, we all come from long lines of men who hunted wild animals, built houses, farmed the land and travelled long distances to find places to call home. I feel a debt to those men and I repay that debt daily by lifting weights and running.

2. I refuse to be in a situation where my kids want to do something that I can't physically do.

3. I believe that choosing challenges makes the unpredictable hurdles of life easier to deal with.

4. I've never in my life exerted physical energy and not felt great afterwards.

If you're an able-bodied man and you're not setting aside time to make yourself physically and mentally stronger by lifting weights, there is no excuse. The most successful men in the world take care of themselves first so they have the energy, fortitude, endurance and clarity to build businesses, families and communities.

Take your responsibility personally and start now. The clock is ticking!

There is a wealth of information you can find to get started. A lack of knowledge is no excuse!

If you're new to weight lifting, start by going 3 days/week and dedicate one day to pushing exercises that will engage your chest and your triceps, one to pulling movements that will engage your back (primary mover) and biceps (secondary mover) and one to squatting (legs hold up the house!).

I'll get more in depth about training plans in the future, but I challenge you right now to get your rear end into a gym immediately. Expect at least as much from yourself as you do from others.

Go throw your weight around, get strong, set the example, see what you're capable of and compete for your life!

You owe it to your family to discover how strong you can be.

Free and Clear.