Brick by Brick.

When I woke up this morning at 4:30am, this is what came to my mind.  Some days you wake up and feel sore from the day before.  Some days you wake up and feel like you have recuperated and are ready to get back in the gym to do the cardio and lift the weights.  Today was a day for me when I felt like I had recuperated, and was ready to get back in the gym.  I was actually looking forward to waking up on the StairMaster listening to my favorite tunes on my mp3 player, and then deciding what body parts I needed to train with weights.  Today I chose to train arms only, since yesterday was chest and back day.  My arms felt recuperated and I knew they would be strong for a good workout.  I have been taking it easy with most of my lifting because it has been many months since I have been lifting weights.  I believe winter time is a great time to be in the gym lifting weights, so that when Spring arrives I am in tip top shape to get outside and do things like like my window cleaning business, Wind O' Washin', and riding my bicycle a lot.  I think it is important for people to realize that one's health & fitness is built one brick at a time, so to speak.  Everything builds on what you did yesterday!  This is what I like about bodybuilding or just engaging in any sort of consistent fitness activity, no one gets there in one day!  It takes consistent methodic efforts to reach your fitness goals.  Sometimes you add this piece of the puzzle and sometimes you add a different piece to the puzzle.  When you first get started you might not even have a clue what the pieces are to add to the puzzle, but the effort of getting started opens the doors to be ready to receive the enlightenment of what comes next.  I always think 80% of success is getting started, and the rest of the pieces of the puzzle show up as you are ready for them.  The human body and life in general really is very simple, and there is an eb and flow of our needs being met in due time.  I was thinking today of how Ronnie Coleman stated that he did not even want to get into bodybuilding many years ago, Ronnie did not know that adequate protein in his diet was what would enable him to put on more muscle.  Now today, Ronnie openly admits that he loves lifting weights because it makes him feel good!  That was what I was thinking today when I was working arms, I love the way my body feels when I am recovered, getting stronger, and getting a great pump from a workout.  This is obviously the reward God designed into the human body for being physically active and productive.  The bible talks about the sluggard or lazy person.  Being lazy is a lot less rewarding in many ways than being consitently physically active.  I think the main issue is the quality of your health, how you feel each day when you wake up.  Do you feel like climbing Mt. Everest, or do you feel like crawling into a hole and passing away?  Neither of these realities occurs as a result of your actions from one day, but rather they build day by day based on what you do TODAY!  I remember how good I felt when I had finished my training for the 12 week transformation challenge.  I had to go out and buy a new pair of pants because I had gone from a 35" waist to a 30" waist.  The pants I bought were a pair of Arizona relaxed fit 29" waist casual jeans.  These were the only jeans I could find that would fit my thighs and my waist properly.  It felt great to be properly dressed in clothes that fit right, one of the byproducts of leading an active healthy lifestyle.  I didn't have a girl friend at the time, but if I had, I think she surely would have appreciated my excellent physical condition.  Have you ever thought of yourself as a gift to your spouce?  God encourages us to be giving like he is giving.  If someone is hitched to you, the least you can do for them is get off your ass and stay in shape.  Why be a ball and chain for them to dread waking up to each morning?  If you happen to be a sloth or sluggard, I hope this message is what you needed to hear to give you that sharp kick in the ass to change your wicked way of living!


God bless you,Steven Brick