Synchronicty and the rule of exercise

I love synchronicity. Yesterday I spoke about my new training schedule and about the importance of having a trainer. I also spoke about one lady who had turned up but not tuned up.

Today I received a newsletter from Chris Widener, yes THE Chris Widener and yes I read everyone's words of encouragement and wisdom, just like you do. Anyway Chris mentioned his training sessions, and his friend and "spotter" Brian. Chris was being pushed to develop more muscle - and he mentioned how - by going beyond what you were used to doing. In Brian's words "more weight or more reps, possibly both".

And I would like to agree wholeheartedly with that statement. When I re-joined the gym I lacked a lot of muscle strength - strength I used to have, but had lost by not going and not using them. I could no longer do my 20 "boy" pushups or pull down 40 kilos on the lat pulldown bar. Nor could I run very far. How fast we lose the momentum. How fast we lose the fitness. And how - if you are not willing to push yourself a little more everytime you exercise or do something, you will stay in exactly the same place.

Now if you are at the peak of your fitness and you have no need to train because you are not into competitions, then it could be said you don't need to do any more than maintain your level of fitness. But is that the same for everyone? Is that the same for me? Is that the same for you and what you say you want?

Don't fool yourself into thinking you'll do it tomorrow, or you'll just do enough to get by, it's very easy to slide down into the "I just can't be bothered to write the newsletter today / run 3 km's / do 20 sit ups / read a good book - I'll do it tomorrow." And yes I have been guilty of thinking other things have priority, when in reality I should be working on everything at just that little harder intensity to build my muscles, to build my skills, to build my contact network.

One thing I do know is this - if I can't be bothered to do it, you can guarantee no-one else will do it for me. Just like I can't ask you to get fit for me, I can't get fit for you. We both need to do our own work and it is up to each of us as to how much and how well we do it.

So, how much work are you willing to do on yourself today?