Lang Athletics

Hey all, how’s it going?

As I flipped the page on my local school calendar, I noticed a quote by one Aristotle;

“We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”

Read that again if it didn’t resonate with you just a little.

I’ve been fired up lately at people who love giving their two cents worth but won’t give two minutes to improving their health and well-being.

These same people are the ones that constantly ask for help or direction…but it’s only lip service.  What they really want is the magic pill.  Heaven forbid I break a sweat to drop a few pounds!

They may even show up to the gym for a week or two, but when they haven’t dropped 10 pounds and 2 pant sizes…must not work for me.  That’s the spirit! (please sense my sarcasm)

If “we are what we repeatedly do”, are you “healthy”?  Do you eat healthy foods repeatedly?  Do you exercise regularly?  Do you spend quality time with your family (not in front of TV) on a consistent basis?

If not, do you really question why you or your life isn’t the way you want it to be???

Here’s a hint…it’s no one else’s fault but your own.

(ouch, ooohh, Sim you’re so mean and hurtful with your words)

A lot of people are thinking it, I just said it.

My passion lies in physical fitness and athletic performance, but obviously (hopefully it’s obvious), this principle extends beyond the gym into every facet of your life.

Are you just punching the clock at work and waiting for 5pm to roll around? Expecting a promotion anytime soon?

Are you actively involved in your kids’ lives?  If not, can you really expect them to just ‘turn out alright’?  (remember: things are often caught, not taught)

It’s funny that people say they never have time to go to the gym, but they never miss a night out with the boys or girls.

Don’t have a job and can’t afford anything?  I see help wanted signs all the time, and I also see you with your pop, cigarettes, new tattoos, eating out all the time, going to movies, driving nice cars,  etc.  But I’m sure you have a good reason for not working…

You are what you repeatedly do.  If you’re not happy with who you are, make a conscious effort to begin a new habit.  Some healthy behavior, whether at home, work, or the gym, that when done repeatedly, you wouldn’t mind defining you.

Some of my fellow strength and conditioning enthusiasts might laugh or mock me because I’ve been testing out the Crossfit waters lately.  Well, I’m too short/slow for the NBA and my triathlon career isn’t much more than a summer hobby, so I’ve stepped foot in the “competitive fitness” ring and had some fun while at it.  Shouldn’t we all challenge ourselves and have a little fun while doing it?

I’m not kidding myself and thinking I can win the competition, but getting out of my comfort zone has been an awakening, and a fun one at that.  Check out some of our latest videos.  The burpees one is pretty boring.  If you don’t watch till the end, that’s ok – I did 99 burpees in 7 minutes.  Try it sometime.  Have a fire extinguisher handy for your lungs.

The latest challenge workout was the Olympic snatch.  Thirty reps at 75lbs, 30 at 135 lbs, 30 at 165lbs, and as many as possible at 210 (I didn’t get that far…).  This all with a 10 minute time limit.  I got 16 reps at 165.  This was a fun one, and as you can see, my training partners and friends helped support me the whole time.  (Love our gym community)

Now I don’t have it all figured out, and I’m far from perfect.  I don’t make a ton of money, but I love what I do.  My circle of friends isn’t nearly as big as facebook might suggest, but we enjoy each other’s company and push each other in positive ways.  I’m not the biggest, strongest, or fastest…but I’m working on it…repeatedly.