Today I turned 45 and my 6-pack is nearly there. My goal isn’t to get big nor to exercise a lot but to get rid of fat I don’t want and free the rest of me while taking minimal time from the rest of my life. As always, to learn more about myself and to grow. This (My usual diet) Plus this (All my exercise equipment) (rowing machine, four kettlebells,[…] Keep reading →

This video shows burpee form more simply and clearly than any other I’ve seen. If you’re trying to learn how to do them, I think this video shows it best. I prefer doing them barefoot and bring my knees outside my elbows when I jump forward, but those are matters of taste. Note that he touches his chest and chin at the same time and keeps his back rigid, not[…] Keep reading →

My post today on Inc.com, “16 tips to start habits you want and stop ones you don’t,” begins 16 tips to start habits you want and stop ones you don’t You know successful habits create success. The challenge is doing them. Here are tips from someone who hasn’t missed his daily habits in over five years. In January 2011 I started writing on my blog daily. I haven’t missed a day since, meaning[…] Keep reading →

Exercise takes mental effort, not just physical effort. Everyone’s mind handles the challenge differently, but some things are common. I find some people feel silly or awkward about their thoughts. More than any other thoughts, I think about fractions of the way finished I am. For example, a lap of Central Park is six miles. I know roughly where each mile is. The first mile is one-sixth, or about sixteen[…] Keep reading →

Following up yesterday’s post about the subtle value of sidchas, I want to lower the bar on choosing what activity to base your sidcha on. Doing one or two sidchas means you can say no to all the others and know you aren’t missing out. Still, if you want to do an art-related sidcha, an exercise sidcha, a personal development sidcha, and so on, aren’t you missing out on others.[…] Keep reading →

I used to like sport for winning. I still do, but no sport compares with ultimate, which I’m too old to compete in. Or rather, I know I’ll get worse every year so investing effort for the future has less payoff. Now sport is about discipline, dedication, discovery, self-awareness, and things like that—switching to the second meaning of competition from the first. I’ve had a rowing machine for years. They[…] Keep reading →

The pattern is this: You know something will help you and you want to do it You look forward to doing it in the future Just before doing it you feel like you don’t want to do it Starting takes a lot of willpower Once you start you want to keep doing it After you finish you’re glad you did it and find yourself feeling like in step 1 Examples[…] Keep reading →