Archives for July 2008

I spent the entire day fixing some configuration problems they caused through their lack of knowledge of our software.  I also listened to their change requests and assessed the feasibility of those changes.  Most of the day was spent just getting the system running correctly and ironing out some strange issues.  In the end it was a very successful day.

They took me out to dinner and I had steak with vegetables.  I was proud of myself for being able to be social but still stick to my plan.  It felt great.

I was just talking to a doctor friend/client during a training session and he was asking me about that very thing.

“I don't seem to be able to find the time to do all

I need to do” he said. How do you do it?

I said you don't need to find time.

Why? It's not lost is it? he joked.

You are not going to find any more time than what you have. Being busy sort of makes us look important. You won't find time, but what ever is important to you for that, you will “make” time. Then you will like a  good Steward, manage your time based  on what is really important.”

I find so much truth in this.  How many times are we guilty of saying “I couldn't find the time to do <insert anything here>”?  It isn't about finding the time, it is about making the time.  As the story says, when you are a good Steward of your time, you manage it based upon what is really important.  You make the time for those important things.

I have a friend who was in a relationship with a girl.  At one point they broke up.  My friend asked her if they could get back together after about a week.  She said she needed some space to think about his request and requested contact be limited to email.  She told him when she had figured out what to do she would contact him.  My friend would send her an email telling her his thoughts on things and ask for a response.  He wouldn't get one.  Later, she'd write and say she was just very busy and couldn't find the time to write the email. After this went on for some time, my friend finally got upset and told his ex that if he was important to her she would make the time to answer his emails.  He noted that she had made some online purchases, so obviously she could find the time to get on the computer.  After this my friend stopped contacting the girl at all.  This went on for 3 weeks at which point in time my friend wrote her a very long, but heartfelt email about his feelings on everything from their relationship to what went on afterwards.  He brought up some very important issues.  She replied!  That email and the response from her led to vast improvements in their relationship overnight.

The point is simple:  when it is important you make the time for it.  We complain that we couldn't find the time to eat right, but the reality is that we should be making the time to eat right.  We say we didn't have time for a workout, but we should be making the time for a workout.  If your health is important to you time will be available for it because no matter what, you will make the time.

I was involved in a discussion on the Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle Yahoo group this week. I answered a question regarding doing cardio first or weight training first.  I said that cardio should never be done before weight training due to the drain on the glycogen needed for weight training when you do cardio first.  One person had a very good argument for doing it either way, but it was based on the premise that not everyone works out to their maximum effort.  My response was that it shouldn't matter.  They should do it the correct way.  The correct way is to workout to your maximum limit and therefore, they should do cardio after weight training.

I would appreciate it if you guys out there could start commenting this blog when you hit a personal best.  By doing this you will make my day.  I will know that you are pushing yourself as hard as you should.  Just like my trainee, you will be making my day each and every time I read a comment about your personal bests.