The Weekly Word: April 10th, 2022

What I've Been Thinking About...
I was listening to an interview with Yeonmi Park, a women born in the dreaded country known as North Korea. She spoke of the atrocities that she saw growing up and the horrors that still exist there today. After hearing what she has gone through, it makes me think how lucky I was to be born and raised in this country. This place has its faults, there is no denying that, but when you hear an interview with someone like Yeonmi Park, you realize that things here, in the words of Rocky Balboa, "ain't so bad". When you hear stories about what is going on in other parts of the world like Ukraine, you realize things here "ain't so bad". When you read about Uyghur Muslims being put into labor camps, forced sterilization, and genocide in China, you realize things here "ain't so bad".

We are so far removed from violence and difficult times that it almost seems like we try to create them in different forms. Our news is filled with nonsensical headlines that totally lose grasp of the big picture. I like what movie director Michael Bay told an interviewer in regards to Will Smith's actions: "There are babies getting blown up in the Ukraine right now. We should be talking about that".  

Fitness Tip of the Week
I was listening to an interview recently on physical activity in the younger population. Here are a few things that opened my eyes...

• Less than 20% of high school kids get 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
• 1 in 5 students do not get 60 minutes of physical activity on any given day during the week.
• Obese at 2 years of age, you have a 75% chance of being an obese adult
• If you enter middle school obese, you have an 87% chance of being an obese adult.
• If you leave high school obese, your chance of being obese for the rest of your life increases to the low 90% range. 

Obesity is multifactoral and physical activity is not the cure all, but I do feel that leading a physically active life leads to better decisions and adherence in other areas. We tend to sleep a little better, live a less stressful life, eat a little better in so on. It is what is described in the book Power of Habit as a Keystone Habit. These habits have a ripple effect into other areas of your life. 

To increase adherence, one needs to understand the importance. Why should we care about our physical fitness? Once it is gone, so too goes your freedom and independence to do what you wish. Think about what life would be like if you had a broken leg. Everything will take much longer, you may need someone to help you up stairs, carry your things, or drive you places you need to go. Your freedom and independence go out the window when something like this occurs. Now think about being 50 and being injured, obese, or in chronic pain. Life gets much more difficult when you feel awful and your reliance on others increase. Some of these things can be avoided or delayed with partaking in physical activity. As Socrates once said, "it is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness". We have to care enough about our future to avoid suffering from the maladies of inactivity!

What I've Been Reading...
Forrest Gump by Winston Groom
A few weeks ago I was listening to "The Forrest Gump" of Strength Training Marty Gallagher share stories on his podcast. During the episode he shared that the Forrest Gump movie starring Tom Hanks was based off a book by the same title. This was news to me as I never heard of it before. So I did what any other bibliofile would do and bought it!

So far, so good on this as I am about one-third of the way. Like all other adaptions from book to screen, there are a few inconsistencies. My favorite so far is that in the book, Forrest is 6'6", 245 pounds, and runs the 100 meter in 9.5 seconds in the book. From an athletic point of view, these measurables are off the charts! Think more Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson than Tom Hanks if you are trying to get a visual. 

Lessons from the Greats
As mentioned last week, I recently wrapped up reading a book titled Coan: The Man, The Myth, The Method. I have spent some time thinking about this mans accomplishments and am astonished. Here is a man who went from a 4'11" and 97 pound freshmen in high school to becoming 5'6", 220+ of solid muscle. How was he able to do it? Inch by inch. He made slow and steady progress day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade until he became the best. Self-mastery was always his goal. It was not fame, adulation or attention.

In order to make these improvements, he had to constantly ask himself: Will this help me reach my goal or hinder me? Inadequate sleep, poor diet, poor training, stress, lack of focus, inattention to detail were all things that would keep him from reaching great heights so he made an effort to eliminate them. In the end, he stayed on the path and finished his career as the Greatest of all-time. This question, "Will it help or hinder me", can be applied to your own life in whatever you set out to do. With each day we can all be a little better and answering this question honestly can help get you there!

Quote of the Week
"Things without reform should be without regret. What's done is done" -- Lady Macbeth

I hope you all have an awesome week!
Chris Fluck