Why I do what I do.

Happy Friday to ya, Fellas!

There's something that I gotta put out there... and this is the place I choose to put it.
It's a bit long... so feel free to skip it or just skim it - I'm cool with that, too.

Okay... Much to my surprise, I found myself deeply affected by a simple question posed to me by Dx during Tuesday night's "cluster-eff" of an online, men's forum exercise/fitness chat.

Now, it's no secret here or to anyone who knows me that I workout and train... alot. Of course, I've heard all of the "addiction transference" comments from quite a few people (at work, at home, in my local support group, and yes - here on the Men's Forum). My quick response to this has always been, "Replacing my food addiction with exercise is much better than replacing it with booze & hookers!" It gets a brief chuckle... and the topic is quickly dropped. This even happened during Tuesday's chat after a brief mention of my seemingly insane triathlon training regimen. Then came Dx's question. I'm paraphrasing here... but, essentially he wanted to find out the true driving force behind all of this work. Was it to get buff or built? Was it to prove something to myself or others? Or, was it simply do to something that never seemed possible before?
I was stopped dead in my tracks.
I really had never thought about why... One day I just set this goal for myself and got moving.
My eventual answer to him was that I now considered myself a triathlete-in-training... this is what it takes. And, it was left at that.

But, the question stayed with me.
Why? Why all this work?
I honestly do enjoy it... but, could that be the only reason?
There's tons of other things that I enjoy doing, but don't devote as much time and effort to.

Yesterday, I revisited an article that I read months ago written by triathlete & fitness expert, Eric Harr called 20 Great Reasons To Do A Triathlon.
It really hit home and reminded me why I started all of this in the first place.

Here's a brief synopsis with some highlights of the article:

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
20 serious benefits for triathletes:
You Will Lose Weight; You Will Look and Feel Years Younger; You Will Have More Energy; You Will Get More Out of Your Workouts; You Will Improve Your Health; You Will Live Longer; You Will Be More Productive; You Will Learn to Handle Stress More Effectively; You Will Build Rock-Solid Self-Confidence; Your Mood Will Improve; Your Motivation to Exercise Will Soar; You Will Learn to Strengthen Your Weaknesses; You Get to Rub Shoulders with the Best Athletes in the World; You Will Join the Fitness Elite (If you complete just one triathlon, you will become one of the fitness elite no matter what your finishing time. You will have accomplished something that only one percent of the population even dare try.); You Will Have an Increased Sense of Purpose in Your Life (There are times in our lives when we find ourselves unfulfilled on deep, intangible levels - and we cannot explain why. We may have everything we want: a fulfilling career, a wonderful family, a strong network of loving friends. We just can't put our finger on our underlying restlessness.); You Will Become the Best You That You Can Be; You Will Be a Hero to Your Kids (If your children watch you finish a triathlon, they may never look at you the same way.); You Will Motivate and Inspire Those Around You; You Will Set Other Positive Things in Motion - Things You Never Imagined.

All those months ago, I found these words to be motivational and inspiring.
Now, I find them summing up the new direction my life has taken.

I've been reminded that, daily life rarely, if ever, provides us with the opportunity to be truly courageous, to show the world what we're really made of... and to be recognized for our own greatness. Completing a triathlon can provide you, and those around you, with physical proof that you are capable of more than anyone realizes.

If anyone cares... This is why I do it.
Glad I figured it out.

Thanks for listening, guys.
Be Well,
A.J.

I cannot tell you how much I amire your dedication and commitment.  Well, I have told you that before in emails, but what can I say?  I'm a huge fan!  I'm shooting for an eventual 20% of what you do, and what Scott does.  We'll see how far I get. Ken

A.J.: Thanks for the post. This is an excellent topic. I come at it from the reverse direction. Prior to WLS, I used exercise for dramatic weight loss. I have completed 3 triatilons and one 26.2 mile marathon. Each of these were major accomplishemnts and I relished in attaining my goals. I was unable to sustain the time and dedication required to maintain these fitness levels. When I was unable to mega-train  I stopped exercising all together and all of the weight I lost would come back PLUS 10-20lbs. This would mess my mind and ego up big time, not to mention my body. Looking back from todays perspective, the problem lies with my all or nothing addictive personality. At my highest weight of 320lbs. , exercise was a real struggle; painful, difficult and just not fun. I envisioned post WLS as exercise nirvana... a lighter body... faster.. leaner.. more flexible.. The strangest thing is that right now I am not exercising at all.. just playing golf.. .I have started sit-ups, push-ups, band training.. but I have not been consistent.. It is like I am afraid to FAIL AGAIN.. I worry that I will get really fit and quit AGAIN... interesting !!! Balance is the line I cross when I go from one extreme to the other.. I do not have any answers this morning.. just thoughts and past lessons learned... I know I would like to develope and maintain a healthy exercise plan for myself. Your post really helped me evaluate where I am at today Thanks KEV

Kevin, I'm right there with you. I was huge into bodybuilding in the late '80's, and have lifted periodically since. But lately, Golf and an occasional spin on the bike is all I can muster. It is a mental block. Let me know if you figure it out, I'd love to unlock this mystery, myself. DD

 

 

 

 

AJ, Towards the end of your quote, it says "You Will Motivate and Inspire Those Around You".  You have done that for me and I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with you this week.  I don't have any ambition to ever do a triathlon, but your motivation and inspiration has already made a positive change in me.  I appreciate you sharing your experiences.  Wait until you see my results at the end of the month.  Thanks again.

Floyd

I think your dedication is very admirable.   I wouldn't worry about the cross addiction issue (it's cheaper than hookers, and you're less likely to get STD's this way).   My brother completed his first triathlon last year (he was 41), and I was so impressed with the commitment it takes to do undertake such an incredible feat.   The reasons you stated in your post sound like all the right reasons to me (for what that's worth).......   Good luck with your training.

this is funny, i was thinking after chat night that the very question posed to you somehow got to you! i swear, you were the only one in the chat that really knew your answer. just because you love it. why climb a mountain, because it's there kind of thing with you. for me, i'm dealing with all kinds of crap now and i think i escape in my training but when i started, it was all about the fun, precision, learning and gauging my progress. i kind of workout on automatic. i need it as a release for now but you know what, i really do enjoy working out. you get the pump, endorphins, sweaty all the good stuff we need. believe me, i don't do it for the chicks or glory or to strut my stuff. between my back and this surgery, a little girl could kick my ass so i don't pump iron to be tough! anyway, i knew you were thinking about this somehow. thanks for sharing and reminding us that it's about your lifestyle, goals and health. you are a different person now. not just weight wise. you've changed. congrats......Carbonblob (who couldn't keep up with you for 5 minutes)!

I wish I could make the chat but I work second shift so I have no social life. This is the same question that runners often ask themselves.  The answer is nearly impossible.  The "because it's there" answer is true but does not provide the whole answer.  John Bingham is a runner whose gimmic is that he is slow.  He writes for Runners World and has come up with a good answer that I can tweak a little to make mine. I run away from many things.  Mostly I run away from being fat.  I run away from everyone who has doubted me in life.  I run away from the 12 minute mile that I ran in the 5th grade and was last.  I run away from being picked last in elementary school.  I run away from the girls that I thought would not date the fat kid.  I run away from the inmates who would yell "fat F**K" every time I walked into a dorm.  I run away not being able to time my shoes.  I run away from a million things. I run toward a million tihings.  I run toward high self confidence.  I run toward self esteem.  I run toward the pretty girls.  I run toward being healthy.  I run toward a goal that  less than 2% of the population has done.  I run because when someone sees me on a treadmill for an hour, they think I'm nuts.  It empowers me.  I run because the 26.2 mile pain feels so good for so long.  I run for the T-Shirts.  Mostly I run because hopefully, my son sees me and wants to be me.   I cried when he shoved a fist full of McDonalds fries into his mouth and said, "I want to eat like you daddy",  I would love to cry because just finished a race and perhaps I had something to do with it. Thanks Scott

Damn Scott - do you get some pleasure in making grown men cry???  That's really great and I'm sure your son already wants to be just like you! Steve

Sometimes I reply with humor and sometimes it's from the heart.  Don't get used to it though. Scott  ...and thanks