Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 47: Mahler at 56
Good Morning, guys.
Tomorrow, Jan. 11, I will turn 56. I make a point of this because this is the time of year that the forums get a lot of newbies with the good intentions of making a change in their lives as far as fitness is concerned. Many are young and just looking to get those chick magnets in shape for spring break. A good number are guys headed for mid-life crisis and wondering if there is anything they can do to drop the gut and get back some of that vitality they had in their youth. The answer is a resounding, yes. Young and old alike, don’t sell yourself short. Basically what I am saying is this. If I can do it, you can do it. I grew up having all the athletic ability of a garden slug. I would probably have lost out if I tried out for water boy. Being naturally skinny, I never had a weight problem until the middle age spread set in and finally at age 52 I reached almost 225 and a body fat of 23% and the first pair of 38 pants leered at me from the rack in the department store. It doesn’t happen overnight, guys. It creeps up on you and one day you look in the mirror and you begin to see Tweedle Dum or Tweedle Dee looking back at you. And, believe me, it ain’t a pretty sight. (May the gods of grammar forgive me for the use of ain’t, but it is so appropriate right now.) For you young guys, take advantage of youth. The juices are flowing and all you have to do channel them into building the body you want. I wish I knew at 18 what I know now. For you older guys, there is always hope. I am one of the older guys on this forum and I speak from experience. Changing your life and your body is not only possible, but a given if you have the will and determination to make it happen.
I know the regulars on here are tired of this pic, but mister perfect dropped his digital cam a while back and this is the only recent one I have. Not 56 but me at 55 ½.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-...hn2-avatar.jpg
It’s not easy, but man, is it worth it. Just yesterday, a neighbor invited my wife and me over for a visit. Upon discovering that I had a birthday coming up she said, “The rest of us are getting older and you just keep getting younger.” Man, that felt so good.
Since making my decision to change my life I have completed three very challenging programs: Homegrown Muscle, Book of Muscle Intermediate, and Book of Muscle Advanced. I am now 175 at around 11% body fat and feeling like a kid again. I lift three days a week and do cardio (usually running) 3 days a week. On Sunday I was doing HIIT and decided to up the ante a bit and ran my last quarter mile at 9MPH. That’s less than a 7 minute mile. Not great, but a personal best nonetheless. And, those 38 pants, as well as all my 36’s have long ago been donated to the clothing bank. And now, even my 34’s are getting loose.
So if you really want to make a change, again I say, if I can do it, you can do it. But, my friends, the operative words are “do it.”
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Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors.
Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits.
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.
~Ghandi~
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In Fitness and Friendship,
Mahler