[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 65 – Doing it All.


Good morning guys. The weekend was one spent indoors. After being spoiled with a week of unseasonably warm weather, what a depressing weekend it could have been. I am only glad that, like some of you in the mid-west, I didn’t have to shovel snow. Mother Nature is in serious need of a bitch-slapping at this point, I am sure you will agree. But, be kind. She will come through soon enough. Because of the weather, the greater part of my weekend was spent cleaning the basement and getting my gym in good order. It’s great to be able to do something for yourself and check an item off the “honey-do” list at the same time.

While cleaning up my basement gym, I started thinking about all the materials I have collected over the past few years and how you sometimes tend to save everything and think you will eventually do it all. I came across printouts of hypertrophy routines, strength routines, plyometrics, speed drills, Olympic lifting, you name it. The alphabet of strength trainers was represented as well, from Alessi, to Balantine and Berardi, to Cosgrove and so on. Then there are the things you think you should add to your routine like more Swiss ball routines, jump rope routines, body weight routines, routines to improve your pushups, pull-ups, chin-ups, throw-ups (lol). Add to that all those cardio collectibles you have been wanting to try, “eventually.” Well, I have decided that you can pick a few and do them well and with intensity, or you can try the smorgasbord approach and do just about everything half-assed or with little in the way of results. As much as you would like to do every new thing that comes along, keep in mind that doing any fitness routine already puts you head and shoulders above the average guy. You want to change those routines to keep yourself motivated and that is where the variety will come from. I have come to the point where I pick one good lifting routine and one cardio routine and give them my best effort. Maybe, someday, I will pick up that jump rope I bought and rarely used. For now, I am going to do the two things I have chosen and do them right. I am resigned to the fact that I can’t do it all.

If you can’t do it all, give your all to the things you can do.

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PS: If there is one new thing you will do this year for motivation, get your butt to Little Rock for the JP Fitness Retreat, May 13-15.

In Fitness & Friendship,
Mahler