BRACE YOURSELF -- TO GET YOUR GOALS

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second." ~ William James

By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.

EVERYBODY wants to get in shape for the new year. Tis the season!

For the next few weeks gyms from coast to coast will resemble mosh pits at a rock concert. Wall to wall bodies.

But statistics tell us out of the nearly 50% of you who set the ill-defined goals of "losing weight" or "getting in shape," the overwhelming majority will give up long before getting there.

One of the reasons we slack off on fitness routines, especially as we get older, are aches and pains in different places on our body. Live long enough, stuff starts hurting. But this is true whether we're active or sedentary. So if we're gonna hurt anyhow, might as well get the rewards that come with an active lifestyle.


LEARN FROM THE PROS

The author wearing his "combat sleeve,"
providing compression for an elbow injury.

Knee braces, ankle wraps, shoulder sleeves and lifting belts are just some of the more common support devices used to stay in the game.

With proper care and the right gear it's possible to work through or work around all kinds of pain, sprains and discomfort. Before you decide to sit out a workout, talk to an experienced training and or medical professional to see if a simple brace or wrap along with a modified routine can help keep you in the saddle.

Losing momentum is one of the most sure paths to falling off. You don't want that.

Except in the most extreme cases of serious injury, there are usually ways to keep going. Again, with proper guidance of course. But you have to resolve in your mind your desire to go for it!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Physical culturist and former multisport athlete, James MacArthur, has trained for, competed in, practiced and even failed at more sports and physical endeavours than a crossfitter on crack! And has the x-rays to prove it. Currently no longer involved in competition, a lifelong fan of being fit, MacArthur guides, instructs and motivates select few individuals seeking to make the most of their natural talent and abilities.

On Life And Lifting

We're never gonna be what we used to be, but each day we have an opportunity to become something we've never been.

When I first started lifting more years ago than I care to admit here, I had all these big goals and aspirations of what I was gonna get out of lifting. Now decades later I look back through the years and see some it I've achieved, a lot of it I haven't.

My workouts have changed greatly through the years.

When I was young asthetics held a much more prominent place in my motivation than it does now. I mean, who doesn't want to look good right?

But as I've gotten older and have had to deal with natural age related changes in my physical appearance, from thinning and graying hair and other things I rather not talk about, I realized how I look may change more quicker than I can control.

Whereas in the strength department, I'm still basically off the charts, and I've learned I can hold onto that, even increasing and improving it, much more than I can my ruggedly handsome good looks. 

I want to be able to look at heavy stuff, whether weights or real world objects, command it to move and with my might and my muscles, make it move -- without blowing my back out.

Today for the first time in a year I deadlifted in the high 400 pound range and didn't feel like I  was going to die. I also curled 60 pound dumbbells with ease.

Once I was strong, well balanced, a muscular young man. Now I'm middle aged, hanging on to what I got, and looking forward to making the most of what's lays ahead in life.

Today I lift to live. For the long haul. A life of strength and health is what's most important. All else is secondary.