Winning Takes Work!

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

"The universe is transformation; our life is what our thoughts make it." ~ Marcus Aurelius

A student recently came to me for advice on a personal problem. He was frustrated! He told me all he'd been doing and he was upset the results he expected to see weren't happening.

After getting some specific details I proceeded to tell him where I felt some simple changes could make a difference.

He looked and me I said "that sounds hard!"

I said, "well it is. I didn't say it would be easy. But it's simple."

The whole exchange forced me to compare our conversation to a larger metaphor on life.

So few people really achieve what they hope to in life and they're often puzzled why. But upon closer examination, you see people putting in an ordinary amount of effort, but somehow expecting some kind of extraordinary results. I wish it were that easy, but it isn't. It just doesn't work that way.

If you've ever chopped a tree (or seen it done) with an axe like I have, there's a vital life lesson you can learn from the process. It's doesn't matter how tired your arms are or how much they hurt, and how much you feel like quitting because the tree just won't fall over. It won't until you put in all the work needed. Nothing less. You've got to keep swinging!

Maybe you started thinking the job would be over after 100 strokes and you get there and the tree is still standing. Is it really that hard to figure out what to do? Of course not, you gotta keep on swinging. It's not over till it's over.

It's the same way in life. Things don't always happen as easy or as quickly as we hope or think they should. That doesn't mean it won't happen. But if we give up too soon, it guarantees we'll fail.

If we want to get the most out of a given situation, be it our job, school, relationship, athletics or what have you, we have to give it our all. Continued, persistent effort of doing the things we know we need to do really does pay off. As basic and simple as this may sound, hearing it is one thing. Knowing it is another. Yet applying it is where we usually fall short.

Life is hard! Winning takes work.

A lot of times when we think we're doing all we can do and we even say so in conversation, a brutally honest close examination reveals something else.

The older I get, the more I realize, there really are no shortcuts to success. This doesn't mean we won't get unexpected blessings and surprises sometimes, but I've found it is those who are most prepared for opportunity are the ones given the most opportunities in life.

In other words, I'm saying don't ever give up. Keep working. Work hard for what you want. Don't give in. When things aren't going your way and you're not achieving the results you believe you deserve, sometimes you have to stop, step back, and self assess. Make sure you're really doing all you can do towards getting your goals. If not, begin. It's never too late. If you're still alive.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Virtual Team Challenge - Row With It!

The Numbers

• 66 - Team Navy's current position out of 435 teams from around the world

• 814,225 - total team meters

• 101,000 - my total meters rowed so far

• 1 - my position on team as the one with the most cumulative distance... so far

Current as of 0700 EST

Day 14 of the 31 day challenge finds me in good spirits, and over all highly motivated. 

Some mild signs of fatigue are starting to show. 

Thankfully, my pre-existing foot injury has shown no signs of irritation or worsening. The healing and recovery is actually progressing quite well.

I've rowed everyday since the first of the year. Some days even rowing twice.

Being part of a challenge offers extra motivation along with an element of excitement. It's much more fun than working or exercising without passion or purpose.

I believe one of the primary reasons people quit exercising is because they find themselves in a place where it's no longer fun anymore. Couple that with vague, indistinct goals and not having a firm "why" and eventually - much sooner than later for many - exercise gets blown off.

Fitness For The Long Haul

"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.

Gyms from coast to coast are jam packed with new members right now. But strangely by summertime most will have fallen off. Old school gym rats like myself has seen this same routine, year after year, for decades!

Losing weight and or exercising more still ranks higher on the list of New Year's resolutions than anything else. Americans are obsessed with the idea of getting in shape. Yet judging by the rate of obesity increasing each year, we're evidently not very good at it.

Why is it so many fail? Repeatedly.

Part of the problem is most of us really don't know what the heck we're doing, or even why we're doing it. More on that later.

We want big results and we want them now. When we don't get that kind of instant gratification, eventually we lose interest and before you know it, half the year has passed and you realize you really haven't stuck to goal of "exercising more" or getting in shape.

We view fitness as an end result of "working out" then the rest of our lives are completely incongruous with healthy living.

We're a nation that loves excess. We eat too much (of the wrong foods), drink and party too much, smoke too much, work too much (mostly sitting on our butts), watch TV and even cruise on the internet too much. After doing all sorts of things that destroy health, we convince ourselves that somehow a little exercise, or even a lot, will fix everything and make it all okay.

Instead of making healthy living and exercise part of a more balanced lifestyle, we view it as a task, something to be checked off daily to-do lists. That sounds like work. Don't we spend enough time doing that already?

Perhaps it's time we rethink the whole way we see exercise and getting in shape. More than just something we do, it should actually be part of who we are.

A more balanced, healthy approach to living needs to become an essential and interwoven part of our existence. It is only then do we stand a realistic chance of success.

In the coming weeks and months I'll use this space to share with you my best ideas and concepts on how to live more dynamically and achieve better overall fitness. This will be an ongoing journey of discovery. I hope you'll join me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Jesus Didn't Drive A Cadillac #PalmSunday

Followers of Christ should not forget who they're following and how He rolled

Note; artist rendering used for illustrative purposes only, NOT AN ACTUAL PAINTING OF YESHUA

"And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"

-- Yeshua (The Christ) as recorded in Mark 8:34


As Christians around the world celebrate "Palm Sunday," I hope that among the ceremonies and festivities, the powerful, profound simplicity represented by Yeshua (The Christ) is not lost.



When Yeshua walked the earth, he actively denounced the established organized religion of the day and the way in which it was practiced. The hypocrisy of the holier-than-thou hyper-religionists was a regular topic of his ire.

Benny Hinn's Malibu mansion. I wonder how many times extra rooms have been opened up to the homeless?

"Therefore, whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them, because this summarizes the Law and the Prophets."

-- Yeshua (The Christ) as recorded in Mathew 7:12 (ISV)

Joel Osteen's Texas estate.

He had no huge castle, palatial temple built with the building fund, elaborate attire, or other fancy trappings often associated with modern ministers and the church today.


Despite certain interpretations, an understanding of the era shows travelling by donkey as being the modern day equivalent to a Honda Civic. Basic, reliable transportation.

Pastor Creflo Dollar. A fitting name no?

Far from ostentatious or making a statement of status, like say a Bentley or Gulfstream jet, the donkey simply got you where you needed to go. Slowly.

Like everything else about the life of Yeshua, selection of this mode of transportation, on this particular day (walking was the usual way), was more than just coincidence or happenstance. It was an example. An example for the people then, but especially for us now.

Truth is, royalty rode mighty stallions. Camels were common. For the ultra fancy, a chauffeur driven chariot might be had.

But no other animal placed it's rider as low to the ground, and on the same level, accessible to the masses, as did the donkey. A man riding a donkey literally has his feet close to the ground. Other animals have the rider up high, looking down on the people. The donkey places you among the people.

Ministry is about serving. Serving those in need, not serving ourselves. Not lifting us up above others. But about sometimes even getting down on our knees if need be (see foot washing and communion the way it's described in the bible), in order to perform our duty to our fellow man.

Oh that pastors and parishioners would take this object lesson to heart.

Make no mistake, in the time of Christ there were rides available far exceeding the luxury of a donkey. None were chosen.

Whether you like it or not, it's true; Jesus didn't drive a Cadillac. I'm just saying.

Destiny Is By Design #MacArthursMusings

 "Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for. It is a thing to be achieved."

-- William Jennings Bryant

Look deep within your heart. Figure out who it is you were meant to be. Then go for it with all your might. 

Don't care what people say. Follow your own way. Live YOUR life. Whether others choose to live it with you or not.

BELIEVE in destiny.

There will be plenty of setbacks and setups. Many will secretly desire to see you fail.

Friends and lovers will come and go. You will be used. Even abused.

In the great journey of life, sometimes we walk the road together, sometimes we must go it alone.

It's important to know, no matter what happens, stay focused. Eyes straight ahead. Keep moving.

Something great awaits you. It's yours if you want it. Now go get it!

‪#‎MacArthursMusings‬
‪#‎Meditations‬

Season Milestone Achieved! -- Exceeded 10,000 Meters Rowed In One Day

Today was particularly exciting for me as we began the second week of the month long World Erg Challenge indoor rowing tournament. For the first time in over a year, I exceeded 10,000 meters in a day.

Actually completed 12,000 meters today. That's about 7.5 miles!

That moved me up to position 8 out of 34 members on the team. The ones ahead of me should serve as inspiration to anyone. 

Of the seven, one is age 76, another is 61, there's also a 59 year old. These guys are beating me! Simply amazing!

Really excited to be back in the challenge this year. My body has adjusted well after the first week. Although the sessions are still grueling, I'm handling it relatively well. Although I did have a mild calf cramp today though. Nothing a little bit of foam rolling didn't help.

Current standings: 

Team Navy -- 22 out of 163 teams (a few new entrants have come along)

Personal position: #8, with 47,353 M total so far.

Ready All Row! -- WEC 2015 Week One Totals

A Look At Numbers After The First Week Of Rowing On The Erg

As of Saturday, 22 March, my current distance total stood at 24,853 M.

This contributed to Team Navy landing in 21st place out 150 teams from around the world.

Within the team, as of that date, my personal standing is at 14th place out of 34 members. 

None of this has come without very hard work.

Very proud of the effort and accomplishments of my team mates.

Just Shut Up And Row! -- World Erg Challenge 2015

Participants Seek To Accumulate Maximum Distance From 15 March To 15 April

Just why would anyone want to sit down on a device -- seen by many as an instrument of torture -- and go through a repetitive series of often agonizing, sometimes painful (it's a "good" pain though), grunt inducing, heavy-breathing-causing motions for 30 days?

"Greetings shipmates,

It is time for the World Erg Challenge.  Join us again for the chance to win prizes and represent the Navy."

It's official. Not only was it time once again to test my physical and mental endurance, will power, and quite honestly, the durability of my behind (hours and hours sitting on your butt!), but I was being officially invited/reminded by the team captain. And for this there's only one way to respond.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Until I saw that simple message from team captain Clay Christensen, I'd totally forgotten all about this yearly event. What has become a spring time rite of passage for me.

For hyper competitive former athletes like myself, even simple things like a two sentence email are hard to ignore.

As the first week of the challenge nears completion, my body is adjusting to the rigors of rowing. Especially rowing on an ergometer.

More importantly, my scheduling and time management ability is adjusting as well, as fitting in the time to do this is a immense challenge unto itself. Giving new meaning to the "challenge" part of the event's title.

This is my first blog of the event, I'll save the more nitty gritty details of what it's like to do this, and the physiology and mental state involved for future posts.

Despite entering the challenge nearly two weeks late in 2014, I'd like to think I still kicked butt!

We Take This Seriously

Of the teams all around the world participating, all have slightly different approach to the World Erg Challenge. Some are more hardcore while others see it as a purely fun and social thing.  For Team Navy, we're somewhere in the middle, leaning more towards hardcore.

Last year out of over 220 teams from around the world, we placed 22nd with a total of 5,415,474 meters! Salute to Peter who topped our team at 500,504 meters. Insane!

Today Is Gonna Be A Great Day. I feel it! Listen to this VoiceBo

It's Kiss MacArthur Day!

Ladies, now's your chance. It's a little known fact, but if you do it today you won't be in trouble with your man...

I suppose tis the season when EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE in America is suddenly Irish. I'm not, but this is interesting.

The ancestors of the MacArthur family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The family name comes from the Celtic personal name Arthur. It denotes the 'son of arthur', which means noble one.

The roots of MacArthur definitely has some Irish origins, but make no mistake MacArthur is as Scottish as it gets. I suppose like Idi Amin, I could be the Last King Of Scotland. It's ok, I've settled for Chief!

So what are you waiting for? Come on, KISS ME!

Freedom's Worth Fighting For -- Things Are Starting To Move A Bit Around Here...

"Whatever you do, do with all your might."

-- Cicero

For the most part, besides occasional updates here and there, this blog has been more or less abandoned by me as duties maintaining and updating numerous other websites, Facebook and Twitter pages have pretty well taken up most of  my time.

Reaching 2.2 million people is no small feat. The potential power to rapidly disseminate information is frightful to those that want to control conversations and public thought.

While most people use social media as a great past time or hobby, for some of us this is actually a part of our job.  A big part. In my case full time and then some.

After seeing over 2 million people view my posts on Facebook last week (our most viewed platform), I was truly overwhelmed and elated that my work had landed before such a large audience.

Unfortunately my celebration was only short lived.

"...in order for democracy to survive, strong alternative, opposing voices of dissenting opinion are imperative."

Facebook failed to say when the 24 hours began.

On Monday morning Facebook police and their Brown-Shirt censors decided an editorial post I made was too much, and without discussion or any appeal process, I was promptly banned from posting, liking or pretty much doing anything on Facebook for 24 hours. A caveat was also added that if I continued my "offensive or abusive" (in a pop-up not shown here) behavior I could be permanently deleted.

The implications here are pretty strong. Free speech may be guaranteed by the government, but the private mediums which make it not only possible, but effective, are under no obligation to comply.

It is critically important to understand that in order for democracy to survive, strong alternative, opposing voices of dissenting opinion are imperative. This is the necessary balance needed for things to stay aright.

As soon as a voice not in sync with the mainstream begins be silenced, it's at that very moment your democracy begins to slowly die. And you won't even notice at first.

Even this very blog, were the folks at Google (it's hosted on their servers) to decide it didn't fit inline with their standards, this too could literally vanish in an instant, never to be seen again.

But just what are these so called "standards?" Who sets them? How to do we know when they've been changed or updated?

Other social media accounts can be eliminated on similar grounds using similar rational.

In the end all the would be left is me and my voice. With phones readily disabled, disconnected, signals blocked, jammed or scrambled, even they're not as reliable as you think.

I don't often agree with Bill Maher, but on this he's spot on!

Free speech could literally be reduced to having to go stand on a corner and shout. And even then, the police could readily arrest you for disturbing the peace. Don't laugh. It's happened to me before. More than once.


I'll never forget the Baltimore Police officer who approached me threatening arrest while I was leading a massive protest, involving several thousand cab drivers rallying for better work conditions and fair pay.

Officer Shut-Your-Mouth asked me if I had a permit for my megaphone. I looked at him and laughed. Asked him if he was serious. He informed me that in Baltimore you need a permit to use a bull horn in public.

Without going into a point by point detailed rendition of our back and forth -- including language not likely family friendly --  I'll surmise it by sharing this much:

With his handcuffs pulled out ready to arrest me, I looked him dead in the eye and stated thus; a permit implies the need for permission. As if I needed the government's permission to speak in public. I DON'T THINK SO. Not in THIS country. Not here. Not now. NOT EVER! And as such, in my eyes, I couldn't care less what the ordinance said, the concept of needing to apply for any permit of any sort to speak in public is absurd in every way.

Disgraced former State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein may have not been indicted, but we helped him lose his reelection.

Surrounded by several dozen angry cab drivers -- upset by his presence and his threats to disrupt the protest by taking me down -- the officer eventually relented from his position. It didn't hurt that we'd reached a police commander by phone.

My comrade Larry "Celebrity Cab Driver" Wallace stood next to me, relaying to Officer Shut-Your-Mouth every thing the Colonel was saying. Initially the officer didn't believe him. He asked to speak to the Colonel himself. Let me just say, identifying himself as a numskull directly to the Colonel on the phone didn't work out to well for him.


Freedom Must Be Fought For

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

-- Thomas Jefferson

Free speech is only as valuable as our willingness to stand up and fight for it. None of us deserve any rights we're not willing to do battle for. Sometimes this means suffering. Temporary discomfort or even the ultimate sacrifice is the price many have paid in the past for freedoms we now enjoy. And should we wish to continue to have said freedoms, the price must be paid on an ongoing basis from time to time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"As long as I continue to breathe, as long as there's injustice in this world, I will use the voice that God has given me to speak against it."

-- James MacArthur

A House Is Not A Home, But They Took Mine...

Sometimes In Life We Suffer

Initially I hadn't planned to go into much detail on some of what I've had to deal with lately. But after so many reached out privately asking if I was ok and offering support, I feel a need to first express sincere gratitude for your friendship and concern. And secondly to clarify things a little.

Destruction, even if by deliberate design, often precedes discovery.

In the past week the government scored a major symbolic victory in their now years long campaign to destroy or discredit me by whatever means possible.

The house that I'd worked long and hard to purchase was sold off in a foreclosure auction.

This wasn't a shock or surprise. I knew it was coming. But it still has some pain accompanying it.

Writing a confessional story like this and putting my business out to the world, itself isn't without pain.

With the excess amount of taxes, fines and penalties levied on the house -- most originating while I was illegally incarcerated for six months -- I'd decided long ago I would not pay them. Besides being lots of money over and above the mortgage owed -- around $40,000 total -- there was a principal involved.

Funny thing, I was able to quickly negotiate arrangements regarding the arrears on my mortgage. It was the larger, extremely complex, convoluted issues involved the myriad of overlapping confiscatory, punitive fees, fines, taxes and penalties levied by the government that brought this about/

I refuse to capitulate to what I see was the culmination of a series of deliberate events intended to bring me down.

Well, they've succeeded. Sorta. They got the house, but they did not bring me down.

Truthfully, since the time between when I was placed in a hostile siege, surrounded by over 100 armed men -- far more than was said they sent for Bin Laden -- by many measurables, I've experienced far more success in different areas than I ever thought I would. Much of it as a direct result of their attempts to destroy me.

Having an effect opposite of what they'd hoped, I now have more readers, more followers, a greater number of public supporters, than I'd ever thought I would when I first began my campaign of bringing truth to the masses.

Financially, although no large nest egg now exists, and I live on faith each day. Via a variety of means, I've been well taken cared of and adequately compensated for my labor and efforts. Actually making a bit more money than I had in the time leading up to my arrest.

I don't mean to sound cliche when I say, I have my God and my friends to thank for every good thing that's happened to me.

The road ahead is filled with uncertainties, but also filled with mystery and wonder. New discoveries await. Many victories yet unaccomplished are still to come as well.

My commitment remains where it has always been. To faithfully carry out my calling as guided and directed by Divine Inspiration and direction.

It's alright. I'm ok. I think God can explain.

Best Birthday Wishes For Ms. Josephine!

So my mom and my family were blessed by her seeing another birthday today.

In her 70's she's still as strong and energetic as ever. She refers to the "elderly" people she checks on and looks after; never considering herself the same.

If there is any care and compassion for others in me; without a doubt, it definitely comes from my mom. She raised us well.

She spends tons of hours each week volunteering. Whether it's her efforts carpooling folks to church services, helping to cook large meals for various functions, or working with young people and children, my mom stays incredibly busy.

And when she's not doing that stuff, I almost guarantee you'll find her in her garden, or maybe even on camping trip.

Although she's often threatened to get on Facebook (let's pray that never happens), she'll probably never see this.

However I still feel compelled to publicly acknowledge this day and express some appreciation out into the universe. If you see her, wish her happy birthday!

We don't get to pick our parents, but, I have immense gratitude to God for the ones he gave me. To be my age and still have both of them is truly a blessing.

May He grant her many more. I could only hope to be permitted by the Father to be on this earth as long as she has and in her condition of sound mind and body.

Happy birthday mom!

Apologies for the 25 year old photograph. It's one of few I have of us together.

If You're Going Through Hell, Keep Going Don't Stop...

Received some pretty devastating news today.

Adversity is something we all must go through in this life. Some of us more than others.

How we handle it when it comes makes all the difference.

At times doors have to be slammed shut, not just closed, so you get a message loud and clear that it's time for you to get out of there. Where ever "there" happens to be.

Not every place we find ourselves getting comfortable and wanting to linger for a while, is necessarily where God wants us.

When you trust in Divine Guidance and God tells you FORWARD MARCH, you move. Without hesitation. Even if what lays ahead is unknown.

Faith or fear, which will you choose to embrace?

I love the motto of Clan MacArthur; part of my family's ancestral roots.

FIDE ET OPERA.

Translated from the Latin it literally means FAITH and WORK. For me the only keys to any meaningful success in this world.

No matter what may come, the many challenges and battles that await, I will continue to put my full faith and trust in my Heavenly Father. The Almighty God. To Him be the glory!

Each One Reach One -- Get Over Yourself

MacArthur's Musings And Meditations 
Originally posted on Facebook 2 February 2015

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." -- Philippians 2:4 (ESV)

God asks that you care about others as much as you care about yourself.

As we go through life, most of us living this rat race; relentlessly striving to get ahead, have we carelessly left some behind?

It's time we slowdown and make an effort to lookout more for one another. There are people close to you -- even in your own family -- who could use your care, love and attention; that you've probably neglected.

Whether you believe God created us all or not, one thing's for certain; we're all in this -- life on planet earth -- together.

Each one reach one. Go on! Be a blessing to someone.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Researcher, independent investigator, and entrepreneur, as well as ordained minister; A.F. James MacArthur is Baltimore's most well known independent journalist contributor. A member of the underground news network for over 20 years. During this time, he's been a frequent subject of attack by government under the guise of law enforcement. Although closely watched and followed, he's often boycotted from being given any credit for his work by mainstream media.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Get Better Connected With Me

Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook, YouTube channel

I Really Wanted To Write Tonight...

Sometimes my life feels like that of a professional plate spinner. With so many different things going on, attention has to be rapidly jump from one area needing attention to another. This all has to be done with precise timing, or there will be crashing calamity.

Speaking of crashes. Besides a complete failure, one of the worse, most annoying things that could happen to a computer is when your system becomes corrupted.

As a professional writer, my computer is my most essential tool. When isn't working right, it's difficult for me to work right. Imagine a carpenter trying to hammer nails with half the hammer's head missing. Imagine an auto mechanic trying to fix your car, but someone had taken all his wrenches and sawed of the handles, leaving only a stub. Doesn't sound like they'd be very effective or efficient do they? Well so it is when a writers computer is acting up.

With so many different things calling for my attention these days -- remember the spinning plates -- time management is critically challenging as it is. The last thing I need is when sitting down to write, is everything I click on or look at causing various, highly annoying popups.

Suddenly instead of researching background and reference material on my intended subject matter, I morph into an impromptu IT specialist, having to diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix my machine so that I may move on. Some people enjoy that sort of thing. They do it for a living. Me, right now I just want my computer to work. Properly.

After going through a whole litany of a checklist; making sure malware and antivirus is updated, uninstalling a whole host of suspicious looking programs, doing several scans and quarantining potential offenders, the pesky pop ups are still finding their way onto my screen.

Having spent the entire portion of my allotted time for writing, working on fixing this problem, now it's well past my bedtime. Frustrated, out of ideas, out of steam, and still having not completed my intended project.

Computers are supposed to make life easier right? Sigh. I bet the guys who use strictly pen and paper don't have these sort of first world problems.

I really wanted to write tonight.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Researcher, independent investigative journalist, and entrepreneur, A.F. James MacArthur has been a member of the underground news network for over 20 years. During this time, he's been a frequent subject of attack by government officials under the guise of law enforcement. Although closely watched and followed, he's often boycotted from being given any credit for his work by mainstream media.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Get Better Connected With Me

Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel

Motivated To Move -- The Power Of The Tribe

I've been to the mountaintop.

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

Today was supposed to be an off day from the gym. Initially I planned to do absolutely nothing related to exercise. This quickly changed.

The decision was made to to do a cardio session as a sort of active recovery from a week of heavy lifting. This eventually changed as well.

Upon arriving at the gym and seeing my heavy lifting fellow tribesmen, something deep inside stirred. They were doing squats. Lot of squats. Although I'd already done legs for the week, I figured a few more couldn't hurt. I'd just keep the weight low and work on reps, form and technique.

By the time it was over, I'd done 10 full sets of squats and hardly noticed. Why? The brotherhood and camaraderie, smack talking and joking around helped keep our minds off the strenuous task of moving heavy weight.

Although our goals are individualized, there is an intersection of commonality between us. While my current ultimate goal remains classified -- no need to tip off potential competitors -- being strong, much stronger, is one of them. And there are few better ways to achieve this than the oft neglected squat.

Want to be big? Want to get really strong? Want to have a balanced body with symmetrical grace? Oh, you're not squatting? Good luck!

Were it not for my fellow tribesmen, I'd have gotten by having done much less, and felt pretty good about it too. 

But with no pressure at all, just by their mere presence, I was motivated to do more. Far more than initially planned. And for this the rewards eventually reaped will be immensely greater.

How I look when I try to hang with the distance runners.

I cannot stress enough how crucial it is to your fitness goals to choose to be among like minded people.
What happened to me today would not have occurred were I among a group of distance runners for example (no offense to distance runners, I used to be and still occasionally pretend to be one). I'd simply be like an elephant among gazelle. Not fitting in, not fooling anyone, all alone, looking goofy. What fun is that?

In the future expect to see more posts on choosing training partners, gyms and mentors. These seemingly insignificant factors can be secret weapons to your fitness success.

All the best to you on your quest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former multisport athlete and physical culturist, 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.

Related articles

• To Box Squat or Not? Part 1 - The Pros
• Which Is Stronger? Mind or Body?
• Should a 14-year-old try to deadlift 300 pounds?
• Squats for days!!!
• Top 6 Squat Programs
• Up Your Squat
• Breaking Down the Squat #1 The Feet

Bad Habits And Mistakes I See In The Gym Pt.1

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

Every January a ritualistic pilgrimage takes place at fitness centers. Fueled with high ambition and burdened by the guilt gotten from overindulging during the holidays, millions of Americans join a gym.

For many it will be their first time ever attending a fitness facility. Others are attempting to turn around a long backward slide of inactivity.

Besides the crowding and sometimes long waits to get onto to equipment, the thing that annoys me most during this time, is seeing such a wide variety of ineffective, unproductive, or even dangerous behavior on display.

1. Vague undefined goals.

"If you don't really know where you're going, how will you know when you get there?" 

Too many people walk into a gym expecting miracles to happen, without a plan or even a picture of what exactly they want. Would you go into a restaurant and tell the waiter I'm hungry, just give me anything?

Research has proven the more specific a goal is, the greater likelihood of sticking to it and achieving ultimate success. Goals should have an action plan of how you plan to get it and a realistic timetable for completion. Be clear on WHY you've chosen a particular goal as well. Yes ladies, wanting to look great in a bikini is indeed a suitable motivator. Just saying.

Solution: (example) By March 5, it is my intention to lose 30 pounds so that I may be more within a healthy weight range for my body type. I will commit to working out at least 5 hours per week. With 168 hours in every week, I see this as a small price to pay for a better, stronger, more healthier me.

Dumbbell deadlift. Photo courtesy of SheKnows.com

2. Using incorrect form. -- As a lifelong contrarian, I'm big on individualism. Be authentic, be yourself is what I say. But when dealing with weights, your individual expression should come from the results they can give you, not lifting the wrong way and exposing yourself to serious or permanent injury. Some observers believe the number of weight-training injuries seen every year has gone up by 63%! 

Many common injuries are largely preventable.

 Solution: Seek proper instruction. Trainers and instructors at any quality gym are usually more than willing to take a moment to show you proper form on a particular given exercise. Doing exercises correctly not only helps you prevent injury, but will usually bring better results.

Avoid asking random people how to perform a particular move. Many people practice poor form that's been handed down by someone who didn't know better. The error is then passed on to all they come in contact with like a bad cold or flu. A gift that keeps on giving, pain and misery.

3. Being a cardio bunny. -- Way too many people, particularly women, are afraid to lift a little weight. There is no better way to get a toned, lean, strong body than to incorporate resistance training with cardio. 

Sure, you'll burn plenty calories with endless hours spent slaving away on devices that have their origins in tools of torture. But losing fat without building muscles can leave many people looking like a deflated basketball or even a stick figure.

I'm not suggesting you go out there and try to imitate Arnold Schwarzenegger. Besides, unless you plan on using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, you have zero chance of ever coming close.

Jack Lalanne built a classic, 

symmetrical 

physique with

weightlifting

 and cardio.

There is an unrealistic, unfounded myth still held by many, that lifting weights will make them "musclebound" and reduce their flexibility. This just isn't true. Whole entire articles have been written as to why this is false. The meatheads you see with large, bulging muscles didn't get there lifting a little weight here and there. Trust me, the average gym goer, even if he tried, will never look that way.

In the meantime, if you're not lifting weight, you're missing out on benefits such as countering bone density loss, reversing age related muscle loss and declining strength, and reducing incidence of chronic back pain and strain just to name a few.

In well over 25 years of being a fitness enthusiast, I've seen a lot habits and beliefs with little foundation, that make no sense at all. These are just a few of the common pitfalls novices regularly fall victim to.

In a future post I'll list more observations of common mistakes, as well as maybe expand on some of the ones listed above.

What questionable or annoying habits have you seen in the gym? Respond via the comments section.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

Related articles

• Weightlifting can help meet fitness goals
• Fitness Center Faux Pas
• For the Ladies: A few myths, a few facts and plenty of ranting (Part 1)
• Why the New Year Shouldn't Mean a New You
• YES, I'm a woman and I lift weights.
• To the Gym People - the New Year Resolutioners Are Coming!