The True Art of Being A Man: A Fitness Journey.

I have a rather simple goal for this blog: Yes, I want to share my fitness journey, but more importantly, I’d like to detail my journey into learning and accepting what it means to be a man. This isn't a journey that involves chest thumping or therapy sessions, and it definitely won't include any naked drum circles out in middle of the forest.  So if you came here looking for those, you should probably go elsewhere.

This journey involves something far more simple: Introspection. Looking at myself and my failures, and identifying what it means to me to be a man.  I say "what it means to me" because everyone has their own concept of what it means to "be a man." Some think of a strong burly lumberjack holding an axe, others see someone who's hard working, responsible, and provides for their family, while yet others will see someone who is strong and confident, but secure enough with themselves to cry. I believe that being a man is much more basic than that. I don't think it's an action, or job choice, or clothing style, or emotional state of being.  I think it's a fundamental part of what drives you and drives every action you take through the day, and I believe it all starts with integrity. Integrity with work and family, but most importantly, integrity with one’s self.

If a person doesn’t have integrity, then their word is meaningless. As the old saying goes, "A man is only as good as his word." If a person’s word is meaningless, then their foundation is weak and everything built on top of that foundation will be shaky. When I look back at some of the great men of history I see men that were seemingly fearless, disciplined, and not easily defeated. It's easy to point to people like George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, or General MacArthur, and while I agree these were great men, they weren't perfect. I think what made them great wasn't just their exploits, it was the same thing that made so many of the men born in "the old days" great by today's standards. Their word meant something, they had discipline, and they did not let failure dissuade them.  

So what does any of this have to do with fitness? 

I sincerely believe that what got me in my current health predicament is a lack of integrity with myself. I didn't keep my word to myself to do what was necessary to break through all of my plateaus and lose the weight. The key phrase here is "do what was necessary". I did workout and try to eat healthy, but when that wasn't working, I just kept doing the same thing hoping something would magically change. I wasn't ready for the amount of discipline needed to continue losing weight. In other words, I wasn't ready to man up and do what was needed: discipline, hard work, and sacrifice. I just wanted the easy way, and I was full of excuses as to why I was unsuccessful. This led me to this journey of what it means to be a man, and be a man of your word. To be able to look yourself in the mirror and know you've done everything you possible can to achieve your goal, regardless of the end result. This was the beginning of this journey for me.  I started the first training cycle in October 2018 and I've lost 35lbs.  According to my coach, if I was really disciplined, I would have lost 44 or more pounds.   Last week was the beginning of the 2nd cycle and the "hardest 90 days of my life".  The main focus of this cycle is, you guessed it, discipline, hard work, and sacrifice. I'm going to get at the core of what made me weak and undisciplined, and I'm going to have to burn those habits to the ground.  Buckle up and enjoy the ride.