Marshall Ramsey

“I’m watching you. Always watching you.” Paul Lacoste.

As I rounded the corner by the racquetball courts, my arms burned from holding the 25-lb. weight in front of my chest. It was the third lap and I was tired. Up ahead, behind a support pole, I could see someone trying to hide.  It looked like Mr. Incredible tucked behind a drinking straw.

“I’m watching you,” Paul Lacoste boomed. “I’m always watching you.”

I guess he wanted to make sure I wasn’t cheating.  I wasn’t.  Because after five times of doing PLS training,I’ve figured out one thing out:

If I cheat, I only cheat myself.

I know, I know, that sounds like something your parents would say.  But it’s the Gospel truth. You only get out of PLS what you put into it.

Yes, there were times I wanted to hold the plate in a more comfortable way.  But I didn’t.  I pushed and my arms burned. Because I know that the next time it’ll be a little bit easier.  This is a mental exercise as well as a physical. When my mind says, “You can’t do it,” I have to scream back at it, “BS!”

Today was a slim day due to yesterday’s ice and snow. The roads still had patches of ice and JSU was closed until noon. So that must have thrown  a few folks off because the crowd was slim.  But that’s OK. The ones who made it had a good workout — 80% of success is just showing up, you know.  We did Leonard’s circuit drill again. I’m still enjoying my new-found ability to jump rope, so I really like his station.  We then went straight to ladder drills (for faster footwork) and then to Wayne where we did a modified T-drill that involved push-ups, burpees and squats. (And running.) Wayne is trying to teach us the art of recovery — which is worthy of a blog in itself. We then ran the Gauntlet while holding the iron plate. After the Gauntlet, we did a spin class with Marika. It was fun (I used to ride a road bike and have literally ridden around Vermont) We finished up in the weight room.

I smiled at Paul as I left. Because I know he is watching me. But so am I. And that’s when the gift of self discipline begins.

OK, you’ve done the work for two weeks now.  You’re sore but you’re starting to see some improvement.  Maybe the warm-up run isn’t as painful.  You’re recovering a little bit quicker.  The treadmill isn’t quite as daunting. Each step you take is one more step closer to your goal.  Be proud of what you’ve accomplished.  But you’re starting to hunger for a little bit more. As the new “fit” you takes the baton from the old “fat” you, you start seeing life a little differently.  That sugary soft drink doesn’t sound as appealing.  You’ve just busted your butt for an hour.  Why put those precious calories you’ve burned right back on in one drink? A donut doesn’t sound as delicious when you realize you’d have to run for nearly 20 minutes to burn it off.  Your body isn’t changing. Now your mind is, too.

The old habits that led you to being out of shape and miserable suddenly don’t fit. Like the new wardrobe you’ll need at the end of 12 weeks, you’ll soon need new standards.

Eating clean will no longer be a “diet.” It will be what your body craves.  Exercise won’t be a chore. It will be an important part of your day. And now that you’ve accomplished a major-life changing goal, you will look for more things to change for the better.

You will set new standards.  You will find new ways to change your life for the better.  Because once you’ve gotten in shape, you won’t want to go back.

Today we started with the circuit.  We did two-foot runs and hopscotched through the ladders plus jumping jacks and ball pushes.  In the second station, we did the T-drill. You run around cones shaped like a T. Then we ran with Wayne (and did pushups, squats and sit-ups).  We then went to the treadmill (I ran 7.0 and 7.5 mph for nearly 8 minutes). Then we went into Clark’s Easy-Bake Oven (the room was warm) and did various arm exercises. I enjoyed wall stands (on our hands). We then finished in the weight room.  I pushed it hard today because my upper body needs help!