Goal weight: 195 lbs.
Time is at a premium right now. I’m working two jobs and have three projects in the hopper. Not complaining — oh, no. Everything is a blessing. Just saying that I’m busier than I have ever been in my life. It would be oh-so easy to skip exercise because “I don’t have enough time.”
That would be a fool’s decision.
I remember watching a motivational speaker do a trick with a jar, rocks and sand on stage once. You know, the one where he tries to put sand and rocks into a jar but it doesn’t fit — until he put the big rocks in first, followed by pebbles and then sand. SHAZAM! It magically fits! The magic is placing priority on what is truly important in your life. When you are busy, you schedule first things first. Family. Health. Work. Those are the big rocks in the jar. Exercise is one of those big rocks. Without it, you don’t have the energy and stamina to be able to accomplish the rest of your to-do list. And you lose the most healthy form of stress relief around. I can cut an hour of pebbles and sand out of my day to make room for an hour of exercise.
Yesterday I chose to draw instead of run. I finished the drawing in the time I would have done my morning exercise — and I hated the drawing. I had to start over, wasting the whole hour. I should have run. This morning, I put that rock in the jar first thing. I ran 5.03, saw the sun try to rise, four deer and a rabbit. I burned 800 calories and burned a lot of stress.
I’m determined to accomplish great things. But I need to be in great shape to be able to have the stamina to do it all. Now to put the pebbles and sand in the jar. I have a busy day ahead of me.
You know, Marshall, it is divine appointment that I see this blog post this morning. I just finished heart day testing at Baptist Hospital thirty minutes ago. I was discussing with the attending nurse the importance of exercise and staying fit in a high stress job. I come to work and see your post so the icing is now on the cake and I thank you for being that final positive re-enforcement toward continuing my exercise routine. I was up to three miles walking every day and was contemplating easing off because I was NOT losing any weight. I am learning that I am building muscle, however, and that I should not watch the scales as much as to guage how I feel. Thank-you for being a positive influence in my day ….and I am sure the days of many others. May you have a blessed day!
You are so right. Good lesson!