The 600 Club!

Coach RJ after going 600 straight days of exercise 
for at least 30 minutes per day!

 "Do the DO!"  --Steve Ilg 

On August 24th, 2008--Day 600, I was jet lagged and soaking wet looking more like a drowned rat than a Wellcoach.  I had flown from LA to Atlanta after being on the road away from home and family for nearly six weeks.  I needed one more day to get 600, so I left in a light sprinkle, which in Atlanta means in about 10 minutes it's going to POUR!

As crazy as it sounds to exercise daily--it's actually not.  Our bodies were meant to MOVE and MOVE DAILY!  What is NOT reasonable?  People sitting at a computer all day, or in traffic all day, or kids sitting down for all day and half the night playing video games without getting any physical activity.  The result of all this sitting?  An epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and numerous other health issues.

So why and how?  I got tired of my own BS excuses about being too busy to exercise in January of 2007!  I was down to only 3-5 days per week which is not enough for me even though within the minimum guidelines.  I decided it was better to DO SOMETHING than nothing at all--even if a slow walk.  What you might not know is that many people in the business of health and fitness don't even exercise daily themselves!  Nor do they eat well!  They tell others what to do them don't do it.  I'm not one of them.  If I tell my clients it is important--then I'm doing it too!  I work hard to be part of the solution--not part of the problem.

Rules of Engagement:

• DO SOMETHING!

• Do it for at least 30 minutes per day!

• It must be time set aside for dedicated physical activity.  I don't count utilitarian tasks like mowing the lawn which needs to be done anyway.  My exercise time is EXERCISE time--period.

Reflections:

• The first two weeks were miserable.  Then at about 2-3 weeks, exercising 30 minutes per day just became what I did.

• 75% of the time, I do not want to exercise.  I get over it and do it anyway!

• 100% of the 600 days I was glad that I DID exercise.

• Sometimes I count my 30 minutes while training with my clients--exercise is exercise.  Most days it's just me and my own sweat.

• About 30% of the 600 days have been walking at an EASY pace where I don't give a damn about exertion rates, heart rate zones, or any other scientific complications.  These workouts are more for stress relief than "fitness."

• I've lost a few pounds of fat, gained muscle, and gained fitness the last 600 days.  I can do things now that I could not do 600 days ago.

Daily exercise works--and it's better than being sick from lack of activity!  Kick your own butt!  30 DAYS IN A ROW--NO EXCUSES!  I'll bet you maintain 5-6 days per week after your 30 days OUT of the hole...and hopefully for the rest of your life!

600 Days.  30 minutes.  Keep it simple.  It's my way of pushing back and refusing to accept an America rotting from within.  No excuses.  No apologies.  Just action.

In Movement!

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(Updated 8.29.08)

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