Joy Johnson Journal

Great to hear from Joy. Creating an action plan is one of the integral success factors in becoming Fit to Serve. But far more important than this is "consistency" and the day in and day out of staying the course and race set before us. Physical fitness is an all-of-the-time thing. At times it can seem mundane, ho-hum and down right boring. However, patient endurance is what builds our strength of character - and remember, none of this is about us. Another of our fitness success factors is to listen to our bodies - human physiology takes time to adapt. So I urge our readers to ease into their fitness programs and give their bodies time to gradually adapt over time - no quick fixes. Personal fitness must be realistic and something that can be done as a lifetime set of behaviors. Aerobic conditioning must be balanced with the anaerobic training associated with weight-training, sprints and the playing of sports. To much of any one activity will always result in either injury or disinterest. So, consistency and balance are the keys.

All The Best,

Coach

This is my first post. I would describe this post as late but not lost. Here I am ready

to take on an individual challenge that will defy me for decades to come...

Let me start of by thanking both Brad Bloom and Coach Powers for allowing me to

participate in this challenge. I believe that God had this in his plan all along, he

knows how much I want and need to improve on my physical fitness and I believe that he

knew the exact time in my career when I would reach what I call this very tipping

point. The very point when the over use of my knees is starting to catch up to me, the

point when my peak is beginning to slip and needs some rallying up, and the point when

years of sporadic dieting would catch up with me and push my BMI over what I would

consider an acceptable/healthy level.

Before I can start this I have to admit this from the get-go, I was terrified of this

challenge - as crazy as that sounds I really was worried I would let everyone down. I

am not in the profession of failure and all though I have been taught to learn from my

mistakes; I have over the years adopted the mentality that failures should always be A+

work. I initially strayed from this challenge not because I am a coward...mentally and

physically I know I can do this thing. But, I was just not in the right place

spiritually I was allowing fear and confusion to take hold...I was not walking in the

very element in which this challenge was formed - faith...the substances of those things

not seen but believed...I was leaving the rational of my weight lost and personnel

running records to human reasoning verses God's mercy...I am out of those woods

now..."Through him all things are possible, but not always easy."

Now getting into the challenge...I have started a structured work out; I have drawn-up a

calendar which I have planned out for the month. In the mornings I have been taking

advantage of running with a former drill sergeant, he is very motivating and positive!

Working in the work out video provided on T/TH/S mornings and I am doing a 25 minute

run followed by a Yoga, Cycling, Aerobic Class on T/W/TH. Saturdays I have joined a

soccer league and one-hour of cycling every other weekend.

As for my diet - I am taking small steady strides to the finish line. For the month of

March I am implementing the following practices - zero desserts, no carbs after lunch,

and no eating after 6pm.

(I would like to have Coach Powers look over my training schedule month to month to make

sure I have captured his complete intent. Also, I know that I am getting ahead of myself

but I would like to focus on completing a 1/2 marathon this September. For this 1/2

marathon I want to be able to run my personnel best. So with that as a goal I am

working on changing my running style).

Signed,

Joy