What use is there in learning new skills if you are not physically fit enough to perform them? How can I honestly think that I’ll be able to protect and provide for my family in a crisis if I am not in good enough shape to take care of myself?
These are a few of the questions that have been rolling around in my mind lately and they are what lead me to the first skill I have identified for 2013 – Physical Fitness.
The goal here is rather simple (and intentionally vague) – to be in the best physical shape possible by the end of 2013. I intend to accomplish this task by changing my diet, altering my workout plan and doing my best to maintain a disciplined vision of why I’m pursuing this goal.
Diet
The way I eat has always been a subject of concern for me. I enjoy food and tend to overdo it. That being said, the plan this year is to learn more about a paleo-esque diet and start to prepare my foods in a manner that is more in line with that kind of thinking. I have found over the years that my body responds better to a reduce carbohydrate load and this kind of change will help me drop the pounds.
Workout Plan
My workouts will concentrate on endurance and strength training with little weight lifting. The days of powerlifting style workouts are probably over. I will concentrate more on CrossFit-style workouts that combine strength, speed, agility and endurance. These kind of workouts will help me acquire the physical attributes I need to do all kind of different tasks – long hikes, chopping wood, moving materials, etc.
Measureable Goals
As I mentioned in my previous post, I want to set up Measureable and Timely goals for each skill set. In terms of physical fitness, my goals are as follows:
- Lose 30 lbs by June 1, 2013
- Maintain weight loss for a minimum of one month
- Workout 3-4x per week for the year
- Run a 5K road race by May
These goals are not as specific as goals you’ll see me set in other skills, but this skill is slightly different in that it’s never something I will master. I will always be able to better myself in this aspect, so I’m viewing these as milestones more than goals. If I hit these milestones, I will be well on my way to getting into the shape I need to be. I can then reassess the situation and set new, harder milestones which I can work towards accomplishing.
The plus side to this skill set is that, as my physical fitness levels increase, my dependency on certain medications should reduce. Ideally, I would like to be free and clear of any prescribed medications I’m on that are directly related to my fitness levels.
Over the next month or so, I will be developing an initial workout plan that should help get me back into a regular routine. After that, I will adjust based upon the results I am getting. Regardless, the goal here is to maintain consistency in both diet and workout to produce a healthier me.
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.