Mystical Fitness Blog

Personal Fitness: Attitude and Commitment in Life and Fitness

Have you ever noticed someone’s resistance or receptivity to your ideas? Some people’s mental resistance is so strong you can actually feel it, see it in their body language and hear it in their tone of voice.

Resisting distractions when you are trying to stay focused on your fitness program is a good thing. Resistance to new ideas or things you don’t care for will lead to self sabotage and eventual failure.

Attitude Resistance

This type of resistance is subtle. It’s the active mental opposition to something that you disapprove of or disagree with.

Imagine you really want to change something about yourself, maybe something like losing 15 lbs of body fat. Now let’s say a friend tells you they lost fat a lot faster when they ate cottage cheese and an apple as one nutritious snack and a protein shake as another; which are two great ideas by the way.

If you have trouble digesting dairy products or have a medical condition which would exclude you in some way, then you need to find alternatives. If you just don’t like the feel of cottage cheese in your mouth because it’s ‘yucky’ and you just don’t like the taste of a protein shake; you need to get over it, stop resisting and expand your self imposed limits.

Commitment: No Matter What

Now here’s a different scenario. A terrorist with nothing to lose is holding a gun to your head and tells you to eat these things or she will blow your brains out. Now, you know she’s not kidding. You can feel it deep down; if you don’t comply, you’re gonna die. Tell me, would you eat them? Or would you tell her, “No thanks, I don’t like that stuff. It’s yucky. Just pull the trigger.”

Too many people want the bar lowered for them instead of raising themselves up to the bar. You can do whatever it takes to reach your goals if you decide to let nothing stand in your way, including your own resistance.

Fitness is more a process than a destination. When you’re committed to a process you must grow which is another word for change. By adapting, adjusting and expanding your self imposed limits you keep your commitment real.

Your decisions about what you do and don’t like and what you will and won’t do are critical to maintaining the integrity of your commitment.

September 30th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: No Comments

Only in America!

That’s right, this is one of the few places in the world where you get rewarded for being irresponsible and screwing over thousands of people. It was reported on Nat Pub Radio today that the Treasury Secretary wants to take our 700 billion dollars & buy securities at a rate above their market value. That means that the people he’d be buying them from, who created this mess in the first place, would be making a profit on the sale!

And John McCain says he is uncomfortable with giving him access to all that money without oversight. Yeah, I’m uncomfortable too. When my clients tell me they can’t do something I usually describe a scenario to them that pushes them to reach for more that they thought was possible.

It usually goes something like, “OK, pretend Charles Manson is holding your child over the railing on the top of the Empire State Building.  Let’s also pretend that the only way to save your child is to complete the amount of reps I just asked you to do… could you do it?” The answer is always, “of course!”

The scenario is ridiculous but the point is that even though it might have been difficult and took them totally out of their comfort zone, they could actually do what they were asked, given a powerful enough incentive.

The same is true and should be implemented, (FOR REAL) for people who are entrusted with positions of power that affect the public’s well being. McCain is advocating strict controls, oversight and regulation of the Treasury Secretary as he distributes our money. But that never works. It doesn’t work because the temptation for personal gain is always greater than the punishment for the act. That’s how we got into this mess. If you look through history, you’ll see it happens over and over again.

So let’s make it simple… DEATH! That’s right. You screw up and put yourself above the good of the public and you die. Not only that, but your immediate and extended family are also put to death. Your house and car(s) are given to the needy and all your liquid assets are distributed to the poor. No lawyers, no fanfare, no hype… just certain, swift and severe punishment.

It might be ridiculous, but don’t you think that might be enough incentive to keep people honest?

September 23rd, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: No Comments

People who publish information and put themselves out there as experts, teachers or guides have a responsibility to the people they are informing to be accurate and make sure their information reads well and makes sense. It’s hard enough to get reliable fitness info without sloppy writing making things even harder to understand. Click on the link below and please don’t forget to comment.

Mystical Fitness: Paying Attention– The Best of Jesse Miller

September 5th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: No Comments

I am “the Wizard of Waz”. But the original “Waz” was my Dad. All his buddies from WWII and his other friends, who my Mom liked to call his ‘cronies’, called him that. And when she was in a lighter mood, even my Mom called him Waz.

My Dad used several expressions that I heard him repeat so many times, they became an unconscious part of me. After not hearing them for years they’d suddenly surface at the oddest times. (I talked about one of his expressions in an earlier audio post; see below)

I’m not sure if he actually understood what he was saying. Or if he realized the deeper message in his expressions. But it’s for sure that the passage of time has affected my thinking and as I reflect on these little gems, they unfold in a way that I previously never imagined.

As you go through your activities of daily life, how many times do you hear someone say they’re going to do something; take some action? Between your friends, acquaintances, business associates, customers, clients, the radio, TV and the Internet; whether it’s doing something for themselves, for you or whoever how many times do you hear it?

How many of you know people who are always saying they are going to do something but then never get around to it? As soon as you hear them you politely acknowledge, but you know that whatever they’re proposing just isn’t going to happen. If you’ve known them for some time you might think to yourself, “Oh, they’re full of s_ _ _.” Or, “they mean well, but they’re delusional.”

Basically their actions; what they actually do, will always tell you more about what’s important to them than anything they ever say. People rarely spend time doing things they consider unimportant.

This is what I remember when I meet a new client. I let them tell me about themselves and what their intentions are. I politely acknowledge what I’m told and then I wait for the passage of time and let their actions tell me who they really are.

People from all walks of life and especially those who subscribe to a Consensual Reality are prone to delusional thinking and speech. Obviously actions don’t “speak”. But observing what actions people take on a consistent basis, what they pay attention to and what they spend time doing will always tell you more about who they are than anything they’ll ever say.

Their Actions Will Always Speak Louder Than Their Words. Right on Dad!

September 4th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: 1 Comment

I’m finishing up yesterday’s post with some comments on brain mass and how you can keep ‘the muscle between your ears’ fit for life. As always please take time to comment before leaving and thanks for visiting Mystical Fitness Blog! Click on the link below.

Brain Fitness and the Force of Habit Pt. 2

September 2nd, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: 1 Comment

“It’s the force of habit”. That’s what my father would say whenever he was asked why he did what he just did; “I always do it that way.” I guess another way to say the same thing would be, “I’m used to doing it that way” or “That’s the way I’ve always done it.” No matter how you say it, it all boils down to the same thing. It’s the #1 killer of human growth and potential. The Comfort Zone!

Click on the link below and give a listen to this post; see what you think. I look forward to your comments on this. Part 2 will follow soon.

Brain Fitness and the Force of Habit

September 2nd, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: 1 Comment

Welcome to the newly updated Mystical Fitness Blog! I hope you will visit often and become a regular contributor. Please, do me a favor and leave a comment EVERY TIME YOU VISIT. Your feedback is a valuable asset and is greatly appreciated.

Thanks Again,

Jaroslav Waznee aka ‘the Wizard of Waz’

August 29th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: No Comments

Enough is enough already. It’s time to wake up. Don’t worry about the next terrorist attack. It’s been well underway for years. Obesity is slowly killing the quality of life in America and no one’s noticed yet.

Check the facts: In the United States these days, 66% of adults are overweight and about half of these are obese. That’s one third of all adults! Approximately 5% of our population is 100 lbs overweight (or more); that’s what they call morbidly obese.

We are all impacted by the health care system. Rising costs are being driven, in large part, by irresponsible, obese terrorists. According to researchers, chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, both of which are associated with obesity, account for well over $100 billion in health-care spending every year.

Current estimates suggest that if the rise in obesity could be reduced (and along with it chronic disease) spending could be cut by the same amount, which is more than 17% of the US’s total health care budget.

It appears that for all the education and affluence in his country, the obese are either too apathetic to learn or too poor to pay attention. It doesn’t matter if it’s a doctor, fitness professional or your sister Sue telling them to pare down, improve their daily diet and exercise more; these terrorists aren’t listening.

In my seventh grade civics class, my teacher Mr. Mohn used to hammer home the point that your rights only extend as far as someone else’s nose.

 Our noses are being rubbed in the abuses of irresponsible, obese terrorists and because the process is gradual and inflicted in a stealthy and treacherous manner, the rampage continues mostly unnoticed.

 Consider this:

 If you are 20 lbs overweight or more you use nearly 18 additional gallons of gas a year. Not much? Do the math. That’s a waste of about a billion gallons.

 Researchers estimate a combined savings, between cars and the airlines, of 5 billion dollars in total fuel costs; if all passengers were normal weights.

 If plus sized clothing were eliminated, the impact of fewer sizes would be huge. Since plus sizes cost 10-15% more, shoppers could save nearly $10 billion on dresses, shirts and pants.

 It’s estimated that the overweight adult population has consumed an excess of calories equivalent to 14 billion Big Mac meals (with fries and a soda). That’s $81 billion.

 Researchers have tracked other savings as well and have estimated a total savings, from all areas, of 487 billion dollars; almost 3.5% of our gross domestic product or the equivalent of giving every household in America a check for $4,270.

 Bottom Line? When you are an irresponsible citizen you could be fined or jailed. If you are an irresponsible driver you might be fined or jailed. If you are irresponsible about your health and fitness…?

Love to hear your comments on this.

August 14th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: No Comments

 
If you could change the way things be in the world, then things wouldn’t be the way they be in the world; so we wouldn’t know where we be in the world!!

Things be the way they be in the world because they be the way they be.

Things will never be any other way than the way they be in the world; so whether it’s you, me, or the world, since you can’t change the way things be… you can’t change the way things be in the world. That’s why the more things be the way they be in the world, the more they stay the same. It’s just that simple!

The above is the type of logic we Mis~Fit Warriors deal with every day.

Love,

The Elusive Mr. X

May 22nd, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: 1 Comment

 Grapefruit grows as a whole fruit. You can’t go anywhere on the planet and pick half grapefruits off a tree. We create two halves and determine what the two halves will look like when we decide where to place the knife. Each half is distinct and has its own individual characteristics but at the same time, they are also parts of the whole and indeed could not exist as halves at all, without the whole fruit existing first.

 In the same way events, opportunities, people, places and situations come to us whole or neutral. When we discriminate, or make distinctions about them we divide them, categorize them and give them a charge; like positive and negative, want and don’t want or like and don’t like. As soon as you use the ‘sword of discrimination’ (you’ve heard that expression?) and ‘make a cut’ you immediately create two different ‘views’.

 If the distinction is familiar (habitual), one you’ve made over and over again like; no I don’t like macaroon cookies… the process is largely unconscious. We hardly ever think about the distinctions we make. We just make them. You’re probably thinking well that’s nice but what does this have to do with me? How can I use this information?

 Try this neat little mental exercise.  For the next few days, pay attention to what comes into your awareness; whether it’s a person, a place, a thing, an event or situation. Whether it’s something you’ve done a thousand times like getting the mail or something that’s brand new to you, just notice what discriminations you make about what’s going on, which side of the ‘cut’ you prefer, and what kinds of feelings come up. As soon as you complete your assessment, ask yourself, “Now what’s the other side of this distinction?”

 If this mental exercise is something brand new to you, it may feel strange or awkward. But that’s OK. Just like when you learn a new movement pattern in exercise; with repetition the pattern will become more efficient and feel easier to do. As you develop this new skill you will begin seeing both sides of your ‘cuts’ simultaneously. You might enjoy this new perspective and you might be surprised to find that some of your habitual observations about yourself, or what is happening in your environment will shift. Let me know what this process reveals for you!

 Matter Is a Mirror…

 Be Well,

 JWaz

May 21st, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: wizowaz . Comments: 1 Comment