10-16-11 04:01 AM - Post#709397    

I propose the book "Willpower". Just came out so obviously give people some time to obtain and read the thing but it is very fitting in the context of what we discuss.

Kettlebells with Dan John

10-17-11 01:53 AM - Post#709482    

Seconded and let's go...

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

10-17-11 09:57 AM - Post#709516    

Yes! It's been a while. I'm reading a big book now, but will get my hands on this one and get in to the conversation as soon as I can.

"Every social association that is not face-to-face is injurious to your health." Nassim Nicholas Taleb

10-17-11 01:23 PM - Post#709532    

The fun thing about the book is the experiments. They are so simple, so banal, and yet the insights into willpower are simply funny. The whole idea of dieting is great. At the end of the book, I think, there is some information on stopping smoking which I found excellent as it seems to indicate that one's community is just as important as patches on the arms. I like that kind of thing.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

10-17-11 02:01 PM - Post#709535    

If you are at the store, just read page 260. That should explain a lot about a lot of things...

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

10-23-11 02:06 PM - Post#710291    

I'm in the middle of this book now and had a minor epiphany - it seems very important to have a base fitness activity that you really enjoy since little willpower will be necessary to get it done. For me, it seems to require willpower to stay out of the gym and concentrate on my day job. I know this seems obvious, but this finite willpower supply seems like the explanation.

This is a great read so far with some fascinating surprises - I'm amazed and will be thinking for some time about the link between glucose and willpower.

"I'm the man that rolls when icicles hanging on the trees". R. Johnson. Steady Rollin Man.

10-23-11 04:12 PM - Post#710302    

Is this the book? http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscoveri ng-Greatest-Human-Strengt h/dp/1594203075

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

10-23-11 05:08 PM - Post#710308    

Yes. (At least I hope so).

"I'm the man that rolls when icicles hanging on the trees". R. Johnson. Steady Rollin Man.

10-23-11 06:14 PM - Post#710316    

Yep!!!

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

Willpower
10-24-11 02:06 AM - Post#710342    

I've been reading this off and on at work, one of the perks of the job, and think Yep is, yesiree, definitely a good decision.

Please do.

Life's too short to worry about longevity.

Edited by Neander on 10-24-11 02:15 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

10-25-11 12:57 PM - Post#710505    

What I like is how the research studies "look" like one thing, but they are assessing something else. There is a gem there for my career and I will unpack it...

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

Willpower
10-26-11 08:18 AM - Post#710593    

In my absence of the book I'll see what I can find out for free from the Internet, starting with Baumeister's published research.

http://www.csom.umn.edu/assets/113144.pdf

"Every social association that is not face-to-face is injurious to your health." Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Edited by bryce on 10-26-11 08:19 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

10-26-11 10:40 PM - Post#710681    

Picked up a copy tonight at the local B&N and opened to a random page - skimmed about social connection, drinking and teens, and references to zen. Bought it right away. Looking forward to putting down a few interesting passages here.

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

10-26-11 11:15 PM - Post#710683    

Good to hear. Is there anything anyone wants to kick off with here?

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

10-26-11 11:36 PM - Post#710684    

I haven't read enough to comment on what's actually in the book, but the social connection thing immediately set me to thinking about the Tarahumara and Zatopek in Born To Run... Also, I remember a passage from Deep Survival about the need to be gazed upon by another (staying alive to for someone) and how it keeps people going against all odds. Community and the connection to motivation/willpower is huge.

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

10-27-11 03:07 PM - Post#710754    

• Dan John Said:

I noticed this again and again also - very clever studies.

I finished the book yesterday. I must say that while I found lots of hopeful and useful ideas in the earlier chapters of the book dealing with optimizing and maintaining willpower, the final section on weight loss was sobering. My take home from the weight loss section:
1. You need willpower to stay on a diet but dieting saps willpower both mentally and physiologically (glucose).
2. Weight loss through dietary restriction should be reserved as a once in a lifetime corrective measure (did I remember that right?).

Overall, the diet section was fairly bleak reading and motivated me to not let body weight get out of hand.

Great read!

"I'm the man that rolls when icicles hanging on the trees". R. Johnson. Steady Rollin Man.

10-27-11 04:03 PM - Post#710759    

Very bleak. Art deVany famously answered the question: "How do I get rid of fat?" with "Don't get fat in the first place."

Oh, he was attacked personally and professionally for this, but I AGREE!!! You have one shot at every diet to make it work. There is an article on the web about how every time you try to repeat ANY research, the results get worse...so, if you wait too long on a "new" diet, you might not have a chance...

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

10-27-11 06:33 PM - Post#710777    

• Quoting:

For sure. Reverse learning is one of my favorite techniques when it comes to understanding what makes things work. Find out what destroys the attempt and you'll learn what succeeds and why.

Anyhow, if you look at techniques used in breaking someone's will, call it torture, one of the usable methods that work well is disconnecting the person from their normal social connection ---
Your wife's already seeing someone else.
No one is inquiring about you anymore.
Show the subject that his goal is pointless and hasn't done any good before.
Those kind of typically negative things.

Looking for back-up in your circle of friends, family and workmates is obviously the opposite of this kind of thing, and it definitely works. I guess if external stresses to your belief in others caring about your success can weaken your willpower and resolution, then positive reinforcement or just acknowledgment of your plan can strengthen your belief in accomplishing things.

And I suppose that's why our attempts at success are so dependent on seeking out people and situations that lift up, as opposed to ones that drag down or hold in one place. Self-deprecating humor and tongue-in cheek negativity not included.

Life's too short to worry about longevity.

Willpower
10-27-11 07:06 PM - Post#710782    

Okay, I promise this is the last from me until I've read at least half the book.

That topic of external support strengthening resolve is just too interesting not to think about.

Remember that monkey in a room with the bunch of bananas hanging down from the ceiling out of his reach? Really, it fits.

Sure, he had to devise a plan that worked and arrange the boxes in the right order, but the plan itself was dependent on the strength of the boxes. A lot!

We're not that different from him when we try to do something challenging, something a little out of our reach when on our own. Think of the boxes as people. In our case the boxes have many, many more variables. Are they supportive enough to be helpful, or do they collapse under the weight of friendship? And I don't even wanna think about those dangerous nails sticking out of some of 'em.
We have the choice. Which boxes should I spend precious time getting to know the strength of? You really don't want to fall down too many times finding that out, and you certainly don't have forever to get the bananas before they grow moldy.

One day, and it's always going to happen now and then, maybe the supportive people won't be there, and we have to get by on our own somehow. Just knowing that those people care whether we succeed or fail adds strength to our resolve and power to our will, no question. And if you don't believe it, just find a friend with a negative uncaring type for a long-term partner and chart all the possibilities he missed. And find the point where he more than likely gave up even looking at the possibilities.

I don't know about these kinds of books.
They always make my crave bananas.

Life's too short to worry about longevity.

Edited by Neander on 10-27-11 07:12 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

10-28-11 10:52 AM - Post#710870    

Okay, you guys got me. Just downloaded the book and will start today.

Quoting Dale: "That topic of external support strengthening resolve is just too interesting not to think about."

I think about the above a lot lately. That is the best we have to offer for Mandy these days. I know in my gut that waking up and knowing people are watch from afar simply has to be helping give her a lift that keeps her striving. Not saying she wouldn't be doing anything different without us, but it has to make it easier when she just doesn't feel like trying to grip the doc's hand again.

10-28-11 11:56 AM - Post#710877    

All of this willpower stuff is quite simple for me. Like weight lifting. I will lift that weight or die trying. Nothing more or nothing less.

It don't matter

10-28-11 11:52 PM - Post#710936    

I'm enjoying the book a lot. Read the intro and Chpt 1 today. As I was reading, questions came up - they aren't criticisms, just questions, and I know many will probably be answered as I continue reading.

Chapter 1 - Is Willpower More Than a Metaphor?

• Quoting:

*My question with this particular experiment would be how might results change with the athlete that looks forward to the "release" that exercise and sport provides?

*Is ego depletion, or some form of it, related to or completely different from stress disorders such as PTSD?

*The author seems to be pretty convinced (in this chapter) that their is no such thing as "impulse control", but what about changing your perspective?

*One passage puts meditation in the category of 'affect regulation'/escape/distra ction - I'm not sure I agree with this at all and many meditation practitioners would say that it is the exact opposite. Looking forward to reading further.

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

10-29-11 11:59 AM - Post#710952    

I think those questions come up over and over as you read. I think the idea throughout the book is that you have X amount of will and you can build it up...a little. It's the stunning part of the book.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

10-30-11 03:41 PM - Post#711026    

I don't have the book yet so I won't comment on whether the book is good or bad, but the limited materials I've read had me thinking about peri-workout nutrition and I wanted to ask a few questions of the people who feel comfortable with the material.

When you have something with high sugar around the time you workout are you able to persist in a painful exercise longer (like high rep inverted rows, or burpees) because increased willpower?

If so, are we limiting our effectiveness when we do fasted exercise?

Or do we intuitively change our workouts to not be a full grind when we are running on low blood sugar?

"Every social association that is not face-to-face is injurious to your health." Nassim Nicholas Taleb

11-01-11 12:49 PM - Post#711212    

A post:


Josh has several "very smart" ideas about this. I think the best one is this: Each week, you fill out a chart of your week, so you have either three meals a day, or three meals and two snacks, or whatever. You then put a red X on the meals where the rules don't apply. So, a birthday party on Tuesday, Friday night after the game, Sunday Brunch and, honestly, as many Xs as you want. It occurs to most people right there that:
Ooo, I better tighten the diet (whatever that means) before and after those meals.
That's a lot of Red Xs.

Next, he has you look at the "Cheat Meals" of the week before. Literally, Josh tells me it is usually like 14. 14 meals off of whatever diet in the world you think is going to work...because every diet works. Josh's great insight is this: he will ask you, "Hmm, that's a bit high. Let's strive for just 12."

And, now you have the million dollar insight...backed up by a great book called "Willpower." This approach, called "Not now, later," seems to be a way that humans operate when it comes to food. As Omnivores, and there are dozens of new books about this "issue," we literally can and will and must eat everything. Our bodies are waiting for the Ice Age to hit tomorrow and, and this is a tough one, obese people and diabetics might have the edge if the Ice Age hits tomorrow...at least, in some ways.

Our brain WANTS to "eat better," but whatever triggers you to consume is stronger. But, and "Willpower" does a great job on this, we have some energy to stop eating. For a little while and not much energy. So, Josh's great first two insights of first being proactive about cheat meals or whatever and, second, not going to zero cheat meals...seems to be the way the brain works.

By telling me to only have twelve cheat meals, I will first argue that is too easy. I then march off to prove Josh wrong...I come in next week with only five cheat meals (planned, too) and "what a good boy I am." Win-win. You are on the road to fat loss and you are convinced that you have more dietary firepower than celibate monks on an island.

The key here is to then say to me: "Alright, let's hold it to under ten cheat meals this week!" You laugh and tell me that five was easy. In just three weeks, you have some things under control.

Here is the next gem: record all food in a food journal and NEVER judge what you ate. Do, however, try to remember the story. If you ate two pizzas, stop and think about why later on. There is always a story. Josh told me that this is the key...whatever the triggers are for a binge, try to deal with them. This is the great insight that Tiffini and my daughters tell me why they like to vacation with me: I insist on stopping early and eating. Ask Mike about this: my family will break away and dine long before we get:
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
The famous HALT of Anonymous groups. So, if you are eating because of any of the above, note it and deal with it next week. Yes, people binge because they are hungry. It is so obvious, you wouldn't think it worth the time to type it but it is absolutely true. Ellington Darden used to talk about eating dessert before a meal for sugar reasons, but it probably would work as hunger stopper, too. Once we get into the chemistry of the body, I'm at a loss, but I think you can see the point.

Of all the steps, the most important one is the proactive weekly planner with the Xs. You could probably do this with other things like booze or whatever, too. Once you plan, you seem to have much more control.

This is also a good time to mention slow cookers, soups and stews. I think that coming home to the smell of a stew or soup will make you very hungry for the stew or soup. But, you need to make it early. Again, this is the "right" thing to do, but it takes foresight and planning. So, every minute you spend prepping a stew or chili in either the morning or night before is going to free up more willpower or whatever for other decisions.

The bottom line: Josh is amazing with this stuff. He specializes in fat loss for woman, a market that is just basically a pile of gold, really. He has absolute clarity about what body fat percents are and what it takes women to get there. His clarity and his tool kit make him someone that I literally "must read."

So, there you go.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

11-06-11 12:44 PM - Post#711638    

Ok, three points I want to make:

1. This ties in with the book "Switch" in addition to Willpower. Switch has the concept of the rider (conscious thought) and the elephant (unconcious thought). The rider and the elephant need to want to go to the same place. If this isn't the case, the rider can steer the elephant for a limited amount of time before the elephant just does what it wants. It is an elephant after all. That time that the rider steers the elephant against its will, is willpower.

I forgot where I was going with that but it reinforces the point that you can't just always do the logical thing or your unconscious mind will eventually take over and do whatever it wants.

2. Planning. So in order to satisfy the unconscious mind, you don't always have to do what it wants, most of the time you can just plan to do what it wants at a later date and it will be satisfied. This idea totally opened my eyes. I've never been a planner until recently. I was diagnosed with ADD in college and this makes sense to me now. I was never planning the things I had to get done so my unconscious mind was just throwing out whatever it wanted to whenever it wanted to, leading to distractions and procrastination. Recently I've started planning things out and I feel like a different person. I'm not only getting more done, but the time that I have dedicated to thinking is clear and actually helpful instead of just trying to sift through random thoughts to get where I want to go.

3. Decision fatigue. The more decisions you're making the harder it is to make a decision later that doesn't fit the status quo. This really reinforces, to me, the need to develop changes as habits that become the norm instead of just making decisions to do things differently than you always have. This is why after a long day of work we want to reach for "comfort food" instead of making that healthy choice. The healthy choice goes against our unconscious mind and the rider is already fatigued by this point.

Kettlebells with Dan John

11-07-11 06:00 PM - Post#711814    

Absolutely great insights here. This is one of the battles with obsesity, too, but that's another thought for another time.

The elephant and rider...and the path, right? I know that story. Good post, thinking about this right now.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

11-08-11 07:49 PM - Post#711939    

This all seems to bring me back to that "can of free will". That chapter in NLG changed my perspective in so many ways. Enjoying this thread.

I repsonded to a question on my log re: some diet changes and what brings me here (and Josh Hillis' stuff) is how my "free will" is freed up by the planning and logging I've incorporated. What Rob wrote about decision fatigue-just hits it on the head for me. I'm sticking to the plan, eating like an adult (yes!) and still working my full time corporate job, full time Mom work with 2 kids in two different sports & schools and a household. Those things zap my decision making and free will. At work-my food is already portioned out and just needs to be reheated-no going to the cafeteria too hungry and fatigued to make a poor choice.

I also mentioned about my hunger being satisfied, but I'm not satisfied-the need for that one meal to be a 'cheat' meal and if I know I'll soon get it-that method has helped me stay on track as well.

I guess I better get the book!

11-08-11 08:12 PM - Post#711941    

I'm working on some more tools dealing with this very idea...

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

11-12-11 11:14 AM - Post#712301    

• Rob Umfress Said:

Those are great points. There are a lot of zen references - the monkey/lizard mind being a big one.

I just finished the fuzzy vs. fussy and 'crossing the Rubicon' sections - good stuff. It will change how I observe the decision-fatigue over Thanksgiving and black Friday.

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

11-19-11 10:33 AM - Post#713103    

I'm taking Rob's advice about driving: I set the cruise control and don't worry about getting there a minute faster. It seems to help...

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

11-21-11 10:30 AM - Post#713231    

The local library has this book. I'm picking it up today.

"There are a lot of workouts that can get us where we want to go, but none will work without consistency." Uncle Al " Strength is the foundation for all the other physical qualities. People have forgotten that fact... Strength is the mother quality. It should never be out of style." Pavel T. " There are countless variations of everything on a theme. I warn about reading too much and knowing too little. Cuz, everything works and nothing works. You only need that to train." Gary John

11-21-11 06:02 PM - Post#713295    

• Dan John Said:

That trick works wonders with my wife when we're driving to Toronto (264 km, or 165 miles). She has to turn it off when traffic gets crazy (the highway in Toronto is the busiest in the world), but otherwise it helps her step outside of the speed-up/slow-down game.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the book suggestion. I'm only a few chapters in on my Kindle, but it's good reading.

"Mens sana in corpore sano" ---- "Simply being amid the iron and at work is a triumph. You hear the metal, feel its coolness, leverage its gravity and fight the fight. You finish with a smile somewhere on your face and joy someplace in your heart and an ache of fulfillment all over."

11-21-11 08:08 PM - Post#713302    

Because I am too dumb to know when to turn off the cruise control, I NEVER use it. I'm serious.

The "Zeigarnik Effect" stuff (and what Rob said about planning) is great, and should be a kick in the pants to do necessary planning.

The Henry Morton Stanley stuff reminded me a lot of the things we discussed with "Deep Survival".

I'm about halfway through the book. Enjoying it.

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

11-26-11 11:57 PM - Post#713774    

After reading about Drew Carey and his success with David Allen and his "Getting Things Done" program, I ended up buying the book. Pretty good stuff and many of the ideas seemed to be mirrored in Willpower.

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

Willpower
12-02-11 10:55 PM - Post#714528    

I just finished the book. Really enjoyable read that can be applied to one's life. Alot of the information in the book I would say are things that people already know, but never pay attention to or acknowledge.

Is it better to multi-task or focus on one thing until it gets done?

Should I make important choices on an empty stomach?

Can one choice in a small aspect of my life affect all the big parts of my life?

After reading the book the answers are clear.


Another thing the book made me considered is the time when one uses a low carbohydrate diet to lose weight. The book shows how important it is to have glucose in one's diet in order to replenish the willpower tank. Without carbs, the brain does not function as well compared to with carbs. One of my biggest mistakes at work happened when I was on a low carb diet. After reading the book, I believe my mistake had to do with my diet at the time.

The main thing I took away from the book and will apply is making a deal with yourself in order to stick with your goal. Ex from the book if I recall is "you can cheat on your diet but do it later, not today."

I recall reading the same advice in Coach John's article about the V-Diet

"I just took my brother Gary's advice and thought, "Tomorrow, I'll break the diet and quit. Just not tonight." I woke up, walked, did my shake, and I was fine."

Edited by paulrc on 12-02-11 10:56 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

Re: Willpower
12-03-11 09:41 AM - Post#714554    

• paulrc Said:

If you had no glucose in your brain, you'd be dead. Fortunately, gluconeogenesis exists. It'll convert fat into glucose.

"Mens sana in corpore sano" ---- "Simply being amid the iron and at work is a triumph. You hear the metal, feel its coolness, leverage its gravity and fight the fight. You finish with a smile somewhere on your face and joy someplace in your heart and an ache of fulfillment all over."

12-04-11 07:25 AM - Post#714661    

I thought the whole diet section at the end pointed to some interesting things. The whole "not now, later" seems a traditional way of dealing with almost everything...first the fast, then the feast.

I'm on the road, but I will reread the section on glucose when I get back.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

12-06-11 07:02 AM - Post#715012    

This was a very interesting read!

Now back to lurking ...

12-09-11 05:56 AM - Post#715622    

The issue that keeps coming back to me is the idea that things like shaving or cleaning your desk actually give you more will. I know this is true...absolutely know it...but convincing assistant coaches and young teachers about this is so difficult. Really, a clean weightroom is a strong weightroom, but you have to experience this, I think.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

12-09-11 09:56 AM - Post#715645    

Good habits in general seem to reinforce and influence your willpower. Another pro- to a consistent exercise habit.

"Mens sana in corpore sano" ---- "Simply being amid the iron and at work is a triumph. You hear the metal, feel its coolness, leverage its gravity and fight the fight. You finish with a smile somewhere on your face and joy someplace in your heart and an ache of fulfillment all over."

12-09-11 04:24 PM - Post#715700    

• Dan John Said:

It is, and yes, you do.

The loose-ends = distraction is a large part of it. Your brain is unconsciously trying to multi-task when things aren't in order. Diverting attention away from the task at hand.

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

01-09-12 03:45 PM - Post#719348    

Well this is a book I will have to buy...just too much in here to digest in one sitting and too much to leave forgotten. Like you said the studies are fascinating.

Dan you said 260 explains a lot...and with all the info in the book that is great. esther Dyson drops a beauty of a gem on pg 258, "Everybody needs to find their own little thing. It's got to be a reward that's relevant."

The insight of the "What the Hell" effect applies to more than just diet...but what a great insight.

I found it interesting how if we can tweak or change our label of whatever is stressing or draining our will power, the energy drain can be managed or even stopped.

I was very surprised at the overall benefits or the act of tidying and making your bed, shaving, flossing and even park bench workouts.

Some idea's were just tweaks of other concepts I have learned. In psych nursing we made commitments to be with our client for x period of time...much like Robin Williams character did in
"Good Will Hunting" with Matt Damon's character. Do the goal or do nothing.

As a parent when it comes to disciplining "pick your battles" was a rule we used....can't say I much thought about it when it came to other decisions...it'll be interesting to see how that does.

gaining insight to what drains will power will help me be more alert at work as I am a charge nurse in an ER....lots of stressors and rivlets of draining.

"There are a lot of workouts that can get us where we want to go, but none will work without consistency." Uncle Al " Strength is the foundation for all the other physical qualities. People have forgotten that fact... Strength is the mother quality. It should never be out of style." Pavel T. " There are countless variations of everything on a theme. I warn about reading too much and knowing too little. Cuz, everything works and nothing works. You only need that to train." Gary John

01-13-12 09:34 AM - Post#719981    

"Pick your battles." Tiff and I thought we would pick early and easy ones with the kids. For example, the girls couldn't watch TV on school nights (the night before school). It was this thing the school came up with and we just made it a "rule."

So, we played a lot of Yahtzee, hot tubbed, played games in the backyard, laughed, and hung out. When Kelly was a sophomore in high school she asked Tiff about "bedtime." She is a sophomore...remember.

She tells Tiff, "Can I get my bedtime extended?" She honestly thought we still "insisted" that by 8:30 or whatever, she was supposed to go to bed. We hadn't thought of it in years, to be honest.

I tell parents that you need to draw the line on little things that are easy to enforce. Our girls went to Catholic School, so it was wonderful: never, not one time, did we have to discuss appropriate clothes choices. That "freed up" our parenting willpower to other areas, as the school made the rule.

I think that is why living near grandma and family is so important, if you can: you have others who give you the "willpower" to keep parenting choices. I know this, if I had a cook make, prepare, clean and set up every meal, it would be easier to eat veggies at every meal. I think we can only do so much and, IF there are easier options, you take them.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

01-13-12 11:16 PM - Post#720114    

Whole heartedly agree.

"There are a lot of workouts that can get us where we want to go, but none will work without consistency." Uncle Al " Strength is the foundation for all the other physical qualities. People have forgotten that fact... Strength is the mother quality. It should never be out of style." Pavel T. " There are countless variations of everything on a theme. I warn about reading too much and knowing too little. Cuz, everything works and nothing works. You only need that to train." Gary John

01-13-12 11:18 PM - Post#720115    

And that is an amazingly funny story about bedtimes and what you instilled!!!

"There are a lot of workouts that can get us where we want to go, but none will work without consistency." Uncle Al " Strength is the foundation for all the other physical qualities. People have forgotten that fact... Strength is the mother quality. It should never be out of style." Pavel T. " There are countless variations of everything on a theme. I warn about reading too much and knowing too little. Cuz, everything works and nothing works. You only need that to train." Gary John

01-14-12 06:31 AM - Post#720130    

• Dan John Said:

Now I know why I each morning I always show up to work 15 minutes early and tidy up all the weight plates, and am really annoyed if the cleaners haven't done a good job the night before. Others blamed my time in the Army, but...

I just couldn't even think about having people get under a barbell and squat and have to go searching for the right combination of plates, or step over a bit of scrunched-up tissue paper, or whatever. It just wouldn't work.

The strongest people in the gym never leave the plates on the bar.

Athletic Club East Strength in numbers

01-14-12 11:55 PM - Post#720237    

• Kyle Aaron Said:

And all this time I thought I was the only one who was particular about plates being put away and organized!

http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

01-15-12 02:28 PM - Post#720284    

Heeeeey I experienced this same issue earlier.

Queen's University has a fantastic and massive new gym called the "Athletics & Recreation Centre". The two major weight areas are referred to as the "Lifting Zone" (with platforms and bumper plates) and "Conditioning Zone" (power racks, dumbbells, machines).

We always work out in the "Lifting Zone" for the platforms and bumpers, but it was too full today due to some class teaching people to squat, so we went up to the "Conditioning Zone". What a mess. The air was humid due to the zillion cardio bunnies nearby, plates were all over the place, and the bar I was using for squats had a dent at the far end that prevented me from putting a collar on. I was so disgusted with it all that I began swearing at the bar as I tried to get the collar on, which is when I accidentally kicked over a half-full water bottle that someone left beside the power rack.

"Mens sana in corpore sano" ---- "Simply being amid the iron and at work is a triumph. You hear the metal, feel its coolness, leverage its gravity and fight the fight. You finish with a smile somewhere on your face and joy someplace in your heart and an ache of fulfillment all over."

02-03-12 12:40 PM - Post#722765    

I think I need to address this in my next book, too, to be honest. This odd connection between cleaned up and success...

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you