Reading -- or not reading -- the signs.

Of all the self-help driven blogs on the internet, you found yourself here -- arguably the least helpful. This blog isn't here to tell you what to do. 

I'm reminded of a sign that hangs in my friend's house that reads, "If you wish to live wisely, ignore sayings including this one." This same friend just dropped 60 pounds with CrossFit, a ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting. You can almost think of this blog, or any other like it, in the same way as that sign. Read it. Don't read it. The medium is irrelevant. The message, too. It only has meaning if you act. Clearly, my friend gets it.

If you want to change, if you want to improve, if you want to push yourself, if you want to take on something difficult, it's on you. 

And for those of you who want it, here's a workout I came up with this morning. Perform each combination, followed by each exercise from top to bottom with as little rest in between as possible. Use a manageable weight, or just body weight.

Or don't. That's up to you, too.

I didn't feel like working out. So I worked out.

The temptation to not work out was strong this morning. I knew I'd be going to late-night jiu jitsu. I'd get my exercise. I'd be sore later in the day. I'd be tired on the mat. Easy to rationalize exercise away.

I was giving myself a pass. I was cutting myself slack. I can't allow slack.

As Jocko Willink has pointed out several times on his podcast, if you have the ability and the time, there's no good reason not to train. Life builds in breaks. There will always be the day when your car is in the shop, or the kids are late for school, or the hot water heater breaks. Those are the kinds of days when I take breaks. Today was not one of them.

The workout above is a good no-excuse routine if you already have a baseline level of fitness. I came up with it this morning. All you need is a kettlebell and some room to jump and move. Perform each of the moves in order, taking breaks as needed. The goal is to get through five sets as quickly as you can while maintaining good form. I made it through in just under 19 minutes. Think you can beat my time?