Emotional Gravity

Emotional Gravity

     We are all human.  As such, we are all going to, at one point or another, going to fall down.  It is inevitable.  That is what being human is all about. The key here is this: no matter how many times or how many ways you fall down, GET BACK UP!

     I realize that this is not as easy as it sounds.   It's something I know that I struggle with at some point every day. I also know that sometimes, the answer isn't just to "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" and drive on.  There are going to be times that you need help.  I've dealt with Depression in the past to the point that I needed to see a doctor to get myself in the right direction.  Yes, that mean that I was on medications for Depression & Anxiety.  For some people, this means always needing to be on "meds".  My wife is one of those people.

     The point is that you take action to get back up, even if you can't do it on your own!  All of the medications that can be prescribed cannot make you better if you don't take an active part in healing yourself.  Whether that means DDP Yoga, walking, talking with friends, family or a therapist.... the point is that you are taking positive steps towards getting into a better place.

     This also means controlling the negative in your life.   You can't avoid having to cross the street.  You can, however, take steps to move  across the street safely and get where you need to be.  In the same way, you can't avoid seeing Negative in the world today.  You can, however, control the way you react to it!  This is what "Living Life at 90%" is all about.  Some days are going to be harder than others.  That's why you have to Own This Day, everyday.  There is no magical "I do this once and I never have to worry about it again" sort of trick.  Just like DDP Yoga, this is not a 30-60-90 program, but a way to carry yourself every day.  If you work at it, it may get easier... but did doesn't mean you stop doing it.

     Take heart, True Believers!  Know that there are a lot of people out there that share your struggle.  You are not alone.  Together, we can take the right steps to...

OWN THIS DAY!

Trav

   

Keeping It Positive

  Keeping It Positive

    Negativity is all over our society.  From Politics & the News Media to Facebook & Twitter, even Traffic & the local Supermarket checkout, the world is full of negative people & things.  As a result, we get angry, stressed out, worked up and worn out!

     In fact, according to a report from the U.S Department of Health, "70-80% of all visits to the doctor are for stress-related and stress-induced illnesses".  The American Psychological Association reports "Forty-four percent of workers have gained weight in their current job and nearly one-third (32%) say that work related stress contributed to their weight gain".  If you Google "Stress Related Weight Gain" you'll find over 20,000,000 results! 

     Regardless, there are too many people that go out of their way to perpetuate the Negative in everything.  Go to Facebook right now and look at your News Feed. 

(Don't worry, I'll be here when you get back!)  

     I will bet you, on average, you will find at least 5 Posts that contain nothing but drama.  And the ones that you do find that are positive, you'll invariably find one or two Trolls being contradictory just for the sake of doing it.  Others go out of their way to find something, cast it in the most negative light possible, then do everything possible to throw it in the face of anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path. This is without even leaving your house. This crosses all lines of gender, race, belief or status. 

      When we get Negative, our willpower and motivation grind to a halt! 

     So, what's the answer?  Put simply... Be Positive!  Now, for the vast majority of people, this is not just a "flip a switch and magically turn your life into Rainbows, Unicorns and Magic Pots of Gold" sort of answer.  Just like any goal you set, it takes a daily effort.  It takes being aware of what triggers the Negative in your day-to-day dealings. When you purposely look to be positive, seek out positive influences and surround yourself with people that not only are positive, but will lift you up when you fall, you tap into a powerful way to give you the strength to make things happen!  It also takes walking away from those negative influences, blocking those Trolls, or... when seeing a Negative is unavoidable, recognize it for what it is and turn it into a Positive.  Its these Footfalls that we can turn into Stepping Stones to get where we want to go.

     There was a Facebook Comment from someone that said that they didn't think DDP Yoga could help, then went on to list all of the reasons why. They were Motivated enough to buy the program, but then there are all these reasons why they Hesitate.

     What if they could take all of those reasons why they can't take control, then turn them into ways that they can take control?  Again, this is not just something that people just do.  That's where not just surrounding yourself with good people, but reaching your hand out to those who need help up, gives you the strength to do what needs to be done.

    This is just one more way you can...

Own This Day!

Travis

Goals (Old & New)

Goals (Old & New)

    Just to give you some perspective, here is where I was at back on November 26th. 2012:

The goal at that point was two-fold:

     1. To get down to 185lbs

     2. To loose the Gut and the Saddlebags (in other words, The Keg) and see how close I could get to       a "six-pack", henceforth "Project Keg-to-a-6-Pack or KTA6P. 

I gave myself a year to accomplish this goal.  I thought at the time that a year would give me more than plenty of time and allowed for stumbling blocks along the way.

 

So last night I stepped on the scale, just to see where I was at:

That's when I put on the same shirt and sleep pants I wore 9 months ago:

 

As DDP has said in recent DDPRadio Podcasts "You can't gimmick results like this!"

     As you can see, I've come a long way in 9 months!  I still have 3 months to go.  "The Keg" is definitely not there anymore.  As far as "the 6-Pack" goes... well, its a lot closer than I've ever been, even back when I was in my 20's and working out on a regular basis!  I have a lot of people come up to me after not seeing me for awhile wondering what happened.  I give them all the same answer: "DDP Yoga & Gluten-Free/Dairy Free Eating".

     Now, I'm only calling Project KTA6P half-completed because I still have a little bit of padding around the stomach (although I realize a lot of that is loose skin) and saddlebags in the back.  I want to see the year out to see just how far I can get.

     The danger here is at that its at this point most people would say "Well, I got a long way!  This is good enough", then go back to doing what they were doing before... and roll back down the mountain (almost literally)!  That's why its important to keep setting goals for yourself, to keep moving forward.  As DDP would say "There's always someplace you can go."

    Now that I've lost the weight and in better overall shape, now its time to see how far my strong I can get.  So, here are some new goals I want to accomplish by this time  next year (September 1st, 2014):

1. Be able to do a Psycho Push-Up.  What's the difference between a Regular Push-Up & a Psycho Push-Up?  Check out the above clip.
2. Be able to do Full-Extension Pull-Ups (palms out) & Chin-ups (palms in).  This is one that I have always had problems with , even back in my gym-rat days.
3. Be able to hold my foot up above my head with the leg locked-out for for time.  I can get my foot up close to my head, but the leg is not at complete lock-out.  Up to this point, I've been doing this the same way shown in the Stand-Up Work Out.
4. Be able to do a Handstand Push-Up (which, if I'm able to do Psycho Push-Ups, I should be able go get close to this).

     As far as the Work-Outs go, I'm going to keep hitting them as much as possible (6-7 days a week, if possible).  The only DVDs in the DDP Yoga Series I don't have is the Extreme Set (which may be a few months away depending on finances). 

      Bottom Line is, anything can be accomplished!  I could have never imagined being as in good of shape as I'm in at this time last year!  Now, I'm ready to conquer new ones and be the best I can be!  It is all about setting your goals, stay Motivated, being Positive, allowing yourself the room to Modify and Live Life at 90%, and having a great Support Group to help you through your Lows and cheer your Highs.  

See you at the next mountain!

Own This Day!

Travis