A Mayo Jar & Two NorCal Margaritas...

So, what's important in life?  What is your first priority?  Is it your training, job, friends, diet, family, spirituality, car, money, weight...???  What is most of your time spent thinking about or doing?  Where is your energy focused?  And most importantly, where the heck am I going with this??

I know many of you are very focused on training, diet, weight, body composition, performance, etc.  And seriously - that's great!  I definitely commend you on your dedication and on really focusing on finding what works best for you and your body.  But what concerns me is that for some it becomes all consuming and literally 'takes over' everything and everyone else.  I have clients that break my meal plans into Zone Blocks, calculate the number of Weight Watchers points, and need to know exactly how many calories, carbohydrate, protein and fat grams they are eating.  Others weigh and measure EVERYTHING including themselves on a daily basis.  And then there's training - a whole separate animal, there's long workouts, heavy workouts, two-a-days, timing food and training periods - you name it.  I completely understand and agree with the fact that you definitely need a plan both training and diet.  Get everything running and working for you and then STOP STRESSING!  I see so many people worrying about every minute detail and if one component is off it throws their whole world out of orbit or causes a complete breakdown, (think pizza, Twinkies and no training at all).

Here's a little story - many of you have probably heard it or some version of it, but it's got NorCal Margaritas in it so it's worth reading again...

A college Philosophy professor started class with several items in front of him.  At the beginning of class, he wordlessly picked up a large, empty mayonnaise jar and filled it with golf balls.  He asked the class if the jar was full.  The class agreed that it was.

Then the professor picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  The pebbles filled the open areas between the golf balls.  Once again, he asked the class if the jar was full and they all agreed that it was.  The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course, the sand filled all the remaining spaces between the pebbles.  Again, he asked if the jar was full and the class responded that, yes the jar was full, (slow learners...). 

Finally, the professor brought two NorCal Margaritas out from under the table and poured them into the jar - truly filling it.

He addressed the class saying, 'Now, I want you to recognize that this jar represents our lives.'  The golf balls are the important things - your family, your health, your friends and your favorite things.  If everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.  The sand is everything else - the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.'

The same goes for life.  If you spend all your time on the small stuff (weighing, measuring, or 'pointing' food, making training your 'job', and stressing about every detail), you will never have time for the things that truly matter.  Spend time with your family and friends; enjoy life, read a book.  Don't let sand and pebbles control you - it's your life, you only get one shot - ENJOY IT!

The NorCal Margaritas just show that no matter how full your life may seem - there's always time for a NorCal Margarita with a friend...

Think about your priorities - what matters to you?  Diet and training are important, but are they more important than your family, your children, or your sanity.  If you get 21 percent of your calories from carbs instead of your 'allotted' 20 percent will it ruin your life?  If you miss a workout or even two will it mean you're no longer fit?  On the other hand, if you spend two hours a day weighing, measuring, logging and counting your food and another two to four hours training, instead of spending time with your family or watching your kids grow up, that is six hours you will never get back.  

In short, by all means have a plan - but remember sometimes plans change and that's okay.  Give yourself a break and enjoy what you've got when you've got it!

Have you hugged your 'golf balls' today?

Comments...