A few years back I got my first tattoo. I waited forty years to get myself inked and I wanted to make sure that it was something that would symbolize my life up to that point. Finally I came up with a symbol that seemed to mirror my life and the paths I had taken; the phoenix.
For those unaware with the meaning of the phoenix, the simplest way to put it is that the phoenix is a bird that burned up, only to regenerate from its own ashes. It is a symbol of rebirth, of rising again. I've gone through phases of being "directionally challenged", but I've taken the lessons learned from those instances to help shape me into a newer, better version of myself.
One of the common themes from the people who have written to us recently is that they all strayed away from the fitness path, took a different road, and are now trying to find their way back. There was a sense of excitement surrounding their messages, but also a feeling of regret in that they went down the wrong path of a period of time.
What I want to tell those people, and tell everyone else who is in a similar situation, is this: During the course of our lives we all will crash and burn like the phoenix, and that will give us the opportunity to rise again, better for the experience.
Failing at something does not make a person a failure. Benjamin Franklin said, "I didn't fail the test. I just found 100 ways to do it wrong." Inventors, scientists, weathermen, they all get it wrong many times, but learn from those wrongs to eventually create an even better right (ok - I threw weathermen in there just to see if you were paying attention). It's not a bad thing to fail if you learn from it. If it makes you a better person in the long run, then the setback most likely was beneficial.
This way of thinking can be applied to fitness. When we find our path back on the journey to fitness after a setback we have a better sense of what we should do and shouldn't do. That does not mean we are experts. I can tell you personally that I am no expert. I've tried dozens of different exercise and nutriton programs to figure out what works best for me and I am still experimenting. But if we try one fitness plan or one nutrition plan and it doesn't work to our satisfaction we can't just give up. What works for one person may not work for another. I try to give suggestions and advice but that's only based upon my own successes and setbacks. It does not necessarily mean it will work for you.
I think the key in any exercise or nutrition plan is to be your own inventor, your own scientist. Figure out what works best for you. Many times this involves trial and error. You may realize that running is not suited for you. So try something else. A certain nutrition plan may not give you the necessary calories and energy you need. So try something else. Incorporate what does work and eliminate what does not. Think of yourself as a fitness chef. You add the ingredients that work well together and taste good and you eliminate the ones that do not. Not everyone has the same taste buds so your recipe may be different than mine, but if you find enjoyment in it then you will be more likely to keep creating.
So to all you inventors, scientists and chefs out there, keep at it. Don't let the setbacks stop you from rising up again. You will get back on the road better and smarter than before, with a greater plan for success.
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