| "It's a contest of purposeless suffering....to me of | | | | With the list of things I have to do today, I have a |
| course, it's all about living." - Lance Armstrong | | | | "pretty good reason" to stay hunched over my desk |
| comments on the grueling demands of competitive | | | | until dinnertime, but I guess I have just motivated myself |
| cycling, after his fourth Tour de France victory in 2002. | | | | to haul up the anchor and take my protesting body out |
| With the start of the Tour de Georgia last week and | | | | for a run. |
| the approach of the Tour de France in July, I find | | | | It's all about living! |
| myself checking in to see what Lance Armstrong is up | | | | Tips to "Boost" Your Attitude: |
| to these days. I sometimes do this when I'm in need of | | | | Most of us understand the reasons for our poor |
| a little motivation. | | | | physical fitness and the answer to losing weight. We |
| Of course, you remember that all of Lance | | | | have read volumes on diet and exercise, but it is our |
| Armstrong's seven Tour de France wins followed a | | | | attitude that prevents us from doing what needs to be |
| cancer diagnosis in 1996. This was not just any cancer, | | | | done. |
| but a highly aggressive testicular carcinoma that rapidly | | | | One way to develop a powerfully positive attitude, |
| metastasized to his lungs and brain. | | | | even if you don't feel that way, is to behave as if you |
| Most people would have crumbled, but based on | | | | do. To that end, planning your actions and anticipating |
| Armstrong's attitude toward life, his response was | | | | setbacks, in advance, is essential. |
| absolutely predictable. | | | | 1. Schedule workouts on your calendar. Making an |
| After absorbing the terror of a certain death sentence, | | | | important appointment with yourself, in writing, carries |
| he assaulted the aggressor with the same guts and | | | | more weight than just the vague intention to do |
| determination that he exhibits on grueling inclines in the | | | | something. Schedule for first thing in the morning |
| French Alps. It is in the mountains where he typically | | | | because research shows that people who exercise |
| leaves his competitors in the dust. | | | | before the business day begins are most likely to stick |
| Armstrong's motto... "Knowledge is power and attitude | | | | with it. |
| is everything". The rest is history. | | | | 2. A little bit of something is better than nothing. |
| As someone who helps people lose weight and | | | | Regardless of how short you are on time or how blah |
| improve fitness by changing their habits and behaviors, | | | | you're feeling, commit to just five or ten minutes. Every |
| I'd like to take a closer look at the subject of attitude. | | | | little bit helps and, almost always, once you get going, |
| After all, it's attitude that determines whether you drag | | | | your energy picks up and you have a great workout. |
| yourself off the couch and out the door for an | | | | 3. Be flexible. A change of plans is not an excuse to |
| invigorating walk, or spend the afternoon watching TV. | | | | do nothing. If you usually exercise in the gym, and |
| Whether it's to enhance your life, or save your life, to a | | | | you're out of town, go for a jog. If you forgot your |
| very large degree, it is attitude that determines where | | | | running shoes, go for a brisk walk. Honor your |
| you end up. | | | | commitment to your exercise appointment. |
| If you would like a good example of how attitude can | | | | 4. When possible, join your spouse or a workout |
| overcome a real downer of an experience, consider | | | | partner. It's a lot less easy to cop out if someone else |
| Kelly Luckett of Decatur, Georgia. She ran 26.2 miles | | | | is depending on you. |
| last year, as the third ever female amputee to | | | | 5. Check out Lance's autobiography, "It's Not About the |
| compete in the Boston Marathon. That's 26.2 miles | | | | Bike. My Journey Back to Life". Last time I looked, you |
| folks...in six hours, twenty minutes and two seconds. | | | | could get a used copy for fifty cents on . If this book |
| Ms. Luckett had the choice to either succumb to her | | | | doesn't motivate you, nothing will! |
| disability or live life fully. She chose to not only live, but | | | | "Be Strong... |
| to strive for excellence and the result was outstanding. | | | | |