My wife was out of town last week, so I got the opportunity to do some bonding with my son. It was awesome! We lifted weights, played basketball, ate ice cream, watched cheesy movies, and rode bikes. All was going well until the first bike ride...
I was riding a cruiser bike and looking super cool, when we decided to take a short cut that was off road. Not the best terrain for my bike, but what could go wrong?
I was cruising right along, not really paying attention to what I was doing, and then I rolled right into a huge hole that was covered by grass. It all happened so fast. Next thing I know I'm on the ground looking up at my son and the concerned look on his face.
At a certain age, your butt should never be above your head. I had flown over the handlebars and landed right on my ribs and left shoulder, knocking the wind out of me. As soon as I could breath, my son and I started laughing like crazy people. How awesome would it be to see your dad fly over the handlebars?? Making memories here people.
The main reason why I am telling you all this is to warn you about the danger of being on autopilot. It could be during your workout, your nutrition, or even your relation ships - don't allow yourself to get detached!
Try to get everything you can out of each repetition you are doing. Stay focused on you form, concentrate on the muscles you are working, and you will get much better results and help keep you injury free.
Pay attention to what you eat! Always read food labels, be aware of portion control, and you will avoid many of the common pitfalls that trip people up. You may be eating healthy foods, but if you are eating too much you will still gain weight. Take a vested interest and take control of what you are putting into your body.
It's easy to get caught up in your busy schedule and go through the motions with the most important people in your life. I saw a stat that said you get 940 Saturdays with your kids until they turn 18. My son is 13, so I have about 260 Saturdays left until he (more than likely) leaves home. I'm going to make the effort to make them count, as well as the days in between.
Take some time and think about the things you need to refocus on. Life is too short to live on autopilot, take full control of your life.