ONLY THE DEDICATED SURVIVE

MILE MARKER # 26

By now, every body's New Year's resolutions are probably non-existent. We try, we all try and set out new goals for an upcoming year to better ourselves. Most resolutions dissolve early, by expecting to make such drastic changes all at once. We didn't get this heavy over night, furthermore, most people do not exercise on a regular basis. So, trying to change habits and taking on unrealistic tasks usually result in failure.

Truck drivers have a difficult time and the odds are against them, due to their schedules, sleep time variations, sitting constantly, and the conveniences are not at their disposal. My worst habit is smoking. I've tried to quit, but I've always failed. It's disgusting how nicotine's addiction controls your life. I have never been able to tackle that feat because of truck driving. To me, smoking and driving go hand in hand, and I do not know any better. It's always been that way. That's just a better way or an excuse to say that I am a very weak person. I never had to come up with a new resolution every year, because it's always been to quit smoking. I have 7 months to prepare for my next attempt. I can't try to quit smoking during the year, because it's a law!

I've exercised on and off throughout my whole life. I pretty much just maintained, adding a little shape along the way, but never put the dedication into it to take it to that next level. I always had excuses not to make it a part of my everyday life. Exercise should be included in your daily life, but only the dedicated survive.

New Year's Eve comes along and your all psyched to start a training program including weights and cardio. So, you go all out and purchase some new gear and running shoes. Then you think, just if I had an elliptical machine or treadmill, I could do this up right. You purchase one or the other and then you think, man, if I just had an Ipod. Then you spend 5 hours downloading songs off of Itunes for your high energy work out mix, only to realize if you had a new T.V. flat screen all of your exercise needs would be fulfilled. January 1st arrives and you are ready to tackle your researched plan as scheduled. Your first high intensity work out includes cardio, lunges, squats, and everything else, and the next morning before the next work out, your arse and sides hurt so bad you can't even sit on the pot! Every time you cough, it hurts! Now, you take 5 days off the schedule because your body is too sore to do anything. Then, you stand back and look at all of the cool work out stuff you purchased, and realized that you didn't even lose any weight! The good news is that you will be all ready to go for the next year's resolution, when you remove the clothes that are hanging from the treadmill.