From Fatman To Batman
My quest for a better body, and a happier life.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Going Tribal.
So basically its your bros or hos that you workout, run, or diet with. According to the research presented in the book simply put, you do better with a support group. Surrounding yourself with a group of like minded people creates a support system, that can prove invaluable. Having people that can back you up and with whom to share knowledge with and be accountable to gives you a better shot at succeeding on your fitness journey.
I know that for myself I feel more inspired to go to the gym and keep on my diet when I have people overseeing me. Not saying I want people to tell me what to do or hold my hand. No, I mean just having people that I can have at my back or share both triumphs and letdowns with. It helps. Also helpful is having individuals that you can turn to for advice when your unsure of what you're doing. I often feel clueless about exercise, so I am fortunate enough to have some friends I can ask about it. Sure, you can look stuff up online, and that can be very helpful. But being able to talk to someone, one on one and get feedback as to if your form is right or if this routine works or what not can be crucial to your success.
Its not just support that helps if you have a Fitness Tribe, it can be a lot of fun to do fun healthy activities together. When I go to the gym, I love having someone to go with. I dont need them to be next to me on the treadmill or even helping with the weights. I find it fun to be able to just say "Hey you see the res and sets I just did with the weights.?" Or even enjoying an achievement they may have had. Going jogging, trail running, biking or any other such activity with somebody else 1) Gives you someone to chat with so you do not get bored. 2) It gives you someone to compete against and gage your skills. In short it makes exercising fun.
Im going to take the advice found in the book and try to put together a Fitness Tribe of my own. I have had success in the past when I have friends on the journey from Fatman to Batman with me before and I can definitely use some more. Whats your Tribe like?
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Basically, Run you Clever Boy!
Color Me Rad is important to me because its the event that inspired me to take up running. Roughly 3 years ago my friend Cindy had posted on Facebook that she was going to run the CMR and was very excited about it. I looked it up as I was curious. It looked amazing. I posted a link to it on FB and said that I would love to do this someday but there was no way I could. My friend Amy asked me why not and suggested that I join her at the Spac Rock and Run that year. After talking to my buddy Rob who said that the only way I would know if I could do it or not is if I tried, I signed up. In spite of my apprehension at what I thought would be me making a fool of myself I so much fun. After the race I first experienced what is known as a runners high. I found myself swearing that I would run a 10k in a couple of months, followed by a marathon. Thankfully everyone knew that twas the adrenaline rush talking and didn't hold me to it.
Because of that run I went on to do the Firecracker 4 where I beat my Rock and Run time. And I also went on to do the Rock and Run again, where I had my best runtime ever of 38 minutes. My success at these events spring from my wanting to do the Color Me Rad. So when I heard that it was coming to town I had to do it. Next year I plan on doing it again but this time with a few people and running at a better pace. It was nice to come full circle in a sense. I had a chance to see just how far Ive come from the Fatman wishing he could do a run, to getting up off the couch and doing them.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
News.
I want to thank you for being so patient with me being lazy with my blog. But I got some news coming to you. I'm going to be changing the name of my blog. While going from a Fatman to Batman is still my goal, I don't want to get sued for copyright. So a name change is in order. At the moment I have no idea what it will be called. Please feel free to send suggestions to my email stevenbelsito77@gmail.com with the word name in the heading.
I'm also going to be changing and adding some new things to the blog. Once a month I want to interview people who are changing their lives with fitness. Whether its mind, body or spiritual growth I want to learn. My first interview will be with a yogi. She will be explaining what yoga is and how it can help you. I want to do more things like this so we will see where it goes. I will be adding recipes, workouts and my misadventures as I travel the road from Fatman to..............well I don't know yet. Send your name suggestion's.
Fatman to Batman Montreal 5k.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Thank You.
"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. " -Henry Van Dyke
I realized that I have been horribly remiss in thanking people for all their help with my Go Fund Me campaign. But also I have never really thanked the people who help me everyday, and have honestly been the best group of friends anyone can have. I have been very lucky and blessed to know these people. They help inspire me to continue on this difficult and often times frustrating path I have laid before myself. So Im going to thank them all in no order in particular. And if I forget anyone forgive me, I know a lot of awesome people.
You guys are the reason I find strength to keep doing this. So while I hear from many people that I inspire them somehow, you are the people who inspire me. Thanks to you I can do this. You are the ones who make me want to ditch the Fatman and become the Batman.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Giving Ho Hum the Heave Ho.
I went from
To
I just got my stuff and left.
I was talking to my best friend about it later. I was so mad and embarrassed that it wasnt funny. "forget it I quit, I don't know what I'm doing, and I can't do it." were just some of the crazy things I was saying/feeling. My body took no damage but my very fragile ego was cracked. My buddies response? Well it was more or less, "See Ho Hum." (He was referencing a conversation earlier in the day we had about me amping up my gym workout. He had said stop being so Ho Hum and bust my ass if I really wanna do this. He was right. I was being Ho Hum) "You can either be the joke or embrace the joke". He pointed out. I was a bit annoyed at the time that he didn't see how shattering this was. Sometimes my vanity knows no bounds. After giving it some thought ( and more sulking time than I want to admit ) I saw that my friend was right. So here I am admitting that I nearly busted my rear end checking a cute girl out on a treadmill. If I'm gonna share my triumphs then in all fairness I should share my fails.
Tomorrow I'm going back to the gym, and I'm giving the ho hums the heave ho. I may avoid the treadmill for a bit though. I learned not to take yourself SO seriously. (one of my biggest faults!) I am a big guy and I wear Batman shirts to the gym. I should be aware that I stand out a bit when I work out. At least this time it was for an attempt at being athletic and flirting. And part of ditching the ho hums is increasing my productivity at the gym while I am there. Come out sweating and heaving or don't go. So I guess I may have to jump back on the treadmill, if I wanna take my own advice huh? Damn it!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
So Steve? What's up with the Batman Thing?
Tomorrow is National Batman Day. This character who turns 75 this year has inspired a lot of people over the years. Me (as you well know) being one of them. I get asked often "What's the deal with the whole Batman thing"? My friend Brad once asked " Is it a sexual thing?" No it isn't. (Although I will say that for those who it is, there are at least two adult movies I'm aware of that they should see. For me it was just way too weird. Porn based on the Adam West Batman is just.......wrong.) For me, as a kid my love of Batman started because I could be Batman. He had no superpowers, just some really cool toys. I didn't need to be from another planet, I didn't need to be bitten by a spider. I could be a guy who runs around doing cool things in an awesome costume. As I got older the character changed and so did I. He got darker, edgier. And I liked that. I enjoyed the fact that he was as crazy as his villains. Something about it spoke to me. I also loved the fact that Bruce Wayne was the secret identity, not Batman. As someone who has always hidden my true self in the past I understood this. Hey we all wear masks.
So what made me use Batman as motivation for weight loss? Its easy. Batman is just a dude. A dude who worked his ass off to attain physical perfection. Sure he is loaded, and can afford the best toys. But that doesnt matter.My reasons are the same as when I was a child. I can be Batman. With an incredible amount of hard work I too can become more than I am. (There is even a book about what it would take to be Batman, what you would have to be able to do and such. ) Batman has cool toys in his cave that help him fight crime. I have cool toys at the gym that help me fight my own battle. He has an awesome costume that causes fear to criminals. I have some cool shirts that inspire me, and help me conquer my fear of being seen lifting in public. Batman has assistants that aide him in his quest. I have some amazing friends who support me as I embark on mine. Batman is a great example that when you put your mind to something and give it your all. Surrender your body, heart and soul to your goal and you can succeed. This gives me hope and an example to follow. I used Batman as an inspiration just yesterday. I was running on the elliptical and was trying to get a 5k in 30 minutes. I was getting tired and kinda just wanted to stop. I looked down at the Bat Symbol on my shirt and thought " What would Batman Do?" He would keep at it. So I played a game with myself and ran as if I was chasing a criminal. And you know what I ran a 5k in 29.02 minutes. That is my new best time. I felt amazing. Use what inspires you. I hope you all have a great National Batman Day tomorrow. Do something you think you can't, be your own hero.