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For most people, physical training begins early in life in school physical education class. For many kids this is the only exercise they get these days. The desire to be physically fit when we are young is pretty low on our list of priorities. Many times parents allow their children to spend hours playing video games, watching television, or doing some other sedentary activity, as long as it is keeping them busy.

Fitness isn’t really addressed until high school when kids begin to participate in sports. Even then it depends on the coaching staff’s belief in being fit and the stamina it takes to perform at a very high level. I was fortunate to have coaches in high school that gave me a good blueprint to follow where fitness is concerned. I did not always follow it during my formative years, but it was something I have been able to recall and replicate when I finally understood the full benefit of being fit.

 I often look back on the athletic training from my high school days and realize how blessed I was to have the coaches I had and what I learned from them that has propelled me in life. Running hills after a 2 hour practice was not fun, but it taught me to dig deep within myself to complete the activity. I was not about to fail in front of my teammates. Doing line sprints on the school’s basketball court after a long practice challenged me to keep pace with the rest of the team and I were to stay up with the guys who finished first the coaches and other players would take note. This became a source of pride and determination.

I learned that after high school and college I would have to be my own coach, pushing myself and setting workout program. It took me quite a few years to become consistent with a routine and then stick to it. There were all of kinds of excuses available to me and I found them to be convenient. I had to focus on work and social life. I was too tired. Working out could wait. I’m sure you can think of many more, but when we are young we have this feeling of invincibility that tells us we are okay the way we are when it comes to our health.

If I could go back and tell my 20-year old self one thing it would be being healthy and fit positively affects all aspects of life. So, what I would be saying is, your work, social life, and your general outlook on life change for the better when you are fit and healthy. The attitude toward your job is better. You are more confident in social situations because you look and feel better.  It is quite amazing how your world just seems brighter.

For the past 3 years I have devoted myself to my fitness and health and the difference in how I feel physically and mentally is remarkable. I wish I would have done it sooner, but I didn’t so I can’t dwell on that fact. All I know is that over time it has become a lifestyle choice and even though there are still days I have never felt better.

I share these things because I feel that everyone should understand that when friends, your family, your doctor, anyone you hear tell you how important it is to eat right and exercise, they are absolutely correct. There is no downside to this and the benefits are extraordinary. Your good health and fitness will allow you to function at the levels at which you were designed to function at. You will benefit yourself and the people in your life that you care about.

I started this blog because I am passionate about fitness and health, not just mine, but yours as well. I call the blog Blue-Collar fit because I like the down and dirty approach it sometimes takes to get where you want to go. Some of you will start out just using your own body to begin working out. The beauty is that you can use your arms to perform basic exercise movements like pushups and pull-ups, etc…. You can lie on the floor and do sit-ups. You can use your legs to run ever increasing distances. Most of us have what it takes to start. Along with desire and some patience, you can be well on your way to the physical transformation in 30 days or less.

A blue collar worker is typically defined as a manual laborer, someone who uses their own hands, arms, back, and legs. They can be skilled or unskilled. Often they are building something physically. That is how you can become fit as well. You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym membership or special clothing. You can begin your journey to fitness by making your own body to transform itself. How great is that?

You can start out anywhere. You can start exercising in your living room, in your basement, your hotel room, the stairwell at work, and many other places you come across every single day. We will get into more exercises you can do just using your own body as we go.  But, suffice it to say, the lack of exercise equipment should not stop you from getting a program underway.

Finally, make no mistake about it, you can workout everyday and that would be fantastic. But, you have to be able to balance that work with a healthy diet plan or you will never achieve the results you could. You can also undo your hard work by neglecting your diet. Physical fitness and diet go hand in hand. You can do one or the other. However, to be the best you can be it will take partnering the two.

This is not meant to be a get fit quick scheme. There is nothing magic about getting into shape. It requires inspiration, motivation, desire, patience, and even more. When looking back over the past 3 years, I had to overcome a great deal of internal battles to get where I am. I am glad I did and you will be too!