Sergeant Tony's Blog

“We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway,
And I wonder if I’m really with you now
Or just chasin’ after some finer day”

These are the opening lines to Carly Simon’s “Anticipation.” Years after the song dropped off pop radio’s playlist, it became the theme song of a ketchup commercial. Remember? Some guy was waiting for the ketchup to come out of the bottle. And as he was waiting … and waiting … and waiting, “Anticipation” was playing in the background.

It reminds me of the little rhyme:

“Shake, shake, shake,
the ketchup bottle.
None will come,
and then a lot ‘il.”

Anticipation is hardly anything we experience very much in our post modern life. Everything is quick. Fast food, overnight delivery, instant coffee, microwaveable meals in minutes. You know what I mean. And I like it. I’m a HUGE fan of things done quickly. Well, most things.

“Instant gratification,” a friend once said, “isn’t fast enough!”

We want what we want and we want it NOW!

This mindset effects our perception of exercise and weight loss too. Recently a new Boot Camper complained to me on a Thursday morning that she had quit eating her evil and besetting fat food indulgence on Tuesday, but now, two days later, there was no noticeable difference in her figure or the numbers on her scale! She expected an almost instantaneous result.

Say WHAT??

We just get so accustomed to having things happen quickly that waiting for something, anything, is practically out of the question. And I’m no fan of waiting either. I wish I was more patient … well, sort of … I don’t really care for the means by which we learn patience. Namely, by having to wait for stuff. I’m more like the guy who prayed, “Oh lord, give me patience, and give it to me NOW!”

That said, I’m going to invite you to join me in a little anticipation.

You might have noticed that I’ve got a little knee issue. The tennis tournament injury that led to surgery on October 2 to repair a torn meniscus and quad tendon have forced me to reevaluate my short term goals.

I can’t walk without an “upper thigh to ankle brace” and two crutches. My physical therapy consists of efforts to bend my right knee. I’ve gone from 60 degrees to almost 90 painfully acquired degrees of knee bend. Yippee! One year ago this weekend I was in Washington, DC running the Marine Corps Marathon. And now, a year later, I’m just trying to bend my knee. It feels pathetic and I want to be well NOW!! (See, NOT very patient.)

With the consultation of my surgeon and physical therapists, I’m working on goals for January 1, 2010. I’m inviting you to do the same.

Join me in formulating your own goals for the new year! Set a weight loss goal! Set a running distance goal! Set a 5K finish time goal. Set a goal of increasing your dumbbell weight! Set a percentage of body fat goal!

Your goals might be different from these, but you get the idea. Your goals need to be measurable, so “getting into shape” doesn’t qualify as a goal.

The anticipation of an acquired goal, two months from now will give you a sense of focus and motivation!

Come up with your goal(s) for January 1, 2010 and email them to me by next week. I’ll keep ‘em and come January 1, I’ll post the names of those who achieved their goals. I won’t post the details of your goal, but that YOU achieved them!!

Put your thinking caps on! Give it some thought and send your list of goals to me ASAP!!

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RACE FOR GRACE 5K

The Race for Grace 5K will be held on Saturday, November 7 at 9 AM @ Shady Grove Presbyterian Church.
This race benefits the Church Health Center!

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NO MT. FUJI WORKOUT THIS MONTH!

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0645, 0830, and 5:45 PM CLASSES

Due to the demolition of the Timothy House, and the cleanup to follow, the 0645 class and the 5:45 PM class will be conducted outside in the “courtyard.” That would be the inner area of Christ Methodist Day School where the flag pole and playground are. The 0830 class will be held inside the recreation building in the “aerobics room.” I’ll let you know when the coast is clear!

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TUESDAY & THURSDAY EVENING CLASS

The Tuesday and Thursday evening classes meet at St. Mary’s track. Those classes begin at 5:45 PM. St. Mary’s is at the corner of Walnut Grove and Perkins.

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See you on the Quarterdeck!

To your continued health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow

USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding

Memphis, TN

901-644-0145

www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com