Conference pasta::flex

    I was chatting with my Dad the other night. He's a bit of a fitness
    buff, since he had a stroke in 1989.  He has been dilligently working
    out at a gym ever since. He's 70 years old, but most people are shocked
    when they hear that.  He does 1 hour on the stairmaster every other
    day, at the maximum level. He uses weight machines on alternating days.
    He has had back surgery, knee surgery, a stroke, and continues to be 
    bothered by all 3. But he keeps going.  The other day he was on the
    stairmaster and started talking to a man on the other stairmaster. They
    got to talking, and this other man works for a travel agency that does
    trips for hiking and climbing.  This man was doing a stairmaster
    MARATHON. Yes, I kid you not. 26 miles on a stairmaster!  He was
    getting in shape for a hiking trip in the Andes. My Dad described him
    as an older man, so that could be anywhere from 40 - 70. Regardless, I
    was impressed.  I have always been impressed with my Dad, the way he
    came back from an almost-tragic situation. And now he's hanging with
    stairmaster marathoners!  So, I bit the bullet and did 45 minutes on a
    stairmaster.  Ok, go ahead and laugh.  But I HATE that machine. It
    ALWAYS hurts! I never feel like I'm getting better at it. But I did it.
    AFTER doing my leg set (leg set = heavy squats, heavy lunges, leg
    press, quad machine, hamstring curls all to failure).  I am now
    determined. I won't be doing any marathons, but I WILL do what my Dad
    can do! I WILL increase my bench, I will increase my squat, I will
    increase my shoulder press. I will decrease my body fat. I WILL!
    
    So, what's your inspiration?  What have you accomplished because of
    this inspirational person, book, music, etc.?
    
    Sarah

    Sarah
    
    I have to admit the inspiration to continue to work out is my own.  I
    just like the way it feels to be rock hard. I love the challenge and
    every day getting behind a bar and trying to push myself one more set
    makes it a challenge.  So many days I can't do better but once in awhile
    that bar goes up not once but twice more and when I set it down of the
    rack, what a rush.                         
    
    brian

i workout for myself and my kids: hoping to keep up with them 'til they put me 
in the ground! i surprise them somewhat, however, never ask the oldest to run 
trails: that means run mountain trails to the tops along the ridges and down and 
maybe back! damned kid just has to keep me in my place. 8^)

i guess i keep going hoping to one day to really have a firm gut; i can firm up 
most everywhere else and flex it and it feels like granite (someone else already 
uses the oak analogy!), but my gut is so so sad. 

so, i do it all for myself and like i said Laura the other day when she wondered 
how i could just jump right into a 4 mile run after 3 weeks off of running and i 
replied: ya'know that li'l engine that could? i'm that fat locomotive that will!

reg.

    I guess mine is pretty much of my own too.  
    Being an asthmatic since I was 6mo old,,, I spent alot of
    years not being able to do things I wanted because my asthma
    always got in the way.  During Junior High, I had to walk
    two blocks home.  There were many occassions that I had to
    lean against my friend just to make it home, because I 
    couldn't breath.  I could also go through an inhaler in
    just a couple of weeks.  I also had a bunch of other medication
    I had to take.   
    
    I found the biggest change in my asthma came when I started 
    working out (7yrs ago) and gradually building up my cardio.    
    Seems the better shape I'm in, the better my asthma is.
    I was even jogging 2 miles about a year ago (I loved every
    minute of that). Unfortunately, my knee didn't care much
    for the running, so I stopped.  Just knowing I could do it
    made me happy enough.
    
    So I guess my inspiration is to never let my asthma have 
    control over me again.  So long as I stay in shape, and keep
    my weight from getting 15lbs overweight, I'll be all set.
    
    As for medications, I have two inhalers, one that I take like
    a pill (one shot in the morning, one at night).  Then I have
    the one that I keep with me at all times (just incase).
    The "just incase" inhaler now lasts me a year.  For the
    past couple of years I've had to replace it because it reached
    it's "good till" date (which is 1 yr since I picked it up).
                                            

    I'd have to say my inspiration started with my brother.  You see, he's
    just a little guy...well compared to his baby brother. [^8=  He's about
    5'6" and until about a year and a half ago weighed 150lbs (now he's
    about 167lbs) but in great shape. Due to Hockey and Weight Training. 
    
    	Now, the reason I was inspired by him.  He's a member of the RCMP
    in B.C. and he's the smallest guy on the force.  When ever they get
    called to "bar brawls", my brother would get picked on by other Cops,
    sayin' stuff like..."Maybe you should wait in the car little guy?".  But 
    my brother Steve (aka the Pitbull) would be the first one in the door and
    he would be the first one getting swung at cause...well...he's the
    little cop, right?  Well my Bro hasn't lost one grudge match...yet!
    
    	So I guess my brother has always taught me to never limit myself.
    
    		Jay