Staying in Shape While Sitting on Your Butt

As a voice over artist and editor, I sit on my back side.  A lot.  I go home, and after spending some time with the fam, I jump back on the computer and do voice over work.   It would be easy to never leave my desk, and never see the sun.  I've got two kitchens within 15 seconds of my edit bay by day, and of course another one at home. Now that I'm slightly over 40... ok, closer to 50, it wouldn't take much for me to turn into a gelatinous mass of goo.

But I don't want to turn into a whale, feel lethargic, and die of diabetes shortly after they cut my feet off.  So I had to find a way to stay in shape, something to motivate me.

Unfortunately, for me, I'm kind of an extremist.  Running or working out to "stay in shape" doesn't motivate me - at all. I had to find something extreme-ish to make it fun. So, in the past, I've run a bunch of 5k's and 3 marathons. Marathons are fun. If you haven't tried one, perhaps you should. They really make you appreciate the little things in life - like sitting.

I actually like the gym, and for a while my goal was to get massive and strong.  I got sorta strong - was finally able to bench 325 - but in the process, I got fat.  And hurt my shoulder.  So I decided to go the other way - get as lean as possible for a fragile old man.  I started in November, 2010.  I had been going to the gym 4-5 days per week. But I began going 6 days per week, and doing both cardio and weights every time.

In the beginning of February, when I was in the middle of my new plan, I came across a tranformation contest at bodybuilding.com - so I signed up for that for extra motivation.  I became even more dedicated with my diet.  I'd spend about 1.5 hours per day, 6 days per week in the gym.  And for me, it was fun, motivating, invigorating.  My energy level went up.  After a pretty traumatic 2010, my happiness also went up.  I was excited about life again.

Now that I've finished the contest and have seen the progress I've made, I want to keep going. So for me, this works.  Being in shape effects every area of your life positively.  Life just matters more.

My plan WON'T work for most people - its too much.  Most people find the gym boring. Hey, I'd rather do motocross every day, but that's just not practical in the Los Angeles area.

My advice to YOU, voice over guys, editors, and other butt sitters, is to find what you LIKE to do - walk, run, bike, racquet ball, soccer, tennis, gym, WHATEVER it is that you can do forever, and start doing that, at least 3x per week.  DON'T start some program that you hate, and that you'll quit as soon as the 3 month program is up.  And holy cow dude, put down the bloody Big Mac and bring something healthy from home.

Incidentally, to "reward" myself today, I ate what I wanted:  4 tacos at El Pollo loco, an entire box of Reeces Pieces, and nearly a full bag of mana from heaven, AKA Mint Milanos.  I wanted to throw up after each one of those binges today.

I'm looking forward to getting back on the wagon tomorrow.  A side benefit of eating healthy 95% of the time is that you REALLY appreciate food.  My treat?  A bananan, with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, sprinkled with chocolate protein powder.  Oh baby.



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