TherEx:  As we start the third day of Spring for the year 2017 I would like to take a moment to share a bit of personal information and insights.

As of today my weight is 184 lbs after my shower this morning.  I experienced a full-blown “Wake up call” on November 28, 2015 (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) while looking at photos from two days earlier and stepping on the scale and seeing 250 lbs.

I had never been that heavy and the significance and symmetry of the number hit home hard and along with the pictures was undeniable.

I set a goal at that moment to lose 25 lbs by the time of my son’s wedding in February.  I did NOT want to be the “fat father of the groom”.

The changes I made to my “eating plan” ( I despise the word diet and all the negative connotations in conjures) were not extreme healthier choices most of the time, smaller amounts most of the time and less alcohol most of the time.

I had pretty much always worked out and enjoyed it but had realized at this time that I wasn’t ever consistent enough ( “a couple of days off won’t kill me”)  nor did I push myself nearly enough (“doing something is better than nothing”).

These realizations all triggered a change of attitude that along with my “goal” inspired me. My attitude was one of enjoying ways to eat more healthy and still enjoy my creature comforts and my attitude on working out became one of I “get to” as opposed to I have to.

I reached my goal weighing 223 lbs on my Son’s wedding day and carrying it reasonably well to the point of receiving a few compliments here and there (most notably from my father in law).

The point of sharing this information is this.  At this point in my past I would have basked in the glory of my achievement, likely gone on a binge and a bender and found myself a month later back to 235-240 saying “I’ve got to get back into it”.

I didn’t!! I set a new goal!! 185  lbs 32-34″ waist and an “athletic build’.  I have made the weight! My waist is now 35″ (which kinda sucks because pants typically go 34″-36”) which is slighty short of the mark but…  “Athletic Build”  not quite yet I would classify myself as having what they are calling these days a “Dad’s Bod”.

Once again in the past hitting 185 would have probably set off a lazy period  of self-satisfaction for me but not this time.  I am committed to myself and to a group of other people to “keep going”, to get to the 32″-34″ waist on the “Athletic Build”.

Where does this tie into therapeutic exercise and rehabilitation?  Thanks for asking! Over the 27 years I’ve spent in physical therapy I have seen too many time to count that a patient comes in, goes through the rehab process, reaches their “therapy goals”, is discharged, happy with results just to return in 6 weeks “just like I was right after the accident”.

The point is yes we need goals but once we have achieved a goal therapeutically, fitness wise, relationship wise, career wise etc.  It doesn’t mean we have to stop, and in most cases we shouldn’t stop!

Goals should be a stepping stone to a higher level of success in all aspects of life.

I have personally been a victim of “settling” and being content with mediocrity most of my life.  My advice: Don’t fall victim to this, continue the program your therapist provides expand on it.  Look for new things in other aspects of life as well.

Try to accomplish at least one amazing thing each day!!

Sports:  As the NBA season begins to wind down fans of the league have been witness to an individual season long performance for the ages.   Russell Westbrook of The Oklahoma City Thunder is on pace to average a triple double (double figures in points, assists and rebounds).  If he accomplishes this it will be the first time a player has done so since the legendary Oscar Robertson did it for The Cincinnati Royals in 1961-62.

Robertson’s historic season also happened to coincide with Wilt Chamberlain’s historic season averaging 50.4 points per game and 25.7 rebounds per game (as well as scoring 100 points in a game).

Funny thing is Robertson was third and Chamberlain was second in the leagues MVP vote that year (back then voted on by the players) to Bill Russell; who playing with Boston Celtics had a better record  and ended up winning their 4th straight title.

If what I hear from the “experts” and “insiders” on television and radio is true; Westbrook will suffer much the same fate this year likely losing out on the MVP trophy to James Harden of the Houston Rockets.

The reasoning behind this seems to be that Harden has led the Rockets to a better record than Westbrook will have with The Thunder.

This begs a question I’ve had and have brought up a number of times.  How do they define and determine “Valuable” in The Most Valuable Player or MVP award?

Back in 61-62 The Celtics won as they always did with a better “team” than any one else.  Where would the Warriors or the Royals have been without Wilt or Big “O” on their teams?Likely much worse off than The Celtics without Russell.  They were significantly more “valuable” to their teams.

I would argue the same for Westbrook vs Harden or even throw  Lebron James into the mix.

Without Westbrook The Thunder are looking at numerous ping-pong balls in the NBA Lottery while without Harden or James The Rockets and Cavs are at least still competitive.

So is it “truly” The M”V”P award?

RocknRoll:  The music world was rocked the other day when the news broke that the legendary Glen Campbell had now succumbed enough to Alzheimer’s Disease that he could no longer play guitar.

This incredible performer in his day set the standard for the “crossover” hit from Country into the Pop/ Rock charts.

He can also lay claim to being a member of one of the all time RocknRoll bands The Beach Boys having replaced Bryan Wilson on tour for a while.

He was also one of the most sought out studio musicians of his time.

I’m very happy to live in the age of technology that we do where you can plug a name into your computer and find and watch their great work.

In this sense we will always have Glen Campbell.

That’s all for now!! Until next time.

Live Well!!

Play Hard!!

And RocknRoll!!

Peace!!