physical health - Mission: Milspouse

Do You Possess the Willpower to Follow Through?

by George Banker | Feb 10, 2020 | Blog, Expert, Health & Fitness

The months continue to pass by, and what you planned to achieve might have gotten away. What happened to your fitness goals?

It happens too frequently, the interruptions and sacrificing your aspirations to fit in others. But you can still achieve your goals if you want them bad enough. You can analyze what it will take. Do you possess the willpower to follow through?

You can increase your chances of success when you have others to assist and recognize your talents. In order to be successful, you must have the desire to want to improve.

In this column we will visit with Emily Harrison Torrence.

The Journey to Discovering Your Why

by Retired Blogger | Jan 11, 2020 | Blog, Experience, Health & Fitness, Household 6

This time of the year is notorious for finding something in your life that you want to remove, increase, or alter from the previous year into the new year.

I have gone through many New Year’s resolutions in my lifetime. Becoming debt-free is always near the top of my list—each year I am able to decrease it, but never fully cross the finish line. Other times I am able to truly commit to changing my behaviors for a better wiser self.

Why do some of the commitments that we make never survive into February, while others become a lifestyle change? Finding the why inside, that core motivation to make the desired change.

RTWR: Random Thoughts While Running

by George Banker | Jan 10, 2020 | Blog, Expert, Health & Fitness

General Dennis J. Reimer participated in the 35th Army Ten-Miler on Oct. 13, 2019 for his 16th time. The net running time was 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 7 seconds. General Reimer takes the time to look back over his shoulder to the time when he was the Chief of Staff of the United States Army from June 1, 1995 to June 21, 1999.

It is evident that the competitive nature remains.

On Oct. 11, 1998 at the 14th Army Ten-Miler, he was the 1,207 out of 7,933 males in a time of 1:10:45.

More Manageable New Year’s Resolutions

by Retired Blogger | Dec 22, 2019 | Blog, Experience, Health & Fitness, Household 6

Looking forward to a New Year often includes making New Year’s resolutions. Mid-December, I get all optimistic and create lists of things I want to accomplish in the New Year. It’s so easy to dream big in the middle of all the holiday magic. Then, the New Year rolls around and without all the cheerful holiday décor, the gloomy winter days start to drain all that built up holiday magic. I don’t know about you, but it never seems to fail that by mid-January, I’ve already hit a slump for a good chunk of those goals and am spiraling toward defeat.

What if there was a way to help make those New Year’s resolutions more manageable?

Run Like a Girl

by George Banker | Dec 10, 2019 | Blog, Expert, Health & Fitness

A tradition started in 1997 at the 13th Army Ten-Miler—the Commander’s Cup for the top U.S. active-duty female team. In the first year, the ladies from Fort Bragg set a standard for others to follow. The teams are comprised of eight members with the top four to score. The concept is the combination of individual and team effort. Each member is out to give their best performance, and in the mix is the Coach who provides the technical guidance. We all like winning, but it comes down to all giving 100% and leaving it out on the road.

The Fort Bragg women’s team for 2019 was under the leadership of Erica Chabalko (Womack Army Medical Center). The pressure coming into 2019 was 14 wins for the team plus holding the team record of 4 hours, 13 minutes, and 49 seconds (set in 2016). There were 11 teams going for the top honor.

It is one thing to take care of your own exercise program, but to play a part in seven others takes more dedication. I asked Erica to share some thoughts.

Find Your Tribe, Love Them Hard

by Retired Blogger | Nov 15, 2019 | Experience, Health & Fitness, Military Life

I never considered myself an athlete. I swam competitively growing up, but I was rarely on top of any podium. I couldn’t kick a ball if my life depended on it. And I definitely couldn’t run. Not a single mile.

Ever.

But loneliness can make you do some crazy things. Like being freshly postpartum with your third kid in the middle of a deployment and signing up for some weird mommy boot camp exercise class.

I Bet On Me

by George Banker | Nov 12, 2019 | Blog, Expert, Health & Fitness

Take a moment right now and look back on your past year. What have you accomplished? Did you set any goals in the beginning of the year, or did you delay in making a commitment?

As we progress over the years and our priorities change, our lives begin to clutter up with stuff.

Why Do I Run? Part 2

by George Banker | Aug 19, 2019 | Blog, Expert, Health & Fitness

If the first set of comments on “Why Do I Run” didn’t inspire you, then maybe you will find some inspiration in the following. The individuals below are from the novice to the advanced. The common thread that ties them together is that they all were inspired to try something to see if they liked it. Once upon a time, there was a person I was training, and we met a couple of times a week after work. We would hit the track and walk and run only for a couple of miles. After about a month, Candy just came out of the blue and said, “I don’t like running.” Well, that caught me by surprise, but I listened. She just said, “I like walking.” So, we did accomplish one thing—we found out she preferred to walk. Can you say the same?

Why Do I Run? Part 1

by George Banker | Aug 10, 2019 | Blog, Expert, Health & Fitness

Greetings to everyone! Depending on what part of the country you’re from, you could be in the middle of a heatwave. If that’s the case, then just slow down and take it easy.

Speaking of taking it easy…

It’s been two years this month since my mitral heart valve repair, and I am not fully adjusted. I sometimes find myself locked in the past. I’m referring to what I used to do when I should really be focused on what I can do.