Just read a Facebook page that Nathan found titled "Tragically Fit", written by a fellow who is hell bent on convincing us that he's a 20,000 year old caveman who was frozen into a block of ice while out for a sustenance discovery mission. Climbing an ice wall with ice hammers made from large fangs or something similar and a big storm caught him unawares. Happens to the best of us sometimes. Lucky for Lurg, he managed to thaw out and is now dedicated to living the cleanest, healthiest life he can. Along with his wife and kids. They're modern. He probably shaved.

Anyhoo, one of the questions Lurg posed was this: Am I a wuss for not going out on a trail run on the advice of a more experienced friend? Inclement weather was approaching and the trail was apparently quite difficult, so Lurg took the easy option of staying in bed. His subsequent dilemma (Lurg seems to be a caveman of many questions) was this: his body is naturally equipped with the ability to withstand the run, but it may have suffered discomfort and possibly injury (rolled ankles, blisters etc). So was he right to stay in bed?

Like all good answers, yes and no don't show their black and white faces. The analogy runs true in the gym as well. Without pushing boundaries, no progress is made. It's a question of proportion. If Lurg had done his groundwork, the weather may not have dissuaded him. In his case it was more training and better wet weather gear. Inside the gym, it's experimenting safely with weights and movements you've never attempted, in order to create a base of strength and movement that you can build on.

This can, of course, be extrapolated into a larger context whereby new movements and heavier weights become new sports and more dedication to physical and mental strength. Your saturday morning jog can become a saturday morning run in the wilderness, or better yet, your saturday morning sleep in can become anything at all! Follow Lurg's example (Lurg is actually a previously overweight middle aged guy from Nebraska) and make the commitment to developing your body into something that gives you joy, not something you have to fight in the mirror and on the scales.

Think of something that you've always wanted to do but thought would be too difficult. Make a plan (get help from someone who has a good idea what you'll be up for) and find a way to do it.
Right now.