Who ever would have thought ironman was one big party? Who said anything about (up to) 17 hrs of pain? Besides, pain is my friend and my greatest teacher, right Craig? It’ll be fun. ** I’ll make it fun** I’ll be thinking of all my supporters here at craigharper.com

Remember # 443 @ Ironman NZ, Sat 6 March

Megan: You’re welcome honey. I hope my enthusiasm was/is contagious! I very much admire you getting into the PT business. It’s something I’m considering too but feel I need some credibility before I commit to the study. I have my business name sorted – I’m pretty excited. Where does credibility come from? It comes from walking your talk. Being a role model. Having that inner glow that people who love life have and who are passionate about what they do. I’d be happy enrolling in a PT course when I’m at my target body composition (?18-20% body fat), when I can do a dozen ‘man’ pushups, when I can do a dozen unassisted chinups, when I can run for an hour and a half at a reasonable pace… and when I’ve finished my first ironman. I have some pretty high expectations, don’t I? I’m setting the bar high. Nothing wrong with that. I don’t want ‘mediocre’ anymore. I want ‘amazing!’

I don’t want anymore self-sabotage from you, ok? Promise? When you *really* want something, nothing is viewed upon as a chore that you hate doing. It’s all about attitude. Just ask Craig here. And remember too… it’s all about YOU (in a non-selfish sense, of course). All the best

Brano – that’s freaky – I watched the exact same speech on the same site (TED) yesterday too!! We must have some cyber-connection

Hi herenow – nice debut. You write very well. I think you did your best in that moment and even though your son is young, the decision (to get in shape) still needs to come from him. Pressure and coercion will do more harm than good (not that you did either). Self esteem and confidence take time to build – especially in such a body-obsessed culture… and especially at such a transitional (and terrifying) age. Love him, support him and tell him when he’s ready to get fitter (don’t focus on weight) you’re there to help. Or tell him to ring uncle Craig

Enjoy your day everyone…

I’m kind of responding to the adolescent Craig standing on the starting blocks, rather than the breakthrough moment, having dropped my newly started high schooler off to school this morning in a complete meltdown because he didn’t want to show his legs and he was wearing shorts.

He doesn’t weigh that much – yet – but he is SO self-conscious, resists moving, comfort/auto eats, knows about the relationship between energy intake and output but hasn’t really made the connection to his actions. Hiding himself behind huge t-shirts. Won’t wear shorts – even when it’s going to be >34oC. I think he’d wear a burkah if he could get away with it.

Adolescent self-esteem…

I can’t manufacture a breakthrough moment for him. But I didn’t help much this morning…

Me: “YOU LOOK FINE, your body is FINE, it’s a GREAT body, be proud of it. You’re very good looking. “
(Well, actually, I said that he’s a big spunk, but that probably won’t translate well for non Australians here.)
Him: “No, it’s not. No, I’m not. I hate my body. I look really bad. I need to wear pants. I feel terrible.”
… (a bombardment? rant? from me to try and snap him out of it or stop him burrowing further into it.)
“Everyone’s too interested in themselves to be interested in what you’ve got on.. no one’s going to notice what you’re wearing. – And you look FINE. Stop creating problems…”
Him: “This is bad …” The mood is getting lower, he’s sinking into himself… gloom, anxiety, low self esteem, burrow, burrow, sink, sink.
Me: Generally increasing frustration, my voice is strained, raised, we’re running late, general theme from me is: “BUCK UP, you look FINE. Everyone’s in shorts. Get over it. What people are going to pick up on is you feeling terrible and withdrawing, not your clothes.” My body’s tense, I’m frustrated, running late now, sounding unsympathetic and a bit aggressive. Way to go in the mothering stakes.

And I so dropped my guy off looking little, lost, and wearing the extra cloak of low self-esteem that because he’s not dressed properly, and feels like he looks terrible and everyone is going to notice. Waaah!

I thought this was girl territory!?!

I don’t think I helped any this morning. Certainly didn’t help with a breakthrough moment. More whacked him over the head with a lot of words which don’t think penetrated – hence my guilt/frustration. We both ended up feeling bad. I didn’t help at all.

Any ideas? Resources? Programs?

That has helped me move slightly forward at the moment.