Woodstock

Slow the “H” Up

, , , , , , / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By

Date; 04/02/2024

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Pax: Bunt, Chattahoochee, Probe, Streudel, Ruxpin, Woodstock & Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 20 IC

Imperial Walkers – 20 IC  

Moroccan Night Clubs – 51 IC

Bolt 45’s – 15 squats to halfway down.   15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats

Windmills – 15 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

The Thang

We completed a Modified Burp Back Mountain at “Oh Hill No”….Pax completed 50 Burpees each.  10 Burpees, then NUR up the hill to the first light pole and run down.  10 More Burpees, then NUR up the hill and run back down.  Each Pax completed 5 rounds for 50 Burpees.  We took a break for the 3rd F message that referenced slowing down.  We completed 5 more burpees and a final NUR up the hill and a run down before moving on to the next pain station.  At the Bank parking lot, we completed a 10:40 Captain Therkin set which is 1 big boy to 4 American hammers then 5 merkins.  2 big boys to 8 American hammers then 5 merkins.  3 big boys  to 12 American hammers then 5 merkins. We completed the set up to 10 big boys, 40 American hammers and 5 merkins.

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.

F3 Message 04/02/24

SLOWING DOWN SO YOU CAN HEAR – #7864

Thursday, March 2, 2017

I hear a lot of wives complain about communication being a problem in their marriage. It sure was for my wife and me on a trip we took one summer. We had a lot of miles to cover in our van in one day – one very hot day. The day the air conditioner decided not to work, which meant we had to travel with all the windows down or have a sauna on wheels for the next 12 hours. I had a lot of work to do on this trip, and my wife enjoyed driving, so she was in front where it’s really good for the driver to be, and I was in the back of the van with my computer. Now, about communication? No way. No matter how important the information was, we couldn’t possibly yell loud enough to overcome the wind. All you could see was lips moving; it was like a silent movie. So, we had to save up anything we wanted to say for toll booths, traffic jams, and any place where we had to slow down. Those were the only times we could hear anything!

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Slowing Down So You Can Hear.”

Our word for today from the Word of God, we’re in 1 Kings 19:11-13. God’s prophet Elijah has been on a fast track of activity and now he’s hit this time of deep emotional turbulence. He really needs to hear from the Lord. He does, but not in the form he might have expected.

Here’s what the Bible says, “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” That day, in a quiet whisper from heaven, God’s servant received just the word he needed from God.

God often whispers. And you’ve got to be quiet to hear what He has for your heart. We like the dramatic spiritual experiences – the winds and the quakes and the fire. And sometimes God does speak to us through the high-octane spiritual moments. But often what our heart most needs to hear comes in His gentle whisper. And like that day of the roaring wind in our van, you can only hear what He’s trying to say when you slow down.

Which you may not have done much lately. Which may explain why your soul is getting so dry and brittle and why there’s confusion instead of direction, why there’s weakness instead of power, more frustration than peace. You’ve been traveling too fast to hear the whisper of God.

God’s message to you is, “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps.46:10). You’ve just got to find some time when you and the Lord can have some quality time. You’ve got to get back your daily quiet time with Him. You’ve got to get those Sabbaths that you’ve been losing or neglecting.

And it may be that God has brought some of the difficulty of recent days into your life for the express purpose of slowing you down so you can hear Him. God uses a lot of instruments as brakes on our overheated lives like an illness, an injury, the loss of your job, a financial crisis, a crisis in your family. When we won’t put on the brakes, the Father who loves us will. If He has you in a slow down zone right now, don’t fight it. Don’t just endure it. Open up your heart to your Lord to hear what you might never have been able to hear at 70 MPH.

In our high speed lives, the times to slow down become very important. They might be the only times you can really hear what God and others who love you have to say.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Merkins Make Me Mad

, , , , , , , , , / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By

Date: 03/05/2024

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Pax: Bunt, Wood, Pooh, Deez, Semi, Woodstock, Ruxpin, Chattahoochee, Probe, Fireplex

Warm up

Merkins – 20 OYO

SSH – 20 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

 Bolt 45’s IC (4 Count) – 15 squats to halfway down.  15 squats halfway to full down.  15 full squats.

Windmills – 15 IC

Imperial Walkers – 15 IC

The Thang

Super 21 Routine – 21 Merkin & 21 Big Boys, 20 Merkins & 20 Big Boys, 19 Merkins & 19 Big Boy’s, repeat until completing 1 of both.  Equals 231 of each exercise. 

Spartan Run Routine – Run/sprint 100 yards (modified to 50 yards) and drop and do 15 merkins.  Plank until all PAX are complete.  Wosey back to the start.  Run/sprint 100 yards (modified to 50 yards) and drop and do 15 merkins.  10 reps for 150 merkins for the exercise (Totals 150 if 10 reps of 15 are complete).

A total of 401 merkins for the beat down includes the 20 completed on the warm-up.

F3 Message 03/05/24

THE ANGER MONSTER – #9437

March 14, 2023

As an airline passenger, those video images from the Los Angeles airport that day were just plain disturbing: a human stampede, terrified passengers, fleeing from a gunman on the loose in the terminal.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Anger Monster.”

These explosions of violence have happened in a theater, a mall, a school, an office, a church. The bullets may start flying any place, leaving behind lost and shattered lives. And you can be pretty sure the person pulling the trigger is an angry man. Whose anger – often hidden from those who know him, one day erupts like a volcano, destroying whatever is in its path.

My sense is that there are a lot of angry people around us these days, seething inside, sinking into a darker and more dangerous place each day. You see it surface as road rage, angry parents at their kids’ games, frustrated shoppers, bullies at school and on the Internet creating anger in their victims.

Usually, behind anger is pain. Angry people feel wounded, wronged, unheard, victimized, and taking it out on whoever inadvertently pushes their buttons. Many times there are, in fact, things in their past that have left them broken inside, but never with an excuse to wound or do violence to someone else because of it.

I suppose, at one time or another, each of us is the angry person. Not on a rampage to end lives, but angry enough to inflict some serious damage on people around us. Most often the people we love the most.

Mount St. Helens in Washington used to be considerably higher until she literally blew her top in an eruption one day. The eruption didn’t last long. The damage? That’s there forever. Underlying a lot of our explosive moments is this full glass thing. If I pour water into a half-empty glass, it will take quite a bit to make it spill, right? But if I’m going through life with a glass that’s already full, it only takes a drop to make it spill. And there are plenty of “drops” in a day’s time; aggravations, conflict, and difficulties.

And with the spill comes the lashing out. Usually the violence is the verbal kind. The world’s best-selling book, the Bible, describes it as “reckless words (that) pierce like a sword.” See, long after the wounder has forgotten, the wounded carries the scars of that anger.

Part of the problem is that some of us were raised to stuff our emotions. We don’t deal with them. That’s what fills up the glass. The time bomb’s going to keep ticking until we make room in that glass, which means taking a bold healing step; facing that pain that we’ve stuffed in our closet. It’s the match that keeps lighting the fuse of the anger and leaving a trail of burn victims in our wake.

It may mean walking through the pain with a counselor. Or digging deep into spiritual resources for the most liberating step a wounded person can take – forgiving. Even seeking forgiveness from those who’ve been the victim of my anger.

Maybe the kids are right. There actually is a monster in the closet, a wounded monster, who needs to be dragged out into the light so the healing can begin. Ironically, it is often the “monsters” that we can’t control that drive us to a greater power; someone who has repeatedly proven He can subdue the dark forces that control us. The dark side is what drives me to Jesus Christ.

When He was on earth, He encountered a man in the grip of forces so dark no one could control him. And it says, “He tore the chains apart… No one was strong enough to subdue him.” No one except Jesus. He expelled the “evil spirit.” And the man ended up “sitting at Jesus’ feet… in his right mind” (Luke 8). Jesus is still doing miracles like that, fixing what’s broken inside us, transforming the evil inside us. That victory over our darkness cost Him his life at the cross.

Our word for today from the Word of God, Revelation 1:5 says, “He loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood.” Today He wants to bring peace into the angry storm in your life if you’ll open the door of your heart to Him. How to do that? Go to our website. You’ll find it there – ANewStory.com – and let Him begin the transforming relationship that tames the monster inside.

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

December Ultimate

, , , , , , , , , / Leave a Comment / Aegis, DE, Georgetown / By

QIC: Semi

Warm-a-Rama

20 seal jacks i/c
20 seal waves i/c
20 plank jacks i/c
Side shuffle around circle, switch facing direction halfway
10 hip circles each direction oyo
15 Michael Phelps i/c
15 mountain man pooper i/c
Toy Soldier halfway around circle, lt dan the other half

The Thang

Patriot run to Ruxpin’s distillery by the way by the railroad tracks

15 hanging knees raises oyo

Mosey to field by church

Ultimate frisbee – 2 teams of 5
Turn overs – 5 merkins.       Total – a lot!
Touch downs – 5 burpees.  Total – 30, 35

3rd F

WHY DOGS LIVE LESS THAN HUMAN

Here’s the surprising answer of a 6 year old child.

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that dogs’ lives are shorter than human lives.  Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, ”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The six-year-old continued,

”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay for as long as we do.”

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

• When your loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
• Take naps.
• Stretch before rising.
• Run, romp, and play daily.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Be faithful.
• Never pretend to be something you’re not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

That’s the secret of happiness that we can learn from a good dog.

Mosey back to circle

Number Rama
NAME-A-RAMA
COT

10 HIM showed today: Semi, Woodstock, Chattahoochee, Fireplex, Whirlybird, Wood, Bunt, Chauffer, Ruxpin, Spaceman

A Grand Old Focker

, , , , , , , , , / Leave a Comment / Milford, The Grit Mill / By
, , , , , , , , ,

DATE: 14 JUNE 2023

QIC: Focker

YHC took the Q today on the 248th birthday of the United States Army and the day we honor the flag of this great nation. The warm up consisted of 6 exercises for 14 repetitions since today is 6/14. The beatdown consisted of 8 exercises for 31 repetitions each for a total of 248 repetitions to honor the 248th birthday of the US Army. After completion of all 8 exercises we did a short lap in the parking lot. After the last round of exercises we completed a long lap and ended the beatdown with a Sherlock Shuffle. We completed 3 rounds of the 8 exercises. Upon completion of the COT all HIM present lined up and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

WARM-O-RAMA:

Hip Circles – 7 each direction

Moroccan Night Club – 14 IC

Turn & Bounce – 14 IC

Cherry Pickers – 14 IC

Windmill – 14 IC

SSH – 14 IC

THE THANG:

MERKINS – 31

SQUATS – 31

LBCs – 31

DIPs – 31

CALF RAISES – 31

FLUTTER KICKS – 31 IC

WIDE ARM MERKINS – 31

PLANK JACKS – 31

LAP

3 RD F:

The U.S. ARMY BIRTHDAY

America’s Revolutionary War began on 19 April 1775 with exchanges of musketry between British regulars and Massachusetts militiamen at Lexington and Concord. As their fellow citizen soldiers from New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island responded to the alarm, a state of war existed between the four colonies and the British government. Called the Army of Observation, a force of New Englanders surrounded Boston and had the British troops who occupied it under siege, but they needed help. They appealed to delegates who represented all thirteen colonies to join them in the struggle for American liberty.

When the delegates to the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on 10 May, they soon learned that armed men commanded by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold had captured the British forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain in New York. The constitutional crisis, in which Americans sought a redress of grievances from the British king and Parliament, had become open hostilities. The delegates realized that even though many desired reconciliation, they would now have to address the new military situation. The Congress took the next step that eventually transformed a local rebellion into a war for independence when it established the Continental Army: the force we know today as the U.S. Army.

On 14 June 1775, Congress “Resolved, That six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia… [and] as soon as completed, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry, under the command of the chief Officer in that army.”

The delegates then prescribed an oath of enlistment that required the soldiers to swear:

“I have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said. Army.”

The next day Congress voted to appoint George Washington “to command all the Continental forces” and began laying the foundation for “the American army.”

The Origins of Flag Day

That the flag of the United States shall be of thirteen stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of thirteen stars of white in a blue field, representing the new constellation. 

This was the resolution adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The resolution was made following the report of a special committee which had been assigned to suggest the flag’s design.  A flag of this design was first carried into battle on September 11, 1777, in the Battle of the Brandywine. The American flag was first saluted by foreign naval vessels on February 14, 1778, when the Ranger, bearing the Stars and Stripes and under the command of Captain Paul Jones, arrived in a French port. The flag first flew over a foreign territory in early 1778 at Nassau, Bahama Islands, where Americans captured a British fort.

Both President Wilson, in 1916, and President Coolidge, in 1927, issued proclamations asking for June 14 to be observed as the National Flag Day. But it wasn’t until August 3, 1949, that Congress approved the national observance, and President Harry Truman signed it into law.

NUMBER-RAMA:

NAME-O-RAMA:

COT / BOM:

Announcements: Labor Day beatdown at the boardwalk on Labor Day. Sherlock will post more about kickball tournament. Prayer requests: Quattros father-in-law and family, Ruxpins M and family, my son and his upcoming surgery. All the unspoken needs and intentions of all HIM present and the HIM in our group.

Non Dominant Kickball

, , , , , , , , , , / Leave a Comment / CHOP, DE, Milton, DE / By

QIC: Semi

Warm-a-Rama
20 seal jacks i/c
15 seal waves i/c
10 mountain man pooper i/c
30 marrocan nightclub i/c
10 Imperial walkers i/c

The Thang

Mosey to back parking lot of Milton elementary
Split into teams
Kick with non dominant foot
Throw with non dominant hand
Pitcher rolls ball with dominant hand
Mosey back to CHOP

3Rd F

Don’t fret over the little things.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/893123661937731?s=yWDuG2&fs=e&mibextid=Nif5oz


Round of Mary
20 hello dollies i/c
20 Sitting gas pumpers i/c

Number-Rama
NAME-A-RAMA
COT

Ruxpin received his patch for 100 workouts this year.

11 HIM showed today: Semi, Fireplex, Chattahoochee, Toy Soldier, Pooh, Wood, Woodstock, Bunt, Sherlock, Probe, Ruxpin

Mighty Thor

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , / Leave a Comment / Aegis, DE, Georgetown / By

QIC: Semi

Warm-a-Rama
20 Seal Jack i/c
20 plank jack i/c
10 hip circles each direction oyo
Side shuffle around circle switching facing direction halfway
20 seal waves i/c
20 Imperial walkers i/c
10 screaming lunges per side oyo

The Thang

Merkins 20
Bent over row 10
Sit thru 20
Rest 30 sec
Floor fly 20
Renegade row 10 (double count)
Mountain climbers 20 (double count)
Rest 30 sec
Lunge 10 (double count)
Floor tricep ext. 10
Bear crawl/crawl bear 30 sec
Rest 30 sec
Repeat 2 times

3rd F

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=617381326516975&id=100047353381940&mibextid=Nif5oz

Captain Therkin
1:4 ratio with 5 merkins between each set
1 Big boy to 4 American hammers, 5 merkins
Finish is 10:40

10 burpees for the train

Chappie run to railroad tracks, back to the circle (water in mouth)
10 burpees for completion

Number-Rama
NAME-A-RAMA
COT

23 HIM showed today: Semi, Swartz, Quattro, Fireplex, Chattahoochee, Gator, Lunchable, Pedals, Ruxpin, Cinco, Pick, Itty Biddie, Biddie, Toy Soldier, T-rex, Waterfall, Double Ott, Doodle, Bunt, Sweet n Low, Woodstock, Yukon, Mr Mom

Hydraulic What ? Hill No !

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By

Date: 04/04/2023

AO: CHOP, Milton, DE

QIC: Fireplex

Warm up

SSH – 25 IC

Cherry Pickers – 15 IC

Hydraulic Bolt 45’s – 15 squats full up to half-way down, 15 squats half-way down to full down, & 15 hydraulic squats full motion (6 Count).  All completed IC.

Windmills – 15 IC

The Thang

Mosey to “Oh Hill No” and complete a round of Merkin Jax.  Merkin Jax are a 1:4 ratio of I merkin to 4 plank jacks followed by 2 merkins to 8 plank jacks continuing until reaching the 10:40 ratio.  Next all Pax lined up for a modified Spartan Run Routine – Nur up the hill and run down and drop and do 15 merkins. Nur up the hill and run down and drop and do 15 merkins. All Pax completed the evolution as many reps as possible (AMRAP) with the remainder of the time available before moseying back to CHOP.

F3 Message

Mosey back to CHOP

Count-O-Rama, Name-O-Rama, and the Circle of Trust.  Prayers were offered for multiple needs within the attending PAX, but please keep all our HIM in your thoughts and prayers.  

F3 Message 04/04/23

THE SURPRISING SECRET OF GREATNESS – #9292

August 23, 2022

The book is called Good to Great. It’s a thought-provoking book on management written by Jim Collins and a research team that he headed. They identified eleven of the most effective companies in the United States, and then they pursued this question: “What specifically makes these companies so different?” This research actually challenged many of the author’s preconceptions. There were actually lots of surprises. Interestingly, the first thing Collins and his team point to as common to every one of these consistently successful companies is this, and it is a surprise – the modesty of the various CEOs who led them. They suggest that the starting point of a great company is a humble leader – highly focused, sometimes driven people – but known for being gracious, self-effacing, understated. I guess in a word, humble.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Surprising Secret of Greatness.”

If you’ve listened much to what Jesus says about leadership, those recent “discoveries” shouldn’t be a great surprise to you. In Mark 10, beginning with verse 42, our word for today from the Word of God, Jesus presents what most people believe about being a leader – and then the truth according to Jesus.

He says: “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them…not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” Then Jesus backs it up with the way He lived His own life: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus believes that you can earn your authority in people’s lives by serving them, by putting them first, by helping them succeed. And, sure enough, the most contemporary research only reinforces the importance of humility in leadership. The Good to Great authors illustrate their conclusions in this area with what they call windows and mirrors. When these successful CEOs do something right, they walk over to a window and point to all the reasons out there (especially all the other people) that are the reasons for their success. When they do something wrong, they walk to a mirror and they assume the blame themselves. Less effective leaders? Well, the authors say they do it just the other way around – when things go wrong they point out the window and point to excuses and explanations. When things are going right, they go to the mirror to admire the one who deserves the credit they think.

Whether you’re in a position to lead your children, or lead a business, or a staff, or a church, a class, a project, a ministry, don’t fall for the popular lies about leading people – that success means being pushy or punishing, pulling rank, playing politics, manipulating, promoting yourself. No, it’s humble servanthood that is the surprising secret of success. That’s humility as in always being teachable, and courteous, vulnerable, willing to accept responsibility rather than place blame; caring about the person, not just the project.

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft’s godly father tried to prepare him for life in the nation’s Capitol after his son had gotten elected to the United States Senate. Listen to what he said, “John, the culture of Washington is a culture of arrogance.” (By the way, most power-centers are.) He said, ” But the culture of Jesus is a culture of humility. Don’t get sucked into the culture of arrogance.”

That’s good advice for any of us who have someone to lead. Remember, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

Respectfully Submitted,

Fireplex

Benvenuto Boob Job

, , , , , / Leave a Comment / Milford, The Grit Mill / By
, , , , ,

DATE: 9 MARCH 2023

QIC: Focker

YHC took his Q today on day 65 of his 75 Hard and his 50th workout of the year. Being that it is March Merkin Madness in the F3 First State my workout was focused on merkins and leg work. A daily principle of 75 Hard is reading 10 pages of a self help book and I chose to share from a book I’ve been reading titled ATOMIC HABITS by James Clear for the focus of my 3rd F.

WARM-O-RAMA:

  • X15 IC SSH
  • x15 IC Imperial Walkers
  • x10  Fwd Arm Circles
  • x10  Bwd Arm Circles
  • x10 Hip Circles each direction
  • x10 Knee Circles each direction
  • x15 IC Seal Claps

THE THANG:

  • x10 OYO Merkins
  • x10 OYO Diamond Merkins
  • — x15 IC SSH —
  • x10 OYO HR Merkins
  • x10 OYO Wide Merkins
  • — x15 IC Imperial Walkers —
  • x10 OYO Ranger Merkins
  • x10 OYO Crucible Merkins
  • — x15 IC Squats —
  • x10 OYO R Stagger Merkins
  • x10 OYO L Stagger Merkins

x15 each OYO:

  • Chinook Squats (3 overhead arm circles then squat)
  • Alt. Lunges
  • Jump Squats
  • Dead Lifts

Repeat all of the above x3
Total 240 Merkins, x225 Leg Exercises

3 RD F:

5 Life-Changing Lessons From Atomic Habits

Atomic Habits by James Clear is an excellent resource when it comes to guides on habit and behavior change.

In this book, Clear provides a highly effective, practical, and step-by-step framework to how to start good habits and how to end bad habits. This framework is based on the best techniques from behavioral science.

The purpose of the book is to help you achieve remarkable results more efficiently and methodically. It is filled with countless examples from smoking, reading, meditating, exercising, writing, biting nails, drinking more water, managing social media, sleep, and more.

If you’re looking to upgrade yourself and move towards becoming the best version of yourself, then Atomic Habits is a read for you.

1 — The Power of Compounding

“1% better every day for a year will compound to nearly 38 times better”.

1% really does matters over time. Clear begins the book with a very compelling story of a cycling coach who helped the British cycling team make lots of very small improvements which added up to big results.

Tiny changes in our habits can change the trajectory of our lives in ways that we can’t even notice until many years into the future looking back. In both good ways and bad. You are your habits. Far too often, we convince ourselves of one-night miracles or that massive success is only possible through massive actions. However, it is the tiny improvements, that aren’t even noticeable at first, that create incredible change.

If you make a very small 1% improvement in your health, your time management, or your relationships and keep that improvement over the next year or 365 days, that 1% improvement can really pay off. This can take off exponentially if you make a 1% improvement today, and then make another additional 1% improvement tomorrow, and repeat making these small improvements over the next year.

Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. The same way that money multiplies through compound interest, the effects of your habits multiply as you repeat them. They seem to make little difference on any given day and yet the impact they deliver over the months and years can be enormous.

2 — Goals vs Systems

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of the systems”.

The way we generally think about goals is slightly flawed. We want to achieve something and hence go ahead and set a goal for ourselves, but we don’t think beyond. Often, we are so tunnel-visioned that we forget how to set up steps to achieve our goals and sometimes when we do reach our goals we don’t know what to do next.

Both successful and unsuccessful people have the same goals but only a select few achieve them. So then the question is what’s the difference between them and how important is setting up the right goals?

Fundamentally goals are about the results you want but systems are about the process that leads to it. Our systems can replace motivation with routine. For example, instead of telling yourself “I should do some exercise to get fit”, you’re saying “It’s Monday — time to exercise”.

3 — Change Your Identity

The most effective way to change your habits is to focus not on what you want to achieve, but on who you wish to become.

The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity. True behavior change is identity change. The ultimate aim for any habit is to change your identity into something you want to become. So instead of an outcome-driven habit or action, you need to shift towards an identity-driven habit system

The Three Layers of Behavior Change:

  1. Outcomes: changing your results, e.g. losing weight. Most of the goals you set are at this level
  2. Process: changing your habits and systems, e.g. developing a meditation practice. Most of the habits you build live at this level
  3. Identity: changing your beliefs, e.g. your worldview or self-image. Most of the beliefs, assumptions, and biases you hold are associated with this level

4 — The Habit Loop

A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough times to become automatic. Their ultimate purpose is to solve problems on an auto-pilot mode (with as little energy and thought as possible).

Any habit is essentially a feedback loop of four phases:

1 — Cue (Make it obvious): The starting point or simply, what triggers your brain to initiate a behavior. The bit of information that predicts a reward.

2 — Craving (Make it attractive): the motivational force behind every habit. You don’t crave the habit itself, but the change in state it leads to or the pleasure associated with it (e.g. you do not crave smoking a cigarette, you crave the feeling of relief it provides).

3 — Response (Make it easy): the actual habit/action you perform, as a thought or action. Whether a response occurs depends on how motivated you are and the amount of friction associated with the behavior. If the motivation is greater than the friction you need to overcome to perform the action this phase will be initiated.

4 — Reward (Make it satisfying): the end goal of every habit. We chase rewards because they satisfy our cravings and teach us which actions are worth remembering in the future.

Let’s apply these practical tips to someone who is looking to work out consistently.

Set your athletic clothes, shoes, water bottle and bag somewhere they are clearly visible in your room (cue). Follow a simple workout routine that’s fun and efficient that fits within your schedule (craving). Train at home, or choose a gym that is as close to home as possible (response). Log the workout in your journal or calendar. Progress makes you feel good (Reward).

5 — The Goldilocks Rule

“Start small, be consistent and keep moving”

It is important for us to not get carried away when setting goals and targets. Human motivation peaks right at the edge of comfort, just slightly challenging from their present abilities, neither too hard nor too easy. Therefore, it is important that whenever you are starting a new habit, the set expectations are not too insane. Build up slowly so that these new challenges keep you engaged and motivated.

Atomic Habits is useful to you if you want to develop better habits, quit bad ones or find ways to increase your motivation.

NUMBER-RAMA:

NAME-O-RAMA:

COT / BOM:

Announcements included: RovingRuckFest in The Boro tomorrow, Memorial Day is coming up, and the F3 Family ShamRuck on Friday March 17th in Lewes, meeting at the Library with a ruck to Dairy Queen. See Deez’ post on group me for further details.

Prayers were lifted up for our brother T-Rex and his father, Sherlock and his father, Fireplex and his father. Additional grace and strength was requested for all the unspoken needs for all HIM of F3 First State to continue to be men of leadership in their homes and communities.

FOCKER OUT!

Roll & Rock

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , / Leave a Comment / CHOP, Milton, DE / By

QIC: Chappie

Date: 2/28/23

A double-deuce of PAX (22) won #thatfirstbattle and posted for YHC’s Roll & Rock workout: I.e. Roll the dice and rock out the reps and run. So it could be called Reps & Run as well, but that’s just not as catchy. YHC has been on a hiatus so it was good to be back out in the Gloom. Welcome to this morning’s two FNG’s: Lil’ Joe (yes, Hoss brought him) and Snagglepuss; so named because he posted last week, but he exited Stage Left after YHC Rick Rolled him. IYKYK. Oh, there were many other nickname options like Houdini, Stage Left, Casper, Walk-Off, etc., however, when an FNG states he doesn’t particularly like a name, well, he gets THAT name–it’s just the F3 way! Lol. Again, welcome to F3FirstState Lil Joe and Snagglepuss! That being said, here’s how things went down…

COP/Official Disclaimer given

WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH – 18 IC
  • Hip Circles – 10 L, 10 R OYO
  • The MOTIVATOR – Always a crowd-pleaser
  • Cherry Pickers – 18 IC
  • Imperial Walker – 15 IC

THE THANG: (no standing around, no stopping, only Planking acceptable)

The Brief: Roll the Dice & Rock the reps, then run. Clydesdales run the short lap (.27 miles); Shivering Whippets run the long block (.05 miles)

Round 1 – Rolled a 14

  • Burp-Jacks – 14
  • 4-Count Freddie’s – 14 IC
  • A2G Squats – 14 IC

Run around respective blocks

Shared 3rdF, check it out at this link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnmhFsXL0Z0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Here’s YHC’s adapted hard copy:

This is from Skip Bertman when he was head baseball coach at LSU and led the Tigers to 5 National Championships: Let’s say you have 25 nickels to represent 25 guys on the team, in your group, or at your respective workplaces. (Bertman stacks the nickels)

Boy, they’re easy to stack, aren’t they? We can put ’em right on top…on top of one another, and you can stack all 25, not much of a problem. We can stay together, we can be one. But, boy, if you have one guy, bent out of shape, not in the system; some guy who’s not with it (kinda just settled on doing his own thing his own way). I guess we could carry him for awhile [places bent nickel on top of stack]. If you had two guys, maybe we can carry…maybe two guys like that [places 2nd bent nickel on stack]. But they can offer no foundation, you see. If they’re bent out of shape, not with the team, group, or company) there’s no chance that we’re going to be able build on top of these guys [places bent nickels on bottom and tries placing others on top]. There’s no chance they can help any of us. If we try and put ’em in the middle and we try and stack some guys on them, but they’re bent out of shape—their altitudes are different than the rest…it’s just not going to happen, boys! [Bertman places bent nickels in middle with nickels on top, they fall]. You can’t be bent out of shape (just doing your own thing, in your own way, if your part of something bigger). HIM gotta be with the team (the group, the company and they gotta stay together and gotta be One as they strive to carry out the mission of that team, group, or company that hired them. Or as Skip Bertman said, “You gotta remember the nickel demonstration.”

Time to roll again…

Round 2 – Rolled a 6

  • Bearcrawl out/Crawlbear back (count only left step) – 6 steps
  • Dying Cockroaches – 6 IC (double count)
  • Lunges (count only left step) – 6 out/back

Run respective blocks

Round 3 – Rolled a 15

  • Hand-Release Merkins – 15 OYO
  • Triple Threat Gas Pumpers (side-middle-side) – 15 IC
  • MJB’s – 15

Omaha due to time: All PAX run short block

  • Clydesdale total run distance = .81 miles
  • Shivering Whippets total run distance = 1.27 miles

Note to self: Mumblechatter Radar detected words to the effect, that, “We need to do some more running...”

COT:

  • Number-Rama – 22 PAX
  • Name-O-Rama – FNG’s named Lil Joe & Snagglepuss
  • Announcements: Happy 51st Birthday to Ruxpin…REEESPECT! ShamRuck (family ruck) coming up Friday, March 17 @ 6:30. Stepping off from the Aegis AO. ShamRuck FAQ’s: see Deez.
  • Prayers: T-Rex’s dad; travel mercy for Chauffer; Blockbuster’s success going before Soldier-of-the-Month Board today, etc., and for God to help us all to be HIM instead “bent nickels”

YHC is glad to be back out. Thanks men!

Chappie, out!

FOCKER can HIIT

, , , , , , , , , , / Leave a Comment / Milford, The Grit Mill / By
, , , , , , , , , ,


DATE: 15 February 2023
QIC: Focker
11 PAX won the first battle of the day by getting out of bed and posting in the gloom for a beatdown. YHC has been undertaking the 75 Hard for 43 days now and has been doing extra workouts using the iFit app at home, which inspired todays HIIT beatdown. The beatdown uses a 5:1 work to rest ratio doing 50 seconds of an exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest. The PAX will perform 5 exercises for 4 rounds.
WARM-O-RAMA:
• HIP CIRCLES OYO – 10 EACH DIRECTION
• TURN AND BOUNCE – 15 IC
• CHERRY PICKERS – 20 IC
• SSH – 25 IC
• IMPERIAL WALKERS – 20 IC
• STARTING AT BENVENUTO ENTRANCE MOSEY DOWN AND BACK TO THE ENTRANCE LANE (0.1 MILE) WOSEY TO CORNER OF BUILDING AND BACK (0.05 MILE)

THE THANG:
HIIT BEATDOWN 5:1 WORK REST RATIO (50 SECONDS EXERCISE AND 10 SECONDS REST) 5 MOVEMENTS FOR 4 ROUNDS
• LATERAL HOP / HIGH KNEE ALTERNATING LEFT / RIGHT
• INCH WORM – WALK OUT TO PLANK TO GROUND OR MERKIN THEN WALK BACK UP
• ALTERNATING REVERSE LUNGES
• HEEL TAP (4) / ALTERNATING SIDE STEP JACK OR SSH
• PLANK WITH ALTERNATING STEP FORWARD OR JUMP IN AND BACK OUT
After two rounds YHC circled the PAX up for his 3rd F. Upon completion of the 3rd F all PAX circled up and completed the remaining 2 rounds.

3 RD F:
OVERCOMING DISAPPOINTMENT
“I will never forsake you or abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5
Let’s face it, there is no way around it, we will all experience disappointment. It is a natural and normal part of life. We have high expectations for ourselves and others, but often, we don’t live up to those expectations.
Debbie is disappointed that she didn’t get the job that she thought was a perfect fit for her skills. She is disappointed in herself, the company and the process. Her disappointment turned into discouragement.
Bill is disappointed that after the undefeated season his baseball team enjoyed, they lost in the finals to a team they should have beaten. Bill is disappointed in himself, his teammates and coaches. He questioned whether he should return nex t season.
Sue thought she and Tom had the perfect marriage until the day Tom announced he was leaving her and the kids because he had fallen in love with his secretary. Sue’s disappointment turned quickly to depression and desperation.
Brian anxiously awaited the results from his surgery. He was disappointed when the surgeon told him that the cancer was worse than they expected. He was disappointed with the doctor and discouraged and angry with God.
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” –Martin Luther King,Jr.
Yes, we will all experience disappointment.
So what can we do when we experience disappointment? And, how do we keep from becoming discouraged or depressed?
Here are some thoughts:
Take some time to grieve. Often these disappointments are devastating. They require time to heal, to reflect, and to try to understand. Know, however, as St. Paul tells us in Romans, We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (8:28)
Examine our Perspective and expectations. We have high expectations for others. And, often time’s people won’t live up to our vision of them. This is especially true for family members. We sometimes have unrealistic expectations for our children, spouses and parents. It has been said that when you have high expectations, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Put your expectations into their proper perspective.
Turn toward and not away from God. When people are discouraged they often make the mistake of blaming God, of going into a shell, no longer attending church and they stop praying. These are times to turn toward our Lord. To gain strength from His promise to us, that He is with us always, that He will never abandon us, that He will see us through the problem and gives us a way out.
Focus on hope. We need to put our faith in God that he will give us a reason to hope. If we dwell on our Lord, and not on the disappointment we will begin to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And, that light begins with our hope.
“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” –Romans 12:12
Be grateful for the good things in our lives. Often we spend so much time on our problems and disappointments that we fail to take a look at the blessings. We may have lost out on that job, but there will be other opportunities and we still have the God given skills. We may be disappointed at losing the big game, but we still have a season full of good memories to motivate us next year. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. –1Thessalonians 5:18

We will all face disappointments during our lives. Dealing with disappointments by trusting in God and His promises will go along way to improving your mental health and happiness.
DROWNING RATS EXPERIMENT
YHC discussed and experiment that was conducted in the 1950s where a scientist put rats in a bucket of water and after a few minutes they would drown and die. However, during his experiment at the moment when the rats had given up and about to die he pulled them out of the water and revived them in his hand. Once they were recovered he placed them back into the water and they continued to swim for over 60 hours before drowning. The scientist surmised that because they were saved once before the rats had hope for being saved again and with that hope they were able to swim longer.

NUMBER-RAMA: 11 – PAX

NAME-O-RAMA:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Roving ruckfest this Friday in Georgetown. New AO in Lewes beginning next week 2/22/2023 at Beacon Middle School. Sherlock will be taking the helm of NANTAN while our ever faithful leader Chappie has to step away to handle his affairs. The Grit Mill is in need of a new Site Q.

COT / BOM:
We lift Chappie up with our prayers as well as Woodstocks mother as she undergoes a surgical procedure today. Also offered up in prayer were all the unspoken needs and attentions of all HIM present and those not present.

Scroll to Top