Second Wind Stories

Today is exactly ten weeks since I had major spinal surgery. Before the surgery, I had terrible pain running down my legs that hindered me from doing many of the things I love to do, including my regular workout routines. After the surgery, the pain down my legs was gone almost immediately. Since the surgery, I’ve needed to allow the back muscles to heal and the fusion in the spine to form. Today, however, I’m moving so much better than before—moving  without pain. And as of this week I’ve have had all restrictions lifted by the doctor. I’m making my comeback!!   This is not the first time I’ve experienced a physical setback. Especially over the past five years, it seems there’s been one setback after another. Through each one, however, I’ve learned what it takes to go from the setback to the comeback. And this is not mere theory, this is real life—at least it has been for me.  So, here are nine keys that I have found helpful to get me from my setback to my comeback:...

Just over a week ago, I had a second spinal fusion. After a few days in the hospital, I’m currently at home recovering and healing—and trying to keep the pain to a minimum. Right now I’m very dependent upon those around me. And of course, all of my training, at least for the time being, has been put on hold.   The truth is, even before the surgery my body was not functioning all that well. There were many days that I had to pull back on what I was doing due to excruciating pain down my legs. For the last four to five months, I wasn’t able to run; some days even walking the treadmill put me into pain. To say the least, my training has been a bit stop and start—actually more stop than start. Through it all, however, I’ve tried to remind myself that what I’ve been experiencing was not and is not the end of the story!    During this time, I’ve thought back to what it was like leading up to, and just after, my first spinal surgery in 2021. At that point, it felt like all ...

Over the past few months, as I’ve begun my work as a personal trainer, I’ve come across quite a few people who just don’t know where to begin.  Because they’ve allowed themselves to fall into bad habits such as poor food choices, the lack of exercise, minimal daily movement, etc. they are faced with all kinds of physical and even emotional issues. The extra weight, lack of muscle, and/or lack of joint mobility is affecting their everyday lives.  They know they need a change, but they don’t know where to begin.   I know what it’s like to be in their shoes.  Ten years ago, I was putting on weight faster than ever before, feeling weak and tired, and feeling terrible about myself. My clothes didn’t fit, my energy level was low, and my body just didn’t want to move. Some bad habits needed to be broken, while new habits needed to take their place. The question was, where would I begin? That was a hard question to answer, but one that needed an answer.  To start, ...

Although this blog page is, for the most part, about catching our second wind of physical health and fitness, today I want to take a bit of a more holistic approach to the subject. Since my retirement from pastoring (in case you don’t know I served as a pastor for over 40 years), I’ve been working as a personal trainer at a local gym, The Fort Athletic Club, as well as through my own business, Second Wind Personal Training. I’m passionate about fitness and health both for myself and for others. That’s why I entered this field as a second career. It’s my hope that I might be able to help others gain the fitness and health they need to enjoy life and live the kind of life God intends for them to live. After all, an unfit and unhealthy body ends up as a body filled with limitations. A fit body is able to move and do and enjoy every aspect of life.  However, I’m also keenly aware that we as people are more than our bodies. God created us as holistic beings: body, mind, soul, and spiri...

Early in 2022, at the age of 62, I decided I wanted to run my first half-marathon that coming fall. I began looking for a three month training plan that would take me from running my usual milage (normally up to six miles) to the 13.1 miles I was seeking to run—and to do so at a respectable pace.  I began my training in the early summer, running three times per week: one short and easy run, one interval run, and a long run that got longer most weeks, until I was up to eleven miles. During those three months I learned so much about myself and what it takes to, not only train for a race, but to live life going for, what we might call, the “Long-Haul.”  Through the training, I found four elements that became extremely necessary to me if I was going to complete the race.  1.  Discipline.  It took a lot of discipline to get up early in the morning and go out for that run. After all,      there were plenty of days I didn’t feel like lacing up. All kind...

In my first “Second Wind Stories” blog, I gave a bit of background to my fitness journey and described how and why it was, upon my retirement from over 40 years in church ministry as a pastor, I was embarking on a career as a personal trainer. Well, a few weeks ago the day came; I formally retired from the church I had been serving for the last ten years. I have now begun my “Second Wind” as a trainer.  My retirement weekend was great.  My children and grandchildren came for the weekend. We went to the beach and out for dinner on Saturday. Our church honored and celebrated my wife Kim and me with kind words, prayers, gifts, and a beautiful reception. I was especially glad that so many extended family members and friends from throughout the years joined us for the day. It really was a great day! Then came Monday and Tuesday and….suddenly, it all seemed so final! One season of life had ended and a new season had begun. Yes, I had been planning for this moment for over a year, ye...