Like my fellow Alumni, I am still fired up about the Army–Navy football game. For you who may have missed this annual classic (124th edition last Saturday – hooah), the Army led the entire game but was at risk of becoming tied in the final seconds of the football game. You must hand it to the Navy for hanging in there. 4th down on the Army 1-yard line with 3 seconds left in the game, the Navy could have tied the game by punching in the touchdown and then getting a two-pointer. Fortunately, the brave Army line stopped the Navy football player on the 1-foot line, turning the ball back over on downs. In so doing, the Army line paid homage to the 3rd Infantry, Rock of the Marne, which was honored on the game day jersey. Like that fabled infantry division against the German Army in the Second Battle of the Marne during WWI, the Army held the line and did not break! So what does all this mean for today’s topic on wellness other than letting me say one more time for the year, Go Army/Beat Navy! Well, just this.
Three characteristics of the Army Football team lead to success both on the football team and for those trying to get healthy. So, let me run them down.
First, consistency – The Army football team does not have a lot of plays, but what they do have is that they run consistently. Each player knows exactly where to block in either their Flexbone Triple Option set or a recent add-on of the shotgun. These schemes are run primarily at the Service Academies and require discipline and consistency. Each player needs to execute flawlessly due to the smaller size of the players. This consistency also served me well as I lost over 170 lbs and became more mindful! I did not have a lot of plays in my weight loss and wellness arsenal, but what I did have (tracking points, walking, mindfulness), I did consistently. Each day, I tracked my food, walked at least a mile, and meditated at least 10 minutes. Much like the Army pounds the football down the field, I pounded away the pounds with consistent execution!
Persistent – The Army football team persistently pursues its playbook even when behind. They do not stop running and driving even if they must catch up. Passes are few and far between as they methodically drive down the field. They never stop pursuing their game plan. This persistence is also necessary to successfully restore your health. When I started, I could barely walk around the block. But little by little, through perseverance, I could work up to 50 miles in a single day. I did not do it in a week or a month but through persistent exercise over a year and a half. Be persistent like the Army Football team and stick to your plan. You will get healthy!
Attitude – The Army Football team stands undaunted against any foe, as demonstrated in some of their games against larger foes (remember the near upsets against Michigan and OU a few years back?). They stay positive even when facing incredible odds. Also, even when they come up short (like in the OU and Michigan games), they do not let it get them down. They pick themselves up and win the rest of the season, just like they did this year after a less-than-successful first half! It would be best to have the same attitude when tackling a wellness journey. Setbacks will inevitably happen. Like the time you gain 2 lbs. in a week because of work demands, cut time for exercise, or overeat for Thanksgiving (while watching football, no less). But at these times, it is essential to have a positive attitude and continue marching to your goal, just like the Army football team marches down the field!
I want to end with a rephrased Army fight song for those driving to their wellness goals:
On determined Wellness friend,
Keep hopeful in the fray,
Fight on to victory,
In a consistent, persistent Army Way
Go Army, Beat Navy!
[…] To learn other rules of wellness from Army Football, read this blog. […]
[…] Lastly, I tweaked my fitness routine. I began jogging one day a week instead of running and added in weight training. The consistency, analysis, and tweaks did the trick, and I was off the plateau and making progress again! If you are on a plateau and need consistency, you may want to read this blog – Be A Rock of Wellness Like Army Football. […]