Epiphany on a Lifetime of Exercise

I've always been outdoorsy and athletic.  I grew up on a farm and rode horses, bicycles, and played hide and seek in the barns and shed, even the corn crib. In elementary school I took pride in being a good kickball player and running the mile in gym class. In junior high and high school I ran cross country and played basketball. In college I continued running on my own, and joined ROTC so I did orienteering, obstacle courses, sky diving, rappelling and conoeing in the Ozarks, and anything else that sounded fun.

I've always liked food though.  I always thought that the longer my workouts were, the longer my distances run, I could eat more.  That's true to a certain extent.

A couple months ago, as our family was hanging out in our kitchen (yes, the center of our universe), one of our adult sons who has been into body building and fitness in general, was talking about how people think you can get into shape in 2-3 months, like many people make plans after their New Year's Resolutions or want to get in shape for summer.  He said he used to think that too. Then he said it had taken him 4 years of serious work to get to the point where he is now.  It's more than a 2-3 month ramp up.  It's a lifestyle, he said.  And....he said he felt that it was more about nutrition than about the exercise.

"YOU CAN'T OUT-RUN YOUR FORK," he said.