Ever notice how easy it is to have motivation for one day? You see something that inspires you or you are just in the mood so you take action. Yeah... that happens a lot to me too. If you could see all the books I've bought in the last couple of years and ask me how many of them I've finished. Zero, maybe one. I do really good for that first day. I might even make it through a whole chapter. The next day I might look at the book and actually think about picking it up. I might even read the back cover again or flip through a couple pages, but by the weekend the book is sitting on the counter under a pile of junk mail. When enough time passes and the guilt slips away I finally put the book on the bookshelf and forget about it.
Thankfully when it comes to working working out I have a stronger will. I've realized that it takes a serious commitment to change. That serious commitment comes at a price. It's going to take time, planning and energy. For planning it's one thing at a time. I've mentioned in a previous post all the successful behavioral changes I've made in my life. I certainly didn't do them all at the same time. A couple managed to overlap, but the initial focus was singular. Truth is I'm still working on some of those changes. I really want to lean out and get even fitter. It was a long journey to lose the 50+ pounds and now that I've stabilized it's going to take another commitment of time, focus and planning to reach the next goal. Financially I'm not a millionaire yet I still have my house to pay off and that's going to take at least 7 more years and then I can really start saving.
It also helps to realize there is nothing wrong with stopping along the way to take a breather once you reach a step towards your greater goal. In fact, you should plan to. I think a lot of us believe that if you stop you'll lose momentum. That you'll quit and won't go back. Personally I think it's that attitude that breaks you. It's the feeling of defeat, however, if it's planned you remove the defeat. Making it easier to return. After all you planned to take a break.
When I set out on my journey to lose 50 pounds I put a time limit on it. That as long as I could push through to that date I was free to take a breather regardless of how much weight I lost by then. That date was 12 weeks from my starting point. I ended it up making it 14 before I took a breather and I hadn't hit 50lbs yet. I got through the holidays added a few pounds and set back out on my journey after the new year. 8 more weeks later I was at my goal and still going strong.
Today was day 2 of my continuing journey to becoming a leaner, fitter man. I've been taking a breather since July of this year, but all that time I've planned on continuing on once running season ended. My last race was Sunday. So it ended and I wasted no time moving forward. Today reminded me of the focus it takes. The will power. Motivation was here yesterday when I started back, when I was excited. Today I was sore and tired as a result of yesterday. Today there was no motivation just focus. Just pure will power. When it comes to working out I can tell you this, the first day motivation will pull you through, but be ready for the next day and the next day and the next day. They will be tough and you will want to quit, you will want to find excuses why you can't. Plan for it. Make sure you do it even though you feel like it.Be prepared to push through for 2 weeks. It gets easier.
Oh and don't worry. I'll get around to reading. It's in my plan, just one thing at a time. That one is going to take a lot of focus.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Motivation Mountains
more I've realized there is this motivation mountain you have to overcome and much like running over a huge hill. You need enough strength stamina to get up the hill, but then you still need a good amount in reserves to comeback down and start up the next one. It's in that downhill that we lose our footing and go tumbling head over feet into a hot mess at the bottom broken and twisted with little interest in getting back up to continue on.
As with anything difficult you want to accomplish you have to face the mountains. Simply wanting something bad enough is not enough to guarantee a successful journey up all the hills.There are a lot of things I want badly. With some of them I have attempted the mountain only to lose my footing and end up in that broken twisted mess in the valley. Desire is not enough.
I have beaten a few mountains. I've quit smoking, lost weight, and re-gained control of my finances. Those experiences taught me that when you tumble down you have to get up and get moving again no matter how battered and bruised you are or how many mistakes you've made. I've learned that it's great to have support along the way, but ultimately you have to do the work to get there. I've learned that as long as you don't quit and give up that you CAN make it up and over. I've learned that with each success comes confidence that you can overcome the next mountain you decide to climb. It's really a matter of perseverance. During marathon training I wanted to quit several times. Things just weren't working out. The weather wouldn't cooperate, work was hectic and I was dealing with some nagging injuries. I forced myself to continue. It took some doing and I failed a lot during training. I gave up on runs. I cut other runs short. I didn't do the planned mileage, but because I didn't give up I made it. I finished. I beat the mountain.I'm in the valley of a couple mountains right now. I have the desire. I have the want. I have the ability. I have the confidence. I just gotta do it. Here's my list for accountability:
- Complete my trainer certification
- Trim off a few more pounds and really lean out
- Log some volunteer hours
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