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.
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