Motivation
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I've been thinking about resolutions a lot. I'm fascinated by the strong pull to make a fresh start because it is January 1.
It is easy to get stuck in a rut, or in patterns that aren't working. Often we just do what we do because that's what we've always done. Buy the same foods. Go out to eat at the same restaurants. Order the same things. Belong to the same gym. Have the same schedule.
It is an exciting time of year because this is the time to really look at some of our patterns and decide if they are working or not. What worked last year? What didn't? What do you need to add to move you closer to the life you want or the body you want? What do you need to say no to this year? Now is the time, right?
The problem with this is once we make adjustments, we get on auto-pilot and next thing you know another year has gone by. I believe that we have to ask these questions weekly, not yearly. January 1st isn't enough. If you want your life or your body to change, you have to change.
If it worked to just say, "OK it's a new year I am now going to eat within my calories, exercise aerobically for 45 - 60 minutes five days a week, get on a consistent strength training program, drink more water, and get better sleep", we'd all be at our healthy body weight by now. There are too many changes that need to be made to do it all at once.
However, I feel like I can make small changes on a weekly basis. I can try something new and if it works, I can commit to it and add more when I'm ready. If it doesn't work, I can move on to something else.
The best example I can give you in my own life is from this year. I was bored with the old gym I was going to, was doing the same workouts over and over, and was not progressing the way I wanted. I have some friends that belong to Lifestyle so I decided to switch. When I joined, I didn't fill my calendar with 6 days of workouts and classes. That just doesn't work for me. I started with one class. I went to that class one week and felt good. I decided to do the same thing the next week. That went well so I felt ready to add something else. I picked a 6:00 AM spinning class. I set my alarm for 5:00 AM and when it rang, shut it off and went back to sleep. Argh! The second week I tried again. This time I made myself get up and dragged myself to spin class. I felt pretty good afterward so I decided to try again the following week.
I progressed like that by gently adding classes and individual workouts, then deciding if it was working or not. I am happy to say that I get up every Friday morning now and pop out of bed excited to spin at 6:00 AM. I love it. I go to 3 spin classes a week, two lifting classes, and one individual workout each week in addition to my running. I started this process of building up to it in September. I know it wouldn't have worked if I tried to do all that at once.
You can take the same approach with food. Instead of deciding to slash your calorie intake this week (sending yourself into quite a rebellious state of mind) why not add one thing that would work better than what you're doing now. If that works, keep it. If not, try something else. The key is to assess weekly and not let another year go by repeating the same behaviors that are preventing you from having the body or the life you want.
But then stay with it. Keep progressing. It may take longer this way, but how would it feel to never, ever gain another pound back? Would that be worth taking a new approach? Everyone needs a fresh start. I believe we can have a fresh start much more often than once a year, and if we commit to the process long term, we can change our lives.
Now get moving.
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