I was only going to warm up on the treadmill and then go and do some back strength work, but there was some good music on the ipod so I pumped up the incline on the treadmill and walked for 30 mins and then I did 10 mins on the elliptical.
Then I did some back strength work.
I have decided that I really love feeling the pump from a good workout. The past few weeks have been really good for me in terms of the way I approach exercise mentally.
I used to be quite all or nothing - if I wasn't going to give it 100% with nutrition and 100% with the gym then I wasn't interested in going at all. I had it in my head that it wasn't worth making the effort at all if I wasn't going to give it my all.
Doing this 100 day challenge - and probably more so - setting myself the challenge of completing 500km over the course of the next 80 something days - has been great for helping me to break this thinking pattern. I realised that I was exercising for the purpose of regaining my fitness and feeling generally good - rather than for the purpose of losing weight. Any weight lost is a bonus!
This was the way I approached the half marathon training last year as well and it worked for me that time as well. I think that this is probably the best way for me to approach something like this because I don't value weight loss enough for it to be my primary goal. I think I valuethe challenge of something that is within reach but has an element of difficulty attached to it - so that I feel like I am accomplishing something of value in the process.
I think the trick to achieving a goal (and having the motivation to keep hacking away at it) is to find something that is important to you and that YOU value - rather than what you think you value. Sure I like being smaller than I am right now - but it is not something that I can conrol or that is tangible to me - so it's not very motivating.
It's simple really - find what works for you and make it something that will continue motivating you through the times when you feel like it's not worth it and 'what's the point anyway'.
There is my wisdom for the day!
Once Harris wakes up - I have adog to walk so I can make up my missing 2.5km for this week.
I love this post Andrea...
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking why is it all clicking on this challenge when it hasn't on others and it isn't just the size thing, but the fact I want to be in control with my food and not be hiding my eating habits.
I also like how I feel when I eat well.
Your 500km walking goal is a great idea...
I think you're right that the goal has to be something that is really truly important to you, and not something you think should be important. Something that's easy to control - like how many km you walk - is also more motivating I think than something like kgs lost. With weight loss as your sole focus you can spend a lot of time taking 1 step forwards and 2 backwards. Thanks, you've prompted my thoughts!
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