What happened! I was so motivated, again. I had all the best intentions, I bought all the right stuff. Clothes, equipment, I even got a cute water bottle. Glass of course. I started out dedicated and gung-ho. This time it was going to be different. Again.
I did great for two weeks. I rode my recumbent bike every day. Then that next week, I missed one day, then the following week, after I missed two days, I quit. So much for it becoming a habit after 21 days. That seems to be an urban legend.
After 10 days of recriminations and self-reproach, I have started again. Last night I found my exercise clothes, they had gone missing. With resolve I approached the bike, dug deep and said, “Let’s do this.” It really wasn’t so bad.
I have done harder things in my life, I don’t know why I am so resistant to doing regular exercise. Once I start, I actually feel better after a few days, so exercise has everything going for it, and yet I persist in resisting.
If doing something over and over will create a habit, I have made a habit of resisting some things that are good for me and embracing other things that are not great. It does seem to be human nature, but there are some people who have developed the self-discipline to exercise regularly and make healthy food choices. I really admire them.
This morning I remembered something my dad said years ago, after he had quit smoking. He said that he didn’t have the self-control to stop smoking forever, he woke up every morning and told himself that he was just going to not smoke today. He had the strength to choose non-smoking for one day. This morning that is what I decided. I exercised yesterday and I can do it today. I am not going to worry about tomorrow.
Let me know your thoughts. I know we all have things we resist doing, maybe this idea will help you too.
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One Comment
When I graduated x-ray school in 2009, I weighed over 220 lbs. I joined an all ladies gym here in town in 2014 and I would religiously go 4 days a week. I got down to 162 lbs the summer of 2016. But then when I started working full time, I couldn’t go as often. Now that my daughter is in dance and doing other classes with her theater program, it’s become too costly to continue the gym membership. I had a hysterectomy in Dec. 2016 and ever since then, my weight as fluctuated and now I’m back up to 169 lbs. Granted, it’s still better than the 220 lbs I was walking around with in 2009. When I was at the gym, there was a ton of support and encouragement from these women. Now that I don’t have that anymore, I have slipped and I have become very unhappy and mad at myself for doing so. I would like to lose 10-15 lbs. I will get there eventually. I just got to find that right balance. Sorry to ramble. 🙂
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