I can feel my body getting stronger. I see the amounts I’m lifting going up. I can feel my body changing.
I ordered protein powder.
I ate the cookies slowly.
I don’t hate the alarm going off at 5:30 a.m.
I’ve kept the kitchen clean for over two weeks.
I finally ordered the art I’ve been wanting to hang above my sofa.
Who the heck am I?
Still me.
Making a thousand little choices every day.
But trying to make the best ones I can. Even when it comes to ice cream.
And definitely getting stronger.
One of the best things about this whole journey I’m going on is that this time I’ve managed to put myself in a different mindset. The type of mindset that focuses on small victories and the knowledge that long, slow progress will ultimately result in the most sustained success. Naturally, this mindset got tested right away.
During my third session (isn’t third time supposed to be the charm?) with my personal trainer, my right quad strongly objected to my workout and I spent about 15 minutes on the ground fuming before I even tried to get up. It wasn’t just the pain, it was the frustration that overwhelmed me and left me shocked. My mind was filled all morning with that frustration and concern with how long this would affect me.
Thankfully, in the midst of my crankiness (is that even a word?), I pulled up my online coaching platform, which I absolutely love and will write about another time. The lesson for the day could not have been more timely. It took the ‘all or nothing’ attitude I’ve always had when trying to change and pretty much smashed it in the face. My favorite part…
If you’re like most people, you’ve tried to get in shape and/or lose weight before.
And you may have established certain “rules” about how this stuff works.
Detox diet? Bring on the green juice!
$500 spent at Nike on sweat pants and workout gear? The credit card is still smoking.
Elaborate workouts with weird exercises and complex set and rep equations? Yep.
Hours of hamstering on a treadmill? Drive belt is greased and ready!
And the best part? You’re gonna cram this all in to one day.No wonder so many people find it hard to get in shape.
They run themselves into the ground by doing too much at once.
It was just the reminder I needed. My leg didn’t fall off, I strained it. I have to rest for a few days, not months. And there are plenty of other little things I can be working on to help form new habits and make progress.
It is one of the first of many many bumps in the journey ahead and hopefully next time, my response to it will be one of the small good habits I’ve developed…instead of becoming angry at the situation, I’ll focus on what is going right. And now…back to foam rolling.