Posts Tagged ‘goals



19
Jan
13

Taking Those First Steps

In fitness no matter where you are, taking those first steps always seem to be the most difficult.  Most people know that I am not new to fitness and they know that I will change things when I’m not seeing progress.

Taking those first few steps, whether just beginning the journey to get fit, or taking stats years down the road and not liking the results of them.  Either way, taking those steps can be difficult.

This morning was my first measurements and progress picture posting day for the Precision Nutrition Lean Eating program I’m following.  Even after all this time and all of these pictures, those steps are still very difficult for me. 

Reasons:

1) I’m older and will never again have the body of a 20-year-old (I don’t care how much money I were to throw at it, my 20-year-old body is gone) so I must find peace with what I’m working with.

2) In my mind, I always see myself in a better place than I am in reality.

3) Changes always, always create insecurity for me.  What if I’m not good at it? What if it isn’t the answer?  Blah, Blah, Blah…

Negative self talk happens to the best of us, those are the moments when we are terrified but we know we must take the risk to improve. 

I’ve stayed pretty close to the same weight and definitely stayed the same over-all size for several years now and it’s time for me to move along done my path to my next goal.  No more excuses, just actions that speak louder than words.  Another journey has begun by taking the first step.

First Step

 

16
Jan
13

Coaching…Who Needs It?

As I work to better myself along my path as a trainer, I often ask myself “who needs coaching?”.   I firmly believe that everyone could use coaching.

Where am I going with this?  Further down my own path to become a great coach.  After struggling to reach a personal goal that I set for myself two years ago, I’ve decided to get some coaching.   The better my coaching, the better coach I will become.

I began studying for the Precision Nutrition Certification course 5 chapters ago.  As I’ve gone through the information I’ve had that nagging notion that I could use some coaching.

This past Monday I decided to embark upon a path of personal discovery by following Precision Nutrition’s Lean Eating Program.  Dr. Berardi is well-known in the field of nutrition.   I trust that with personal growth I can reach the goal I initially set.

The story starts here.  When Monday morning came, I had this awful discomfort.  That urge to duck and cover.  That told me clearly that I’ve chosen to do exactly what I need to do for ME.

There will be folks out there who know me who will think I’ve lost my ever-loving mind.  Well, perhaps maybe just maybe I will find the remainder of what has kept me from that long desired goal.  But even better, once I conquer this challenge I will be even more equipped to help others reach their goals.

This process is quite humbling.  Stats and measurements have been taken.  Before photo’s are never flattering because as they are being taken I am acknowledging that they are before another big personal change.  With change comes insecurity, with insecurity comes courage and growth.  I’ve got this.

Whatever lingering doubt I have will now be banished.  I am not finished yet.  I will update you guys periodically about my progress as I firmly believe that accountability and consistency above all else are key to successful change.

The journey of getting comfortable with uncomfortable has begun again.

Better than yesterday

 

 

 

 

 

 

09
Jan
13

The Power of Food

This post is dedicated to those who struggle with emotional/stress/OMG it is just so good food issues.

I was born and raised in what is now known as “the deep south”.  I’m not sure when we went from being the south to the deep south, but whatever.

In the south everything is celebrated with food.  Birthday’s, weddings, deaths and everything in between.  It’s just courtesy.  We want folks to feel the love and feeding them has always been the best way to do that.

I used to live by that same thought process.  Food fixed or healed everything.  That is so not true so banish that thought from your excuse list.

For some people there is an illusion that food has power.  BIG power.  They can’t have a small portion, piece or serving.  They end up plowing through multiple servings before they realize what they’ve done.

This is a perfect example of giving food power.  Notice I said giving the food power.

Food is simply food.  It is there for the nourishment of our bodies.  It is not there to defeat us, we do that on our own.

Some how we decide we are not worthy of greatness so we in turn, give over the power of our greatness to food instead.

There is absolutely no food that we can put in our mouth that will fix a broken heart, a broken relationship or broken self-esteem.

How do you break the cycle of giving your greatness over to food?

First there must be the acknowledgement that the fork doesn’t fly in to your mouth without your own assistance.

Secondly, when you start randomly grabbing this or that to eat mindlessly, it is usually because you want to become numb.  You give the food the power to make you forget, even if but for a very brief moment.

Phhhfffttt…that never works.  Food won’t fix anything, in fact it will likely make it worse.  That vicious cycle of eat bad, feel bad so I’ll eat more bad is a very tedious cycle to break.  That being said GET TEDIOUS right back with it.

You will find things that hold you back are often so much greater when you leave them stuck in your head.  Get them out of there.  Write them down and burn them if you don’t want anyone else to know.  Better yet, hold on to that notebook because one day you’ll have the ability to reach another person who may be struggling with what you have already overcome.

Each time you stop yourself from reaching for food to solve your problems, the more empowered you will become.

YES, you may have a set-back or twenty set-backs; just keep asking yourself the hard, painful questions and the result will start showing.

The only power food has is the power that you give it.

backwards

08
Jan
13

Motivation & Momentum

I have had several conversations of late regarding “I’ve lost motivation”.  This isn’t coming from new folks beginning a New Year’s Resolution diet.  This is coming from long-term fitness friends that are simply a little burned out.

It happens.  This thing called burn out.  It usually shows up a few days after you know you should be back to your fitness routine but for some reason only you know, you just can’t muster your mojo.  You know, that old feeling that creeps in and settles after holidays or some other stressful happening in your life.

This is a list of a few things that have helped me push past that burn out phase each time it happens.

-1  Remember why you started all of this in the first place.  For you and only you.  That place deep inside that drives you to be better than you were yesterday.

-2  Change things up a bit.  It could be as simple as downloading new music for your workouts.  It could be a hard as switching from lifting to CrossFit or group fitness classes. 

-3  Get to the gym and spend 15 minutes working out.  Odds are you’ll stay for a whole lot longer.

-4  Get together with your fitness friends.  Have everyone bring a healthy dish and let them help you remember what you want to accomplish.

-5  Get off your butt and quit making excuses.  You know you want it, just get busy.

believe

03
Jan
13

Shedding

Shedding:  a. To lose by natural process:   b. To rid oneself of (something not wanted or needed):

First impressions would lead a reader to believe that this blog might be about dieting.  Ummm…Not so much.

After sitting here today realizing that I somehow had missed the new in this New Year, I realized that I’ve had some burdens that I’ve been allowing to weigh me down over the past couple of weeks.

Today I decided it was time to acknowledge those burdens and let them go.  Shedding the negative and focusing solely on the positive. 

Our lives are too short to dwell on carrying baggage, whether it’s a situation, a relationship, loss of material things, loss of motivation, and most importantly, the loss of self-esteem.

Everyone is not always going to do things the way you do them.  That doesn’t make your way wrong, it makes your way different. 

Be objective enough to step back and determine if perhaps your way has backed you into a corner or if it has truly brought you to a successful outcome.  If it hasn’t, be open-minded enough to say so.

Shedding old habits, old stuff you have no need or use for, old hurt feelings, and old baggage is quite the positive way to start a new year, perhaps even a new way of life.

Just as snow melts and sheds the water away from the earth, do the same for things weighing you down, things holding you back from accomplishing your goals.

Hat Tip for the photo: TheOvenbird2337109017_ea2ca7e9e0

02
Jan
13

It Is Supposed Be Hard

As I got about halfway through an hour of rowing this morning, I started that little mantra in my head “Yes, it IS supposed to be hard and yes, you WILL finish this”…  Funny thing about this cardio thing, I’d rather lift weights all day than to do a cardio workout for an hour.  That being said, personal growth is found in discomfort.

Really, I’ve learned over the years that there is very little in the scheme of being fit that is truly easy.   I have realized though that I get stronger as time goes by.  

In the old days of battling for big losses, doing an hour of any type of cardio was mentally not possible.  I was lucky to get through 20 minutes. 

Who knew that 12 years later the battle for tiny losses would surpass the previous battles.  I love it.  Getting stronger and more fit is my end goal.  Both mentally and physically. 

As I pulled that rower handle over and over all sorts of things went through my mind.  I started out facing my garage door, then I jumped off the rower and turned it so I could face my Vision Wall (a wall in GG107 filled with memorabilia). I realized that it has been quite sometime since I’ve updated it.   It’s time for new motivating pictures and quotes.

Motivation isn’t always available in our endeavors.  Discipline must come in to play at some point.  It’s not always what I want to do and self-discipline is what pushes me to do what must be done.

Looking back over my journey, progress has never come when things are “fun”.  Progress comes after the most challenging discomfort.  Whether it was a personal struggle, work struggle or a fitness struggle there has always been growth during the greatest of challenges.

Hat Tip For Photo: Good Movies List.

Famous words of YODA: 

YODA

 

07
Nov
12

Getting Lost To Find Yourself

Funny how folks allow an event to alter their daily lives even when it is totally out of their own control.  I’ve seen more morose faces today than I care to.  But this is life and I’m going to live it.

There are several highlights already happening in my day.

I watched a beautiful sunrise this morning after successfully hang squat cleaning 100# for 5 sets of 5 reps. 

I worked out with a group of ladies at lunch that are all showing improvement.  They are happy about it.

I closed my office door and buried myself in my work while listening to music.  Thankfully I have a boss that understands on occasion I need to tune out interruption and focus.  Getting lost in music today was a blessing.

This song reminds me of when I was a young mother of three rambunctious little boys.  In fact this reminded me of the day the youngest got a Nerd candy stuck up his nose.

There are greater things in our lives happening everyday.  Choose to see the greatness.

05
Nov
12

Flash Cards

Just typing that subject reminds me that some things, no matter how old school, still work.

I spent a couple of hours getting caught up on making the flash cards for the key terms in the introduction and chapters 1 and 2.

Things are progressing along and each time I sit and study I am reminded that you are truly never too old to learn.  I’m also reminded that to pass, you must study.  I truly don’t believe I could fly through this material and nail the test.  It’s going to take hard work and discipline on my part.  It’s worth the work. 

It’s been years since I’ve had writer’s cramp.  Bring it ON!

24
Oct
12

Let’s Do Some Sprints

Want to see a group of people visibly get better before your eyes?  Have them run sprints together.  Not just a couple of rounds of sprints but instead 6-10 rounds of 100 meter sprints.  It’s suckage to say the least.  It forces each person to work hard through the pain.  It creates personal growth.  Ages range from 28-54 and yes, they all ran together.

After you’ve finished the timing for them, have them  do the timing for you.  Little makes people feel better than to see the trainer suffer the same fate they have just endured. 

Nothing makes them feel better than to realize what they’ve accomplished when they finish.

Struggling together creates an unspoken bond.  You know as a trainer, deep down inside they are pushing each other to run just a tad faster than if they were running alone.

Lucky for me today, two additional people came up and ran with me.  Humbling and motivating that I didn’t have to run by myself, instead I GOT TO run with them.

Healthy competition is great as long as you are grounded in improving yourself more than anything.   I don’t believe that every workout has to be a competition. Some would say  that makes me soft, I disagree.  I believe that its me vs. me.  Not me vs. you. 

If I focus all of my efforts on beating someone else, the person I’m not watching is going to pass me. 

You vs. you, always.

11
Oct
12

Issues, We All Have Them

I was chatting with a friend who is struggling this morning.  As we chatted, I was thrown back in time to that exact point in my journey.

I don’t know where these things come from, they just seem to come from deep inside somewhere teaching me again, that I have learned some lessons over this journey of mine.

We all have issues.  My issues are not smaller than yours.  I’ve learned not to use them as an excuse to crap on my goals” ~Garagegym107

There is so much meat in that statement, I immediately had to type it out and claim it.

For years I allowed my issues to be my excuse for chronically sabotaging my fitness efforts with poor quality food.  It took me quite some time to figure out that when I ate poorly, I in turn felt even more poorly and my issues seemed ginormous (yes, I know that’s not really a word).

It happens in the lives of most women who struggle with dealing with emotional eating.  You are not alone. 

Sooner or later, you must confront your fears in order to move past these issues.  It’s not about willpower so much as it is about willingness to change and will to let go.

Our issues can stay buried deep inside and something silly can pull one of them back to the limelight.

In example, I’ve written about the online trainer that literally told me I needed to rethink my goals regarding physique training.  In that moment that little liar in my head came screaming forward saying “see I told you so”. 

I could have let both the negative self-talking voice and the online trainer derail me completely.  The old me would have allowed just that.

The stronger, wiser and much more at peace, and confident me simply said “watch this”.  My goals are set, my countdown app on my phone is set and I’ve been busy doing.

Sure, I have issues, we all do.  Step back and think things through.  If you are reaching for food, you are still allowing those issues to rule your roost.