Hey peoples!
I hope you've all been THRIVING in your New Year's resolutions, whatever they may be. One of mine was to say "yes" to life more and as a result, 2013 is off to a super sweet start. Admittedly, I've probably said "yes" to food I should probably avoid more... but I've also said "haaaale yes" to harder workouts and fitness events with my fellow BeachBody coaches AND I've finally begun training for a triathalon.
One thing I've always struggled with, and maybe you have too, is the tendancy to beat myself up when I've said "yes" to too much of life's...shall we say, richer experiences (like chocolate cake, for example). When that happens and the self-loathing kicks in, I find that a lot of people tend to say "Meh, forget it. I've ruined everything. What's the point? I'll never get where I want to be." Phooey. It's all one big journey. Okay, you created a new obstacle in your fitness journey.
So step one- Move on. Don't live in the past. Don't give up on your goals because you decided to not be reclusive and stay home eating celery and drinking Kambuchka over the weekend.
Step two- Get back in the gym or your living room or wherever you do fitness.
Step three- Get a workout mantra!!
See, the idea of working out isn't always all that appealing. The sweat, the discomfort, the bunching of spandex... but as an avid day-dreamer and meditation participant, I've started saying to myself, "This workout is contributing to my success." It beats trying to figure out how many calories you need to burn to work off the weekend. Plus, if you're having an off-day, not feeling as strong as usual, it is good to remember that EVERY workout is still a contribution to your fitness success and overall wellbeing. You're still strengthening and doing something good for yourself. Go harder the next day.
What other things do you like to think about when you workout? When I feel the familiar discomfort of exercise targeted on a specific muscle group, let's say triceps, I imagine my future-self in the summer time with the most sun-dress friendly arms. And a tan. And suddenly my workout just got a lot less icky.
I also let the day-dreamer come into play when I'm running (but not when I cross the street, my brain is SO in the moment when cars are involved). I imagine I'm stuck in an elevator with someone famous and gorgeous, like Zac Effron. Now, I am the most realistic day-dreamer that ever happened, so I know that if I were stuck in an elevator with Zac Effron I'd probably clam up and fidget on my cell-phone til it died and then I'd probably take a nap (I have an uncanny ability to fall asleep anywhere except my own bed. It's amazing, really). Anyway, the point of this is that in my wildest fantasies, Zac Effron sizes me up and thinks to himself, "Okay, not bad. I could be stuck in an elevator with someone who has less fantastic shoulders."
I DARE you to come up with a more riveting work-out fantasy than that. You can post it in your blog that your parents read ;)
Remember that whether you're the smallest, fittest, or buffest you've ever been or not, even if you're not working out to reach a clothing size or athletic goal, working out and eating well will improve the quality of your life and the efficiency of your body into your old age (and you'll be the most ridiculously goodlooking old person. Photo-shopped Madonna has nothing on future-you).
I leave you with a few musical suggestions for your workouts, in case mantras and fantasizing aren't your thing:
SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA- Antidote
THE WHO- Baba O'Riley
KARMIN- Hello
DANIEL BEDINGFIELD- Gotta Get Thru This
SAVAGE GARDEN- Cherry Cola
BRUNO MARS- Locked Out Of Heaven
N.E.R.D.- She Wants To Move
DAVID GUETTA & SIA- Titanium
FLO RIDA & SIA- Wild Ones
SKRILLEX- Cinema
GLORIA ESTEFAN- Wepa
Shred on, you beasts!
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