discipline – But Can I Still Drink Wine?

I’d always been under the impression that there are athletic people and not athletic people. I envisioned God smiling as he created me and thinking, “Well, thank Me she’s got some smarts because I know she won’t be going to college on a sports scholarship.”

Gym class was never the bane of my existence or anything. I’ve always just been kind of average at it, and was never really challenged to improve. Mostly I cared if I looked/smelled gross after class because I knew I’d see my 11^th grade crush, Phil Wieszcyk.

Anyway, my point is I didn’t try very hard because in my mind I was average, and that is all it was going to be. There were the star athletes and then there were those of us who were just waiting for fourth period to roll around.

What has changed since then? Mindset. You can’t change what you don’t want to do. You can’t do anything you won’t prioritize. You won’t prioritize anything that you don’t desire or anything about which you have no passion.

My health remained stagnant until I started training with some heart. Seeing each small success and meeting each mini-goal has maintained a passion for being healthy that makes it ten million times easier for me to fit a workout into my day.

Heisman Trophy winner (and former Dallas Cowboy! And MMA Fighter) Herschel Walker said,

My God given talent is my ability to stick with training longer than anybody else.

I’m sure there is probably some genetic argument people use to say elite athletes are predestined to succeed, but when it comes down to it, it’s all about having the mental toughness to stick it out. Skipping the gym, in my life, is based 100% on my lack of motivation as oppose to actual physical impairment.

Obviously I’m not claiming to be an elite athlete, but even we normal humans benefit from a tough mindset. It is so hard when you’re huffing and puffing after some “beginner” class to remember that it will all pay off, but hey when you’re looking back after 60 pounds, you’ll get it.

So take a page from Herschel. Take that training up a level. You can do it!

Oh, and GO COWBOYS 😉

True confession time. I didn’t get up and do yoga today. I slept in. My alarm went off and M rolled over and said, “Babe, aren’t you going to do yoga?” I scowled at him as though he made a most ridiculous suggestion, rolled over, and grunted no as I reset my alarm 45 minutes later.

You know what? I think I was much more tired than if I would have just gotten up and done it. The extra sleep was so not worth it! I could kick myself!

Here’s the thing—I think yoga is hard. I really, really do. It does challenge my strength, but the activities I love and look forward to do that. I’m used to pushing myself when it comes to strengthening my body. I love that challenge and the feeling of sore muscles repairing themselves.

There are two things that kill me with yoga. The first is that I am super inflexible. You know how giraffes are kind of awkward when they try to bend? I feel such kinship with them. I’m 5’11” (and a half). My toes are really far away….

Even after a hard workout where my muscles got all nice and warm and pliable, I am just not flexible. Because of my lack of ability in this area, I’m having a hard time enjoying it. I feel like a new girl all over again, after I have worked so hard to achieve a higher level of fitness.

The second is my mind’s inability to focus with its multi-tasking default setting, which I’ve gone over before. Why do I have to think about twelve things at once? I won’t belabor that point because I really haven’t had any major breakthroughs to share.

What this whole new routine reminds me of is the familiar feeling of utter frustration and contempt from when I first started working out. Every activity felt like a huge undertaking. A mile was climbing Everest—there is no way you’re making me go that far! Pushing that prowler was like taking on a semi truck. Don’t even get me started on a pushup—are you trying to get me to hold the world on my shoulders? I was heaving after jogging for one minute. ONE MINUTE! And the word “jogging” is very generous for the relatively quick walk I was doing. Why was everything so hard???

Previously, I discussed the need to work harder and push yourself if you want to see results. How your body trains itself to tolerate strenuous activity is truly incredible. I’m trying to remind myself that this won’t be so hard soon. I remember this epiphany I had while I was working out one day with Jackson, my fabulous and wonderful former trainer.

The activity isn’t getting any easier; I’m just getting better. I am able to tolerate it more. Jogging for a minute is the same level of difficulty as it was a year ago, the only difference is me. I’m different. There is very real, very tangible proof of progress.

One of the greatest exercises I did was after I’d lost about 50 lbs. Jackson had me do the stairs with a 50-pound vest on. It was a challenge that made me realize just how far I had come. My body had become so much lighter and more efficient. I totally recommend doing an exercise like that no matter how much progress you have made just so you can really feel what you’ve achieved.

Keeping this in mind as I aim to improve my struggles with flexibility and strength of mind through yoga is a source of inspiration for me. These feelings are familiar. I will get stronger. Everything is hard at first. Discipline, baby! Well, I’m working on it…

Cheers!