One month has passed since I received the green light to start working out again. One month of fitness. Which of course means that it is time to check in, reflect on my progress, and look ahead to the next month.
What I Know
(via toneitdropit)
One month of fitness ramp up is not a long time. It is enough to start building my stamina. It is enough to increase my run time compared to my walk time. It is enough to have started the mentally retraining myself to push aside the excuses. It is a start…but it is only just the beginning.
In this beginning I have started to formulate some goals. Goals like running a Disney Marathon in January 2013. Goals like participating in a Spartan Race in August (think dirt, think mud, think obstacles like wall climbs). Goals that involve passing on the triathlon that technically is still on my docket for this September because I want to do my first International distance triathlon with as much foundation and good training as I can. Goals that mean that I need to reflect and learn from this first month as I move forward.
What Went Well
The good news is that running is slowly beginning to feel like something I know how to do. One month ago I took my first steps back into this fitness journey and ran for one minute on the way to Principessa’s soccer game and later did 40 minutes of walking on the treadmill. Yesterday? I laced up my shoes and headed OUTSIDE on a trail for 42 minutes. Want to see how it went?
What Didn’t Go So Well
Although I feel great about having found motivating workouts, looking back at my calendar entries I admit to having let excuses get the better of me on some days. An average of three workouts each week is not horrible…but. There were clearly plenty of days where I could have squeezed in a short workout. OR days that I could have made better nutritional choices. Days (weeks) where I the idea of measuring my portions and tracking my points was something that I thought about doing…the next day.
Moving Forward
Now what? I need to be careful to remember that I am only one month in. I need to remember the idea of…one month down, a lifetime to go. Because FITNESS is a lifetime choice. I cannot let myself get sidetracked by a picture of myself during Mom 2.0 that literally made me want to throw in the towel, because what was the use. I cannot let myself get sidetracked by short term goals like clothing size in preparation for upcoming events like the Type A Parent Conference, or wearing my bathing suit in Italy in July.
Three workouts a week needs to become four workouts a week. Three minutes of running needs to become five or six minutes of running. (or more!) Measuring my food and tracking it needs to become something I do TODAY instead of tomorrow.
I need to make my goals real. Register for races. Put them on my calendar. Start a real training plan.
It will happen. Even if progress has been slow and even if it takes my body some time before it realizes that I MEAN BUSINESS, it will happen.
Credit: Coffee-and-Control.Tumblr.com
One of the lessons that Brene’ Brown shared at Mom 2.0, is that there are an infinite number of do-overs in life. Each day is a new day, a new chance. Do over after do over.
I am making the most of my do-overs….are you?
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I SO SO AM TOO
I love Brene and have heard her speak a few times.
and EACH TIME it renews my spirit of living.
xo
congrats on your first run!!! xo
I have lots of do-overs. And I’m TRYING to make the most of them.
I think you’re doing an amazing job
It’s hard to make it part of your routine, but once you do it’s amazing what you can accomplish. In a year I went from not being able to run 2 miles to running 20.
I love what Brene said…and I cannot wait to hug you at TypeA. xo
I think you are doing exactly what you should be doing with regards to baby steps. Giving yourself a break every now and then isn’t so bad. Sounds like you are a fighter, and you’re doing a great job at it!
Congrats on your running!
I need to get back into running again, it can really clear your mind, I love it. And baby steps can be great.
Thank goodness for “do-overs”!
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