Tuesday Fitness: Setting Little Goals

This is a little late in the day.  I typically like to post in the morning, or in the early afternoon after we've had our school time.  Today was slightly different, as the lack of bananas, milk, cereal, and bread necessitated our taking school on the go, in learning how to navigate a store, and how to pick out certain produce etc.  Life skills... that's what I'm talking about!


Weight-loss can be a very VERY long term goal.  We establish how much weight we want to lose, and we make strides baby steps toward that goal.  It can get overwhelming and frustrating to get to that goal.  Heck, I've had to start over twice now.  Its not easy.  We've established that.

But what about those little goals?  I'm not necessarily talking about losing five pounds in two weeks.  Like I mentioned yesterday, I think it can be debilitating to be so dependent on our weight.  I'm talking about the fitness goals that we can see ourselves achieving.  A new runner might find it hard to run the full length of a block, or a track.  When I was running, I had a predetermined point that I was sure I could reach.  I would start out, and I can't tell you how many times I wanted to stop before that point... and there were many times that I did.  But the point is in setting goals.  As you consistently work at reaching that point, you will find it easier and easier, and then you will be surpassing that goal!

For me, I am not running just yet.  But I do have my bike.  I've set myself a goal to peddle 3 miles.  That doesn't sound like much... but for me, that was quite the achievement, especially since last Tuesday (my first ride), I barely made it 2 miles without dropping on the floor when I got home.  Oh wait, I may have.

Each day has been easier and easier.  I've been very VERY sore, but that is the feeling of progress!  My little goal this week is to bike that 3 miles in less time than I did it today, which was 25 minutes pulling Baby K.  Yesterday was faster only because I did not attach the trailer.  After I got home, I drank a lot of water (it was hot out this morning), and I did a great ab workout!

Well, my new activity has me beat, so I'm sure I'll be in bed in no time!  My second little goal is to get up earlier each day, and go to bed earlier as well... You kind of need to do the latter in order to do the first.

How are you doing?  You sore?  What do you like to do to mix up your workout?

Evelyn

Believe!

As I was getting ready for the day today, I just kept thinking about my weight gain.  It is hard not to get discouraged about it.  I also am hard on myself.  When I do not do something the way I know I could, I really seem to beat myself up over it.  So I was thinking about how my knee is so swollen that I cannot bend it as far as I need to to do certain stretches.

The thought that I had was, "how am I ever going to strengthen my knee if I can't even stretch it?"  I really feel that is what it needs at this point.

But only seconds after, I was inspired with the thought, "If you keep working at it, and keep trying, it will get better."
So I am going to put my faith in those words, and I am going to keep working at it.  I won't fail.  To fail would be to ultimately say to my self, "You can't do it."  And I don't believe it!  I don't, and I won't!

I will do it!  I might have stiffness, soreness, and more swelling along the way, but as long as I am taking care not to re-injure my knee, it will get stronger, and I WILL be able to meet my goals in running and everything else!

So, what do we do from here?  We take a moment to forget the past.  Forget and forgive ourselves all of the times that we didn't try, or the times that we gave up, or the times that we were hard on ourselves.  Push those things aside, because they are only going to place doubt in our minds!

When I hit a road block, I just have to stop and take the time to clear it out of the way.  Then continue on down the road.

I will, because I CAN!  Nothing is impossible!

Happy losing!

Evelyn