Yesterday, one of the ladies I train in a six-week weight loss challenge came into the training studio to thank me for the motivation and encouragement I have given her during the competition. She is nearing 70 years old, but is extremely active, playing competitive raquetball and golf with her friends and attending classes at the gym. Our weekly workouts are extremely challenging and push members to their physical and mental limits. From week one, she has kept up with her teammates who are 30 years younger. Her work ethic and willingness to attempt new exercises has pushed her past what was holding her back ~ she undervalued her capabilities.
With tears in her eyes, she hugged me and said, "I want you to know what a difference you have made in my life. I feel stronger and more alive because you encourage me to attempt feats I thought were impossible for a woman my age."
This struck a chord with me for a few reasons: 1) Even though I encourage people I barely know that they can accomplish their goals, I do not do the same for myself. 2) I, too, undervalue my capabilites and achievements. 3) I focus on the negatives (what I didn't get accomplished) rather than the positives of my workouts.
On Saturday I completed my 8th week of training for the Kansas Half Ironman. In my two months of training, I have swam 45,150 yards (or approx. 26 miles), biked 325 miles, and run 92 miles. Each week has had its own challenges and more workouts than I like to admit have been missed (see, focusing on the negative here), but these totals show how much I have accomplished in just a few weeks on my trek to make it across the finish line.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
The voices had been quiet for a few weeks, but recently revealed themselves again ... louder than ever.
Friday night I had plans to ride for 75 minutes and attend a yoga session. I timed it perfectly so that I could ride at the bike shop (where I keep my bike set up on a trainer) and then walk a block down to the yoga studio. The people at the bike shop are great people. One strength (and albeit at times a hindrance) is that they are problem solvers. Passing through the shop, I mentioned that my computer wasn't picking up speed or cadence even though the battery was new. The owner willingly trudged down to the training area and fixed the issue. Forty-five minutes later, I finally saddled the bike. Ughhh the frustration. Either I wouldn't get the full training time in on my bike or I would have to forgo one of my two scheduled yoga sessions for the weekend. I decided I would continue on with my bike ride. At least now the computer was tracking my distance.
A Saturday morning to sleep in. That's all I wanted. In my wisdom, I decided I would grab some much needed extra sleep, postpone my swim until the afternoon, and replace it with a yoga class in the morning. Who needs to look at a schedule? Evidently I do. I grabbed an hour of extra sleep and spent the first hour of my day reading through emails and facebook. When I finally decided to get ready for yoga, I thought it might be a good idea to check the schedule and realized I had already missed class. Ughhh the frustration. Well, I might as well get my swimsuit on and complete my other workout for the day. This time I checked the pool website. Good to go.
Motivation was low as I trudged through the parking lot, trying desperately to convince myself this was going to be a great workout. I walked past the front desk attendant and scanned my card. In the locker room, I grabbed my swim cap and goggles and headed toward the swim deck. There I walked past the lifeguard to grab a kickboard and buoy. Picked out a lane and slid myself into the water with a cringe at the temperature. (I always cringe at the temp, doesn't matter how warm.) My workout for the day was a warmup of 200 yds, drill of 10 x 50 yds, swim of 2 x 700 yds and cool down of 200 yds. I completed my warmup and was in the 8th of my 10 x 50 when a different lifeguard approached me with the request that I exit the water within the next 10 minutes since there was a pool party about to take place. Ughhh the frustration.
The voices in my head had been dormant, but are back in full force, louder and more aggressive. They make me wonder if this challenge is too much for me to physically take on. They make me question whether or not the completion of the task will be worth my self-induced mental frustration. I am trying to counter attack with positive self-talk and refocusing on my goals.
Friday night I had plans to ride for 75 minutes and attend a yoga session. I timed it perfectly so that I could ride at the bike shop (where I keep my bike set up on a trainer) and then walk a block down to the yoga studio. The people at the bike shop are great people. One strength (and albeit at times a hindrance) is that they are problem solvers. Passing through the shop, I mentioned that my computer wasn't picking up speed or cadence even though the battery was new. The owner willingly trudged down to the training area and fixed the issue. Forty-five minutes later, I finally saddled the bike. Ughhh the frustration. Either I wouldn't get the full training time in on my bike or I would have to forgo one of my two scheduled yoga sessions for the weekend. I decided I would continue on with my bike ride. At least now the computer was tracking my distance.
A Saturday morning to sleep in. That's all I wanted. In my wisdom, I decided I would grab some much needed extra sleep, postpone my swim until the afternoon, and replace it with a yoga class in the morning. Who needs to look at a schedule? Evidently I do. I grabbed an hour of extra sleep and spent the first hour of my day reading through emails and facebook. When I finally decided to get ready for yoga, I thought it might be a good idea to check the schedule and realized I had already missed class. Ughhh the frustration. Well, I might as well get my swimsuit on and complete my other workout for the day. This time I checked the pool website. Good to go.
Motivation was low as I trudged through the parking lot, trying desperately to convince myself this was going to be a great workout. I walked past the front desk attendant and scanned my card. In the locker room, I grabbed my swim cap and goggles and headed toward the swim deck. There I walked past the lifeguard to grab a kickboard and buoy. Picked out a lane and slid myself into the water with a cringe at the temperature. (I always cringe at the temp, doesn't matter how warm.) My workout for the day was a warmup of 200 yds, drill of 10 x 50 yds, swim of 2 x 700 yds and cool down of 200 yds. I completed my warmup and was in the 8th of my 10 x 50 when a different lifeguard approached me with the request that I exit the water within the next 10 minutes since there was a pool party about to take place. Ughhh the frustration.
The voices in my head had been dormant, but are back in full force, louder and more aggressive. They make me wonder if this challenge is too much for me to physically take on. They make me question whether or not the completion of the task will be worth my self-induced mental frustration. I am trying to counter attack with positive self-talk and refocusing on my goals.
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