you've got to have a Plan B. Or at the very least learn to be flexible to make it work. The hardest part about this whole thing is keeping it together with things come up that throw you off your plan and your routine. The key is not to feel panicked and defeated and throw your original plan out the window the moment something comes up; you've got to roll with the punches and come up with a way to make it work. In the end, even though your original plan didn't play out as expected, at least you can feel good knowing that you still took control over the new factors of your day and did not compromise your commitment to your priorities of fitness and nutrition or whatever is your case.
I have this thing where I can't stand being late for anything. If I feel like I don't have a comfortable amount of time to be here or there for whatever, I won't push doing something else before it. Jacki and I had plans since the weekend to see "P.S. I Love You" on Wednesday night (tonight) and then yesterday I realized that I have massage therapy tonight and the only other time this week we could both make it was last night. I already had plans to go to the gym after work. (Priority). I get off of work at 4:30. The movie starts at 6:50. Seems like plenty of time, but it's about 15-20 min drive to the theatre from the gym and we have to squeeze in a supper in there too.
We planned to meet at 5:45 to grab a bite at Subway before the show. This sounds kind of quirky but between the time it takes to change and get to the gym and into exercise, it was a step out of my comfort zone to get that in before meeting up with Jacks before the movie for a bite. I think the reason why I insist on being on time - if it's at all in my control - is because I believe that promptness is a gesture of respect.
Anyway, my whole rambling point here is that I have made exercise a priority for me and I will have to rearrange and change things every now and then for whatever life decides to bring and if you make a decision, a concrete, absolute decision, that good nutrition and exercise are priorities, then you can find a way to make it work and to make it happen. There is always a way. I now take inspiration from myself when I hear myself coming up with excuses for why I can't because I have proved to myself what I am made of already. I will never forget that when I was laid up in my house for 2 months with a broken hip, foot and soft tissue shoulder and neck injuries, having to use a walker, raised toilet seat, bath transfer bench, extended shower head and a reacher, I still made it a priority to focus on good nutrition. FH attached a basket to my walker so that I could make trips to the kitchen myself when he went back to work to fix a healthy meal and stick to my plan. It was hard, the hardest things I've ever faced, but I did it and it's paid off a zillion per cent in every single aspect of my life.
I know what I am made of and I think I will forever be grateful that I was given the opportunity to prove this to myself and will not ever take that for granted. SO, a little discomfort in being a couple minutes late in exchange for sticking to my commitment to exercise and to get to my goal was well worth it yesterday. I got the gym, did 33 mins of treadmill, stretches and landed at Subway at exactly 5:45 as I was supposed to.
I wasn't even late, but ironically, Jacki was!
11 comments:
I gotta admire a girl who has her priorities on track :)
I TOTALLY needed this post today!!! To remind me that a crappy decision did not ruins the rest of my plans!!!
I DO, however, need to make the gym a priority...
I hope you had an awesome time last night!!!
I know what you mean. I hate being late. I get very embarrassed when I'm late for appointments and what not. We have friends who will give us a certain time they will meet us and no matter what we can ALWAYS count on them to arrive at least 30-45 mins after the set time. Its just the way they are and we've learned to gauge and plan for that.
You're right about the Plan B, you have to learn to work with yourself and unforeseen situations to maintain the healthy lifestyle. I know how frustrating it can be to be out of routine too.
Glad you managed to get exercise and supper worked into the plan.
You're amazing :)
I am cronically late. It's so rude. And selfish. It's like saying, "Whatever I have to do is more important than the other person." And yet, my husband and I are ALWAYS late. I'll add that to the "work on that" list.
I agree with you about making the gym and eating right a priority. It's possible as long as it's not negotiable...and things usually turn out for the best!
Now that is motivation for me! Thanks.
Selma
very motivating post. you are right though - it's all about commitment and taking the long road!
Wow....You continue be such an inspiration.
Thanks for this post....
that's too funny b/c I did the exact same thing today. I usually go the gym for my run 25 min and 20-30 min of weights. Then I come home, cool down, eat, shower and then go. Usually I plan at least 2 hrs for a gym day. Today I was writing a paper until 11am and I had a class at 12:30pm, I almost talked myself out of it but no, I had planned on running today and boy I was going to do it! So I got changed went down to the gym, did my run, ran back up the hill, quckily showered, ate and ran to class in time. I feel so much better for having done it too :)
Good for you Angie. Thanks for that. I can learn a lot from you (and already have).
Good for you, that is a struggle for me, to make exercise a priority. In time I'll be there!
(I also hate to be late, for the same reason as you... I find it so diesrespectful when someone is consistently late in meeting with me. Ugh!)
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