Day 29 - Tiny Steps

Since September 1st, I have made a small change every week towards a healthier me; I planned my meals around my workouts, I scheduled a specific time of day that I dedicated to the gym, I learned from my mistakes. Many times we wait for motivation to act, but I believe it is the other way around; You need to act in order to find your motivation. Even if that action is packing a gym bag every night or making your lunch, it is a small step in the right direction, and eventually you will go to the gym and start planning all your meals.

I noticed after the third week, the hunger and muscle pain was gone. Normally that is a good thing, but I knew it meant I plateaued and needed to change. Until the competition is over, I see comfort as a negative because it is a sign my body isn't progressing anymore. After yesterday's double workout, I am sore and hungry again. This morning, I visited the North Point gym to get in some sprints and abs before I let Glen work out my quads and upper pectorals. He is really specific about the training.

Workout:

•  8 minutes of sprints:
• 1 minute walk (I did 3.5mph)
• 1 minute sprint (I did 10.0 mph)
• repeat 3 more times
• 20  Hanging leg raises (lift knees to make it easier)
• 4 sets
•  8 minutes of sprints
• 40 mountain climbers (20 each side)
• 4 sets
•  8 minutes of sprints
• BOSU opposite leg reach (16 on each side)
• 4 sets
•  8 minutes of sprints



Clear Glass Single Cup Coffee Maker



Last week I mentioned that my addiction to coffee was causing my stomach to bloat. After speaking with Glen, turns out it was the quality of my coffee, and not the quantity. Poor quality coffee can throw off your body's pH balance (something I need to do more research into) which is what caused the bloating.

To fix this problem,  I bought organic, pH balanced coffee with no additives and a clear glass mug. I am slowly turning into a "Purist". My laundry has no smell, I use vinegar to clean my floors, everything I consume is organic, I meditate at least once a week, and now my mug is clear glass. I don't recognize me anymore. I hope my next step does not include crocs and all hemp clothing.

When I was a kid my friend had one of those above ground pools. I used to love to swim in circles until I built up a current that would allow me to float around and around with ease. After a while I would get bored and force myself to stop floating. I would turn around and fight my way against the current, dodging the pool toys. In the beginning I could barely move, but eventually I would take a few tiny steps, which would turn into strides, and eventually I would change the direction of the water and everything in it. Life is no different from that experience. If you are bored, try something new.

My point is that you don't change overnight. I slowly incorporated healthier choices which eventually became a drastic life change. I struggled with cutting out sugar, but now I don't even think about it. I used to sneak bites of bread, but now it smells sour to me. Working out 5 days a week used to exhaust me, but now I need to work out longer and harder to feel the same fatigue.

Why would you wake up one day and expect to run 7 miles without walking it first? How can you expect to change the way you look if you don't make any effort to change the way you eat? Pick something small and attainable, and do it next week. It could be waking up a little early to eat breakfast, or cutting out bread, rice, pasta or any other starches from your dinner. Maybe you are not drinking your 8 glasses of water a day. Make a change this week, and if you make it through, add something else in next week.

Change was not meant to be easy. If it were, everyone would be successful.