Thursday, September 1, 2011

How (not) to finish a Fitness Challenge

I fear I am a great disappointment to the Instructor Ladies at my gym. In fact, given the sad, puppy dog eyes that greet my appearance there these days, I'm suspecting that my fears are well-placed. Shall we just put it out there, right up front, and confirm that my six-week Fitness Challenge has been an unmitigated disaster. I have several very impressive and ever-ready excuses - book edits, renovations, illness, blah, blah, blah - but I don't blame you for not listening. I'm not even listening any more.

The fact is that I wanted to get fit simply by signing up to the Fitness Challenge. As if simply putting my indecipherable John Hancock on the bottom line would be enough to decrease the size of my bottom. Apparently this is not how things work. Disappointing that.

I have one more week to go. The Instructor Ladies - and they are so very nice, I really want to please them - are expecting Great Things. They actually told me that after I left the other day, blaming PMT for my body's obstinate refusal to lose so much as one single centimetre. And they wouldn't pull that tape measure tighter, just to cheat a little millimetre or two, no matter how much I asked. So. Great Things.

I'm wondering if what I need is a new approach. A post-renovations, post-edits, post-PMT kind of approach. I heard about this great new initiative from The Black Dog Institute today. It's called Spring, it costs $30 and you get 30 days of training plans, fitness tips, motivational emails... and it's all designed to focus on lifting your mood. I think my mood is about the only thing I'm capable of lifting right now, so this could be the perfect solution.

And at least I can be secure in the knowledge that even if I follow my usual pattern and do nothing useful regarding getting fit, somebody will benefit from my $30 investment because the money raised goes to The Black Dog Institute, to fund their fabulous work with mental health and mood disorders.

Knowing that makes me feel better already.

[image: awesomepictures.me]

15 comments:

  1. Well, that could be very discouraging indeed.

    Perhaps when the pressure is off, it'll be a new you.

    xx

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  2. guess it's all gyms and not just mine that you have to go into and do something to lose weight rather than just drive by...now i am avoiding the gym so that i don't see the look of disappointment on my little cute friend who works evenings there.

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  3. I think a lot of people have this problem, including me. I know I can do it, I just need to do it.
    I shall join you in joining Beyond Blue's Spring. I could do with a lift.

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  4. Gyms are such soul-destroying places. I think the best way to get fit is to find a physical activity you really enjoy. For me it's dancing, it keeps me fit, but more importantly I feel joyful when I dance. I never feel joy on the treadmill.
    Thank-you for sharing the Beyond Blue initiative - I'll be taking part too.

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  5. Gyms are such soul-destroying places. I think the best way to get fit is to find a physical activity you really enjoy. For me it's dancing, it keeps me fit, but more importantly I feel joyful when I dance. I never feel joy on the treadmill.
    Thank-you for sharing the Beyond Blue initiative - I'll be taking part too.

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  6. Surely there is something out there that will fit 'you'. Something that helps by doing some of the motivating . I don't accept guilt as motivation for doing anything. Perhaps you are someone who needs to do a different routine each day to keep you inspired. Please yourself first. I am feeling really sorry for you. I do hope you find the right key to what you desire.

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  7. I know, we try don't we?

    Here's my big exercise motivator - sleep. I am having trouble sleeping, I go to sleep but then wake up for a couple of hours. The only thing that keeps be asleep is exercise. So I work out so I can sleep. How pathetic is that!

    I do think it's important to find something you really ENJOY doing, like going for a walk or dancing. To force yourself to do things that aren't fun is pretty ridiculous, even if it's good for you.

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  8. The Black Dog and the link to mood and wellbeing and fitness and weight and all that - I am testament to its success Al, I really am.

    Go for a long walk to get your mood enhanced - all those endorphins.

    Then get your head in the right place.

    Then dejunk the pantry.

    Then feel motivated.

    Then sign up for another challenge...

    xx

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  9. Thanks for all the encouragement everyone! Don't feel sorry for me - I'm my own worst enemy and I'm fully aware of that. Sharing my ineptitude is a great motivator. :-)

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  10. Oh Allison, please don't be hard on yourself. Whilst I appreciate you don't like making excuses... they are ALL valid reasons which prevent exercise. I just think it's great you are moving on and looking to something else that might be better suited to what you're looking for and you're so right, it's a fabulous cause to donate the dollars to. We all struggle with the fitness thing, I know I've gone from someone who used to exercise regularly, to someone who pats themself on the back for doing a run once every 2 weeks or so. Best of luck with 'Spring' :o) xo

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  11. try ZUMBA.. dancing aerobics.. my daughter loves it, swears by it, will do it forever... so she says.

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  12. My fitness plans for the summer holidays also went awry. I lost 4lbs in 4 weeks and was happy with that, but our holiday to Wales, and all the eating and drinking that happen on holidays, meant that I put it all back on :(
    Never mind, I'm back to work next week and back to the gym.
    Give it all you've got for the remaining time, you never know, you might surprise yourself. x

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    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh I hate gyms. I've just signed on for the Spring fitness thing.

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  15. God it is boring isn't it? I have been tracking well with the exercise thing but Brad's 40th and Father's Day did me in a bit with food over the weekend. I am back on track today though. Good luck! x

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