Day 52

Week 6, Day 6 Dynamix done. Today is February 2nd and SuperBowl Sunday. It is day 42 of the 90 day program and have 18 days left until day 60 pics, weight and measurements. It is tough to see the changes when you look every day in the mirror. You can see what you think are changes, but is it really what you think or just your hopefulness and imagination tricking you. If you ever watch The Biggest Loser, you would see this very thing in those contestants. They think they did good, but they don't really know and don't have any validation until they climb on that scale. Your mind can play tricks on you both ways. The easiest way to overcome this, at least for me, is to quiet all the noise around you and focus on the process.

I feel that the biggest distraction most of us face in our journey to become more fit and healthy is our own mind. You may be the most focused person ever and this will not apply to you. In my case, even though I am focused to be a more healthy and fit me, my mind will easily come up with reasons why I should quit during a workout, not do a workout or even enjoy foods that I know I shouldn't eat. The reason we do this is because it works. We know ourselves, good and bad, we know how to manipulate things in our mind to feel ok about giving up. This is not an uncommon thing. We psych ourselves out all the time related to the given situation. We create negative or positive scenarios in our own minds based on our actions. It is something you have to really work at to fight through, especially during those times of physically demanding work where it would seem so easy to just give up.

My example of today's struggle happened while doing my plank. I am doing the 30 day plank challenge and I am on day 17. Day 16 and Day 17 are 2 mins and tomorrow it goes up to 2:30. I start doing my plank and I feel really shaky at the 30 second mark and I start thinking "I probably won't make it..." That is the psyching out I was referring to. I had to really concentrate and close my eyes and focus on my breathing to take my thoughts away from giving up and just going to my knees. I was able to finish the 2 mins and I probably could have gone longer. Tomorrow I will have to go longer. I could have easily just given up at 1:30 and thought I just need more time to get a little stronger. That is the mind justifying the reason of giving up and reinforcing the pattern of giving up when it gets tough. It affects us all and can be overcome. If we allow it though, it will overcome us. It is a daily struggle for me, but I know where I can go and I know where I have been. I want to be the best version of me I can be and I know that will take work and it will be tough. In the end it's about what I am willing to accept as my life. I am not willing to accept that where I have been is good enough. I am willing to make the necessary sacrifices and put in the work and effort to be the person that I can be. Are you?