Before January started, I outlined several objectives for this year. But I also outlined a couple of distinct goals for every month of the year (that job isn’t finished yet as I’m sure something will come up mid-year). Besides two minor goals and one medium-difficulty goal, I decided to really test the willpower waters and wrote down:
- Go to the gym 15x (and work out, duh)
- Do not consume any alcoholic drinks all month
Aaaaand I did it. I worked out 17 times in January, and each session was at least 30 minutes, burning at least 350 calories. The average was actually closer to 500 calories per session. My cardio endurance skyrocketed. I now CRAVE going to the gym. Seriously? Me? also didn’t have any alcohol.
I exercised my willpower, I followed my goals, and I put health above everything. If I absolutely couldn’t work out after work, I went in the morning. The person I was a year ago would say “Is she serious?” “Who the hell does she think she is?” and “Weirdo.” Seriously, I agree. But I also love whom I am becoming. Remember I wrote about wanting to become a gym rat? Well, I’m on my way.
How did turn around 180 degrees and do all this? Good question.
1. It started with a personal assessment and goal visualization. I really looked at where I was in terms of fitness, and then I visualized where I’d like to be.
2. Quantify goals. I put a number on my fitness objectives. Instead of saying that I will follow through with a complex diet-weight training-cardio program, I just set a one simple goal: do as much cardio as you can in the gym, fifteen times, rain or shine. Put a number on it! And track it. I wrote down “Gym #…” on every day that I went. You’ll feel better once you get into the double digits.
3. Give yourself a month. I tried the “I’m going to the gym 4 times a week!” thing and it didn’t always work. We all know that some weeks are busier than others — friend from out of town, conference, business travel, birthdays, events, whatever. Other weeks are meant for vegetation. So try to give yourself a month to achieve your goals. One week I went to the gym 3 times, another week I went 6. Evens out. Same analogy can be applied to the “A book a week” rule. It’s hard to do it in a week, but it’s easier to accomplish the “4 books in a month” rule: some weekends are quieter than others. Give yourself a month.
4. Don’t be hard on yourself. Emergencies and unpredictable situations cause you to skip gym. Sometimes you go out for dinner and can’t work out after (try to work out in the morning in that case). Other times it’s -20C and it’s tough to get up at 6:30am. It happens. You need to do work instead of gym – also happens. Just don’t stress about it. Sometimes skipping gym actually helps you achieve better results when you do continue to work out.
5. That being said, No slacking! You made a promise to yourself. You’re accountable to yourself. Imagine how crappy you’ll feel if you fuck up? …And how you’re going to shine when you do achieve your goal? That’s what helped me with the no alcohol goal. Well, that and saving money, the ability to exercise my willpower and to almost boast that I indeed can say no to a drink and not be bothered by it (by the way, that gets easier as time goes by. What’s another month of total sobriety and not even light intoxication?).
6. Are you doing it for the right reasons? In my baby steps in Buddhism, I became really intrigued by the idea of intent. Whether you’re doing something for a good cause or for the right reasons makes all the difference. With fitness, I looked at why I was doing it and realized that I just want to be super healthy. I want to live forever, I want to be in good condition, and a side-product, of course I want to look my best. With alcohol – that’s a whole other post, really, – it’s more complicated. But the intent was a big theme. Do you really need that glass of wine? Do you need the extra? Do you have to say “yes” to what’s offered?… You get it. The old saga was over.
I hope some of these tips were useful to you. I’m undergoing major, major changes in my life. I like who I am and I love who I am becoming. The world is really becoming a playground and I will achieve anything I set my mind to. You should hear the giant theme of this week, ohhhh boy. But shh, all in due time













