I Used To.......
Focusing on our past self.
The person that used to be fit, lift X amount of weight, had abs, used to workout 6 days a week. Comparing to someone we used to be makes it hard to focus on who we are now and changes we can make to affect our future. It's an unfair comparison. That person who had abs years ago likely didn't have half the responsibilities they do now.
While many people argue it's their metabolism that shifts as they age, I would argue it's our time and focus that shifts towards new responsibilities and roles that make it difficult to eat well and move heavy weights as often as we should to stay in shape. Accepting that the person we are now, is not, and never will be the person we used to be, we can shed that shame and frustration to focus on creating something healthy and sustainable for our lives right now.
New Years Resolution.
Making promises our future self can't keep.
It's happening right now, whether you realize it or not. With the promise to our future self that we will start working out again, eating well, stop drinking, lose weight, or whatever the goal is; come January 1st.
It starts with Halloween candy and ends with the New Years Eve party. Losing focus on our health and fitness with the bargaining tool that we will in fact start working hard on our goals... the beginning of the year.
While that could be true, and we might begin working hard at those goals, the setbacks we create in that time between the now and our future self will begin a slippery slope of self doubt and eventual shame that we talked about in the comparison to our past self.
There is a very simple solution. You just keep doing the things to stay healthy and happy.
Parties rarely happen during the week. Leftovers can go in the trash or stay at the restaurant. Vacation spots have gyms or at home workouts can be found on our app.
Show up for your present self and your future self will be someone you're proud to be.
Being Present.
How to show up for yourself during the holidays.
We are left with the now. Our present self. Who you are, in this current moment, reading this blog post.
How can we find balance? The holidays should be a time to enjoy family and rest. Being okay with skipping a workout or two so that we can create special moments.
What if we focus on maintaining during this time? Lifting heavy or hitting cardio 2-3x/week. Eating well most meals or during the week but then having some flexibility on the weekends or during a special meal. The idea isn't you are either ALL IN or ALL OUT. The idea is to find balance between the two.
Realizing that a huge meal isn't going to destroy your goals....rather it's the accumulation of all the bad decisions over the next 3 months that will make for sobering January 1st.
So, enjoy the upcoming holidays. Spend time with family. Take a few extra rest days. Eat your protein. Hit those weights. It isn't all or nothing.
PS...Imagine starting January 1st with some big time goals....but not working from the deficit of trying to get back to where you were before the holidays...that is how year after year growth truly happens.
