Well, maybe a little about comfort zones. A couple of weeks ago I spent a week in the mountains with a guy I've known for years but never had the chance to spend much time with as we live in different parts of the state. He was preparing lunch one day and asked me to put together some devilled eggs, which I had never done before. Now, I'm not completely out of my league in the kitchen, I actually enjoy cooking but I'm never comfortable trying something new unless I've already mastered it by myself; that way nobody can see me fall flat on my creme brulee. (Which I can make, and its fantastic). So anyway, picking up on my nervousness as I was mixing the egg yolks with the vinegar, my host said to his other luncheon guest "I'm trying to get him out of his comfort zone." And he meant it in an encouraging way; he wasn't trying to be unkind.
To backtrack a little...
I've never been comfortable lifting huge amounts of weight. Ten or so years ago I hurt my back jumping off the back of a truck as I was moving things into my new house, and like a fool I didn't seek medical attention. The pain was so bad I couldn't even walk; I had to literally crawl into the house. I had really messed myself up. But instead of going to the emergency room, I just went to bed with a heating pad. I eventually did go to a quick-care center, where they wrote me prescriptions for pain killers, muscle relaxers and physical therapy. The drugs helped but the physical therapy didn't do much, and I didn't really participate in it. I just wanted to bet back to normal, which I never really did, but through concentrated, intense stretching and exercising my back is doing better in the past few weeks than it has in years.
But the pain from the back injury, or should I say, the memory of the back pain, had stuck with me for years. It really hindered me from challenging myself until very recently. I had convinced myself there was no hope, and that I would have to have prescription muscle relaxers handy for the rest of my life.
So what does this have to do with anything?
We're afraid of trying something new sometimes because we're afraid of pain or of making an ass out of ourselves. Or the pain of making said ass out of ourselves.
Stop judging yourself so harshly. And learn to let go of past hurts. As difficult as that can be sometimes, it really does not do anybody any good. Read, study, practice, do whatever you have to do. Holding onto the hurt doesn't hurt the person or thing that hurt you. It doesn't do a thing to them... What, you're going to get them back with your razor-sharp wit at the next family reunion? Why? What purpose does that serve? Who does that help? What does that set in motion? Where does it end?
Insert "Breaking Bad" segue here:
Breaking Bad was one of the best television programs I'd seen in years. I developed quite a passion for it. What made it one of the all-time best television series, in my humble opinion, is that we never knew who to root for. Walter White was a very flawed character. His pride is his downfall. He's done some pretty awful things. And yet, we're on the edge of our seats, wondering,,,will he get away with it?
To bring this back around to fitness...
Its hard sometimes to maintain a passion for fitness. And when I say "fitness" I don't mean doing a triathlon every weekend and living on bean sprouts. I don't want to do that. And there are going to be days when you don't want to move, and want chocolate cake for breakfast. Or your "friends" say that you're self-absorbed.
Besides not judging yourself harshly, when starting any program, remember that it's okay to keep it simple. Say that with me. Keep it simple. No time for anything in the morning, but you know you should be eating better and exercising? The last thing I would tell you is to get up at five o'clock in the morning and do 100 jumping jacks and consume raw eggs and kale juice. (Sounds pretty revolting, doesn't it?) Set your alarm thirty minutes earlier. If that's too much, try ten minutes. Try it for a few days. With that, drink 20 oz of water. Iced, chilled, room temperature, whichever you prefer. Split it into two 10 oz servings if you hate drinking water. (This is where I get boot-camp-y: You need water. I'll say it again: You NEED water. If it makes you gag, add some fresh lemon juice. Mother Nature did not intend for us to exist on pop. Or soda. Or whatever the hell you call it where you live). We'll get to the rest of your morning routine later.
Try it for five consecutive days. On day three, try getting up ten minutes earlier. On day five, try another ten minutes earlier. By the end of one week, you'll have gotten up thirty minutes earlier.
Don't overwhelm yourself. Don't judge yourself harshly. Don't tell yourself you're weak and stupid. Don't let pride or fear of failure get in the way. The worst way to develop new habits is with negativity. Keep. It. Simple... The passion will follow.
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