My first goal of 2013 was to exercise at least 15 minutes a day. That isn't much. Literally, less than a minute for each hour I am awake. I should be able to do that.
Apparently not. Today I realized it was January 5th and I hadn't exercised one minute in 2013. I have literally sat around doing exactly what I despise: nothing. I have done nothing for months. I want to stop doing nothing, but have just continued...doing nothing.
So, today was the day. The first step out of a million is the hardest they say, right? I picked myself up off the couch and...procrastinated more. I don't know why it takes so much to get motivated that first time when I go back to exercising. Even I, a seasoned athlete and exercise freak, procrastinate. I put on my exercise clothes, looked out the window to see what my husband was doing, got a bottle of water, put a load of clothes in the washer, played with an app on my iPhone, checked the dryer, put new batteries in my stationary bike, fed my fish, charged up my Kindle for entertainment, and THIRTY MINUTES LATER got to riding.
Why did I put it off right up to the last minute? Once I got on the bike I watched a minute, two minutes, five minutes...twenty minutes fly by as I was lost reading a book on my Kindle! Just like that! I ended with over 5.5 miles in an aerobic training program that does intervals in what seemed like seconds. And I felt great afterwards, like always.
So why would I put it off? I think I know the answer.
I am afraid of failing. If I never start, I won't fail, right?
Living with PCOS can feel constant failure. Failure at losing weight, failure at having a baby, failure at eating correctly and so on. So, at least in my mind, it is just easier to use it as an excuse rather than to try and fail. I don't want to start exercising and just fall out of the habit and fail.
However if I procrastinate, ironically, in the end I lose AND I fail. Doesn't make sense, does it?
PCOS is a life threatening disorder that takes constant vigilance to overcome. PCOS sufferers cannot afford to take days off or to give in just this once, because our lives literally depend on continuing on and following through and fighting the good fight every day of our lives. It is not fair. But it is what we have to do.
It is okay to fail, but you have to continue to pick yourself up and start over. Get back on that bike. Take that first step. Close your eyes and just leap. AND, it is amazing what happens once you take that first step, or ride that first ride, or make that first leap...wait for it...you feel better immediately!
So, if you are lacking motivation, try to get the courage up and know this---because you are willing to try means you aren't a failure. I think we need to get in our heads that our only failure comes when we don't try at all. If you continue trying, you are succeeding.
Keep fighting the fight and don't give up!
Apparently not. Today I realized it was January 5th and I hadn't exercised one minute in 2013. I have literally sat around doing exactly what I despise: nothing. I have done nothing for months. I want to stop doing nothing, but have just continued...doing nothing.
So, today was the day. The first step out of a million is the hardest they say, right? I picked myself up off the couch and...procrastinated more. I don't know why it takes so much to get motivated that first time when I go back to exercising. Even I, a seasoned athlete and exercise freak, procrastinate. I put on my exercise clothes, looked out the window to see what my husband was doing, got a bottle of water, put a load of clothes in the washer, played with an app on my iPhone, checked the dryer, put new batteries in my stationary bike, fed my fish, charged up my Kindle for entertainment, and THIRTY MINUTES LATER got to riding.
Why did I put it off right up to the last minute? Once I got on the bike I watched a minute, two minutes, five minutes...twenty minutes fly by as I was lost reading a book on my Kindle! Just like that! I ended with over 5.5 miles in an aerobic training program that does intervals in what seemed like seconds. And I felt great afterwards, like always.
So why would I put it off? I think I know the answer.
I am afraid of failing. If I never start, I won't fail, right?
Living with PCOS can feel constant failure. Failure at losing weight, failure at having a baby, failure at eating correctly and so on. So, at least in my mind, it is just easier to use it as an excuse rather than to try and fail. I don't want to start exercising and just fall out of the habit and fail.
However if I procrastinate, ironically, in the end I lose AND I fail. Doesn't make sense, does it?
PCOS is a life threatening disorder that takes constant vigilance to overcome. PCOS sufferers cannot afford to take days off or to give in just this once, because our lives literally depend on continuing on and following through and fighting the good fight every day of our lives. It is not fair. But it is what we have to do.
It is okay to fail, but you have to continue to pick yourself up and start over. Get back on that bike. Take that first step. Close your eyes and just leap. AND, it is amazing what happens once you take that first step, or ride that first ride, or make that first leap...wait for it...you feel better immediately!
So, if you are lacking motivation, try to get the courage up and know this---because you are willing to try means you aren't a failure. I think we need to get in our heads that our only failure comes when we don't try at all. If you continue trying, you are succeeding.
Keep fighting the fight and don't give up!
