I can't even remember when I last posted... I know it was after a brief burst of enthusiasm. :) I think I'm about 300g lighter than then. But that's not what I want to share today.
I read a lot of blogs, and today there was a great post on Mia Freedman's blog about exercise. The link is here but I'll quote my favourite part for you. It's longish, but worth reading. (She's quoting a conversation with Michelle Bridges, one of the Biggest Loser trainers.)
Like the rest of us, Michelle doesn’t adore exercise when she’s doing
it and she doesn’t particularly look forward to it. And it’s this myth –
that we should LOVE exercise and be inspired to do it – that so many of
us use as an excuse not to.
Michelle says she’s asked about motivation all the time because people assume she is a motivation machine.
But she’s not. “I don’t wake up, pump my fist in the air and go ‘YES!
I’M GOING RUNNING! RUNNING! YESSSSSSS!’” she insists. Just like she
doesn’t wake up and go “YES! I’M HAVING A SHOWER AND BRUSHING MY TEETH.”
Or “YES! I HAVE A DENTIST APPOINTMENT!” It’s just what she does.
If you wait for motivation to magically appear? You’ll still be sprawled on your couch watching The Real Housewives in a decade. The clouds do not part. Inspiration does not strike. You will
probably never be overcome by the urge to exercise. You. Just. Do. It.
Accidentally, I’ve taken this approach to exercise for a long time.
It’s also known as the Don’t-Negotiate-With-Terrorists method if by
‘terrorists’ you mean the self-sabotaging parts of yourself that would
prefer to sleep-in or go for drinks after work instead of moving
vigorously until parts of your body hurt and get sweaty.
I don’t negotiate with myself about exercise. Ever. I’ve done the
same thing for years. And years and years. Exercise is one of the most
boring and predictable things in my life but also one of the most
important. Without it, I’m Moody McBitchface. The way I sidestep the need for motivation is to remove as many
variables as possible – I exercise indoors so weather doesn’t matter. I
exercise alone so I’m not relying on anyone. I don’t have a trainer or do
classes so it’s not budget dependent. I always exercise in the morning and always on cardio machines. The
morning part is crucial. It means I don’t spend the day having those
exhausting debates in my head about whether I will or won’t do it after
work. Exercising in the morning is as much a part of my routine as
getting dressed.
I just love the "Don't Negotiate With Terrorists" method. It's my new mantra... because those 'terrorist' thoughts get me all the time. "Oh, I can't be bothered. I have insomnia so I should sleep when I can. I will do it tonight. I'll be late for work. I'll go for a walk at lunchtime. I don't have any sports bras clean." You name the excuse, I've probably made it.
This afternoon I desperately wanted a nap. Daylight saving started this morning so I lost an hour of sleep and my body was protesting. I was on my computer and I was almost nodding off as I typed. I was soooo tempted to sleep... but I thought, "No. Don't negotiate with terrorists." I pulled on some exercise gear, put in a workout DVD and did that for 40 minutes. Then, feeling still inspired, I put on a Star Trek DVD and walked on the treadmill for an hour while it played. ONE HOUR. I walked 5.5km and I felt great at the end. Of course, I don't expect to do that amount of exercise every day but I hope to do SOME.
Don't Negotiate With Terrorists.
I love it.
.
Six and a half years later
4 years ago
3 comments:
I love the mantra too.
Just maybe not enough to actually ... well ... DO anything just now.
But my excuse is the biggest cricked neck I've ever had. Moving is not my friend just now and when I tried to stretch it out it ended badly (like shooting nerve pain from the top of my head to halfway down my back). Heat pack is my bestie for the moment.
But I applaud you, (or would if I could apply jerky clapping movements to my right arm just now.)
Oh I love that too!!
Me too, I had to allude to it in my new post :)
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