Why Make Plans At All?
I’m a planner. I love to sit at my computer planning exactly how I will make something happen. This year, I spent New Year’s Day doing just that. I have my healthy-living plan set out for the entire year. It includes a column for healthy eating, fitness, creativity, and spirituality. I even split the goals into 4, thirteen-week phases. I’m nerdy that way but, you must admit, it’s impressive.
And now I have to let it go. Not all of it, mind you. Just the details!
It’s not that the plan is incorrect or even has the bar set too high. No, I made a plan that could easily be implemented under ideal conditions. That’s the catch. I don’t know about you but my days are rarely filled with ideal conditions. So I did one thing differently this year. I gave myself permission to make changes. None of my plans are written in stone.
In an all-or-nothing plan, when I have to miss 3 days at the gym because work, health and family commitments come up, I may as well give up. In my current plan, I just keep moving forward because I planned for this to take time and include setbacks. It’s been a much better way of getting myself started.
I haven’t kept this week’s plan to eat 5 small meals each day with lots of veggies and fruits. But I have made all of my own food this week, following healthy principals and no processed food. So, even though I haven’t begun to lose fat in earnest, I’ve made a positive change I can incorporate in my life.
Working out has been nearly impossible this week. A bout of insomnia, a snowstorm, and an unexpected day with my grandkids have all made an impact. I want to fall into my old ways and simply proclaim that I have failed again but that”s not true! I know that I can only fail if I give up. So tonight I’ll be back at APF getting my butt kicked. I may not get in 4 workouts this week but I will get in this one.
Next week’s goals? 1. Get to APF 4 times, 2. pack a cooler of healthy foods for work, 3. have a picnic dinner*, and 4. meditate/pray for five minutes in the morning. I’ll keep you posted!
Sandi’s words of wisdom: If you cling too tightly to what you have now, you won’t have a free hand to grab the unexpected gifts that come your way. Loosen your grip!
*Yes, a picnic. I’ll turn on all the lights I can cram into my living room, turn up the thermostat to 80, put on a summer outfit and eat dinner on a blanket spread out on the floor! Why not? It does my heart good to dream a little and my husband is obviously a good sport.
Filed under: Milwaukee Boot Camp News
