About Fogdog's Weight Loss

Don't Focus on the Goal...

If you've followed this blog you know that I've struggled for many years with improving my health. I've finally reached a point where I've managed to maintain a small amount of success. Now it's time to take the next step, but I believe it requires a new way of thinking.

Instead of trying to get healthy, why not shift focus toward learning how to build healthy habits instead. Follow me as I try to teach myself how to Engineer healthy habits that will allow me to take my health to the next level. Let's see where this experiment goes!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

A Different Way to Deal With Stress

Yesterday was one of those days!  You know those days, right?  Those days when you are given every opportunity to make excuses.  Those days when the world is against your good intentions (or it least it feels that way).  Well for me, yesterday was one of those days. 

It started with the alarm at 5AM.  I woke up groggy and just physically rundown.  I don’t know if I didn’t sleep well or my body getting used to the lower calories but this was the most tired I’ve felt in a while.  I could have skipped my morning workout, I could have slept another hour, I could have went to Starbucks and got a big coffee.  I could have found an excuse… but I didn’t. 

Work was a nightmare.  My boss is out of town so I’m holding down the fort the best I can.  Everything is falling apart.  My Boss’s boss invites me to lunch.  I’ve committed to staying strictly to my plan for the first month.  “But this is a networking opportunity”, “It’s a free meal”, “You could just go with him to test your willpower by ordering only healthy items”.  I could have found an excuse to go… but I didn’t. 

More chaos in the afternoon. Everyone’s got a problem and when you are a Maintenance Manager everyone thinks their problem is the most important.  For some reason I’m starving.  On the ride home I start to think about going out for dinner.  I need to convince my wife, but how?  Prey on her weak points.  Suggest Chinese food, or tell her she looks like she needs a break tonight.  I could have found an excuse to go out… but I didn’t. 

Finally home at 6PM!  What the??  Two kids yelling at each other, and the third one’s crying.  Now my headache is getting worse.  Dinner is served; I’m done in 15 minutes.  Great healthy meal but for some reason I still feel like I’m starving.  The kids are still disputing (calmly now) but I’m getting pissed off at them and need to let it out.  I can’t take it anymore!  There’s a convenience store 5 minutes away.  I can get my old standby dessert; a cherry filled pie, a Hershey chocolate bar, and a cream soda to wash it all down.  Hey I deserve it right?  Look at the day I’ve had.  It’s only one night and I can start fresh tomorrow.  I went through all the excuses; I had all the reasons to do it… but I didn’t! 

Instead I tried something different.  I apologized to the kids for yelling at them and explained I’m just having a bad day.  I put on some workout clothes and I went downstairs.  I cranked up some hellacious tunes and I move my elliptical trainer as fast as I could for as long as I could.  30 minutes and 2.5 miles later I could barely catch my breath.  I was dripping in sweat, my headache was gone, and I was overcome by a huge sense of accomplishment. 

I’m not naïve to think that I’ve instantly changed into a new person, and I certainly know that not all days will end this way, but yesterday, for one day I didn’t let the excuses win! (Small victories #7, 8, 9, and 10). 

Stay Strong

 

4 comments:

  1. A long series of small victories and you win the race :)

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  2. This is a phenomenal post, FD. You're in tune with yourself on some amazing levels, my friend. You cranked up your importance level at every turn--and not only that, you were able to step outside of yourself and assess the situation--and realize what was happening and what you could do to finish the day strong. Congrats!!! That feeling you felt when you dropped in bed for the evening--that feeling, Sir--is where it is---it's the sweet spot along this road.

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    1. Thanks Sean! I have to admit, that feeling I had when I got to the end and realized that I made it, was something I hadn't experienced in quite some time. It won't be all roses, I'll stumble some along the way, but this was something I definetely needed early on! Thanks for reading!

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