Hello and Happy Friday,
These past 12 months have been a monumental battle in my fitness. During the previous 24 months I was solely focused on my wife’s cancer treatment and ultimately her final days. Obviously, I have no regrets setting aside my life for my wife and her battle, but after she went home to Heaven, I eventually had to face a much less fit Mike. The scale number was considerably higher, and my cardiovascular system was lacking. In conversation with my physician, she talked about my elevated cortisol levels from the stress and how it impacted my weight gain and other health factors. While she may have been accurate, if I am honest, I would say poor eating habits and sporadic exercising played a large role. For sure, I am not second guessing a difficult time, but I needed to improve.
The journey back has been difficult and enlightening. Difficult in that my motivation has been lacking in daily consistency and enlightening as to the changes in my cardiovascular fitness. Let’s talk about each of them individually.
Daily motivation
For many years I had created habits of both running and strength training and for the most part I did not deviate for more than one week. Life was not without challenges to my habits; however, I stayed motivated enough to stay on my fitness path. When our world was rocked by cancer, daily fitness (and eating) habits disappeared. Again, I am not bemoaning the effects of my wife’s cancer on me, I would not have done anything differently.
When life reverted to being solo, I knew I needed the physical and mental benefits of exercise and a better diet more than ever. Realization is an important first step, but consistency (habits) is much more difficult, It was easy to excuse myself as I grieved. However, I knew my lack of consistent running, strength training and poor eating habits, was working against me. Despite being a fitness professional and knowing what I know, many weeks were without adherence. Creating habits are difficult and I am not close to being there yet. I am routinely running, strength training and making better diet decisions, and pleased. However, it is still more about discipline than a habit for sure. One problem I can control for the most part is a routine required for a habit to be created. Right now, I do not have particular times of the day I run or strength train, but instead I have particular days of the week I do them. Consistence in such things as day and time, programs our brain, thus creating a routine. Thankfully my self-efficacy is motivated just enough to adhere to a daily schedule, however if I can narrow my schedule to a specific time, a true habit will be established. It is a battle and one in which I preach to others as I struggle with it myself.
Enlightenment
For many years I always felt I could put on my running feet and push through a run up to 5 miles. Those days are not these days! It is not only that I cannot jump out and run, but I have struggled to run without mixing in some walk intervals. I am now 62 and for whatever reason my strength and cardiovascular endurance have been a considerable challenge for me. To say it is frustrating, would be an understatement. Acceptance requires a level of humbling myself in ways I have never considered. Truly as I struggle to even run/walk intervals, I have had to embrace success in being out there. It certainly is a learning experience and one which will hopefully benefit my profession as a running coach and fitness trainer.
Where I am at physically this point in my life, is not where I would like to be, however understanding I am responsible for my health and fitness empowers me to control as much as I am able. Being able to run as I did even 36 months ago may never be a possibility,
but owning whatever I am capable of is a blessing. Whatever that blessing looks like, rests in my habits and acceptance of a different success. For sure I will aim to maximize my aerobic capabilities and wherever it lands will be okay.
One of my clients turned running coach (DJ) was always trying to finish ahead of me in a race and my guess currently (and maybe forever), she could indeed surpass me. Instead of hanging up my running shoes, I will stay at it and congratulate her! It is all very enlightening and humbling, but it is also an opportunity to grow and cherish whatever I can do.
This chat was all about me, but it is not all about me. Life can make it hard to focus on your fitness, but we cannot give in to it. We need to embrace what we can do and keep moving. We only really lose when we give up.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and more importantly, a great Easter. He has risen for you and me.
God Bless
Mike
