8 weeks of training
Where to begin.
Backstory (boring routine part): I spent the last 8 weeks hardcore training in fitness (4 more to go). What does that mean…ish? I eat on a meal plan, workout 2-3 times a day, and I don’t drink alcohol/soda/etc.
I want to start by saying, yes, this is/was an accomplishment. But what I want to stress is that no, this isn’t/wasn’t hard.
Okay, yeah it is.
But here’s the thing (taken from the authors of the Whole 30)…. Battling an incurable disease is hard, working through loss of a loved one is hard, losing your job and/or life that you knew is hard… do you get what I’m saying here?
It is hard, yes, and it is a choice. It is a decision every day to push myself to my best self. To reach closer to the best version of me that there is, that day at least.
I’m not saying that being fit and healthy is the only way to be your best self – I am saying that whatever your goal is to get you to that state – that is what you should choose to focus on.
No matter how hard it is.
Why?
Because you have that choice.
Not a lot of others do.
And what would be harder than not making that choice every single day, is sitting here, in the same state I was before I started this journey – looking at a goal without acting on it.
Now that would be tragic.
Now that would be hard.
Here is a list of what I have learned so far:
1. You must take it day by day.
Thinking about eating the same meals for 12 weeks sounded unbearable and daunting, getting through each day made it more than possible.
2. You HAVE and I mean HAVE to honor your goals and dreams.
Whatever is holding you back in life, whatever you have always wanted to do, yet instead have disappointed yourself over again and again – you HAVE to it. You just have to, and as soon as you can.
3. You must not care so much what others think and remember that at the end of the day, the people that love you will support you.
4. Live for helping others but always do what is right for you.
5. You are capable of more than you ever thought possible.
6. It doesn’t make you less strong to get a support system and accountability system in place to accomplish a goal.
7. There is a lot more to life than food and drinking (although that is pretty great).
8. It’s okay to spend time with yourself, to be a little lonely sometimes.
9. Feeling yourself reach goals – especially when it takes time and patience – that is the best feeling I have yet to experience that didn’t involve reaching or inspiring others, because this time, I am inspiring myself.
10. “Don’t worry about the time it takes to reach a goal, the time will pass anyway.”
All of my friends, events, and family have been there during and they will be there on the other side of this. I am just a 100% better version of me now – and that I will carry the rest of my life.
This is something that I have needed for a long time in order to truly free my mind and soul, to truly move forward in life and career, and to truly be at peace with myself and those around me.
And so, I encourage you out there, if there is ANYTHING that holds you back, if there is anything that you need to tackle in order to move forward in the most whole way, do it. And do it now.
I have struggled with perfectionism for quite some time, and it took a lot for me to admit that I needed to participate in a program like this to finally accomplish this goal.
But I did it. And I am accomplishing it. And I am disciplining myself through it.
And that is what I want for you.
That is what you should want for you.
That is what you, your loved ones, and the rest of the world deserves from you.
I am by no means perfect. I have had my bad days. I still have a long ways to go. But I am better than I was 8 weeks ago. And I am better than I was yesterday.
And that is all you should strive for.
I’ll update you in four weeks when I’m done – I can’t wait to learn more lessons, progress even further, and push my mind, body and soul to new heights. Cheers to August.