Refocusing

My lack of motivation and willpower has pretty much stalled my weight loss.  In the past 4 weeks the numbers on the scale have not moved more than .6 in either direction.  Despite my best efforts, it has been hard to “stay in the game.”  As great as summer is for getting outside and doing the things I enjoy, it’s a saboteur when it comes to diet and exercise.  The never ending humidity and my position at the front of the buffet line at every family barbecue only help to increase the frustration I have with my lack of progress on the scale.  At this point the gut wrenching Crossfit workouts and the miles of running are just helping me maintain what I have already lost.

I am not worried though.  I didn’t put all this extra weight on overnight and it is definitely not going to come off overnight.  When I started this journey I decided that it wasn’t going to be about becoming skinny and I still stand by that.  I am doing this to get healthy.  This time cannot be about trying to look a certain way.  I’m losing weight to BE a certain way: healthy and fit.  Every pound I lose means one less pound for my knees to struggle to carry.  Less weight means running faster and further.  Every pound I leave behind will make it easier for me to do a pull-up and complete more push-ups.  Each pound brings me closer to overall health and fitness.

Being skinny doesn’t help me achieve anything.  It may make me happier but it would only be temporary.  Skinny won’t make me proud but being strong and fast will.  Being fit enables me to accomplish so much.  I can reach new fitness goals and achieve my life goals. Being healthy mentally and physically means I can continuously better myself, making a difference in both my life and my family’s. Striving for fitness allows me to show my son how to believe in himself and become a confident man. My energy does not come from wanting to look a certain way.  It comes from a newfound mental and physical strength.  It has nothing to do with being thin and has everything to do with being healthy and giving myself a chance to live long enough to accomplish everything I want to achieve.

I have been thinking about where I want to be at the end of 2011, what my overall goals for my fitness journey really are.  It truly comes down to one basic thing; I want to be able to do what my body was meant to do. I want to be athletic. I want to be able to run, to lift my body weight (not now, later), and climb high mountains.  I want to swim and bike and enjoy every single moment I possibly can.  The only way I am going to be able to do this is if I refocus and remind myself of the things I want.

I want to:

·         Run a sub-10 minute mile and a sub-30 minute 5k

·         125 lb Clean & Jerk

·         Be able to do “guy” pushups (on my toes rather than knees)

·         Complete the Tri-state Tough Mudder

·         Jump on the 20” box

·         Lose 25 lbs by December 31

In 2012 I want to:

·         Compete in a Sprint Triathlon with my college roommate

·         Run a 10K

·         Climb to the top of the rope

·         Be on a team for the Ragnar Relay

·         Beat my brother to the top of a rock climbing wall

·         Run a marathon…  just joking!  Awesome for those who can and do but I really have no interest.

I WANT TO LIVE A FULL LIFE!