Fitness or Flab?

So here I sit ( and that's the operative word). Days seems to fly by, yet I seem to be sitting still. Each morning I rise and do my breathing exercises, meditate, go downstairs and consider doing some yoga (although I haven't been able to get motivated to do so except once in a blue moon), clean the kitchen from the day before and sit down at my computer. Then I make the decision as to whether to send out more resumes, work on my blog or????

Each day seems to bring "action items" like chew my son out for acting irresponsible, check my emails for "important" messages and opportunities, place items on craigslist to sell, follow-up on leads for contract work, continue to help my youngest get ready for college including helping her with a summer course to get a head-start (I'm proud of her), walk the dogs, and I could go on, but sometimes progress seems slow toward my ultimate goal of security, stability and, do I dare say, happiness!

As to the title of this blog, Fitness or Flab, it relates not only to my mental state but also my physical state. It's an interesting observation that when determination is high and results seem to be imminent, the motivation to work-out comes much easier. However, when a person has pushed hard, taken responsibility and done everything listed with little to no results, it just doesn't seem very important to say "no" to that bowl of ice cream at night or do yoga in the morning even when we know we'll feel better if we do!

As you can tell, I am not in the best state of mind or body today. So why did I decide to write this blog? To keep it REAL...

All of us have good days and bad. The trick is finding that spark to keep our heads above water, to not go down that rabbit hole or whatever other poetic phrase fits for the day. The trick is to change our perspective so that we can take one small step at a time to make progress even when we don't "feel like it." Giving in is simply not acceptable.

So what can we do? Here's a great site: www.fitnessblackbook.com. Check out this excerpt about taking action.

June 24, 2009

"Positive Action" Gets Results - Not Positive Thinking

I am naturally a pretty positive and upbeat person, but don't buy into the whole positive thinking movement. The way I look at achieving goals like getting in great shape or building a successful business is that it is positive actions that matter most. Simply do the actions necessary to reaching your goals, and forget how you feel.

Although I agree that often we need to forget about how we feel, I do believe that keeping a positive thought helps. However, sometimes that positive thought is harder to access, in which case we simply have to rely on taking action.

Here's another great post from the Fitness Black Book:

June 18, 2009

"Mindless Eating" - Why Do We Continue to Eat When We are Full?

Mindlessness is an enemy any way you look at it. Mindless eating, mindless action, mindless inaction. The mind is powerful, and when we don't pay attention to the thoughts accumulating there, it can be destructive.

So when I've seemingly "hit bottom" or when I can see that I'm inching in that direction, like today, I have to stop and think, "what is it that I can DO that will make progress and help me feel better about myself?"

This morning I decided to write this blog entry. It accomplished two things for me:
- it helped me review my thoughts and weed them with the hope that someone out there will find some commonality and find some inspiration or just some tools to use in their day,
- it gets me going so that I can find and take that step today that will help me make progress toward my goals of security, stability and happiness.

In the infinite wisdom of Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss in What about Bob, baby steps are sometimes just the right thing. Always choose fitness over flab even when it's just a small step in that direction.