Give it all you've got
This week (half marathon taper week) has been an interesting challenge to me. I am not running much, as I should appropriately not be, and yet my appetite has remained in hyper mode. Luckily I've maintained my weight, as I've followed this a little more closely on the scale to ensure I'm not going overboard. And because I'm not as active, I have more time to sit and contemplate. I come to realize the themes for this week are "just give it all you've got," followed closely by "do what you can."
This works in lots of areas of life: careers, exercise (ie endurance sports), proper eating habits, and general life changes. I've been trying to eat lunches that contain no meat and incorporate forms of protein of natural sources, such as black beans, quinoa, etc into my daily diet. I'm 'doing what I can' with my diet this week, and trying to 'give it all I've got,' while still remaining human. On Sunday, I will certainly give it all I've got in my race.
I think it's easy as humans to always sell yourself short. I had a friend once tell me "you are your own biggest critic, and the day that changes is the day that I eat my hat." Well, needless to say, he has never eaten his hat. I think that the more that time passes (the older I get?) the more I realize that giving 100% of what you have, and accepting what results is absolutely ok. Further, beating oneself up for 'falling short' gets you absolutely nowhere but depressed.
So, this week, I've had a few more treats than I care to admit (though I'm still getting in my healthy carbs and proteins), and I've battled with not exercising too much to allow my body to rest. I've been battling my mind into accepting the effort that I am putting into all this as being enough. Life is of course not about perfection, and neither are healthy lifestyle habits. It is not 'all in or all out,' which I've used in previous 'diets' in life (that failed miserably, mind you). It is about doing the absolute best that you can, at this moment in life, and realizing that everyone stumbles and struggles from time to time. I am fortunate to have many folks around me that help me stay accountable, and love me regardless of my stumbles and self-perceived shortcomings. My running friends are the best of the best, my family and close friends are second to non. I live a healthy life, and I am in control of my own happiness. And that, my friends, is good enough for me.
Have a great, healthy, happy rest of the week!
This works in lots of areas of life: careers, exercise (ie endurance sports), proper eating habits, and general life changes. I've been trying to eat lunches that contain no meat and incorporate forms of protein of natural sources, such as black beans, quinoa, etc into my daily diet. I'm 'doing what I can' with my diet this week, and trying to 'give it all I've got,' while still remaining human. On Sunday, I will certainly give it all I've got in my race.
I think it's easy as humans to always sell yourself short. I had a friend once tell me "you are your own biggest critic, and the day that changes is the day that I eat my hat." Well, needless to say, he has never eaten his hat. I think that the more that time passes (the older I get?) the more I realize that giving 100% of what you have, and accepting what results is absolutely ok. Further, beating oneself up for 'falling short' gets you absolutely nowhere but depressed.
So, this week, I've had a few more treats than I care to admit (though I'm still getting in my healthy carbs and proteins), and I've battled with not exercising too much to allow my body to rest. I've been battling my mind into accepting the effort that I am putting into all this as being enough. Life is of course not about perfection, and neither are healthy lifestyle habits. It is not 'all in or all out,' which I've used in previous 'diets' in life (that failed miserably, mind you). It is about doing the absolute best that you can, at this moment in life, and realizing that everyone stumbles and struggles from time to time. I am fortunate to have many folks around me that help me stay accountable, and love me regardless of my stumbles and self-perceived shortcomings. My running friends are the best of the best, my family and close friends are second to non. I live a healthy life, and I am in control of my own happiness. And that, my friends, is good enough for me.
Have a great, healthy, happy rest of the week!
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