I Didn’t Wait Until January

It is an easy thing to do during the holidays – give the big middle finger to your fitness routine, eat and drink all the things, and just wait until the magical January 1st square on the calendar to pull the horse out of the ditch (that is, of course, if you are not too hungover to be capable of identifying said horse).

I didn’t do that this year. It wasn’t because I have become disillusioned with January 1st – I have not. It is still a wondrously fantastic time of the year for me and I think I may always enjoy it. Instead, I have noticed a habit I have acquired while in school: when I get really busy in my academic life, my health routines are the first scheduling items to get the ax. Unfortunately, this is counterproductive. I am already busy and a little stressed. Giving up my workouts are the best thing for that. And still, this is what I do.

So, instead of waiting for January 1st, I compromised. I was on winter break from school, and there really was no better time to carve out juicy blocks in my schedule for getting reacquainted with my gym equipment. And, I ate and drank what I wanted. So far, it’s working.

I decided to confront my overzealous, dog-with-a-bone nature. I made real decisions about what my winter break workout routine looked like. I was just going to show up, track the activity, and see what happens. I was NOT going to cripple myself in some misguided attempt to make up for lost time. I was not going to judge my current performance with my apex abilities that are now almost a decade in the past. I was not going to obsess over results. I didn’t do any “before”s. None of them – no weight, no measurements, no nothing. The only thing I have are these great AI Art avatars. My goal is to feel like I look in these. December, I did just that – and it was a win.

And, I will not be humble here: I am very proud of my January:

• 20 active days
• 38 workouts
• 17 hours of time dedicated
• 5827 calories burned
• 153.5 Peloton miles
• 42,257 Tonal weights moved
• averaged 7 hours of sleep a night
• averaged 5,700 steps a day
• averaged 60 ounces of water a day

Here is where I practice being proud while still seeing room.

• I would like to have 100% active days – even if it is just a walk or a stretch
• I am seriously neglecting my stretching
• I’d like to get my water intake up
• I’d like to find more opportunities to walk/run outside
• I am seriously neglecting my stretching

I am glad I didn’t wait. But I am more thankful that when I decided to make a move, I knew how to give myself grace. And that “give yourself grace” business can be tricky. Yes, I am gentle and reasonable with myself. But I also know when it is time to kick my own self in the ass. Let’s see what we do in February!

xoxo,