Tapping the will power reserves

Sunday.

Yesterday, in the car, driving home from the gym, Matthew and I, had an endorphin fueled conversation about out workout. Mid-January we made it our goal to make it to the gym at least four times a week.  We exceeded our goal by one day! Holler!!!

Feel badass and riding the waves of awesomeness, we decided to tackle an even bigger challenge: Lent. Dun dun dun.

Matthew says very matter of factly- “you and I have not really tapped our will power reserve.” Challenge accepted.

Traffic lights by traffic light, we began to make a list of things we were determined to live without for the upcoming forty days. Matthew’s list- alcohol, sodas, and one other item that escapes my mind. My list: soda, fried foods and bread.  Oh and we also agreed to make it to church every Sunday during Lent.  Then came the list of threats. Wait…let me take us back to fee days ago.

Matthew attended a training for work in which he learned about SWOT analysis and using threats to achieve desired results. So we have been using this threat system to accomplish things. For example: making it to the gym five times this week was a direct result of us agreeing that if we didn’t, Matthew would not be able to play Halo 4 for a week and I would have zero Greg’s anatomy reruns.

This morning.

At the wee hours of 5:30 a.m as we prepared for our morning trek to the gym, as if we had both been struck by psychic abilities- we remembered the threats.

1. Consuming the crap we decided to give up. For this epic failure of the wills- The Threat: we will be forced to workout at the gym without our ipods.  Yes- we went there. Yes, shit just got real.  For nothing sucks more than not having music to tune out the heavy, sweaty breathers all around you.  Not to mention it makes an hour workout seem like two.

2. Skipping out on Church.  We are by no means holy rollers. In fact, I think we last stepped in to the house of God in November.  I have been feeling like I need more Jesus in my life and I figure if I’m working on my fitness-might as well hit the spiritual fitness as well. What happens if we sleep in and miss mass? Our threat: No Walking Dead for that week.  Yeah…I know, wtf are we thinking but threats are supposed to help us achieve our goals.  I hope this is true.

3.  A few blogs ago, in January, I wrote about trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.  I have decided I want to be a writer.  However, I lack discipline…sometimes. My commitment is to write everyday for the next forty days.   Sounds easy enough right? Lord, I hope so.  My threat: Deactivate Facebook for a week. Yes, we just went from sane straight into cray cray land.

As I write this, on the eve of Lent…er Fat Tuesday, I can not help but feel excited and terrified out of my mind all at once.  Yes, perhaps we are using this time of year to fuel are weight loss goals but the truth is there has to be something therapeutic, cathartic and cleansing in the process.  So invite you reader to follow along, hold me accountable (if you want-no pressure here, I am all about holding yourself responsible to you) and laugh.  Yes, laugh at my expense, I don’t mind.  It builds character.

Let’s do this.

Yogi bear…yoga hair

One of the most difficult things for me to do is try a new physical activity in public.  i hate feeling silly and i swear that everyone has stopped what they are doing to stare at me.  I remember the first time my trainer had me try a burpee I said to her- oh it must be humbling experience day.

The truth is no matter how embarrassed or difficult the physical activity, I usually end up happy and excited about defeating it.  As self conscious as I am about my chubby body- endorphins kick in and I’m okay.

Today I was able to experience one of these challenging, uncomfortable moments.  And to add a little bit of flare, I was surrounded by mirrors.

Matthew has back issues, chronic back pain. His doctor suggested yoga or Pilates as a form of exercise.  Our gym offers yoga classes three times a week. We decided on Saturday but ran late and opted hiking instead.

This afternoon we walked into the studio.  The instructor noticed right away that we were new. I’m not sure what gave it away. It could have been the soft tummies we are both carrying or the whatthefuckarewedoing looks in our eyes.  She was nice and polite.

And so we began. She had us stretching, finding our core, our place, listening to our breathe and taking off our socks. Seriously, I really have to stare at my I un-pedicured toes. Not far. I’m here to relax.

Mirrors surrounded us and I kept focusing on the instructor. I felt like I was actually completing the poses, that is till I glanced up at the mirror. How could something that felt so right look oh so wrong?

We survived class and will definitely be back. I in the meantime will be looking for a tent or a snuggy that I can wear to class.  Or I could just wait six months before looking in the mirror (in class).