Resolutions – Perfectly Sorted

I took this photo the other morning in a rush, between getting back from the gym and changing for work. I hadn’t been having great workout sessions of late, and I thought it was perhaps because I didn’t have a goal in place. That morning I focussed on core work, and when I got home I decided I would keep my goal pretty straight forward and simple for the next few months, considering nothing else in my life is straight forward or simple.

I want a 6-pack.

Of the muscle variety, not of Savannahs or Smirnoff Ice. Although I could do with some right now of those too.

My son is so “ripped” it is not even a joke and often tries to compare his 12 -pack with my, well let’s call it a 6 pack of croissants under a dishcloth maybe ok? It’s there, if you feel, it is there, but not so obvious when you first look. It looks perhaps a little lumpy, but that could be the texture of the dish cloth or the lighting. But it is underneath, it’s definitely there, promise. So, I took this photo as a “before” shot. Something to compare to down the line.

Later that night, after the kids had finally gone to bed, I was checking Instagram, (apparently I was told it’s a thing.. an Instagram break) and I clicked on the button for add photo instead of the search and my abs shot came up. I had taken a few shots from different angles. I swiped right for the filter option, a bit of cropping and then, when it came to writing a caption I stopped. I stared at the photo and the words were reflecting back to me “Write a caption…”

This morning, this was my “before” photo to spur me on. But with a different angle, the right filter, some careful cropping and, most importantly a different attitude, this photo could be someone’s “after” photo. It could be their “best ever” photo. It could be their “This is me, take me as I am” type of photo. Or their “I am happy with me” photo. Depending on how you look at things, this could be my “after” photo. If I look back on the photos of me after I had my daughter, this photo could be the crowning achievement of the last 3 years of working out pretty much consistently day in and day out. It was meant to be the photo to show the start of my 6-pack goal. I could pin point so many flaws in this pic. But then again, I have seen a lot worse staring back at me from that very same dressing table mirror, a lot worse.

So here is what stumped me. What stopped me from adding this photo to Instagram…. I didn’t know what to write. Was this a post about me saying I am not happy with how I look right now? Was this a post saying how happy I am with how I look right now? Neither was accurate.

Reflection.

What you see in the mirror is sometimes like Instagram. There are filters. Perhaps not Lark, or Gingham or Amaro. Sometimes what we see in the mirror is completely different on a different day, depending on the mood, how positive or negative you are feeling about yourself, hormones, your reasoning, thought, attitude, your past, your future… the comment from your friends, partner or gym instructor – good or bad. Perhaps you just scoffed 6 crackers with cheese and balsamic caramelised onions, or are you on your third glass of wine? These are all filters of some kind. Are you standing with your head held high or slumped over? I was told if you hold your arms up your mid-section looks better. Did you take the photo in the morning or the evening? That’s at 1-2kg different for me right there folks. Time of day. Always important.
So after a lot of reflection on this photo, I have decided to Write a caption….

Me, content and embracing what is staring back at me in the mirror, flaws and all, and about to embark on a 6 – pack challenge to keep my mind as well as my workouts focussed.
#selfmotivation #smallgoalsbigwins #reflectionisgood #reflectionisintheeyeofthebeholder

Unless it’s the first Monday of January.

Then don’t.

Don’t do it.

Do not go to the gym.

Unless you are thoroughly prepared…..

….Prepared to wait in line for the bikes, the no-brainier starting place for those of us who rushed to the gym with no plan of action, hoping to formulate a workout regime in the 10min warm up session.

…Prepared to fight for your sliver of space in the weights section squashed between Bob who, on his first ever visit to the gym, has grabbed the 24kg weights and is nursing them tentatively while checking his phone for what do with them, and Nigel, who was clever enough to get there early and have his allocated 20min max on the treadmill, which was still enough time to make him sweat like a guy who just got home, empty handed, on his wedding anniversary, and who has now created a sweat puddle exactly where you wanted to place your mat. Well that is to say if you even managed to get a mat or a stretchy band. Foam rollers? Ja right, are a myth at this stage.

…Prepared to deal with the water aerobics gals. Omg. The water aerobics gals! They arrive in what surely must be 2 cars per person based on the lack of parking spaces, the same goes for locker allocations. They come armed with their hand cream, foot cream, face cream, body cream, lotions and potions, and don’t forget the powder. (Talc not the meal supplement kind). They lay it all out and meticulously apply them in a specific routine taking over most of the changing room. No, there will be no quick shower and change at the gym this Monday.

The floor staff will probably be brand new or temps, hungover or pissed off for having to work on a public holiday.

And let’s be honest, anyone you meet there, today on this first Monday of a New Year, you are not likely to see again until this time next year.

If you are serious about your fitness, go on Tuesday. By Thursday it will be hundred times better and by the weekend you will have your pick of machines.

So what is it about Mondays? Or New Year’s for that matter, when it comes to resolutions?

For those of us with OCD tendencies, this New Years Day is particularly important. Is a Monday. It is the 1st of the month of THE 1st Month. It’s all lining up to be a spectacular commencement of 2018. A fresh start. A new leaf. A clean page. ….

… for all those New Year’s Resolutions. (A firm decision to do or no to something)

Yesterday I was sleeping in, eating carbs and didn’t even know how to spell meditation, but now that it is a New Year, I am going to run the Comrades, create a LCHF cookbook, while meditating at 4am each morning. I am no psychic, but I can tel you now its not going to happen. It never works because we still bring ourselves and all our flaws into the New Year, the same people we were 24 hours ago.

I read a great article by Mark Manson the other day about New Years Resolutions that explained so well, my thoughts on the topic. If you have a spare 30min, I highly recommend you read this article, Your Goals are Overrated. We fail because our goals are too big and our commitment too small. We don’t need new resolutions. We need new habits. And to pick the right habits. And compounding habits are the holy grail. (refer to Mark’s article). Habits will get you to your goals, it’s the only way. One step, one meal, one conscious choice, one 5min meditation session at a time.

I am not going to make New Year’s Resolutions, instead my 2018 Game Plan is to work on the 6 fundamental daily habits

For those that don’t have time to read Mark’s article, here is the cheat sheet.

Below are the 6 most important compounding habits that will be the most effective use of our precious resources namely; time, energy and discipline. They are the also the habits that are most likely to help you form more good habits (hence the reference to compounding).

#1 Exercise

#2 Cooking (Diet)

#3 Meditation

#4 Reading

#5 Writing

#6 Socialising

I spent the last few days of 2017 desperately trying to clean everything that was dirty, sort everything that was in chaos, fix everything that was broken. Why?

I didn’t want to start a New Year with things not perfect. My relationship with perfectionism is a love-hate one. Some days it brings me joy, like when I have organised my wardrobe by style and then colour. It creates exceptionally high standards for me to achieve. Think of that pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. It is also my crutch, or my ball and chain would be more accurate. It often holds me back. It stops me from living life at times. I know it is something I need to work on, consistently.

By mid-morning on the 31st December I had to wave the white flag of defeat and realise this just ain’t gonna happen. I gave up, climbed onto a lilo in the pool and relaxed. Yip, true story. Next thing, I had a house full of family and friends having an awesome time, saying goodbye to 2017, completely impromptu. We managed to find some snacks, some drinks, some lunch even… the weather was awesome. It was a fabulous, completely unplanned day. Lesson learnt right there Bron.

To all those who live with perfectionism. OCD, ADD, AHDH, lack of willpower, or whatever your own personal hurdles may be, I hope that 2018 can be the start of your journey to create effective meaningful habits that lay the groundwork for you achieving your goals. Your dreams can be achieved, one habit at a time.

2018! Perfectly Sorted

WIP* Bron (who did not go to the gym today)

Tag: Resolutions

Reflection

Never Skip Mondays

So what is it about Mondays? Or New Year’s for that matter, when it comes to resolutions?

*Work In Progress