Saturday, February 11, 2012

Sharing Time

Whenever I look down at my little love handles or my rolls (the pouch where I keep my extra cookies) I say to myself "Dang it, I am going to exercise tomorrow morning!" But most mornings I prefer to make myself a cup of Tim Hortons coffee and dip some biscotti in it. I like to have a nice quiet morning and do my devos so why ruin it with strenuous and exerting exercises??? I see no reason. And then I look at my pouch where I keep my chocolate chip cookies and say "Dang it I need to do some sit ups." 
I have taken to laying out my yoga mat on the floor at the foot of my bed so that when I get up in the morning and have to step over it, the guilt cometh. Thus forcing myself to resurrect those muscles from their zombie-like state and commence with the pain. The initial kick off to exercising is always the hardest part. But when you do it for a while you start to feel really good, you can start to feel how fit you are becoming and may even see it (for some this may take awhile and many kick offs like myself). You get a large satisfaction in being able to tell your body what to do instead of those Toffee Shortbread squares that are on your mind and on the counter.
Often times I procrastinate or procrastibake which contributes to my added parcels of love because I think that something is too difficult or simply just unattainable. I am definitely not one to give a lecture on health and fitness but this attitude we can have towards it can relate to many other things in our lives. Mundane tasks of the day, devotions, work, self-discipline, loving others, being generous with time and possessions, and a million other things we struggle to do even if we want the benefits. 

I am saying all of this not because I think this is easy or that I am a holy fit saint but that I am climbing over the mountains in my mind to reach the place of 'Dang, if i'd of known it was that easy...'
I've been told it takes about six weeks of constantly doing something in order for it to become a habit. I used to complain that I had the memory of a fish. I had a problem remembering everything I had to do on the daily and weekly basis and a friend of mine gave me a giant note pad and told me to write things down (thank you Vickie) but the problem was I would think of things and forget to write things down. So I tried six weeks of writing things down as soon as I think of them. Now after this time I am scrambling for a pen and my note book as soon as something comes to mind I write it down. I am also checking the paper nine times a day. It feels real good when you cross something off that list, you get a sense of satisfaction in being able to control your productiveness and your organizational skills.

I am learning that the barriers to our "unattainable" goals are mostly in our minds I know many of you do not have a problem with this and are just saying "Well when something has to be done just DO it." But for those of us who struggle with this I say to you there is a hump or mountain in all of our minds, overcoming it is the hardest part but anything worth getting is worth working hard for. Disciplining yourself to work for your goals will never ever ever be disappointing. Whether you are struggling with your prayer and devotional life, with your push-ups, or your Bananagram skills. Trust me you will feel so great when you get er done and then when the next mountain comes along you will feel more confident in tackling it. 

By the way the best diet is an African diet I lost over fifteen pounds here but that doesn't even matter because when someone calls you fat it is a compliment and you feel great because your body shape is in style! YES
Tonight I am going to lay out my yoga mat at the foot of my bed and in the morning do my devos and then get my crunchies and leg lifts on like a champ. Then I will reward myself with Timmy's coffee and biscotti.