All or nothing. I do tend to sink into that category. I tend to be an all or nothing type of girl. I find something I like or want to do and I immerse myself in it. It is in every aspect of my life. I find an author I like and I read everything by that author. I find a craft project I like and I focus all of my attention on that craft. For all of these things eventually something else comes along that diverts the focus and I move on to the next thing. In this way I've have in a way become a jack of all trades, master of none. That's ok, I can accept this fact about myself.
The problem is that for me to be healthy and productive, I can't have an all or nothing attitude. There needs to be balance. I need to be focused on my goals but not let life slip by. Spending two or three hours of exercise each day is awesome and I don't begrudge those days that I've done that. (Long bike rides followed by an exercise class or a walk with a friend quickly eats up 3 hours of a day). However, it's bad when I give up doing something that makes me happy and brings me joy. I went months and barely touched my camera gear. I truly enjoy playing around within the photographic realm of things. It makes me happy...yet I gave it up in this hellfire bent to exercise. Well....technically I didn't give it up, I just didn't have time for it.
I want to be healthy mind, body and spirit. So I have to find a way to to lose that all or nothing attitude. I need to find a way to be super focused on my goals but also relaxed enough to nurture my mind.
I've come a long way....now it's just fine tuning what I know and getting the weight loss rolling again!
I've come a long way....now it's just fine tuning what I know and getting the weight loss rolling again!
Meanwhile. I woke up to a rainy morning with a pounding headache. I think I'm going to curl up on this couch and rest until it's time to go to work. Hopefully I'll feel better and maybe hop on the exercise bike this evening.
Here are a few pictures I snapped the other day and boy did it feel good to have my camera in my hands again (even though that tendon in my arm screamed in pain anytime I held the camera or depressed the shutter!)
4 comments:
HI Mary Fran!
Really glad/happy to read this post. Only by doing our best to be balanced, and we hope to achieve long term success. I'm OCD myself, so I know the tendencies to be 'all in' on something, but at my age, I've seen or experienced myself all the pitfalls, as well. I think your new approach to 'all in' with exercise will also help you heal, physically. All in in exercise usually invariably leads to injuries. Pushing oneself is one thing, but that many hours really stresses your body and something has to give eventually. I think it also leads people to stopping the food diets as well; they get all gung ho into something, but find they can't sustain it. And unless it's not only healthy but one truly believes the science behind why they should eat truly healthy, it just won't last. One has to be morally committed to it, to get through those times when temptation arises. And let's face it, there are more days of temptation in our lives, dietary, than not. At least in my life. Good luck! (not that luck has anything to do with it. haha)
It is such a challenge to find balance, but I believe being aware is key. Sounds like you are. Leslie
mayhaps take your camera on your runs and rides, go hardcore for half the trip then meander on the way back and take photographs , it'll be like a "cool down" you can do this and have balance!
Im an all or nothing person!! And it ticks me off!! If I think I wont be able to do it, I dont even try!!! Its time to stop thinking about the failure and think about the steps!!
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