Inputs vs. Outputs
It's been 9 days since I worked out last. I got that Monday run in but that was it for the week. I'm not setting the clock back to zero and starting over. I'm not calling this a failure. I'm recognizing that given a constraint of 24 hrs, and a choice between giving guests the ability to close their door for privacy or working out, the former was clearly more important. Last week it was a series of choices like that: get my hair cut before the formal or work out, clean the house for guests allergic to cats or workout, finish cleaning the doorknobs and put them back on the doors before the guests arrived or workout, etc.
It's funny how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has started unraveling the guilt trips I would normally give myself for not working out. So instead of being a perfectionist who thinks I have to clean the doorknobs, put them back on the doors, AND workout, for the first time I weighed the options and made a conscious choice that is not leaving me guilt-ridden and feeling like a failure. Has anyone else noticed how much time and energy the guilt trip takes up? It's kind of ridiculous and now that I'm not doing it as much, I'm kind of shocked at how much time I used to waste with it!
Since I'm weighing options and choosing the level of effort to put towards my health goals, I'm starting to think about inputs vs. outputs more. Bottom line is I've missed 9 days of burning calories and getting more fit. Because of that, I can't expect to get on the scale at week 6 and have fabulous numbers appear. My level of input isn't supporting that output. Am I ok with not losing weight or getting beautifully sculpted arms? Right now I'm tired enough to say yes, I'm ok with that. Right now I'm tired enough that staying awake in meetings and being able to complete sentences coherently is more important to me.
What you put in dictates what you get out - it's such a banal statement and yet, because the guilt trips and the "all or nothing" thinking was preoccupying my mind, I never saw that the equation really is that simple. If I don't like the output am I willing to change the input? Because really, that's the only way the situation is going to change.
I like that my new challenge is to find that place where I'm happy with both my inputs and outputs in the world of fitness. It's a great space because from here I can look at what I want to prioritize and I can stop prioritizing those things that other people tell me to prioritize that I don't care about. That and I can let go of other people's priorities without feeling guilty about it!
Day 10 of no exercise is coming up tomorrow. This is still week 4 of my 2010 fitness calendar. I am not starting over, I am not resetting anything, this journey is what it is and maybe tomorrow I'll be ready to input more time and effort to my fitness account.
It's funny how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has started unraveling the guilt trips I would normally give myself for not working out. So instead of being a perfectionist who thinks I have to clean the doorknobs, put them back on the doors, AND workout, for the first time I weighed the options and made a conscious choice that is not leaving me guilt-ridden and feeling like a failure. Has anyone else noticed how much time and energy the guilt trip takes up? It's kind of ridiculous and now that I'm not doing it as much, I'm kind of shocked at how much time I used to waste with it!
Since I'm weighing options and choosing the level of effort to put towards my health goals, I'm starting to think about inputs vs. outputs more. Bottom line is I've missed 9 days of burning calories and getting more fit. Because of that, I can't expect to get on the scale at week 6 and have fabulous numbers appear. My level of input isn't supporting that output. Am I ok with not losing weight or getting beautifully sculpted arms? Right now I'm tired enough to say yes, I'm ok with that. Right now I'm tired enough that staying awake in meetings and being able to complete sentences coherently is more important to me.
What you put in dictates what you get out - it's such a banal statement and yet, because the guilt trips and the "all or nothing" thinking was preoccupying my mind, I never saw that the equation really is that simple. If I don't like the output am I willing to change the input? Because really, that's the only way the situation is going to change.
I like that my new challenge is to find that place where I'm happy with both my inputs and outputs in the world of fitness. It's a great space because from here I can look at what I want to prioritize and I can stop prioritizing those things that other people tell me to prioritize that I don't care about. That and I can let go of other people's priorities without feeling guilty about it!
Day 10 of no exercise is coming up tomorrow. This is still week 4 of my 2010 fitness calendar. I am not starting over, I am not resetting anything, this journey is what it is and maybe tomorrow I'll be ready to input more time and effort to my fitness account.
posted by Habeela at 10:44 PM
1 Comments:
Love CBT. I used to be the same way. It's week 2 post-Ironman and I'm itching to work out but my body is tired and wants no more than mellow hikes. Love ditching the "all or nothing" attitude. Great post.
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