It often makes me wonder what it is that motivates someone to pick up a new habit or drop an old one. I was reading a chapter on ‘self control’ that describe the means by which we achieve it. Immediately I felt a pang of envy towards B F Skinner who has been described as the most discipline of men, and as a result was able to live a very fulfilling life.
Now I think my life is pretty good – but I know that there are other things I can be doing – should be doing and in the future WILL be doing – so how will I know how to be disciplined when that time comes? It takes practice and perseverance and it was not just going to show up on a plate from the kitchen at Milestones – so I would have to earn it myself.
Not to dwell on the subject, but the bathing suit fiasco I mentioned earlier, was a motivator for me to hit the gym. Or maybe it was the fact that I was going on vacation and would be expected to fit decently into the clothes I already have because I cannot afford to purchase a new spring wardrobe. Or it could also be the monstrous layer of fat I spotted on my outer thighs – or when I realized that I was over 110 lbs. I’m barely five feet – with a petite frame, so don’t you go giving me stank eye. It just came out of NOWHERE.
The point is – whatever it was that motivated me – those are the recurring images that keep me going when I decide to go the gym. Last week I went to the gym about four times to get a good run. The first day I managed to run 1km in 20 mins. The second day I ran .5km and added 15mins of weights. The next day I did another 1.4 km and it felt great. By Friday I did 10 mins and didn’t care. I was pooped. By Friday evening there was no evidence of that layer of fat on my legs – and I could actually button my pants up all the way to the top! Now this is what I call saving money!
Funny enough I thought the defeat I suffered at Victoria’s hands didn’t last very long. Lets see…I got it on Wednesday and tried it on … after that disaster – I kept working out – ever though I knew that I would likely be wearing a t shirt on the beach of Mexico…. I did NOT become despondent! I continued onward and forward.
But today is Monday. Monday is a new day. I did not go to the gym. ‘Why not?’ ,you ask? Oh – how about that note from reception reminding me that my gym fees are now due? What timing!
So I’m going to press on with a slightly different strategy. To keep with my other new year’s promise to save money where I can – I will find a way to keep getting my exercise at a set cost until I can save for another gym membership. Here is my master plan:
I find that my right leg gets plenty a workout pressing the gas and break pedals in my car ; perhaps I can switch it up by getting my left foot involved
- ditto for my drum play in ‘Rock Band’.
When I watch 24 tonight I will jog in one spot every time a commercial comes on and during Y&R I’ll tuck my feet under the coffee table and do sit ups every time Colleen or Amber show up onscreen. Actually I can add Neil, Tyra, Karen, and the sappy siblings to that list too.
Whatever it takes – I will get in my exercise kilometer today if it eats me alive. I ’m going to master the art of self control one kilometer at a time.
