THINGS GOT COMFORTABLE
A FITNESS JOURNEY
part 2
So the realization of the need for change created the action and the first year was phenomenal and then (enter the sound of screeching brakes) the results stopped. The needle on the scale stopped. The measuring tape stopped. It all just…. stopped.
And there I was….. at the plateau.
Feeling defeated.
This, is my year two…….
Now don’t get me wrong, the results have still be phenomenal and I am incredibly happy but the problem is, it got “fun” and I got comfortable.
I got comfortable with missing a day, I actually started to justify cheat days, and what I called “restoration days” when in reality I was looking for an excuse not to work out and not respect a diet. My first year I still utilized a diet structure that used a point system but quickly discovered my exercise was earning me enough points to eat an entire cheesecake by the weeks end. In short: I was failing to honor a healthy diet and adapted the belief that I could out-exercise poor food choices. Basically: “I’m working out so much, I can eat whatever I want.”
And so the results came to a crashing halt and I even found myself gaining back ten of the 20+ I had lost.
MINDSET: Comfort happens when you accept that where you are at, is a cozy feel-good place that no longer challenges you but damn, “life is good.” SPOILER ALERT: nothing great happens in the comfort zone. If you truly desire different results, if you truly desire change, you must then change the current routine. Doing more of the same only gets you more of the same. I needed to regain my focus on where I wanted to go and to be honest…. I didn’t know where that was so I just kept working out, and trying my best with nutrition without having a clearly defined goal of what I desired as my wellness and physical fitness reality. Turns out, I didn’t understand this particular area of mindset, as well as I had thought.
NUTRITION: When you stop paying attention, fail to have a clearly defined end goal, and stop keeping track, the body will find its own natural groove and that will always be the place of OLD HABITS. I stopped paying attention and truly thought that I could out-exercise any diet of choice.
I, was horribly and ignorantly wrong. Turns out, I didn’t understand food as well as I had thought.
EXERCISE: Somewhere over the course of this second year I realized that I was pushing myself far too hard and I ended up with physical restraints due to over-exercise.
Wait, what? Is that even a thing?
Yes. Yes it is. Here is what to look for:
Needing longer periods of rest.
Being unable to perform at the same level.
Feeling tired.
Being depressed.
Having mood swings or irritability.
Having trouble sleeping.
Feeling sore muscles or heavy limbs.
Getting overuse injuries.
I entered my second year pushing myself to find a new limit, and I most definitely found it. I thought the answer for more results would be simply this: exercise more. Choosing to workout was replacing so many low -frequency activities in my life that it became a beautiful solution for me. 10 hours x week, 6,000 - 7,000 calories exerted per week was the new “routine” I was trying on for size. I overdid it. It wasn’t sustainable. I didn’t listen to my body. I started to catch a bit of flak from the family because I was “always working out” and so I backed up. WAYYYYY up.
And just as I went too far in one direction forward, I went too far in the other direction backward.
Year Two became a bit of a “yo-yo” year as I tried to find the right routine that was JUST beyond what I had been doing, but not too far that I burn out. I loved the new focus I was finding on strength training but found myself moving too far away from cardio. I honestly thought “exercise is exercise, just move.”
Wow, was I wrong. Turns out, I didn’t understand exercise as well as I had thought.
My best advice: Lean into the seasons you are in. It’s all about finding how far you really can push yourself without staying in a place of comfort but also, respect incremental changes. Realize that diet and nutrition are vitally important on this journey.
Above all…. remember just that: this is a journey. You are discovering what your miraculous and powerful body and mind is, and is not ready for.
A word about REST / RECOVERY DAYS….
IF you feel you need this in your routine, plan for it. For me personally, I found that I did not like “days off” from working out. I take them when and if I need them…. I’m going to chat more about this in part 3.
SUPPLEMENTS:
During this time, I made no changes to my established supplement routine from the Part 1 post that I shared.
If you do not have access to shop YL at wholesale pricing, I already put together a cart for you. You're welcome, lol. (saving you time already)
https://www.myyl.com/melissahd#bwm/hello-fit-and-fabulous
I personally use The Mirror and there is always an additional savings of $200 available when you shop with my promo code: MELIHPKT
(I am not an affiliate of The Mirror and I do not earn a commission from The Mirror. I am just ridiculously passionate about fitness and The Mirror as a tool, and community to help me achieve my goals)
In short:
Lean in, pay attention to your body, and keep your goals CLEARLY defined. Push yourself to find your new limits, but listen to your body and pay attention to the signals and make adjustments as you need.
Be patient and trust the process.
