Falling of the path, something I know well….

This time though I won’t let my miss step lead me down the wrong path.  About 5 months ago I decided to take charge of my life, In a sense it was a continuation of a journey I chose to take last year-to get fit and healthy.  I’ve been doing a great job putting in my time exercising, sticking with a healthy food plan, accepting that my progress has been slow, not extreme but permanent.

Sure, I’d had a few stumbles and trips along the way, but nothing that took me off my path, I had a destination and I stuck with the map.

The phrase JOURNEY gets tossed around a lot in the circles of weight loss books, blogs and videos.  Some people dismiss it as another catch phrase, but I actually find it truly appropriate.

When we seek out a destination and take a journey we need a plan, a route to get to where we need to go.  It’s important to realize obstacles may appear, there may be detours, your vehicle may not function exactly as you had hoped and depending on who your travel companions are you will have great support or endless discouragement.

Those left behind may wish they were in your place and give praise, while others will dismiss your travels as ridiculous and say it has changed you too much.  I never again leave on a trip and choose someone for the passenger seat that will simply sit next to me and remind me of all my insecurities, tell me this is a ridiculous idea, that I’m taking the wrong route or that I really didn’t want to go in the first place-NO thanks-I’m leaving you at the curb!

So much like that road trip, the way to a healthy life, living slim, fit and healthy is a journey.  A week and half ago I went from a incredible level of motivation to stumbling off the path in big way.  I allowed all those detours, negative thoughts, and insecurities to creep back in.  I stopped exercising and ate crap for 5 days.

Then something happened, I remembered some wise words from two of my mentors.

* During a Scottish woodland hike one day with Thor Holt we talked about falling off the path-that a few bad days or even weeks is not the end, not worth giving up completely.  That it’s like tripping and falling over some branches and merely stepping out of the path, not as if I’d turned around and ran full speed back to the beginning, I haven’t broken both of my legs or have no idea where I need to go-I just need to step back on and keep going.

* A couple of weeks ago before my trainer Christina left for a month she gave me a few words to live by.  I think she may have been more aware of my up coming challenges than I was!  She’s always been incredibly supportive and inspiring, facing challenges head on.  She encouraged me to remember how far I’ve come, to appreciate how strong I am mentally and physically, to trust my body and mind, and to believe I deserve what I want. I should not give up, to remember the work we’ve done to make my knee healthy, strong and pain free.  If I do nothing else get my cardio in and do my knee exercises.  Believe in myself.

So that’s what I did, I did all of those things.  I stepped back on the path, remembered how far I’ve come, went to sleep with my running shoes and ipod at my bedside, and set my alarm.  I got up, got dressed, turned on some kickass music, did 45 minutes of cardio(1/2 hour up hill walk and 15 on spin bike-not my normal hour,but back on the path), did lunges, one leg squats and 100 “baby” crunches!! I’m back! I still need to make sure my laces are tied tight and my map stays close but I’m now headed in the right direction again-not stopping and turning back this time! Oh and a little coffee always helps any road trip

What’s your thoughts, have you ever stumbled and fallen down, what made you get back up and keep going?

Credit where credit is due

www.evolvesportsfitness.com

www.thorholt.com