I have been coming to a gradual mental shift around exercise that is making a huge difference.

This morning I was at the gym. I did 16 minutes on the TM (who's counting? ) and then I did 20 minutes of weight work.
In general I have been doing about 30-40 minutes 3 times a week plus a yoga work out one-two times each week.

The mental shift is that I am simply DOING the workouts. I am not trying to figure out reasons to shorten them or to skip one of them. The mental struggle is gone. I just show up and do my time. I don't go so much by my immediate "want"- my mental "adult" is in charge these days

This is a huge relief to me.

Anyway...back to this morning...I was changing in the locker room when a very fit and thin regular came in and announced to her friend that she "did her miles."
This really struck me this morning. She has a plan for X number of miles each week and simply does them. It was an AHA moment for me.

I have been doing my miles and my weight work and not negotiating with myself about it.

I know that a couple people here work out way more than I do. People at my gym work out more than I do. My neighbor runs at 6 each AM. In the past I have used these facts as reasons not to "do my miles" because I was falling short of what the really fit people did. Pish posh to that! I am relatively fit and I need to get my regular exercise in...so I am just doing the right thing.

I know I've posted about this before, but doing what is "right" is so important to me. It is right for me to get about 4 hours of exercise each week. It is wrong when I don't- then I start to feel negatively- doing the wrong thing just sours me.

For those of you who are Beck friendly- her instructions and clarity really helped me get to this point.

How is exercise going for you all?

I just have to post/process a bit more about me exercise.

I did another solid workout at the gym- about 40 minutes with a running push on the TM.

I was thinking about my need to do the right thing. I find that when I don't do the right thing and chose what is wrong for me, I erode my postive sense of self and I begin to lose control of my choices.

In Ed Psych they assert that kids with positive self esteem are intrinsicly motivated whiile those with esteem in the dumps have to be extrinsicly motivated.

The extrinsic motivation had NEVER worked for me. I always need to act from my own heart and sense of self.

I know that doing what is right (following my plan) will increase my self and esteem and then my intinsic motivation will follow.

And...the more intrinsic motivation I have, the more I act rightly.

OK...it helped me a lot to type this out and to see more how each choice I make around food and exercise matters.

Way to go Sandy, I know how hard it is to break those "bargaining" habits when it comes to exercise. I'm very good at it.

I'm happy to be back at my "normal" running distance finally. I haven't run 3.5 miles since last Wednesday (like 10 days ago) because of my bruised knee.

It's still bruised and somewhat painful, but I've gotten in 2 runs this weeek (today I got in 3.5 mi.) and have worked out nearly every day except 1 despite the knee.

I'll do weights tomorrow, and take Sunday off so that I can do a 3.75 run either Monday or Tuesday.

I have had to fight the "I'm not really exercising" blues because I've been limited in what kind of exercise I can manage right now. But I have been swimming and lifting my weights, I'm just used to burning off far more energy by running.

Sometimes it sucks to be high strung.

Sandy,

I too enjoyed reading this and I am getting, ever so slowly, to the same point. I have just been doing it, there is no bargaining with myself. And I just do it and it is over and I feel great when I'm done. I do still have days where I struggle with myself but I am getting there.

Congrats on your breakthrough!

Jill

Sandy, I needed to hear what you had to say. I have been having to avoid the pool because of renovations, and I can tell in my attitude and emotional well being that I am missing something.
I need to do something, and I am thinking for now it is the tapes I have until the pool area is ready again.Thanks for posting, it was a big help to me.

That's awesome, Sandy! I hope lifting the weight from your mind means you can lift easier at the gym! (In my mind, the "really fit" people have a different schedule and different priorities than I do. And that's okay. Different isn't worse, and it isn't better. It's just different.)

I have been exercising twice a week. Sometimes the gym, sometimes a mile during lunch, sometimes walking the dog after work. I haven't lost weight since the middle of November.

However, I haven't gained weight. What that says to me: Maintaining, when I'm there, is completely doable. (And it's brought home the fact that if I'm going to lose another 30, exercise will be involved.)

hey sandy, i loved reading your post! you did make a significant shift (AHA!) in your thinking.
a good friend of mine used to say "fake it til you make it. just put your body into motion and don't think about it. your mind will catch up when it is ready to" your post reminded me of that.

i love reading about your successes--they inspire me. i don't always like dragging my butt to the gym but i do enjoy that feeling afterward when i am DONE.

Way to go Sandy!

You have been making some great mental shifts ever since the summer with your workouts : )

You sound happy and centered!

Congratulations!!!!

Congrats on your breakthrough, Sandy! I enjoyed reading your post.

Right now, exercise for me has shifted quite substantially from a structured, intentional exercise program...this DVD this day, that DVD that day, walking these 2 days, etc...to no intentional exercise but lots of activity around packing, going up and down the ladder many times to take down pictures, stuff from high shelves, etc., carrying boxes, just a lot of movement when I am normally on my keester watching TV.