I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I’ve been very busy studying for a career development course I’m taking. My exam is about two weeks away and preparing for it has been monopolizing my time. Thankfully, the bulk of the reading is behind me now and I’m into the review portion. For the next couple weeks it’s just a matter of reading through my notes and working the practice exams. Once I complete this test I’ll be taking a break from studying until I get back from Arizona.
As you know, I’ve been having some knee problems that have been preventing me from doing as much running as I’ve wanted. I’ve been pretty depressed/frustrated about it and was even starting to doubt if I’d be able to complete my goal time for the half-marathon. I’ve lost some motivation and both my running and nutrition have been suffering.
I am trying to stay positive. The reality is I still have seven weeks of training before my half-marathon. I’m just going to need to be creative to make the most of the time I have. Walk more if necessary, get on the exercise bike if necessary, strength training to prevent injury, whatever is necessary to get the starting line healthy.
I spent some time this week looking through some motivational images online. I’m sure this doesn’t work for everyone, but I really dig this stuff. Makes we want to get out there and kick butt. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
- Today I will do what others won’t so tomorrow I can do what others can’t.
- I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.
- Someone who is busier than you is running right now.
- When the zombie apocalypse actually happens, we’ll all be in good enough shape to survive.
- Hard work will pay off.
- Fast food does not make fast runners. (I need to print this one out…)
- The second half of a man’s life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half. Approaching my mid-30′s I need to get habits in order.
- It never gets easier. You just get better.
- The perfect time to start something never arrives. – This is something I struggle with all the time.
- Running, cheaper than therapy.
- I used to run with doubt. Now, she can’t keep up. - Poignant, considering my knee struggles.
- Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.
- A year from now what will I wish I had done today?
- Determination will get you through this.
- Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret.
- You can feel sore tomorrow or you can feel sorry tomorrow. You choose. – This one and the previous one are variations on the same theme, but man, they are so true.
- We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit. - Nothing quite like a little Greek philosophy to brighten your day.
- A goal without a plan is just a wish.
- If you focus on results, you will never change. if you focus on change, you will get results.
- Patience. – Things don’t happen overnight. I struggle with this too.
- Commit to be fit.
- What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
- Yesterday you said tomorrow. - I try to avoid worshiping at the altar of Nike, but this is perfect for procrastinators like myself. Apparently this was a billboard in New York.
To be serious for a moment. I know I haven’t exactly been performing at my best (or anything close to it) for these past few weeks. The bottom line is I’m making some changes to get through the challenges with my knee and will plan better in the future with my studying so that it doesn’t interfere with my fitness and nutrition goals. Don’t give up on me yet.
Weight Update:
Original weigh-in (9/19/11): 216.2
Week 9 weigh-in (11/26/11): 209.2 (-7.0 pounds total, +1.2 pounds from last week)
As always, thanks for reading. You can follow my progress on dailymile or @jwmfitness on twitter.
