Clearing Out the Fluff

“The moment I STUCK to one plan (even if it’s not the PERFECT plan), everything got better.”

~ Chris Brogan

I can’t believe I’m posting this. (I’ve gained at least 20 pounds since I posted a similar photo.)

Today was Day One of a new workout program… but before I could begin my workout, I spent 15 minutes clearing a space in what is supposedly a dedicated “workout room”.

After my workout, I went for a short, 20-minute recovery walk to soothe my muscles and relax my brain. [And, just for the record, while I walked, I listened to this EP: Songs of Home, pt.1 by Luke Pruitt. I highly recommend it… especially if you enjoy James Taylor and other story-telling acoustic singer/songwriters. The melodies went with my walk like smooth apple pie moonshine on the back porch.]

Next on my agenda was to do a little writing…. but my laptop battery was dead. I pulled out an extra laptop that belongs to an organization I work for, and… I couldn’t find my mouse.

Are you seeing a pattern yet?

The clutter in my workout room and the chaos in my office reflect the clutter/chaos in my head. I am in a season of discontent… with a lack of focus in my workouts.

On second thought, read that as “A lack of focus in my life.”

It all began last week as I sat around with a gloomy cloud hanging over me. I realized I didn’t want to do a workout.

I hadn’t looked forward to a workout for several weeks…

So I procrastinated. And looked at my blog feed. And scanned my Facebook feed. And checked email…

And I found my answer in Chris Brogan’s blog.

Even though Chris is known for being an expert in leadership development and business strategy  — and NOT for fitness — the above quote (from this blog post about improving his fitness) resonated with me.

My workouts have been all over the place for the past year… or longer. Like Chris, for whatever reason, I’ve been “waffling between plans”. I know, from past success, that sticking with a program has paid off with great results.

So I’m going back to a 12-week program that has short but intense workouts just three days each week. That will allow me time to work on my other projects (like dejunking decluttering my house and finishing my writing course).

Most importantly, beginning today, I’m going to stick with my plan.

No waffling allowed.

I’m going to do my favorite high-intensity, bodyweight workouts three days a week for the next 12 weeks… And then I’m going to take a break (I think) through Christmas and begin something fresh in January.

And even if it isn’t the PERFECT plan, I should see improvement.

I need this. I really need this. I need to prove to myself that I can stay on task. I’ve done it before (several times, actually). I’ve followed a workout plan for 10-12 weeks and remained focused.

But I haven’t been able to hold that focus for the past year or so.

In anything.

My confidence and my self-efficacy have taken a beating. My goals have remained merely dreams.

This one small step…. Getting my fitness back, staying on task with my workout schedule, is a start.

And perhaps the clutter around my house will fall by the wayside along with the weight…

A new beginning? That’s the plan… and I’m sticking to it.

By the time I post another photo of me in my workout room in mid-December, at least one of us (me or the room) should have less “fluff”.

To be continued…