One of the biggest problems in fitness is failure to achieve goals. Almost as bad is achieving a goal when it no longer matters. In other words, the anticlimax achievement.
It doesn't happen often, because goals are seldom achieved, but when it happens it can be just as demoralising as failure to achieve.
So how did you end up here?
When you sat down and mapped out a plan to achieve your goal, you quite simply set your sights on the wrong thing. You love lifting heavy weights, but somehow ended up thinking a 4-minute mile was a great goal. The thing is, you don't actually care whether you can run a sub-4 1600m.
Can you say "Anticlimax"?
Your goals must represent who you are and what you want to achieve.
They can't be a flavour of the month. You must still burn with desire to achieve your goals when next month, or next season comes around. They must be worth striving for, even if it takes years to achieve them.
This is difficult in a world where we are conditoned to desire the next big thing as soon as we have the current big thing. If that is who you are, perhaps you should just goal-set very short-term.
"If I get 5 reps, then I can have a cookie!" Good luck with that.
Real goals, and real achievement take time and effort. Diligence and perseverance are the watchwords.
Make sure that the goal you set is what you really want, then apply yourself.
"The more you sweat in peace time, the less you bleed in war"
Tuesday 27 March 2012
Monday 19 March 2012
Non-Invulnerability
Oh to be immune to disease!
I would sell parts of my anatomy if I could just be immune to disease. Ok, I doubt I would actually part with pieces of me. But, maybe if I it comes in pairs, or has no real function I would go for it.
I have been laid low by another opportunistic infection. An invader has once again breached my once-potent defenses. I am become normal. Average. Yuk.
I feel that I must be overlooking some key to my health. I have been strong and resistant for several months. It is not yet winter, so why are my ramparts proving ineffective?
It is a quandary. And if I had a log of everything I ate and did for the last few months, perhaps I would see a pattern. But, I don't. Bummer. I will just have to stumble around and hope to hit on the solution.
At least I have a training log. So when it comes to training I can look back and see what works and what doesn't.
Now if only I was healthy enough to train!
I would sell parts of my anatomy if I could just be immune to disease. Ok, I doubt I would actually part with pieces of me. But, maybe if I it comes in pairs, or has no real function I would go for it.
I have been laid low by another opportunistic infection. An invader has once again breached my once-potent defenses. I am become normal. Average. Yuk.
I feel that I must be overlooking some key to my health. I have been strong and resistant for several months. It is not yet winter, so why are my ramparts proving ineffective?
It is a quandary. And if I had a log of everything I ate and did for the last few months, perhaps I would see a pattern. But, I don't. Bummer. I will just have to stumble around and hope to hit on the solution.
At least I have a training log. So when it comes to training I can look back and see what works and what doesn't.
Now if only I was healthy enough to train!
Wednesday 7 March 2012
Balancing Wants And Needs
When it comes to training we usually focus on our wants. Our goals seldom revolve around what we need.
That is not necessarily a bad thing from a certain point of view. I've written before on methods that will make your goals more necessary from an achievement perspective. Today I'm referring to the content of your training sessions as you pursue those goals.
For example: I need to do more stretching, but I want to do more direct arm work.
Once you have laid out your goals, you will quickly realise that you have a limited amount of time in which to accomplish them. (Unless you are a shiftless layabout with stacks of cash and loads of time). For most employed people it will come down to balancing your time with what you need to do to reach your goals.
Generally there will be some boring but necessary stuff that will need to be in your program.
Next you can add in those things that directly support and lead to achievement of the goal.
Now, if you have any space left you can squeeze in the things you want to do, but aren't really tied to your goals.
This is hard for some people to deal with. They prefer to just do the fun stuff. Well, its up to you, but you can't blame anyone if you never get anywhere.
If you want to remain healthy, and be in this for life, then there are some things you should pay attention to, before they turn into big problems:
Flexibility and Mobility.
Left-to-Right, Front-to-Back balance.
Core strength.
As long as you maintain these you will be less prone to injury and more likely to keep training for a long time.
Yes, we want many things, but often we don't need them in order to achieve our goals.
Make sure that the things you need are in place, after that feel free to add what you want.
That is not necessarily a bad thing from a certain point of view. I've written before on methods that will make your goals more necessary from an achievement perspective. Today I'm referring to the content of your training sessions as you pursue those goals.
For example: I need to do more stretching, but I want to do more direct arm work.
Once you have laid out your goals, you will quickly realise that you have a limited amount of time in which to accomplish them. (Unless you are a shiftless layabout with stacks of cash and loads of time). For most employed people it will come down to balancing your time with what you need to do to reach your goals.
Generally there will be some boring but necessary stuff that will need to be in your program.
Next you can add in those things that directly support and lead to achievement of the goal.
Now, if you have any space left you can squeeze in the things you want to do, but aren't really tied to your goals.
This is hard for some people to deal with. They prefer to just do the fun stuff. Well, its up to you, but you can't blame anyone if you never get anywhere.
If you want to remain healthy, and be in this for life, then there are some things you should pay attention to, before they turn into big problems:
Flexibility and Mobility.
Left-to-Right, Front-to-Back balance.
Core strength.
As long as you maintain these you will be less prone to injury and more likely to keep training for a long time.
Yes, we want many things, but often we don't need them in order to achieve our goals.
Make sure that the things you need are in place, after that feel free to add what you want.
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