My motivators will note that my participation on Traineo has fallen off in the last couple weeks.

It started with an extended family visit (they currently live in Japan). Which is not a bad thing, stressful yes, but not bad.

I adopted a Greyhound, but the situation just didn't work out nearly as much as I had hoped. So I made the incredibly difficult call to give the dog up so that a family better suited to his needs could adopt him. Tough and not a lot of fun.

This Friday my engagement fell apart (all hope if not lost, but it is not looking good). The situation is outside of my control which in a lot of ways just makes it that much more difficult.

So what on earth does any of this have to do with working out and meeting physical goals? Simple. As anyone that has gone through hard times will attest, the anguish and emotion that wells up is powerful. Not to mention potentially debilitating.

So my choices are: bury it (which never works), go on a bender (tempting) or channel all of this into something that will ultimately be positive.

I am actively choosing to convert this into energy in the gym. My commitment is 2x workouts 5x a week. Excessive ... probably. I will try to be smart about it and not push myself so hard that I will injure myself.

Something has got to give, and before this gets out of grasp I am choosing to do something about it.

I encourage you my Traineo'mates to check out my tracking page to see that I am posting daily and pushing hard.

Cheers,
Hope Your Weekend Was Better than Mine

WOW! tough blows! Hang in there and stay strong!

Life has an interesting way of moving you along.

Keep your chin up!

Jeremiah, all those things have outside forces in control. You may or may not have influence of how the forces operate, but your workout schedule is all you. Im just starting and 8 weeks in, ive been constistantly been going 4-5 times a week to the gym. I give myself one hour for the day. One hour of me time when i have total control of what is going to happen. If i want more then i will decide if i can or not, but that first hour is mine. You keep that in your control and dont let other decide whether you go or not. If someone needs your attention you schedule them after your time. Im sure you are the kind of person that will move something in your schedule to aid someone else. Its now time for others to do that for you.

Another thing that works is pick a start over day of the week and pick an activity to do on that day. If you week goes bad, you know that on that day your week will start all over and you will begin with something great.
I use singing at church. Ive been singing for over 12 years and I use my sundays as my starting point. No matter what happens during the week i know for sure on suday i will sing and start an all new week and what ever happened before is done with.

hope that helps

Thank you guys for the encouraging words!

My situation is improving but it is going to be a long haul and mentally I am adjusting to that.

At work I got a promotion that has me wicked busy. I am very thankful for the distraction. I am also pumped about being able to lead a business segment for my employer.



For me it is Tuesday nights. I get together with a handful of guys to exhort and encourage each other. It is a blessing to know that there are people out there that care enough to check in and encourage. It feels good to return the favor as well.

So while it is not sunny days, it is not thunder and lightning either. Each day has its own opportunities and challenges and if I focus on that it is manageable.

Jeremiah,

I think your attitude is encouraging! It is your postive attitude that will get you where you want to go. It is great that you are not spending time focusing on the things that are outside of your control. You are making sure that you stay in control of the things that are in your grasp, and that is good. Keep up the great work, and don't let it all get you down. God bless!

Jennie

Wow, that is a lot to have on your plate at once. I think that channeling some of that negative energy into positive things is a sensational idea.

Workouts 2x per day, 5x per week worry me a bit, to be honest, since your schedule allows for very little recovery time, which is where a lot of the physical benefits will lie. Working out that much, you may risk exhausting yourself physically as well as emotionally. I'd consider scaling back the expectation a bit. It's your call.

You have our support. I'll make sure to check your progress regularly!

Ron

Good luck to you mate.