Mission 1, Day 10: HIIT me!
Today was an exciting day of sorts. I had a long drive in the morning and got to do alot of thinking on the way there and the way back. I then went to the gym for some HIIT cardio. The scheme I used:
3 minute warm up
1 minute at 3.5 mph
1 minute at 8.0 mph
Repeat the 2 intervals 10 times each for a total of 20 minutes.
3 minute cool down
Total HIIT cardio today was 26 minutes. I could probably have run faster than 8.0 mph, but if you recall, I have had calf problems and wanted to see if I could handle the higher intensity running. It worked out fine.
I also spent some time going through my email today and came across a 1-minute email (it is a great list I'm on) that was based off the following quotation:
"Living well and beautifully and justly are all one thing" — Socrates
The commentary that went along with it was very interesting. The author states that finding happiness, enjoying life and helping others aren't just empty words. These things all go hand in hand with achieving success. It is a powerful combination.
This got me thinking about success. I think it is extremely important to determine how you define success. This very issue is why large goals should always be broken down into smaller goals. The smaller goals help to define the success of the larger goal. If you want to lose 100 pounds, would it make sense to just have the one goal? If you had just the one goal and you weighed in and lost 2 pounds that week, would you feel like a success? There's no way you could feel like a success because the goal is 100 pounds. However, if you break down the goal into smaller goals, you might aim for 2 pounds of weightloss each week. That would then make that 2 pounds you lost last week a success. You'd feel much better about yourself and you'd be much happier with the results you produce.
One of the Shredder Council, Christy, has stated in a recent blog entry that she doesn't like tying herself to results. I've reread that post several times because it struck me as odd for some reason. Then it hit me. We don't tie ourselves to results. No, instead, we produce results every single day, every single week, every single month and every single year. It isn't something we can avoid. Results just happen. Lose a pound? You just produced results. Gain 3 pounds? You just produced results. Stayed the same weight? You just produced results. Did absolutely nothing towards fitness today? You still produced results.
It seems to me that Christy's comment is more aimed at not reviewing the results and that I feel is dangerous. We need to have a roadmap in order to check our progress. Sometimes we are going to be off track and other times we will be right on track. However, if we don't check on our progress we will blindly continue down the wrong path and not even know we are on the wrong path. Failing to plan is planning to fail.
I tried this daily picture routine once before and I stopped rather quickly for a similar reason to what Christy is saying. I didn't like feeling like I had to look a certain way in the picture. This time is different for me. I know people are reading and they are looking at my pictures differently than I do. They see things I don't necessarily see. That's the purpose of the pictures—to be held accountable. I don't even look that carefully at my pictures. At the mid point of the group shred I did take a closer look because it was sort of a milestone, but other than that, I haven't even compared them very much. Every day, in addition to the front pictures that are posted, I take a side picture as well. I honestly have not even compared the Day One side picture with any of the side pictures from other days.
To me, the results are in how I feel about myself and I feel great about myself at this point. I am very motivated to continue on the path I'm on. I know I will hit speed bumps along the way, but I'm going to remain focused because I know you all are out there looking at my pictures and expecting to see some progress each time. That's the essence of these pictures—you will hold me accountable.
So, Christy, you shouldn't worry so much about the changes in the pictures because, really, the pictures are not for you, they are for everyone else reading your blog. Focus on the things that make you happy. Realize that you are getting results (I personally think you are looking pretty amazing from your starting picture) and just relish that fact. Anyone else who is feeling like the pictures are tying them to results should consider this as well.
Until tomorrow...
The commentary that went along with it was very interesting. The author states that finding happiness, enjoying life and helping others aren't just empty words. These things all go hand in hand with achieving success. It is a powerful combination.
This got me thinking about success. I think it is extremely important to determine how you define success. This very issue is why large goals should always be broken down into smaller goals. The smaller goals help to define the success of the larger goal. If you want to lose 100 pounds, would it make sense to just have the one goal? If you had just the one goal and you weighed in and lost 2 pounds that week, would you feel like a success? There's no way you could feel like a success because the goal is 100 pounds. However, if you break down the goal into smaller goals, you might aim for 2 pounds of weightloss each week. That would then make that 2 pounds you lost last week a success. You'd feel much better about yourself and you'd be much happier with the results you produce.
One of the Shredder Council, Christy, has stated in a recent blog entry that she doesn't like tying herself to results. I've reread that post several times because it struck me as odd for some reason. Then it hit me. We don't tie ourselves to results. No, instead, we produce results every single day, every single week, every single month and every single year. It isn't something we can avoid. Results just happen. Lose a pound? You just produced results. Gain 3 pounds? You just produced results. Stayed the same weight? You just produced results. Did absolutely nothing towards fitness today? You still produced results.
It seems to me that Christy's comment is more aimed at not reviewing the results and that I feel is dangerous. We need to have a roadmap in order to check our progress. Sometimes we are going to be off track and other times we will be right on track. However, if we don't check on our progress we will blindly continue down the wrong path and not even know we are on the wrong path. Failing to plan is planning to fail.
I tried this daily picture routine once before and I stopped rather quickly for a similar reason to what Christy is saying. I didn't like feeling like I had to look a certain way in the picture. This time is different for me. I know people are reading and they are looking at my pictures differently than I do. They see things I don't necessarily see. That's the purpose of the pictures—to be held accountable. I don't even look that carefully at my pictures. At the mid point of the group shred I did take a closer look because it was sort of a milestone, but other than that, I haven't even compared them very much. Every day, in addition to the front pictures that are posted, I take a side picture as well. I honestly have not even compared the Day One side picture with any of the side pictures from other days.
To me, the results are in how I feel about myself and I feel great about myself at this point. I am very motivated to continue on the path I'm on. I know I will hit speed bumps along the way, but I'm going to remain focused because I know you all are out there looking at my pictures and expecting to see some progress each time. That's the essence of these pictures—you will hold me accountable.
So, Christy, you shouldn't worry so much about the changes in the pictures because, really, the pictures are not for you, they are for everyone else reading your blog. Focus on the things that make you happy. Realize that you are getting results (I personally think you are looking pretty amazing from your starting picture) and just relish that fact. Anyone else who is feeling like the pictures are tying them to results should consider this as well.
Until tomorrow...
oh such a good post today...you said it so well. we do look at our pictures differently than others. we are so self critical with ourselves(well at least i know i am). youput a great perspective on the "results" topic. i never thought of it that way...thanks.
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Mike, I appreciate you taking the time to read and respond so in depth regarding my post. I agree with so much in it. My definitions are just different.
My feelings are my roadmap. I know I'm doing something that isn't right for me by the way I feel. It's just like my food, my pain management, my spiritual program. I do best when I listen to my body, my soul, my connection to God (Spirit, JC, the Universe, Higher Power, whatever anyone calls it).
My philosophy is I get to be up, I get to be down, and I'm grateful for both.
For me there's a difference between having feelings of sadness, (discomfort or pensiveness) and what is called negative self-talk. For me, my feelings and intuition are real and literally a gift from God.
My feelings told me there was something wrong. My focus was off. And when I listened to them and allowed myself to feel and express them, I got back on track.
I like this quote, "Living well and beautifully and justly are all one thing" -- Socrates
To me that is a suitable definition of success. When I, to paraphrase Socrates and use that terminology, live well, beautifully, and justly, the rest takes care of itself. The BYPRODUCT of this can be weight loss, my mobility, money, friends, less pain, love, but those things are no longe my goal. Working toward achieve those byproducts as a primary goal is what I'm working to step away from. (Ultimately, I would like to live a completely goal free life. But that day will come when it comes)
So for now, to use this set of terminology, my main goal is to live each moment fully. I succeed to whatever extent I am able each second and that is always enough.
This is a new way of thinking for me, but it has brought me with a peace and serenity that I have nearly killed myself searching for. I lost that focus somewhere on this mission (as I have so many times before). My roadmap of feelings brought me back.
And I'm so glad to be back on track. I am glad and happy to cheer for everybody doing their thing and get what they're after. Because it feel good to do it. So I know it's what's right for me.
Thank you for writing this post. Reading it and thinking how it could apply to me really allowed me to have kind of have a logical reason why I was able to have such a great day today. (A reason isn't necessary for me, but darn it, it's nice to have.)
That said. Three days to go! Keep shredding hard and celebrating all your successes!
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Michael, interesting post. Got me thinking as well. For me the goal is a bit of an intangible because you actually don't know if you'll get there but the action steps daily are what ar eimportant. The goal will take care of itself. You are looking good dude
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