Friday, May 3, 2013

Disc.i.pline

I'm quite astonished at how little discipline I've had to employ in order to forego dairy, grains, legumes and sugar the past four weeks. Once I made the decision and got on board, I haven't had any trouble sticking with The Plan.

Where I'm having trouble is with my walking mileage, and with fitness activities in general. It's far too easy to cut myself some slack on Wednesdays and Thursdays (work days), and it was especially easy this week, since I mowed the yard both days as well.

(For those of you who may not know, our house is in the middle of a three-acre field. Sometimes I do the whole yard on one day, but usually I split it up. It takes three hours to finish the job.)

In order to make my 1000-miles-in-2013 goal, I need to walk an additional 649 miles in the next 245 days. Most of those days will be nice weather. Southern West Virginia winters don't really settle in until January. That's about 2.5 miles/day, or 18.5 miles per week. I'd really hoped to do consistent 20-mile weeks, to give myself a mileage cushion. Seventeen weeks into the year, though, and only 10 of my weeks have exceeded 20 miles.

I have a walking date this morning. Travel tomorrow will preclude any opportunity. Sunday is the last day of my week, which is wrapping up to be pretty light on miles – only four so far, and in spite of plans to work in the garden then I'm going to start the day on my feet AND on the road.

I thought about wearing a pedometer at work, because I surely do get a couple miles in there, but I want my walking to be walking – either outdoors or on the elliptical. Arms swinging and full strides rather than baby steps and dragging a watering hose around behind me.

And that's the other part of the fitness equation. Working at a garden center makes use of plenty o'muscle, but not in the controlled, disciplined way that lifting dumbbells or doing lunges and squats does.

THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that beginning next week and continuing throughout my term of employment this year, I will walk three miles from 7 to 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I did two miles one morning before work and it was fine, but it's far too easy to let the blog writing/reading and Facebook cruising and Pinterest browsing take over. (It's 7:24 as I type, and I got up at 6.) Clearly I have the time. As for the strength training? Well, y'all know that's not my favorite fitness factor.

One thing at a time.

I will build on my two recent successes – not coming in last at the 5K (how was that for a goal?) and sticking with the paleo method for FOUR STRAIGHT WEEKS – to muster up the discipline to Make. This. Happen.

Film Wrap-up at eleven. Or probably next Sunday. Heh.

6 comments:

Mindy said...

Go for it! You can do it! Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah! Consider me your cheerleader!

As for not finishing last....I've been doing 5Ks for a while now and the only thing that has changed from my goal of "not being last" is to try and not be last in my age group! So nothing wrong with a goal of not being last! I haven't been last ever and I'm not usually last in my age group but I believe in keeping my goals straightforward! HA!

Anonymous said...

I have no trouble at all sticking with my paleoish diet, until... I try to eat at a restaurant. And then there's NOTHING on the menu that suits my preferences. It's not a big issue since I so rarely eat at a restaurant - I just get whatever I feel like and don't worry about it. But for anyone who has to regularly purchase meals outside their home, it can be difficult.

Debbi said...

I haven't eaten in a restaurant in four weeks. Tomorrow will be the first opportunity. I hope I can adopt your attitude and then move on to the next day with no problems. Not even sure where we're going to end up for lunch. Just hoping it isn't Mexican ... that seems to be the least paleo-friendly cuisine out there.

Larissa T. said...

You can do it! :D I'm cheerleader #2. :)

Susan said...

Ooh, what a great idea! I don't know about the 1000 miles, but I know I can definitely do more walking. You've inspired me! And that paragraph about you wanting your walking to be walking 'without dragging a watering hose behind' you really made me chuckle! Love it!

Susan Hemingway said...

You're an inspiration. Makes me want to get up and go and I need to. I don't have any excuse. My children have left the nest and I'm trying to figure out where to put my energy. This would be great.
You go - good wishes and thoughts your way.

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