Do you have a buddy?

Do you have a buddy?  I don't just mean someone you hang out with and drink beer, or go to movies with, but a workout buddy.    I was recently at the gym and had another thought that has helped me in my success so far.   

The more I thought about this the more I realized that having someone to talk about doing whatever your doing with helps.    Like my first post my whole weight loss journey started because of friends.   What different now is I have found a huge group of people to talk to about what I am doing and what they are doing.   The other thing I relized is that everyone I look at from the ameture to the proffesional has had someone there with them helping them along.  In some of the cases it is their trainers, coaches, nutrionists.  In others it has been family, friends, online buddies and co-workers.  

All of this came to be because a friend of mine has been doing more to get into shape.   He and I now frequent the gym as often as possible and we both realized that because we make a commitment to be at the gym together we feel we can't let the other one down by not showing up!  Instead of making and excuse to stay home and do something other than workout we meet and help each other push through our workouts.  When thinking of a buddy don't just think of someone you work out think of people you can talk to about it.  For example I have people I bike with that are different that I lift with that are different than those I run with.   I meet one of my sisters co-workers via email because he had some question my sister thought I could help with.   To this day we have never meet but share stories and help each other out via email   The great part is that the people I work out with don't see me at all or they don't see me all the time (which for them is probably a good thing for them) but the other thing is you get to have new conversations, listen to new stories, see how they have changed their routines.  

After all of those conversation are done I always seem to have something new to try.   That something could be a new food idea, a new workout type, or just motivation for a new personal best!     The co-worker I bike with made a comment about lifting that made a lot of sense so I have now started a lifting regiment that has change from my previous year!   

All and all I would argue that if you workout or are thinking about it find people that will support you!  Remember if someone has been working on it for a while don't feel like you can't talk to them think again.    I have been going for over a year and I love nothing more than trying to help those are getting started and talking to people who have been doing it much longer than I.   It's fun long term to share your successes and your failures.   It helps you learn and helps you get better.   


Good luck to all of you that are starting and hope this again is some insight to me.   If you are looking for support there is a huge online group to help so start there but I guarantee that if you look around your schools, offices, and community even a random person at the gym you will find someone that shares your story or struggle.  Find that person and I bet things will be more successful for you!  

Mental Discipline

You weigh X your brain weighs Y.    What sucks is that Y is dramatically less then X but has so much power over what we can and can't do.   Your at home and need to workout or need to leave to go to the gym but your you talk yourself out of it, eat something you shouldn't, or do something that is easier.

Here is an example of where I have a mental issue.    I can do a triathlon and I am even considering and most likely signing up for a half ironman.  I have no desire, or feel i don't have the ability to run a marathon.    I know this is a mental thing but I can't get through the mental anguish of running 26 miles.    Don't get me wrong I don't mind running in fact in 3-5 mile distances I love it but you get me much past a half marathon and mentally I shut down.   I don't think I can do it which then translates into I don't want to do it.  I know use this as an excuse but I also know that it is just a mental thing.       

So what does this mean to me and maybe  you.   Long term we have to challenge ourselves.    There is going to be a point where you want something to change the first time or push yourself to the next level.   How to do that doesn't come down to if you can do it, it comes down to your mental status.   Can you push yourself through the mental roadblock that you put up for yourself.  

In my case I am not ready to push through the mental block of running a full marathon.   I am however ready to do a Half Ironman.   I know that sounds weird but I know we have to find it within ourselves to push through those barriers.   Will I at some point do a marathon?   I think so but for me I have to get through the other things I am ready to accomplish first.    

So ask yourself what are your mental blocks?   What does your mind stop you from doing?   Maybe it's going to the gym, maybe its a physical pain you think will stop you, excercising, or eating that one bad thing that you know you shouldn't but do it anyway.   No matter what we all have it within us to push through that mental block!   Try and think of it this way...your body is dramatically larger your brain and yes your brain controls our bodies but imagine pushing the other way.   making your body tell your brain that I can do one more mile, push through one more rep or put down that thing I wasn't supposed to eat is an awesome accomplishment.    

It sucks sometimes and you will want to quite but if you can push yourself through it once you can do it again and there is no better feeling!!!