Do you know what your rules are?
We all have rules by which we must live. Whether they are
imposed on you by your job, the building where you live or by you. In the building where I live, for example,
dogs are only allowed in the service elevator. The exception to the rule is
when the service elevator is out then the dog can go in the regular passenger
elevator. I may have already proved my
own point but keep reading and we will see.
Personally, I have rules that I live by that I set for
myself. I drink one glass of water as soon as I wake up in the morning. I made
this rule for myself to drink at that time because I know I am bad at drinking
water and least I know that I will have consumed at least 16 oz. first thing in
the morning. Another rule I have created
is I go grocery shopping on Monday mornings, after the morning rush hour is
over but still early enough in the day so the store is not too crowded. Rule #3 is I workout first thing in the
morning, period. If I can't workout in
the morning, the workout usually doesn't happen. Another rule, I have to sit down and write my
blog entry in one sitting. If I don't have the time for it just after the lunch
hour, it doesn't happen.
I rarely revisit my rules. They serve a purpose, they are
tested and tried and true. The Husband
believes the rules should be revisited now and again. During a long walk
recently, he and I had a discussion about why you need to revisit your rules
once in a while. You should remember why/how you came to these rules and
revisit them. You may discover it’s time to change them up a bit. “Update your
GPS maps” if you will. Just because I am who I am, I automatically disagreed,
much to the annoyance to The Husband. (I can hear his head shaking at me now.)
I don't really disagree with him. Every day I ask someone
to break their own personal rules to fit exercise into their schedule. Every day I break my own rules in order to
get everything done. Believe me this is greeted with a whole lot of pushback.
Nobody wants to break their rules they have created.
Their rules too are tried and true and probably came to them for a good reason.
Whether those reasons are to avoid annoyances, make a life a little easier or
perhaps that is just the way you have always done. It has been handed down to
you by your family. You may not even actually how or why you created a rule for
yourself, it just is.
What if you were to break the rule you created? What is the worst that would happen?
I go grocery shopping on Monday, unless I am going to
have a crazy day on Monday then I go on Sunday morning. (I do try to avoid any
time after 2pm, just way too crowded and crazy). I workout in the morning,
period. Unless I am training for a triathlon and the pool does not open until
10 or it’s raining in the morning and I can't ride until the afternoon because
that is when it’s expected to clear up. I can only write my blog in the
afternoon, unless I am feeling exceptionally inspired to get it down on paper.
I have revisited writing completely. I
have found that if I start an idea, get the idea down then revisit it a couple
of days later, the idea has formed more completely for a more comprehensive
read.
Rules like: I only do cardio or I only strength train, or
I can only take classes taught by Ms. So & So are arbitrary. So it may be
time to revisit them (unless I am Ms. So & So and then there is no need to
revisit).
First, you need to ask yourself why? Why do you only do
cardio? People only do cardio because it
is the easiest form of exercise to understand.
Anybody can walk on a treadmill, walk or run around outside, or move on
an elliptical. There are no special skills or knowledge needed to perform these
exercises. You can also read (bad idea) or watch TV while doing so. I also believe that people believe that
cardio burns more calories than anything else and that they are getting more
out of a cardio workout than another kind of workout. Ask yourself, where did you learn that? Is it
something that your mother/sister/friend taught you or is it just what you have
always done? Exercise science changes
all the time. Although cardio is good and should be done, do you ever mix it up
with a little high intensity action, like a sprint? According to a 2011 study presented at the
American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, just 2 weeks of high-intensity
intervals improves your aerobic capacity as much as 6 to 8 weeks of endurance
training.
Secondly, where did you learn to only strength
train? Did you join a gym umpteen years
ago and somebody walked you through the circuit of Cybex machines? Or maybe a
friend brought you to the gym once or twice, showed you their routine of
exercises and now that is what you do.
I think most people avoid strength training because it’s
difficult and it’s confusing. It could
be time to work with a personal trainer. Most gyms/trainers do offer a
complimentary training session and assessment (just be prepared for the sales
pitch) they will also gladly see you more than once. If you are only strength training, you are missing
out on the benefits of cardio fitness.
Aerobic exercise may activate your immune system. This may leave you
less susceptible to minor viral illnesses, such as colds and flu. Aerobic
exercise reduces the risk of many conditions, including obesity, heart disease,
high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke and certain
types of cancer. I could go on and on
about the benefits but I am sure you get the idea.
Third, who is this Ms. So & So that you are so loyal
to? In which rule book is it written
that you can only take her classes on Monday, Wednesday & Friday? Break out! Try something new! Don’t feel guilty about taking someone else's
class. A truly good instructor will be
happy to see you trying different things and exploring the world of exercise
and will encourage you to do so. Most instructors/ trainers will be happy that
you are staying active and didn't disappear into the sofa.
Rules work but I have to continually remind myself to be
flexible with my rules. A rule that worked in the beginning for me as novice may
need revision as I grow and learn. If you fall into a rule rut, your successes
will plateau or you may stop due to boredom. Exercise is supposed to make you
feel better. Go ahead and allow yourself to do something new that you may just
love.
Do you know what your rules are?
We all have rules that we must live by whether they are
imposed on you by the company you work for, the building where you live or
imposed on you by you. In the building
where I live, for example, dogs are only allowed in the service elevator. The
exception to the rule is when the service elevator is out then the dog can go
in the regular passenger elevator. I may
have already proved my own point but keep reading and we will see.
Personally, I have rules that i live by that i set for
myself.: i drink one glass of water as soon as I wake up in the morning. I made
this rule for myself to drink at that time because i know i am bad at drinking
water and least i know that i will have consumed at least 16 oz. first thing in
the morning. Another rule I have created
is I go grocery shopping Monday morning, after the morning rush hour is over
but still early enough in the day so the store is not too crowded. Rule #3: I workout first thing in the
morning, period. If i can't workout in
the morning, the workout usually doesn't happen. . Another rule, I have to sit down and write my
blog entry in one sitting. If I don't have the time for it just after the lunch
hour, its doesn't happen.
I rarely revisit my rules. They serve a purpose, they are
tested and tried and true. The husband
disagrees. He believes the rules should
be revisited now and again. During a long walk recently, he and I had a
discussion about why you need to revisit
your rules once in a while. You should remember why/how you came to these
rules, revisit them, you may discover its time to change them up a bit update
your GPS maps , if you will. just because i am who i am i automatically
disagreed much to the annoyance to the husband.(i can hear his head shaking at
me now)
I don't really disagree with him. Every day I ask someone
to break their own personal rules to fit exercise into their schedule. Everyday i break my own rules in order to get
everything done. Believe me this is greeted with a whole lot of pushback.
Nobody wants to break their rules they have created,
theirs too are tried and true and probably came to them for a good reason.
Whether those reasons are to avoid annoyances, make a life a little easier or
perhaps that is just the way you have always done and it has been handed down
to you by your family you may not even actually how or why you created a rule
for yourself, it just is.
What if you were to break the rule you created? what is the worst that would happen?
I go grocery shopping on Monday,unless I am going to have
a crazy day on Monday then I go on Sunday morning. (I do try to avoid anytime
after 2pm, just way too crowded and crazy). I workout in the morning, period.
Unless I am training for a triathlon and the pool does not open until 10 or its
raining in the morning and I can't ride until the afternoon because that is
when its expected to clear up. I can only write my blog in the afternoon,
unless I am feeling exceptionally inspired to get it down on paper. I have
revisted writing completely. I have
found that if i start an idea, get the idea down then revisit it a couple of
days later, the idea has formed more completely for a more comprehensive read.
rules like: i only
do cardio or I only strength train, or I
can only take classes taught by Ms. So
& So maybe time to revisited.(unless I am Ms. So & So and then there is
no need to revisit)
First , you need to ask yourself why? why do you only do
cardio? People only do cardio because it
is the easiest form of exercise to understand.
Anybody can walk on a treadmill, walk or run around outside, or move on
a elliptical, there are no special skills or knowledge needed to perform these
exercises. You can also read (bad idea) or watch TV while doing so. I also believe that people believe that
cardio burns more calories than anything else and that they are getting more
out of a cardio workout than another kind of workout. Ask yourself, where did you learn that? Is it
something that your mother/sister/friend taught you or is it just what you have always done? Exercise science changes all the time.
Although cardio is good and should be done, do you ever mix it up with a little
high intensity like a sprint? according
to a 2011 study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual
Meeting, just 2 weeks of high-intensity intervals improves your aerobic
capacity as much as 6 to 8 weeks of endurance training.
Secondly, where did you learn to only strength
train? Did you join a gym umpteen years
ago and somebody walk you through the circuit of cybex machines? or maybe a
friend brought you to the gym once or twice showed you their routine of
exercises and now that is what you do.
I think most people avoid strength training because its
difficult and its confusing. It could
be time to work with a personal trainer. Most gyms/trainers do offer a complimentary
training session and assessment (just be prepared for the sales
pitch) they will also gladly see
you more than once. If you are only strength training you are
missing out on the benefits of cardio fitness.
Aerobic exercise may activate your immune system. This may leave you
less susceptible to minor viral illnesses, such as colds and flu.Aerobic
exercise reduces the risk of many conditions, including obesity, heart disease,
high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke and certain
types of cancer. I could go on and on
about the benefits but i am sure you get the idea.
Third, who is this Ms. So & So that you are so loyal
to? In which rule book is it written
that you can only take her classes on Monday, Wednesday & Friday? Break out! try something new! don't feel guilty about taking some one
else's class. A truly good instructor
will be happy to see you trying different things and exploring the world of
exercise and will encourage you to do so. Most instructors/ trainers will be
happy that you are staying active and
didn't disappear into the sofa.
I try my best to be flexible with my rules. My rules are
in place to help me keep my discipline.
The discipline helps me accomplish all the goals I have set for myself.
on some days all of my rules are adhered
to and i feel super accomplished. on days my rules are flexed or moved, I still
feel very accomplished and just a little smarter for being so flexible and
getting everything done.
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